Gerry’s Geriatric Glimmerings

by Reverend Gerry Bennet, Assisting Priest, from Summer 2002 Tidings

I Am the Way, the Truth,
and the Life

This is my stance, dear Friends, as a person and as a Priest of the Church. This was also the topic of a sermon preached on the 5th Sunday of Easter by me. It is obvious, by the reaction of a few people of the congregation, that I missed the boat somewhere in the sermon, for some were hurt by a quotation used by me during the course of the sermon. While it was not the quotation that was the source of the hurt, the fact is that it caused some to question the wisdom of such a source from the pulpit. For this I am truly sorry, for no hurt was intended.

I could have failed to give credit for the quotation, from a Muslim scholar from the 13th century, but that would have been dishonest. Even though the scholar referred to was from a much earlier time than we live in, some were offended by the inclusion of words by a follower of Islam. The words themselves had no reference to the practice of Islam, but in this time in America, it might have been more prudent to seek another source to prove what I tried to show in the sermon, that Jesus, and therefore our God, is supreme. I believe that with all my heart, my soul, and my mind.

This brings to mind what St. Paul wrote in the 14th chapter of Romans, "it is not right ... to do anything that makes your brother stumble." My purpose is always to enlighten, not cause hurt (and therefore the possibility of a stumble) to any of my fellow Christians. To those who grieve over this, I grieve with you and pray that my words always seek to build up, not tear down.

Our family of Nativity is a wonderful congregation, committed to Christ, and never to false gods. There is only One God: Him whom we worship. May I live and teach and preach that fact always in my life. That is my prayer and for all the loving family of Nativity.

In Christ's Love,
Fr. Gerry