What struck me particularly were the interviews with people in the vast crowd. Medgar Evers' widow spoke so beautifully of what the day would have meant to him and how it was hard for those of the Civil Rights' generation to believe that this event was really happening. One felt a surge of hope and expectation again in the community. Several parishioners who attended attested to the excitement and to the sense of community in the crowd. The fact that this was shared not only here but in many parts of the world was extraordinary. BBC News did interviews in Jakarta, Delhi and Berlin and the response was the same. Of course we are all realists and know that President Obama is human and that he has to deal with Congress and all the same interest groups and indeed with the same issues as the outgoing Administration. But nevertheless there seems to be a new element at play which focuses on the person of the President himself. He has a remarkable aura about him and a rare ability to speak and to inspire. I feel he can make a difference; he can set in motion a process of change for the better. May God protect him and enable him to do so.

I could not help thinking of the Inauguration as I read today's Gospel of the Inauguration of the ministry of Jesus. In 36 words Mark says it all: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” Mark does not waste a word; every word is there for a purpose. For example “Now after John was arrested”: it seems straight forward enough: but Mark wants to make clear that one ministry has concluded and another is beginning. Rather like Obama's recent “one President at a time”. John's gospel has Jesus and John in parallel ministries. But not Mark. The ministry of the Forerunner, the one preparing the way for “he who comes after me” is finished; the real thing, “he who will baptize with water and the Holy Spirit”, is now here. John's work is complete and no longer needed.

But even more than that Mark chooses his words with care. He refers to John's arrest. Six chapters later he deals with the death of John the Baptist. But for the meantime he refers to his arrest. That seems simple enough except the Greek used here is better translated “was handed over” rather than arrested. That Greek word is a loaded term. It is used again in the predictions of Jesus' Passion; that Jesus was handed over (by God?) to be tried, found guilty and put to death. There is a sense here that John's death like that of Jesus was all part of God's eternal plan. And furthermore there is a sense that John is not simply a Forerunner of the ministry of the Christ but also a Forerunner of his Passion. As I said some weeks ago about the opening passage in Mark's gospel, Mark is not simply telling a story from beginning to end but he is writing a theological treatise with clear purpose and consistent thought. In other words Mark begins as he knows he will end. This truly is the good news of Jesus Christ the Son of God. But by contrast with John Jesus does not do his Messianic thing in the wilderness the classic location of prophets and new beginnings.

We know what part the wilderness played in Jewish history with Moses and the children of Israel; how Elijah found God in the wilderness. It was the natural place for John the Baptist to be located and indeed we will soon learn that Jesus did his “wilderness time”. But Mark states clearly that “Jesus came to Galilee”. Galilee of all places! Perhaps it is like saying someone began their political career in North Dakota or even Alaska. Surely you would think a serious Messianic figure would choose the wilderness or at least Jerusalem, that focal point of Jewish religion. But no, Jesus chooses the semi pagan neighbor hood of Galilee. Galilee of the Gentiles. Why? Because Mark is pointing forward to the post Pentecost church and its universal mission. Once again Mark is setting the stage for the unfolding drama. Well there are nine words and there are more to come. Parallel to John Baptist Jesus proclaims. John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins: Jesus proclaims the good news of God.

And what is that good news? “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near; repent,and believe in the good news.” Once again Mark is so concise. “The time is fulfilled” is not just any old time but God's time; a time for something momentous to happen; such as a time of Salvation or a time of Judgment. Mark is saying that with the appearance of Jesus is he beginning of a new era; the era of God's kingdom or of God's kingship or rule. This era is inaugurated through the person and work of Jesus. The great debate among Bible scholars in the late 19th and the first half of the 20th century was about whether this kingdom was for now or the future. Scholarship today tends to favor an amalgam of both: God's kingdom has begun in the person and work of Jesus and will be fully triumphant at the Second Coming. The kingdom is present in our obedience to the way of God; it is present in the church as it is faithful to its calling; but there will always be an element of “not-yetness” about the kingdom until the Last Day when all things will submit to God's rule of love.

In light of this approach of God's kingdom, or God's kingship, we are called to “repent and believe in the good news”. Such is the import of this good news that it commands a whole new stance on our part: a turning around from one way of looking at things to another and trusting in its content. No longer are we to be indifferent to or cynical about the things of God, about God's future. No longer are we to be compromised in our loyalties, not being prepared to support one side or the other. No longer are we to indulge ourselves in a variety of opinions without risking making real decisions; avoiding taking a stance on anything. No as recipient's of God's good news we are called to start afresh, to turn from the old ways of looking at ourselves, each other, the world and the future and to trust in God's ways, God's promises, God's plan for us and for the whole creation. For Mark Jesus embodies all that. And Mark then immediately launches into the call of the disciples about which Father Fleenor spoke so eloquently last Sunday.

Mark in these few words reminds of another inauguration long ago the power of which is still shaping our lives.

But thinking of good news we have had good news as a parish. On Friday we gained not only the Certificate of Occupancy but also Closure with the developer, Clarett, on our new space, Transfiguration House. This has been long expected but such a relief that it has now happened. This is good news indeed. But like all good news it signals a new era of our life as a parish. It is not about business as usual or let's get back to like it was before. I really believe that this parish has been blessed by God for a purpose. We have been given new resources and income to enable us to do our “kingdom work” the more effectively. We have maintained our life well over the past three years of redevelopment and disruption. But now it is time to see how we can grow our life and our ministry to better serve God, his church and his world. There are obvious new needs arising from the current economic crisis; there is an ongoing need for healing and hopeful community; there is the challenge to reach out to new people coming into this neighborhood; there are opportunities to serve the marginalized and the hurting with compassionate and appropriate response. All this and more is our response to be agents of God's good news and his coming kingdom, God's reign of peace and justice and love.

There is a sense of new times nationally; there is certainly a new time commencing here at Transfiguration. Mark's gospel reminds us of the ultimate new time inaugurated in the ministry of Jesus; the time of the proclamation of the good news of the kingdom of God; a proclamation which undergirds all our being and enterprise. May we respond to these times with faith, hope and grace.   Amen

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