I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…there is one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-3, 6)
I thought my sermon for the kids at BT this morning would be a good one to share with you all…
These words were written by Paul in the middle of the first century. This was a time in the Roman Empire that was marked by growing alienation between the common people and the elite and governing classes. There was growing instability and potential for unrest due to the erratic behavior, lavish spending, and increasingly personal and arbitrary rule of the Emperor. (I didn’t make that up—you can check your history books.) Paul was in prison in Rome for his preaching when he wrote this letter, “a prisoner of the Lord,” as he says. In the verses for today, he is giving his readers in the city of Ephesus, who lived in a very diverse and dynamic environment—and giving us—guidance on how to live a life that reflects our values and beliefs.
This brief passage from long ago, written to people like us in a world, though different in technology, very much like ours, has a lot of wisdom for us today.
To see how, let me first review with you the Brownell Talbot core values: respect, responsibility, compassion, and integrity. I’ll read from the BT student handbook, the section called “The Portrait of a Brownell Talbot Graduate”:
“I am an individual, but I am not alone. Just as I have value, I recognize that all humans have value and I am curious about others. I know that I don’t have all the answers, and I know the convergence of thoughts and experiences generates the best ideas. I believe the diversity of human experience is its strength.”
“Experiences with those different from me only enhance my ability to communicate and tell my story. Understanding that conflict and disagreement are inevitable, I have the skills to facilitate fair, peaceful, and successful resolutions. I am thoughtful, compassionate, empathetic, and effective in my communication.”
“I am proud of what I know and willfully acknowledge there is much I don’t know. I am continually learning and perceiving the world in new ways, finding hidden patterns to make connections between seemingly unrelated subjects. I make decisions, solve problems, and take appropriate risks when information is incomplete or not yet known. I am not afraid to fail. It allows me to reflect and find new ways to approach old problems. I believe in my ability to grow and learn.”
“I am motivated to explore my interests, passions, and moral purpose. I seek out opportunities to serve others, the community, and the world. Because I know myself and I am curious about my world, I am prepared to identify an impact only I can make, and I will make it. I strive for balance in my life, knowing it will benefit my personal well-being and the ways in which I am able to contribute to the world.”
“I am a global citizen. I know my daily actions can and do make an impact and my influence begins with my family, school, and local community. I lead by example in caring for the natural world and for humanity. I am an advocate for myself and for others, speaking up for my own rights and the rights of others.”
Paul urges us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. As students at BT, your calling is to embrace those core values of respect, responsibility, compassion, and integrity. Paul talks about humility and gentleness—those qualities shine through every statement from the handbook I just read. Humility and gentleness are not always easy to practice. In a high school setting, and for the rest of your lives, peer pressure and competition can be intense. However, humility and gentleness are essential for building strong, positive relationships. Humility allows us to recognize our own limitations and appreciate the strengths of others. Gentleness helps us to approach conflicts and challenges with a calm and compassionate attitude. Imagine a school—and a world—where everyone practiced humility and gentleness. Instead of putting others down to lift ourselves up, we would support and encourage one another. This kind of environment fosters mutual respect and cooperation, making it a place where everyone can thrive.
Paul says be patient and bear with one another in love. In our diverse community, as it was in Ephesus, we inevitably encounter people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and personalities. Patience allows us to navigate these differences with grace and understanding. It helps us to bear with one another in love, even when it’s challenging. Bearing with one another in love means accepting and valuing each person for who they are. It means being willing to listen and learn from each other, rather than rushing to judgment or criticism. This kind of love creates a sense of belonging and acceptance, which is vital for a healthy, growing, and inclusive community.
Paul calls for maintaining the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Unity does not mean that we all have to be the same or agree on everything. Instead, it means finding common ground and working together towards shared goals. It means respecting each other’s differences and seeking community rather than division. In a high school setting, unity can be achieved by promoting inclusivity and collaboration. Whether it’s through group projects, extracurricular activities, or simply being a good friend, we can all contribute to a sense of unity and peace. By doing so, we create a supportive and uplifting environment for everyone.
Finally, Paul reminds us why all of this matters, why our calling matters: there is one God and Father of All, who is over all and through all and in all.” The fundamental truth is that we are all connected—we are all siblings, and our lives depend on each other in ways we can never even imagine or understand. We are all part of a larger family. Regardless of our backgrounds, beliefs, or experiences, we share a common bond through the love of our Creator. God’s presence is not limited to certain places or certain people. God is over all, through all, and in all. Let me put it this way: you will never meet someone who isn’t a beloved child of God—just like you are.
What Paul is talking about—humility and gentleness, bearing with one another in love, unity and the bond of peace—the BT essential values of respect, responsibility, compassion, and integrity—those aren’t buzzwords or a catchy slogan —they are the only building blocks there are to living a good life. When we strive to live by these words, we reflect the image of God we bear. We become a powerful force for good in the world. Paul, sages and prophets from the world’s other great religions, and the BT values that echo them, give us a roadmap for life. They give us a pattern for identity—a way of looking at the world, an anchor for living in the world, a roadmap for finding our place and our mission in the world. The world around us can often seem complex and chaotic. Respect, responsibility, compassion, and integrity are, in the end, four simple and straightforward concepts for creating a life that is filled with meaning and community and purpose.
Being worthy of this calling we have isn’t about what career you choose or what awards you receive or what trophies you win—It’s much bigger than that. It’s the “container” in which everything else in your life exists—It’s the character that you bring to everything you do.
My prayer for you this week is that you’ll choose humility, and gentleness, and patience, now and always. When you live out this calling—when you have respect, responsibility, compassion and integrity—no matter what you do, you will bring good, and true, and beautiful things into the world.
Blessings and peace,
Fr. Keith+
