Two Sides of the Same Coin - The Rev. Melanie W. J. Slane

Sermons from the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

Today in Paul's letter to the Romans, we are presented with two diametrically opposed realities of human life as we know it. On one side, we have sin brought about by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; the wanting to be like God, knowing good and evil. And we hear that this way brings death. And on the other side, we have Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith, the giver of grace and life and love. On this side is life. For a long time, I viewed these two divergent certainties as separate conundrums that I myself stood in the middle of and dabbled in each some of the time. But after years of contending with the two, I realize that they're not actually separate currencies, but two sides of the same coin. Two sides of our true human condition, painfully captivated by revenge, dishonesty, and self-centeredness on the one side, and at the same time, capable of immeasurable good, and loving kindness and fortitude for the way ahead. Rooted in our deepest longing to be in loving relationship with our creator. The truth of who we are is sin and righteousness fused together in form and function, but wholly committed to different currencies.