Obama at Church: Old, Old Story

On Sunday, President Barack Obama and his family worshipped at St. John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Square. The lovely edifice lies just a short stroll from the White House. Every president since James Monroe has attended services there.

The Obamas have not settled on a permanent church home in the nation's capital -- and might not. Although the Obamas are not Episcopalians, St. John's offers much. It is not only convenient but it knows how to take presidential appearances in stride. We decline to make a sectarian pitch.

Several of the stories describing the Obama visit cited the sermon. None that we saw mentioned the source. Politico.com's report seemed typical: "During the service, Mike Angell, the seminarian of the church, gave a 15-minute sermon, which included a story about a man who defined himself by his wealth, and so couldn't live boldly for Jesus. 'Our God demands boldness from us,' Angell said."

The Episcopal Church and other denominations follow the lectionary, which stipulates scriptural selections for reading according to the Christian calendar. The Gospel appointed for Sunday was Mark 10:17-31. The passage relates the incident of the rich man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. The man assures Jesus he has kept the Commandments. Jesus looks at him, loves him, and says, "You lack one thing: Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." The man leaves grieving.

Worshippers heard the story not only in St. John's with the president but in churches throughout the realm. Sermons interpreted the text. Parishioners in Richmond pondered the same words that the Obamas pondered. To them this is not just "a" story but "the" story, and life goes on.