In his Epiphany 5 sermon Clay Nelson, inspired by a recent interaction with a bigot, reflects on the importance of symbolic action in confronting dysfunctional society. ""Last week and this week Mark’s Gospel tells the story of Jesus’ public inauguration of his ministry. It is full of symbolic action to set the tone of his future work, much like Obama’s signing an executive order to close Guantanamo and giving his first interview as President to Arabic TV were clear signs that the Bush years are over. Jesus is announcing it is new day in Palestine by his exorcism in the synagogue last week and his healing of Peter’s mother-in-law this week. The old corrupt order will no longer go unchallenged. Hope is now in the air. The rules are changing." Full text at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=503&id=916.