Knightly News

“525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?”

As we begin the 2022-2023 school year, I find Rent’s “Seasons of Love” repeatedly running through my brain. Although, my family might argue that the song isn’t only in my mind but is coming out of my mouth rather loudly and off-key at any given moment. “How do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee?” As a mother and current graduate student, measuring life in cups of coffee can be pretty tempting.

How do you measure, measure a year?

During the first week of August each year, many churches celebrate the life of Joseph of Arimathea, a man who all four of the Gospels agree gave his “own new tomb” in which to lay the body of Christ (Matt. 27:57-61; Mark 42-47; Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42). Joseph’s donation of a tomb is noteworthy, but what was it about this that caused the Church to celebrate him for thousands of years? To shed light on that, we must first go back into the book of Genesis.

Christians believe that God exists as One who is Triune. In other words, God exists as the perfect community, a community that is so perfect it is One. The first two chapters of the Book of Genesis offer stories of God creating all that is, including humanity. In the beginning, humans and God live in community with one another, Eden. According to Genesis 2, the humans break the one rule God stated, and thus, damage the perfect community they had. In an act of great mercy, God expels them from the garden, lest they eat from the Tree of Life and live forever in their shame. As the book of Genesis continues, God reaches out to a man named Abram, whose name God later changes to Abraham. God and Abraham enter into an eternally binding covenant agreement which endures through each generation of Abraham’s descendants. This Abrahamic Covenant brings God and humanity into a relationship reminiscent of the community God and humanity enjoyed in Eden. 

Turning to the book of Exodus, we jump in time 430 years (Exodus 12:40). Centuries after God and Abraham committed to eternal covenant, Abraham’s descendants are enslaved in Egypt. God calls a man named Moses to save the people from their enslavement and upon reaching freedom, God and the people enter into another covenant with one another. Commonly known as the Mount Sinai Covenant, this is giving and receiving of the Law. The Law is a gift from God given to this ancient community in order that they may live more fully in relationship with God and one another. 

Centuries later, it is this Law given by God in the Mount Sinai Covenant upon which Jesus teaches saying that he did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17). When asked what is the most important of all the commandments, Jesus points to Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18, saying “The most important one is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

Looking back to Joseph of Arimathea, yes, he gave Jesus a tomb. Yet, Joseph did something far more than just that. Joseph, in that moment, lived the heart of the Law. He saw the need of the community to get Jesus’ body out of the hands of the Roman government in order to give him a proper Jewish burial. Not only did Joseph see the need, he responded in a way that was generous and motivated by love. In offering what he had, Joseph exemplified what it looks like to love God and love neighbor.  

Here in the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, we are UKNIGHTED in Community. This is not some lofty goal or pie in the sky fantasy. UKNIGHTED in Community is simply a statement of truth pointing out that which already exists. We are a community 525,600 minutes a year, and each and every person in this community is a valuable member with much to give and much to receive. Though our appearance changes from year to year as people move, students graduate, and more are welcomed, each member belongs to the whole.

After spending the summer months off campus, we rejoice to gather together in person once more. The school year is off to a joyful start as we have greeted old friends and met new ones. Though our community exists 525,600 minutes a year, we are only together face-to-face for a small percentage of that time. With more than 57,000 minutes on campus, how will we measure this school year? In class time, in chapels, in pep rallies, in delicious lunches? 

How do you measure, measure a year?

Each of us is invited to consider how we might more fully participate in the Episcopal community. We will have many moments together in the months to come. These moments are a gift of opportunity in which we can choose to show one another kindness, hospitality, and generous love. My prayer for this school year is that each of us may give generously to one another, sharing what we have as we study, play, and live Uknighted in Community.

So, how will we measure this year? Let’s measure in moments of love.

Casey Duncan serves as the Assistant Chaplain for Episcopal School of Baton Rouge. She previously served as the Episcopal Upper School religion teacher and a long-term Lower School religion substitute teacher. Duncan earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a Master of Theological Studies with an emphasis in New Testament Studies from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. She is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry with an emphasis in ministry of educational leadership from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Before joining Episcopal, Duncan was the Program Coordinator and Lay Head of Congregation for the University of Texas Episcopal Campus Ministry. At the time, the UT campus ministry was the largest Episcopal college ministry in the country. Duncan worked with a student vestry, preached sermons, led worship services, offered pastoral care and much more. She is an active community volunteer serving as a Manna Giver with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and an adult Christian education teacher and volunteer with St. James Episcopal Church. While in Texas, she was a member of the College Ministry Advisory Board, the University of Texas Interfaith Council and a Safeguarding God’s Children and Safeguarding God’s People trainer. Duncan is a proud mother to Carolena and Nils. 

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