In the Presence Pentecost 21 A 22nd Oct 2023

2023 10 22 Proper 24 Pentecost 21

• Exodus 33:12-23 and Psalm 99  •  1 Thessalonians 1:1-10  • Matthew 22:15-22

 

Are we a distinct people?  What is it that makes us distinct?

 

The people in the church of Thessalonica were distinct.  Saint Paul sings their praises and reports that in every place, beyond Macedonia and Achaia their faith in God had become known, such that they have no need to speak about it. 

 

Can you imagine if our church here had that reputation?  In our circumstance it might be that the Anglican Church in Mackay has such faith that it is the hot topic in Townsville and Cairns and everywhere!  Up in Ayr they’d be saying, “Have you heard about the faith of the Anglican church in Mackay?  It is clear that they are favoured by God and that God has chosen them.  Their faith is amazing and they spread the word of God to other towns!”

 

The Thessalonians were consistent in living out, the spiritual virtues granted to them in Christ.  A recent meme on facebook said: “Hypocrisy – Church people going about with a mouth full of scripture and a heart full of hate.”  - the point is that, as Christians we ought to be Christ-like.  The fact that there is a meme like this out there, says to me that many churches are not as exemplary as the Thessalonian Church.  The Thessalonians didn’t just give intellectual assent to the moral virtues of Christ and a nod of thanks for His saving sacrifice.  They actually embodied all that a Christian, clothed in Christ, ought to be.

 

Last week’s readings talked about the wedding feast of the King.  The parable showed us that all peoples are invited to Gods Kingdom. Great news!  However, the last line was about someone not in wedding attire who was thrown out.  Our wedding attire is to be clothed in Christ.  Our baptism is where we “put on Christ” – we become so emersed in Him that, like fabric in dye, we become permanently changed. The Thessalonians were living this reality.

 

Saint Paul also says of the Thessalonians, that he knows that God had chosen them.  And he says that the word came to them full of the power of the Holy Spirit and with conviction.  I don’t know exactly what happened at that place, but I think it would have been a mighty exciting place to have been.  That experience of the power and reality of God, permanently shaped the identity of the Thessalonian Church. 

 

One could erroneously think that the Thessalonian church enjoyed honour and privilege in their community, but Thessalonia was a place where Saint Paul faced hostilities and was sent on to Berea.   The Thessalonian church didn’t hide away in fear, however, instead they took on the work of Saint Paul and spread the Gospel to the regions around them.  The Thessalonian Church has been called an exemplary church.  I wonder what our church would look like if we had the same mode of operating as that church?

 

It is one thing to get involved in a lot of church activity, and it is another to be a church that embodies Christ.  But what is it that makes the difference?

 

Moses talked to God about the presence of God.  We read where he says; “In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth."  Moses was not at all keen to move until he had the assurance that God’s presence would go with them.

 

In the times of Moses, the presence of God was signified in the cloud and we read about the tent of meeting that Moses set up for the people to inquire of God.  A bit later in Exodus we find the explanations of the various areas set up, including the “Holy of Holies”.  Only the high priest was allowed to enter that Holy of Holies.  Where is the Holy of Holies today?  When Jesus died on the cross the curtain that sectioned off the Holy of Holies was torn in two.  On the day of Pentecost the presence of God came to individuals with the coming of the Holy Spirit.

 

Many Christians do good works, because, honestly, that is part of our calling – To be the hands and feet of Christ.  Many non-Christians also do good works.  Therefore, how is the Christian distinct?  It obviously isn’t due to the work that we do, even though these are things common to the people of God.  We are distinct because we have the presence of God.  But are we aware of this?  And are we relying on the presence and power of God?

 

I suspect we forget that we can rely on the Holy Spirit.  We forget to always be aware of the presence of God with us.  When things go wrong, both little nonsense things or major things, with the awareness of the presence of God with us, we will know the peace that passes all understanding and gives us rest. You and I are distinct because of God’s presence.  He is always with us. 

 

God has chosen us.  We are chosen to be God’s own.  Saint Paul told the Thessalonians; “For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you,…”  What a reassurance!  But do we realize that God has chosen us?  We are individually chosen, loved and called for the purposeful plan of God.  Also, we as the Mackay Anglican Church, are chosen, loved and called for a purposeful plan of God.

 

Last week’s Gospel reading ended with the line, “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”  We who have been baptised in Christ – who are dressed in Christ, we are in our wedding clothes and WE ARE CHOSEN.  We are identified as Christ’s, because we walk in God’s presence.  We take up that invitation, walking in God’s presence we are appropriately dressed.

 

The Israelites also needed this same reassurance of God’s love and call.  They were the chosen people and they walked with His presence. 

 

Moses quite reasonably then asks God to teach him His ways…. Moses wants to know what God requires so that he can then teach the people what God requires.  God’s response to this is; “My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.” More than anything, this is central to our message.  The emphasis therefore is not on what we do for God, but the gift that God gives to us.  God’s presence is the key.  God’s presence will give us rest. 

 

In our Gospel Jesus was asked about Marriage laws and paying taxes. In regards to the question of taxes, He answers that we should give to God what is God and to Caesar what is Caesar’s.  This is a such a clever answer, but the unspoken implication is the question left unuttered; What belongs to God?   And the answer is an obvious, everything.  The image of Caesar was stamped on the coin, but whose image is stamped on mankind?  We are made in the image of God and so we give to God what belongs to God.   We are challenged to use the free will that God gave us, to freely choose to belong to him.

 

Jesus declared that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are living because they belong to God.  They chose God, but God chose them before they were born… Just as God has loved and chosen us.  Jesus declares that God has power even over death.  This power is God’s and God’s presence is with us.  What are the implications of this?  God’s Holy Spirit with us, is the presence of God and the power of God in us.    There is no reason that we should not be stepping out in faith, walking towards the promised land. 

 

The Christian life is an exciting adventure.  We are called, as the Israelites were, to walk toward the promised land.  It can be a little frightening at times, as we step out in faith to answer God’s call, but we are reassured that we are God’s precious and chosen people.  We are never alone.  We are distinct because we are the people who walk in His presence.

HOLY COW! Pentecost 20A 15th October 2023

 2023 10 15 Proper 23  Pentecost 20A

Exodus 32:1-14 and Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23  •  Philippians 4:1-9  •  Matthew 22:1-14

 

In our reading to the Philippians we find that there is such a rift between two ladies that St. Paul needs to address the matter.  Rather than get into a debate about who is right or wrong he urges us all to think on whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise…., and to keep doing the things that he, St. Paul, had taught and was doing, and the God of peace would be with them.   

 

Currently there is more than a little rift between Israel and the Palestinians.  I have been surprised/ shocked by the Palestinian response to the Hamas attack on Israel…. The revelry in the street over the body of a dead young Israeli female….  Surely, I thought Hamas was a terrorist group within the Palestinians and the Palestinians were innocent.   But no… the matter is more complex.  It appears at this point in time that the Palestinians are rejoicing in the pain of Israel.  Something that should never be.  After all, who are we if we take pleasure in another’s pain?  Perhaps we would do best to be like St. Paul, and not get into the “He said, She said”, but urge the way of Peace…. And pray for peace.

 

Israel has been, and is God’s chosen nation.  It is a choice made by God, not through anything that Israel did to deserve it.  We, also are God’s chosen people.  It is a sure fact that we are saved only by His amazing Grace, and not by any good works on our part.  In the reality of this incredible grace that we all enjoy, we can easily make the mistake of taking God’s grace for granted and feeling like we can do whatever we want – and still be God’s favoured people.  Today’s readings remind us, that God is God almighty and His grace comes to us at a great cost, which we should never take for granted, just as we also should never undermine God’s greatness.

 

In our first reading Moses was up on the mountain receiving the commandments from God.  The people became impatient in waiting and took things into their own hands.  At this point, the only thing the people knew about God, was that they were God’s chosen people.  As the children of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, they belonged to God and God had promised to bring them back into their own land.  The land of Canaan, given to Abraham, lived in by Jacob, and an inheritance for these children of the promise.  These people had a national and spiritual identity.  It kept them united, but the Israelites had been living in Egypt for 430 years, and it messed with their identity.

 

Consider our own identity.  Who are we and why?  I consider myself an Australian, connected to this local area.  I often say, “my Grandmother’s grandmother was married here”, but I don’t actually think that is the reason for my identity.  The real reason is more a sense that I share the shaping of who I am with the people in this community with whom I grew up.  We share a common story of our formative years involving cane fires in winter, cyclones and floods in summer, swimming at the beach or Marian falls on the weekends, picnics and swims at Finch Hatton and Eungella, Island holidays, playing sport, going to church, and street parades like the Sugartime festival.  

 

Somehow that sense of community keeps me connected even though our city has grown and changed.  This community formed me and when I travel to conferences and speak with others, I’m aware that even my values are formed by my community.  The Israelites lived side by side with the Egyptians.  Yes, they knew their differences, but their children born in Egypt were certainly influenced by the experience of growing up in Egypt, and this included many generations who grew up in that 430 year time period.

 

The bull or calf was a common god in many of the ancient civilizations, including Egypt.  The bull was known as Apis or Hapi, and he was supposed to have been born of a virgin cow, rendered pregnant by a moonbeam or a flash of lightning.  Many scholars believe that the people didn’t really think of the animal as the god, but as a representation of the god.

 

Aaron built an altar in front of the golden calf and declared a festival to the LORD – LORD in all capitals meaning; to the one true God, Yahweh.  These people thought they were doing what they should.  Aaron thought he was doing what he should.  They meant well but got it wrong.  These people were worshiping God in the only way that they knew how, from their experience in Egypt, and to the best of their ability.  They meant well but got it wrong and God was ready to destroy them because of their actions.

 

we need to be really careful that we don’t make God into a Golden Calf, an idol made for our convenience, that we use to justify our actions.  Do we compromise the truth of God for the sake of keeping people happy?  Do we also mean well, and worship God according to our culture and our nation, exchanging the glory of God for something that is far less than the greatness and glory that God is?

 

Moses “stood in the gap” and interceded for the people.  God hears and is merciful…. Our intercessor is Jesus.  God hears and is merciful to us also.  We rest assured.  We stand today, with blessed assurance of our Salvation yet knowing that though we mean well, we do get things wrong, and even though we are unconditionally saved, we are called to follow God and “get it” right.

 

When we look at our New Testament reading we find ourselves in the story.  There are three groups represented in the story; 1- the invited guests, 2- the slaves or servants of the King, and 3- the people in the streets, including the good and the bad.

 

Jesus tells us, "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.”  He is telling us about the Kingdom of God and He is the Son.  We are ALL called.  Many are called but few are chosen.

 

When this parable was told, the religious people had a fair idea that the group in the story, representing them, were the invited guests.  God’s chosen nation had a history of mistreating the prophets.  The prophets and proclaimers of God’s message are represented by the slaves, or servants.  When Jesus came, he made it clear that the Good News of this invitation to the wedding was for all people and ultimately all would be invited.

 

 That invited group is us, the church!  We are God’s chosen people, invited to the wedding feast, but to come to the feast means to make that feast our priority.  In the story these people didn’t think the Kingdom of God was worth more than their work on the farm or their business… it was secondary to their own interests and some even mistreated the messengers who tried to impress upon them that they needed to act now.  The implication? This group will miss out, regardless of their favoured status unless they make Jesus their number one priority.

 

Wow! That is a sobering message.  But wait… there is more.  The slaves are sent into the streets to invite everyone.  Everyone is invited in the end.  AND the slaves will most certainly be at the wedding.  We are called to be the slaves of God, inviting all to the wedding feast of the King.  We are also the outsiders, both good and bad.  We are non-Jews, people on the streets and we are called, invited to enjoy the hospitality of the King. 

 

Regardless of where we see ourselves in the story, there is still one more important aspect; The one found who was not dressed in wedding clothes.  Whether we are the chosen, favoured and invited guest, the slave or the outsiders on the streets, we need to be appropriately dressed for this celebration.  What is meant by this?

 

Galatians 3:27 tells us that all who are baptized have been clothed with Christ.  Romans 13:12-14  to.. put on the Lord Jesus Christ,…”  In our baptism we are emersed in Christ… “baptism” meaning to be emersed such that we are permanently changed, just like a cloth that is dyed takes on a different identity.  To put on our wedding clothes, we need to be clothed in Christ.  We need to be willingly identified as Christ-coloured.  More important than my identity as an Australian, or Mackay-ite is the need to be identified first and foremost as Christ’s, and my opinions and values need to reflect HIM.

 

When our time comes to meet with Christ, he won’t be impressed by the one who says, I identify as Jewish or Christian therefore I’m an invited guest…. If you are not in wedding clothes you will not be allowed in.  If we are basing our invitation on anything other than our identity in Christ we are exchanging the glory of God for an idol–  Ultimately, no matter any of our physical identities, only one thing matters - that we are clothed in Christ.

 

Moses reminds God; “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, …..'"  And the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.”  It appears that God is so angry with their behaviour that he is ready to destroy them.   But what is really happening, is that God is giving Moses, God’s own heart for his people.  Their behaviour is wrong, but God desires someone who will care for them, such that even when they are doing everything wrong, that person will implore God on their behalf.

 

We are called to be this for others, and our call is to share the message about the invitation to the wedding, remembering to pass on to each one that the only requirement be, that we are clothed in Christ.  Being clothed in good intentions is not the wedding attire.  Being clothed in good deeds wont work either.  Being clothed in a Jewish identity – An Anglican, Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, Australian, French, Maltese or any other identity won't cut it either.  These things are Golden Calves -  mere representations or counterfeits when only the genuine article will do.  The only way to the father is through the son.  Do we desire to belong to God?  We must come to him through the cross – The only acceptable sacrifice.  We identify with Christ and put on Christ -We are clothed in Christ.   

 

Now that we are clothed in Christ, who stood in the gap and interceded for us, we need to do likewise and intercede for others…. After all, clothed in Christ, we must have the attitude of Christ, the heart of Christ for others, the care of Christ for those who are vulnerable, because our identity in Christ is the real wedding garment.  Come… we are invited… and the feast will be the wonderful celebration of God’s salvation.