like a mustard seed Proper 6 year B 16th June 2024

 2024  06  16  PROPER 6  Fourth Sunday after Pentecost  Year B

1 Samuel 15:34 - 16:13 and Psalm 20  •  2 Corinthians 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17  •  Mark 4:26-34

 

Today we hear that the Kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed that grows to become such a great shrub that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.  The Kingdom of God is a place of refuge… a place of sustenance, nurturing and growth.  Jesus tells us that this is the way it is, but do we view the Kingdom of God this way? And do others, see it that way?

 

I ponder how this Kingdom of God fits into the life of my friend who is struggling with years of trauma.  Years of trauma have seen her isolate herself from the church.  She recently booked herself into hospital for treatment.  My husband made the comment, “She needs Jesus”.  Ahhhh such a nice simple answer for such a complicated problem and I wish it really was that simple.  But this sudden and simple fix is not the story of the mustard seed.

 

We are told, and perhaps you know, that the mustard seed is actually very small.  But Jesus tells us that it grows to be a large tree – a source of life – nests for the birds.  So, what does this tell us about the Kingdom of God?

 

Those small seeds we plant in the kingdom of God- Our kindness to others, our church dinners, our care for those in need….  These, tiny and seemingly insignificant things, with the blessing of God, grow beyond what we can see, and in ways beyond our comprehension to become something so significant it will shock us.  

 

In the case of my friend, who my husband says, needs Jesus –she will receive Jesus through the gift of our friendship and care – We are in, and we bring the Kingdom of God -  that tree that brings life.  We trust that God will cause the Kingdom of God to give life to my friend.  But it will take time, and it doesn’t happen at all unless we step out in faith and BE the kingdom of God.

 

The growth of a tree takes time.  We can look closely at a seedling and not see the growing happening at all, but trees don’t generally grow from a seedling to a giant tree overnight.  It takes time… sometimes we see very little signs of growth – especially in the winter, and it takes care and watering… etc… to grow into a tree… and did I mention time. 

 

We tend to judge things by what we see physically.  After all we are physical creatures.  But our readings today encourage us to open our spiritual eyes and see the Kingdom of God – which is spiritual.

 

The readings for today cause us to ponder; How do we view others?  Do we look at their outward appearance and decide what kind of person they are based on the clothes they wear, their age, their looks, the sound of their voice, their ethnicity???  There are so many things that people can use to assume a picture of someone’s life, but today’s readings tell us something about these assumptions…. It isn’t the way that God looks at people.

 

This week I met my daughter’s boyfriend.  He is 38 and has a 21 year old son.  As he told me the age of his son, I noticed his expression, and sensed his discomfort at how I might perceive him.  It was obvious that he had already received much judgment and criticism.  Many of us have a past that we wish was different.  But for some of us, those mistakes haunt us and taint the perception that others have of us… and the image we have of ourselves.

 

 

Our prophet Samuel learnt something about this in our first reading. “…, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the LORD."  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."”

 

Samuel had come to anoint a King for the nation.  He saw the young man Eliab and he looked impressive.  But God wasn’t impressed.  David, the youngest and most insignificant of the sons was the one who God chose.  He was still very good looking and probably quite impressive physically also, but his family didn’t think of him as being important, or significant. 

 

Most of us feel that we are not terribly significant. Significance in this world is so superficial… You might do something extraordinarily good and have your 15 minutes of fame and the next day it is forgotten.  Yet the mistakes we make seem more memorable.  Where is the Good News in that?   There isn’t any. 

 

But the Kingdom of God is different.  In the Kingdom of God, we are told that God knew us and formed us with purpose before we were born.  In the Kingdom of God, we are told that God loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us so that we can have eternal life.   In the Kingdom of God, we are of infinite significance.  Because of this we, like Saint Paul, should regard no one from a human point of view;” Therefore, instead of making assumptions, judging and dismissing, we understand that Christ loved and came to redeem all and that every life is so very precious to him.

 

Saint Paul tells us, “if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

 

This week, I read a prophetic post from Roma Waterman that said, “I don’t know who needs to hear this but you need to know you are not a failure. Don’t judge your whole life by one mistake you have made……..You have a future and a hope that is beyond all you can imagine waiting in your future. Keep going and don’t give up.”

 

The love of Christ urges us on because, as the scripture tells us, Christ died for all so that all might live – and live not for ourselves but for him.  This is a spiritual reality.

 

In our baptism we enter into Christ.   This term, “In Christ”, is a term that means that God the father now sees us as he sees Christ – that is, as His precious and perfect Child.  We enter into the royal family of God and we are of undeniable and incomprehensible importance and significance. We don’t just “Identify as a child of God”… we are a child of God. 

 

In our baptism we are born of the Spirit.  When we respond to, and receive the Gospel and choose to belong to God, our Spirit comes to life – is born, and we belong to God.  We are Children of the King.  As children of the King we are called to a royal role with the Kingdom of God, growing and being the Kingdom of God.  And like a mustard seed, that Kingdom grows to become a place of nurture for all those who need sustenance, shelter and rest.   We are loved and we are called.  We are a new creation and we grow the Kingdom of God here on Earth so that God’s Kingdom comes on earth as in heaven. 

 

Instead of a Kingdom where some feel excluded, the opposite is true.  It is a Kingdom of love, acceptance and belonging, where life can flourish.  Today we are invited to respond to that loving call of God, to work with him to grow the Kingdom of God, understanding that we are part of that tree of the Kingdom, and it continues to grow by stepping out in faith, even if it is with just the first tiniest step of faith

The greener grass! Proper 5B 9th June 2024

 2024  06  09   PROPER 5 (10)  Third Sunday after Pentecost  Year B

1 Samuel 8:4-11 and Psalm 138  •  2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1  •  Mark 3:20-35

“So Tell me what you want, what you really, really want”….  Are there any children of the 90s or fans of the spice girls?  These are the words of one of their first hit songs.  Tell me what you want, what you really, really want….  Well, our Old Testament reading is a part of the story where the people are telling the prophet Samuel what they really, really want.  They really, really, really want a King. 

 

Unlike our contemporary culture, the nations around Israel were not a democracy.  They all had Kings who ruled them.  Israel was different.  God was their King and the prophet Samuel was his spokesperson.  Israel looked around and saw that the grass appeared greener.  Samuel was upset about their request because it felt like a rejection and a dismissal of all the good that had taken place since God called him as prophet.  And he was right… it was a ridiculous oversight of the reality of the gift that God had given the people.

 

One thing we learn about looking at these stories, is how human nature is pretty much unchanging… we want what the other person has and fail to see the amazing things that God has given us already. 

 

When God was in charge, goodness and mercy ruled. God gave the nation the commandments in order to keep all safe, and thriving, paying particular attention to the weak and vulnerable, yet it seemed to these people, that the grass would be greener with a King.  God says it this way, “they have rejected me from being king over them”.

 

The whole story of our faith is about this statement; “They have rejected me from being King over them.”  Human kind rejects God as King. 

 

Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden, were tempted and ate of the forbidden fruit because they wanted to be like God.  That was what it was all about; rejecting God as King…  the grass looked greener on the other side.  But it wasn’t.  It never is. 

 

The Psalmist says of God, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.”  Would an earthly King do this for us?  Not usually.  An earthly King is looking after himself first.

 

We all have free will and God respects our free will always.  Even though the nation of Israel had previously declared that they would follow God and be His people, they then decided, of their own free will, to reject his wisdom and goodness and ask for an earthly King like the other nations.  The grass looked greener – It certainly wasn’t!

…

It isn’t that anyone deliberately sets out to turn away from God.  This nation still called themselves God’s chosen nation, but they figured they knew better…. Better than God.  In their actions, they proved their deepest heart’s desires and they didn’t listen to the wisdom of God and His spokesperson.  I bet that they didn’t really comprehend that they were rejecting God.   Yet, in their actions they proved that they didn’t trust God…. They didn’t trust in His goodness, and the grass looked greener on the other side.

 

There is a saying about the grass…. The grass is greener on the side you water…

Saint Paul tells us; “ For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.”  He also tells us that what is seen is passing away and temporary.  The Kingdom of God is eternal.  For this same reason…  looking at the physical rather than the spiritual truth, …we see that Jesus’ family is trying to restrain him…. Talk sense into him.  To them, the grass was not looking very green…. Jesus was getting himself into trouble with the authorities and there was such a fuss about him that they didn’t seem to think he was properly looking after himself…. It didn’t seem sensible. 

 

Jesus’ family was looking at the way of life that was temporal, but Jesus’ vision was eternal.  He therefore, says something interesting…. Those who do the will of God are my mother, brothers and sisters. 

 

We enter the family of God through our baptism.  We become spiritually born of God by acknowledging God as the King of our lives.  It is an acknowledgement that the grass that is temporal is not greener than the Kingdom of God and in our baptism, we acknowledge that God knows best, we choose to follow God and accept Christ as our King. 

 

Just like that Israelite nation, who was saved from the slavery in Egypt by the hand of God, we are saved and belong to God.  We are God’s chosen people, but we do still have free will and God forever respects our free will.  Though we are his and he loves us, will we water the grass in the kingdom of God, or will we live in the delusion that the grass that is temporary is greener?

 

Those who do the will of God are the family of God.  Each moment we make a choice, and the reality is that it will always be a struggle, but this is why we need to support and encourage each other.  We remind each other that God is King.  With God as King, mercy and love rule.  The grass in the Kingdom of God is the best green that there is.  This is where we will find goodness and true life.

So there is really just one thing to say; Will you accept Jesus as the Lord and King of your life?

Revived and restored 2024 06 02

2024  06  09   PROPER 5 (10)  Third Sunday after Pentecost  Year B

1 Samuel 8:4-11 and Psalm 138  •  2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1  •  Mark 3:20-35

“So Tell me what you want, what you really, really want”….  Are there any children of the 90s or fans of the spice girls?  These are the words of one of their first hit songs.  Tell me what you want, what you really, really want….  Well, our Old Testament reading is a part of the story where the people are telling the prophet Samuel what they really, really want.  They really, really, really want a King.  

Unlike our contemporary culture, the nations around Israel were not a democracy.  They all had Kings who ruled them.  Israel was different.  God was their King and the prophet Samuel was his spokesperson.  Israel looked around and saw that the grass appeared greener.  Samuel was upset about their request because it felt like a rejection and a dismissal of all the good that had taken place since God called him as prophet.  And he was right… it was a ridiculous oversight of the reality of the gift that God had given the people.

One thing we learn about looking at these stories, is how human nature is pretty much unchanging… we want what the other person has and fail to see the amazing things that God has given us already.  

When God was in charge, goodness and mercy ruled. God gave the nation the commandments in order to keep all safe, and thriving, paying particular attention to the weak and vulnerable, yet it seemed to these people, that the grass would be greener with a King.  God says it this way, “they have rejected me from being king over them”.

The whole story of our faith is about this statement; “They have rejected me from being King over them.”  Human kind rejects God as King.  

Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden, were tempted and ate of the forbidden fruit because they wanted to be like God.  That was what it was all about; rejecting God as King…  the grass looked greener on the other side.  But it wasn’t.  It never is.  

The Psalmist says of God, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.”  Would an earthly King do this for us?  Not usually.  An earthly King is looking after himself first. 

We all have free will and God respects our free will always.  Even though the nation of Israel had previously declared that they would follow God and be His people, they then decided, of their own free will, to reject his wisdom and goodness and ask for an earthly King like the other nations.  The grass looked greener – It certainly wasn’t!

…

It isn’t that anyone deliberately sets out to turn away from God.  This nation still called themselves God’s chosen nation, but they figured they knew better…. Better than God.  In their actions, they proved their deepest heart’s desires and they didn’t listen to the wisdom of God and His spokesperson.  I bet that they didn’t really comprehend that they were rejecting God.   Yet, in their actions they proved that they didn’t trust God…. They didn’t trust in His goodness, and the grass looked greener on the other side.

There is a saying about the grass…. The grass is greener on the side you water… 

Saint Paul tells us; “ For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.”  He also tells us that what is seen is passing away and temporary.  The Kingdom of God is eternal.  For this same reason…  looking at the physical rather than the spiritual truth, …we see that Jesus’ family is trying to restrain him…. Talk sense into him.  To them, the grass was not looking very green…. Jesus was getting himself into trouble with the authorities and there was such a fuss about him that they didn’t seem to think he was properly looking after himself…. It didn’t seem sensible.  

Jesus’ family was looking at the way of life that was temporal, but Jesus’ vision was eternal.  He therefore, says something interesting…. Those who do the will of God are my mother, brothers and sisters.  

We enter the family of God through our baptism.  We become spiritually born of God by acknowledging God as the King of our lives.  It is an acknowledgement that the grass that is temporal is not greener than the Kingdom of God and in our baptism, we acknowledge that God knows best, we choose to follow God and accept Christ as our King.  

Just like that Israelite nation, who was saved from the slavery in Egypt by the hand of God, we are saved and belong to God.  We are God’s chosen people, but we do still have free will and God forever respects our free will.  Though we are his and he loves us, will we water the grass in the kingdom of God, or will we live in the delusion that the grass that is temporary is greener?

Those who do the will of God are the family of God.  Each moment we make a choice, and the reality is that it will always be a struggle, but this is why we need to support and encourage each other.  We remind each other that God is King.  With God as King, mercy and love rule.  The grass in the Kingdom of God is the best green that there is.  This is where we will find goodness and true life. 

So there is really just one thing to say; Will you accept Jesus as the Lord and King of your life?

To SEE the Kingdom of God HOLY TRINITY 26th May 2024

                                               TRINITY SUNDAY Year B  May 26, 2024

Isaiah 6:1-8 and Psalm 29  •  Romans 8:12-17  •  John 3:1-17

 

What does a three-leaf clover, three overlapping circles, and a triangle all have in common?  All have been used to try to illustrate the Holy Trinity; one God, three persons.  And probably there have been various other analogies also, because this concept of the Holy Trinity is not an easy thing to understand…  In fact, I’d go so far as to say, you can only understand it if you are born of the Spirit.

 

As we explore and celebrate this today, note the structure of our services; we begin and end our services in the name of, and the blessing of, God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

 

A couple of weeks ago we had the reading of the prayer of Jesus.  In this he prayed to the father to protect us.  He said, “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”   When I read these words, I straight away think of, “In the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit”  -the sign of the cross.  And it calls to mind those movies where the characters are in dire straits and they bless themselves. It makes sense in the light of Jesus prayer for protection.  And it makes sense that we should also, regularly remind ourselves that our faith, and our destiny for the kingdom of God is protected by God, through that prayer of Jesus – through our faith in one God – Three persons.

 

The HOLY TRINITY is a mysterious and sometimes divisive statement of faith.  But it is super important.  The doctrine of the Holy Trinity began to be formalised at the council of Nicaea in 325 AD when it stated that Christ is “of the same substance [homoousios] as the Father,”… 

 

You will not find the Holy Trinity written in the scriptures, but you will find, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord”.  And you will find, in the Gospel of John, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ..”  The word of God was a common term in the Old Testament, and we have come to know that the word of God is Jesus.  St. John made this very clear when he said, “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  And as scripture tells us, Jesus is the exact representation – the visible expression of our unseen God.  So we come to understand, as Christians, that Christ and God the father are ONE…. But how?  It is still a mystery and hard to grasp concept….. so lets just add another…. The Holy Spirit.

 

Before I talk a little more on the Holy Spirit, however, lets imagine the Christian Church back in the first few centuries….. They started with a bang.  The Holy Spirit enabled the Gospel to be proclaimed with boldness and accompanied by many miracles showing the power of God.  They went through extreme persecution and finally, in the 3^rd century, through the Roman empire and the Christian influence of the Emperor Constantine, the church gained legal status.  Then through the Emperor Theodosius, Christianity, specifically Nicene Christianity was made the official religion of the Roman Empire. Other Christian sects were deemed heretical.

 

There were lots of ideas floated around about Christianity…. Right from the start!  We know this through the New Testament letters.  Most of those letters were written to teach and correct. 

 

In our God-given freedom, we will all sometimes, on one point or another, get it wrong.  Why?  Because there is so very much to know about God.  His thoughts are way beyond our thoughts… scripture tells us this.  Our wisdom is foolishness compared to God.   God loves for us to get to know him, but he understands that we will sometimes get it wrong.  However, it is important that there are some guidelines to bring us back…. Our creed does this.

 

The third part of the Trinity is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and is our helper, teacher and comforter.  In fact, the only real way to understand anything about God is “Spiritually”.   In fact Scripture tells us about this New Covenant into which we have entered, in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, 31 it says; “33“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. 34No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.”  This is because of the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

 – the Jewish festival of Pentecost was a festival celebrating the coming of God’s Holy Law to his people.  When the Holy Spirit came, he indwelt and wrote that law on the hearts and minds of God’s people.  In other words, the Holy Spirit leads, guides and teaches… the Holy Spirit is God within us and is the Key to understanding.  The image that comes to mind is like one of those great adventure movies, where the characters all have different parts of the puzzle and when they all come together the final piece becomes the key, and suddenly everything opens up and reveals the treasure.  The Holy Spirit is that final Key.

 

In our reading today we have Nicodemus having a discussion with Christ.  Nicodemus really and truly desires to know God.  He has already observed Jesus and decided that He must be from God, but it went against his traditional understanding…. So he comes at night.  In some ways it is figurative… he is still in the dark… he doesn’t understand… and then the first thing that Jesus says to him is; , "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."

Older translations of this passage have the phrase “born from above” as “Born Again” The Greek word translated as 'again' or “from above” actual has two meanings: it can mean not only 'a second time' but also 'from above.'  Jesus may have meant both, but Nicodemus doesn’t understand and takes the literal meaning as being born again.  He therefore asks and says that a man can’t enter his mother’s womb a second time.

 

Jesus is talking about being born of the Spirit.  Something that we often forget, is that we are made in the image of God and we are also triune beings.   Mostly we are familiar with body and soul and there is a good reason for this.  We are body, soul and spirit.   However, our spirit is dormant like a seed in an alfoil packet.  When we respond to the message of the Gospel it is because our spirit has been awakened by the Spirit of God… and we can finally SEE spiritual truth.   We have become born from above because it is of God that we are born spiritually. 

 

Just like physical birth, when you are born you can’t then be unborn.  You can’t stop being a child of God… you are born again and your spiritual life is a reality.  And this is regardless of any of our failings.  We don’t forfeit being a child of God because we fail or get things wrong.  But we should come to resemble our heavenly father’s nature that becomes our own, simply because we are his children and we resemble him… we have his spirit… in fact we have his Holy Spirit. 

 

With the Holy Spirit in union with our own spirit we can finally SEE the kingdom of God… the things of God.  In our world there may be spiritual things that we encounter, but not all of these are the Holy Spirit.  We need to discern these with the help of the Holy Spirit, and also through scripture itself and through returning to our creed.

 

We believe in one God the father, the almighty.  We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ – Of one being with the father.  We believe in the Holy Spirit – who proceeds from the Father and the Son.  This Holy Trinity is there throughout scripture, and the formalizing and defining God as three in one, gives validity to the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

 

Many accept Jesus as a good man and maybe as one who was even God’s son, but they fail to see Jesus as God.  Jesus was crucified because he claimed divinity and oneness with God.  Jesus tells us through his words to Nicodemus, that God sent the Son to bring us ETERNAL life, and that life comes to us though our union with the Holy Spirit.  Just as the Holy Spirit came over the early Christians in power, the Holy Spirit needs to be integral to our experience of God today. 

 

Unlike the pictures of the three circles, three leaf-ed clover and other images, I am not going to explain how God can possibly be three in one.  But instead I will leave you with this one truth; the Holy Spirit will bring about an understanding about the things of God that are naturally beyond us.  Scripture also tells us that with the Holy Spirit in us, we have the mind of Christ – We can SEE the kingdom of God. 

 

So, I’ll leave it in your hands, and the hands of the author and perfector of our faith and with the Holy Spirit who hovered over the waters of chaos at the beginning of time and created all things.  He is with us always… lean into him and wait.  He has SO much that he desires to teach us, And I will finish with this…. In the name of the father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  AMEN.

THE POWER OF A TESTIMONY Easter 7B 2024 May 12th

 2024  05  12  EASTER 7B       

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26  •  Psalm 1  •  1 John 5:9-13  •  John 17:6-19

 

Do you have a testimony?  A testimony is to tell what you saw or what you know.  The Latin root for the word “testimony is the word “testis”, meaning “witness”.   Do you have a declaration that you make, as a witness to the truth and Jesus Christ?

 

In our readings today there is an emphasis on the importance of testimony.  The apostles chose a new apostle to take the place of Judas and the qualification for that position, was simply that it was someone who had been an eye witness of all that they had experienced in their time with Jesus, beginning with the baptism by John.  They came up with two names and chose by lot, Matthias. 

 

I love that the scripture doesn’t say, “Matthias is an eloquent speaker”, or “Joseph is someone of high standing in the community”.  The qualification to be an apostle was simply someone who had been with the group, following Jesus the whole time and therefore, someone with a testimony about Jesus, who could witness to others about the truth of this Good News, Gospel message.

 

Even when it appeared that there were two men properly qualified, the apostles decided that God knows better than they, who should be called to fill the spot and so they cast lots, in prayer, trusting that God is in control of the outcome.

 

Saint John had a testimony about Christ.  He says, that if we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.

 

You may have heard or read about people who had near death experiences, witnessed Ghosts or other unusual happenings.  That is a testimony, and no one can deny a personal experience – It is a powerful testimony.  However, our interpretation of that event or the conclusion we come to because of that event can range from spot on true and correct to wildly skewed.  While you and I might have learned knowledge, or a story about spiritual matters, the supernatural or any other belief system, and we can share that story with others,… there is a testimony that is greater and carries more weight…. It is the testimony of God. 

 

Other religions or even theologians might come up with ideas about God that seem good, but nothing trumps our message of the Gospel, because it is what God has said about himself.  What’s more, Saint John tells us that “Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts.”  We have this testimony because we are those who believe in Jesus.

 

Saint John was personally present when God the father spoke about Jesus at his baptism and he was there when Jesus went up the mountain and was transformed when Elijah and Moses appeared.  Saint John had heard the voice saying, this is my son in whom I am well pleased – listen to him.  This is the testimony of God about God.  There is something more that Saint John reveals to us in this letter, he says, “this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

 

The Good News at the heart of our message is that we have eternal life and this eternal life is ours through our connection with Jesus.  When John writes about “eternal life”, he is using the Greek word “Zoe”, which has to do with a life that death cannot destroy.  We might read this and think of this as meaning our being with God when we die, and although that is true, it isn’t primarily what John was talking about.  The ZOE life is more to do with the quality of life… Spiritual Life… which starts here and now and never ends.

 

In our culture, we might imagine that a good life means riches and health, but that is not what these early Christians understood about the life that God gave.  They all understood that, to be given the life of Christ was to be so infused with the spiritual life of God that they were assured of eternal life and they were therefore willing to endure all kinds of hardship and yet at the same time proclaim the goodness of the life they had, here and now, in Christ.  Their vision of life and eternal life was bigger.  Most importantly, that spiritual life with which they were infused, was the life of God that can not die.  These early Christians were infused…. Infilled… with life through the Holy Spirit.

 

We contrast this with Judas who betrayed Jesus.  His vision of life was limited. He was looking for a life that was here and now and he was expecting something that seemed better than what Jesus was offering in the here and now – He missed the bigger picture – his perception of Jesus’ message didn’t make sense to him because he expected more in this physical life.  He was focused on the physical rather than the spiritual.

 

In the Gospel of John, the prayer of Jesus is recorded; “While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.” 

I find this concept that Judas could be so close to Jesus and yet lost, most frustrating.  There are certainly things that are beyond our knowledge, but it teaches us that it is possible to follow the “idea” of Jesus and still miss the Good News.   It is possible to hear the Good News and still not understand it.  We sometimes have our own agenda and our free will resists the message of the Gospel.  God respects and will never over ride our free will.  This is different from genuine difficulty and slowness in understanding.

 

A quick look at history, or even just a quick look around us, we see that the disciples, apostles, and all of us, poorly handle the message of God – the testimony.  We are so slow to understand.  But it isn’t all as bad as it looks.  For example, when the former slave trader John Newton, realized the truth about Jesus Christ, he and Wilberforce instigated the ablution of slavery.  Rest assured that God’s message eventually cuts through and then God’s life abiding in us, still makes a difference in our world.

 

Our world desperately needs apostles who have the testimony of Jesus to proclaim.  Matthias was an eye witness, but those eye witnesses are long gone…. What now?  Now it is up to you and me.  Now, you and I have the testimony of Jesus and we need to proclaim it.  Each of us who believes in Jesus, has the testimony of Jesus in our heart.  We each have our part to play in testifying to the truth.  This may make us a little anxious but we can take comfort in the fact that we are upheld in prayer…. In particular, we have been prayed for by Jesus himself.

 

In the Gospel of John, we get to eves drop on the prayer that Jesus prayed for his followers, but understand that the verse after our reading says this; “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,....”  This is US.  Therefore, it is worth looking to see what Jesus prays for us and rest assured that His prayer is answered.

 

Central to the message is this prayer for protection.  “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me.”

 

At the time that Jesus prayed this prayer, Peter was about to deny him, Thomas was about to doubt and most of them were about to be scattered in fear and despair.  My takeaway from this is that sometimes it looks like our prayers aren’t answered….  But looks can be very deceiving.  This was the very prayer of God.  The protection for which he prayed was not so much about physical protection, but that their faith in God would be protected, and that they would be protected for their destiny in the Kingdom of God. 

 

There were arguments and varied opinions in the early church which must have “looked” like disunity, but Jesus prays that they may be one.  It again, looks like his prayer was not answered…. But looks are deceiving.  In fact, what we see is why Jesus needed to pray for them.  There will always be tension when working together because we are all so different, but Jesus prays that we may be one. 

 

Right now, it may seem that the churches and people within the churches, are in tension with one another.  My takeaway from today’s readings is that this is simply why Jesus needed to pray for us and don’t despair… looks are deceiving.  If there is any prayer that we can be assured will be answered, surely it is the prayer of Jesus…. We will be one and we are one.  Within the variations of understandings there will be and is unity.  In fact I love the word “harmony”….  Harmony is a musical term that that does not mean sameness.  In music, harmony only happens when notes that are different play together in such a way that they make a gorgeous tapestry of sound. 

 

The prayer of Jesus is not just for those apostles and disciples back in the day, but for us also.  We can rest assured that we are protected in our faith so that our destiny in the Kingdom of God will be fulfilled. 

 

We each have the testimony of God, because John tells us that those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts.  Our world needs us to proclaim this testimony.  Our world desperately needs saving by God, and our destiny in the Kingdom of God, is to bring that testimony to those we meet so that the world can be saved.  Those who believe in Jesus are saved and have eternal life.   We have the testimony, and a testimony is meant to be declared and shared so that all can know the truth.

 

Next week we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to share the testimony.  In this coming week, let’s commit to praying for the re-infilling/ empowering of the Holy Spirit so that we can truly be the witness of God in our world, so in need of saving.

Both Action and Word Easter 4 B 21st April 2024

2024  04  21  EASTER 4B       

Acts 4:5-12  •  Psalm 23  •  1 John 3:16-24  •  John 10:11-18

A couple of weeks ago I ran a session on Pastoral Care for our street Chaplains and we discussed how our western world has understandings and values due to the influence of Christianity.  This is why our society cares about things like social justice, and because Jesus died for all, we believe in up-holding the dignity of all people.  However, the world is changing and there are growing tensions within those values and understandings.

 

In the light of the terrible incidences in Bondi, coincidentally, I was at a Safe Night Precinct where the question was raised about what can be done about the odd people that wonder around our town who are on drugs and mutter to themselves… talking to unseen forces. (Perhaps reminiscent of Jesus’ day).   We need not be afraid, but we certainly ought to be wary, and police informed that they can be called to move people on if it is deemed that they are disturbing the peace.  Although, that is a perception which can have other implications as today, we read about a different disruption in the peace.  Someone had been healed and, consequently, the people were being taught about Jesus by Peter and John.  This resulted in the apostles being arrested for disturbing the peace.

 

For today’s readings, let’s consider the world in which the apostles were living.  The governing body that arrested the apostles were those who shared a similar world view to the apostles and were God fearing people with the same laws and values, yet something had changed that brought about tension and unrest.

 

That change, was the fulfillment of that for which they had all been waiting… the Messiah.  The authorities rejected and crucified Christ.  They refused to acknowledge that He was the Messiah, because Jesus didn’t fit the image they had of what the Messiah would be like.  The followers of Christ witnessed His resurrection and being filled with the Holy Spirit, they were proclaiming the Good News everywhere – and they were continuing the ministry of Jesus by laying on hands and healing.  It was a ministry of both ACTION and WORD.  This was one of the factors leading to their arrest.  Through their actions a lame beggar had been healed and they were then teaching about Jesus and His resurrection.  The Sadducees, who don’t believe in any resurrection were particularly upset and were instrumental in calling the temple guards to arrest Peter and John.

 

We are called to work for peace in our world, and we strive to have peace in our relationships, remembering that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for the good of the sheep.  The laying down of life in this context meant that the apostles risked imprisonment and did not back down for the sake of keeping the peace, but instead they spoke out… and they were arrested.  I wonder how we would have acted in their situation.  Would we have stood and boldly proclaimed the truth about Jesus, or would we have backed off to keep the peace, but left those people in ignorance about the truth of Jesus?

 

There are two important aspects here….  The question of keeping the peace, and the importance of proclaiming the truth of the Gospel. 

It isn’t easy and it isn’t black and white.  There are some Christians who don’t support the idea of Street Chaplaincy because we do not “Proselytize”  - meaning we don’t preach on the streets.  In fact, to do so, would fall on deaf ears in the least and may disturb the peace in the most.   We believe that we preach at all times – we simply do not use words.  Our caring actions speak loudly about the goodness of God. 

 

However, the truth of the matter, is that we most certainly own our faith, and we will truthfully respond when asked about our faith, but note that we are simply there to care.  More often than not – in fact almost 100% of the time, those on the streets are too intoxicated to comprehend what we might say, but they understand our actions of care.  So, we keep the peace.

 

While we are doing a great job of helping and keeping the peace, we are doing things the easy way.  We are safe and not in danger of being thrown in jail.  We do still live in a predominantly Christian country – after all, we all had a public holiday because of Good Friday.  In our comfort, we are not really laying down our life for others, but we do give up a little sleep and a part of our weekend.

 

The readings today show us the apostles, teaching the crowd about Christ, knowing full well that only a short time ago, that crowd was shouting, “Crucify Him”.  And this should cause us to pause and ask ourselves, “Am I willing to speak the truth about Christ, even if it is somewhat confronting and revealing?

 

If Peter and John had not stood up and proclaimed the Good News so boldly, would our churches exist today?   They laid down their lives for this message about the Good News.  Their lives were not easy because they were followers of Christ, and that is a sobering message for us all. 

 

Make no mistake, God’s desire is for our good and He wants to bless our lives.  But there is a bigger picture.  God’s blessing for the nations came about through Jesus, who was of the linage of Abraham and David, King of the Jews, but God’s blessing to our community and our nation, and to those close to us, will come about through us proclaiming this Good News – in both Action and Word.  It is God’s will for our nation and towns and families to be blessed and to live good lives, but that blessing needs to come through us and that will mean some kind of laying down of life.

 

Are there troubles in our family, friends, and town?  How can we bring the Good News about Jesus Christ to this town so that we can influence the culture of our town through Him?  It makes no sense to shake our heads at the television when the News is telling of all the dreadful things going on.  We can and do make a difference. 

 

There are so many government and secular initiatives, because all can see that our society is seriously struggling.  But in many cases the problems continue…We need both Holy Spirit empowered Action and to proclaim the Word – the Good News of Jesus.  Did you know that the highest cause of death in our country is suicide?  And so we have a multitude of organisations to help with all the varied needs.  There is Grapevine safe talk for mental health, Orange sky, and so many others for homelessness.  But what is God asking of us as His people?  These initiatives are good, and maybe God will ask that we support these things, but more than anything, I believe that God wants us to proclaim the Good News about Jesus, His resurrection, and the love of God, because this message brings about a deeper and lasting change. We need to be people who proclaim the message in both ACTION and WORD.

 

We have a society that is confused because they don’t know who they are, what they are or where they came from.  They are disconnected and while belonging to one group or another can help, it is only an unwavering faith in who we are as a child of God, saved by the gracious act of Jesus Christ, that can really secure them and us.  With this reality secure, groups can come and go, situations come and go, but we and they can all stand firm.

 

To proclaim the Good News is vital.  Why?  Because it is the one thing that not only changes lives, but it is the one cause for which people will lay down their lives… suffer hardships and rejection, because we know that it holds an eternal Good that far outweighs any hardship.

 

We should not be daunted or afraid of the task ahead, as scripture tells us, in the presence of our enemies, the LORD prepares a table for us.  He is our Good Shepherd and we will not be in want.  He restores our soul and He leads us in right paths.  Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with us and will comfort us.  THIS is the way to goodness.  So let us dwell in God’s presence - the house of the LORD our whole life long. 

 

Take a moment now, to rest in that house of God’s presence and ask Him where he wants us to proclaim His love and Good News.  He called Peter and John to be his witnesses and He calls us also…. To both Action and Word.

EASTER 2024 Dawn service

WHO WILL ROLE THE STONE AWAY?  This question seemed to jump out at me.  Here, we have a community in deep grief, desperately striving to keep God’s law, the laws of the land and also deal with all the demands of proper burial rituals, therefore we have the women making a journey to the tomb on the third day.  Friday, Jesus was crucified, the laid him in the tomb hurriedly because they were not permitted to do any work as soon as it was sun down, because that commenced the Sabbath, and the Sabbath continued until Sun down on the Saturday evening – the second day.  Then we come to the third day.

 

The wait until there was enough day light to go to the tomb and prepare Jesus’ body, must have been an agonizing wait… and the delay in time would have meant that the job would not be an easy one.  The women were focused and organized….. well, not quite.  A huge obstacle threatened the success of their mission!  Who will role the stone away?  They didn’t know how they were going to get into the tomb to do their job. 

 

Jesus’ ministry was one where he had many followers and 12 disciples.  Of those twelve, some surely, were big burly fishermen!?!  And surely one of them could have been concerned enough to go with the women to help with the heavy lifting…. But no.    Where were they?

 

The fact of the matter is that this was a community deeply grieving and we all grieve in different ways.  Some avoid facing the truth and bury themselves in other activities.  Some feel that the pain is too raw to bring themselves into any of those places where they have to face the reality, and they distance themselves.  But honestly – These very natural reactions don’t help. 

 

Veteran singer Cliff Richards sang these very true words, “The only way out is the only way in and it’s you”.   Some of the other lyrics say; “I spent a lot of time at the crossroads - Getting that lonely feeling inside - Suddenly you stopped the rain, you changed the view - Now every way's leading to you”

 

When we are in pain and confusion we naturally withdraw and avoid, and often that action is not something that is going to help us.  The women, on the other hand are still in grief, but they are willing to be IN that grief – face it – own it -  and so they set off to visit the tomb, but there is a huge obstacle.  They don’t have the ability to move the stone.

 

Where is that big burly follower of Jesus?  What’s his name?  Peter!  Where do we imagine Peter is? 

 

Peter was very much experiencing pain and confusion.  In this time of Easter, we often focus on the fact that Peter denied Jesus, but I want to remind us all that just a little bit before that denial, Peter had a sword in the garden.  Do you remember the scene?  Peter was ready to fight and defend.  No one was getting to his man, Jesus.  But Jesus told him to put that sword away, and this was not long after Jesus had said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For your thoughts are not of the things of God, but the things of men."

 

Peter had been chastised by Jesus more than once, and at each of those times Peter was simply doing what any good and loyal friend would do.  When it came to the time when Peter denied Jesus, Peter was in deep confusion – In some ways he was telling the truth when he said, “I do not know him” – Peter didn’t understand Jesus – He didn’t understand what was happening and what he was meant to do and He was deeply, deeply grieved.  Peter was loyal and brave, but he was confused and didn’t know what to make of anything that had happened.  He knew that Jesus was the Messiah, but he no longer knew what to do…. And he withdrew.

 

So… who will move the stone?  We may be thinking the same thing.  We all have our own experiences of Jesus on our own journey of life.  In that journey we have had good times and bad.  Times when our faith was strong and times when… well, quite honestly, we became disillusioned and somewhat disappointed and felt that God let us down.  This is a tiny bit  - a fraction of the way the disciples were feeling.  They must have all been thinking, that surely, this could not be God’s plan for the Messiah. – Surely this could not be God’s plan for them???  What IS God’s plan?

 

In the year 2024, is it God’s plan that His chosen people are at war?  Is it God’s plan that we have so much youth crime?  Is it God’s plan that so few people understand and accept the Good News about Jesus Christ?  NO – It is not.

 

So – Who will move the stone?  That stone that hides the reality of the Good News of the resurrection comes in many forms; Disbelief, Disillusion, Disappointment… and all these were being experienced by the community of Jesus as those ladies walked towards the tomb.

 

We need the stone moved….  We need to reveal the reality of God to our community.  We need to move that stone which is keeping them from having their eyes opened to the truth of God.  BUT it is such a huge stone – it is too heavy for us.  Who will move the stone?

 

Where are we at in the story of the resurrection?  Are we like Peter, confused and rendered paralysed by our own failure?  Are we the disciples who are disillusioned and feeling confused about what the truth is, after being told by our circumstances and community that we are wrong? Are we those disciples who, after being taught so much by Jesus, feel resigned to the fact that we are powerless to make any impact? 

 

So who will roll the stone away?  The women had a job to do and they went to face the reality of their circumstance - Jesus’ death.  They didn’t know the answers to what God’s plan was in all their grief, but they were prepared to faithfully confront the reality and do what they could.  They walked towards the tomb aware of a huge obstacle facing them and possibly preventing them – but they went anyway. 

 

Who will move the stone for us, as we strive to bring the message of Jesus victory over the grave?  Will we continue to proclaim the truth about God’s sacrifice for the salvation of the world, or is the obstacle too large?  Will we continue God’s call to us to care for the marginalised, for those with no power and authority, for the poor and voiceless…. For the children, unborn- with no voice…  Will we continue to advocate for justice even when it is not popular or politically correct, and when the world is telling us we are wrong?  It is a heavy stone indeed!

 

There is this huge stone in our community that stands between us and the ways of the risen Lord.  You hear it’s voice and know it when it speaks because it is a voice of fear, despair, pride, division and darkness.  It’s message is the opposite of our risen Lord, who died to bring us life, showing us the ultimate example of love.  That stone of fear, despair, pride, division and darkness, might even be our own, and it is a huge stone threatening to block the message of God’s salvation.

 

But WHO will move the stone for us?  We need to know the message of the resurrection and the power of God almighty who moves the stone and raises from the dead.  The stone will be moved – God himself will see that it is moved.  As we faithfully say “Yes” to God and continue to walk in faith, we will find that the stone is moved.  Christ IS risen!  Now, Go and tell the disciples this… the ladies needed to proclaim the Good News because the disciples needed to hear the truth.  Most importantly, like us, they also needed their faith encouraged!  The stone has been rolled away! God himself accomplished all this and Jesus is risen!

 

Let’s share our stories of faith and hope and encourage each other, because our God is a God of miracles.  Let’s talk about it, proclaim it and God WILL move that stone– He already has! and Christ is Risen, Alleluia.   – He is Risen indeed – Alleluia.