Thursday 7 March 2024

Sermon 17th March 2024 – 5th Sunday in Lent Text: John 12:20-33 – The voice on an angel

 Sermon 17th March 2024 – 5th Sunday in Lent

Text: John 12:20-33 – The voice on an angel

 

Some people like to watch the ABC for their news – others like to watch Sky News. Some like to read The Age for their news – some prefer the Herald Sun. It’s the same news but perhaps different commentary and even different focus. Much like 2 people barracking at the football following different teams. They watch a free kick being paid – if it’s for your team you believe the umpiring is fair. If the free kick is against your team – the umpires are biased favouring the opposition. It’s what we call perspective.

 

You see the same thing – experience the same thing – but you process it differently. We have an example of that in today’s Gospel reading. A voice came from heaven. The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder.  Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Different perspectives understanding the same voice. To some the voice of an angel (comforting) – to others the sound of thunder (frightening). But what was different?

 

Perhaps we get an understanding of it from our Old Testament reading: The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

This new covenant will be written not on stone like the Ten Commandments but in our hearts.

 

It’s probably why, when Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment, he said – love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. These are commandments followed by the heart and not by the letter of the law on stone. So when I look at the Old Covenant written in stone and it says – you shall not murder, I feel vindicated because I haven’t murdered anyone. But in his sermon on the mount Jesus says: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment”.

 

This helps us to understand why some people can read the Bible and it’s just words on paper – and not very enticing. But when read with the heart it is the living word of God. But having our hearts imprinted with God’s new covenant also helps us in our daily journey through life. So when I’m not sure which way I should go or what action to take – I look to God’s covenant written in my heart – am I loving God and my neighbour. How do I love God and my neighbour. So, the heart covenant doesn’t just speak about what actions break the commandment but it puts a conviction onto our hearts to not just not murder but to help our neighbour in need.

 

As you read Luther’s explanation of the commandments this is what you find. For example, his explanation of the 5th commandment – you shall not kill We are to fear and love God so that: We do not hurt our neighbour in any way. But help him in all his physical needs. So not hurting our neighbour is the letter of the law – the law written in stone. But helping our neighbour is the law written on our hearts. The heart covenant is where we hear God’s voice – his Holy Spirit - and we listen to it as the voice of an angel.

 

Our old covenant nature wants to resist it. Like the Priest and the Levite on the road to Jericho who cross the road when they see a fellow Israelite presumably dead. The old covenant didn’t allow for them to touch a deceased body or it would disqualify them from temple duty. They heard God speak to them as thunder – anyone who touches a dead or unclean body becomes unclean and cannot serve in the temple. So they didn’t help their neighbour in need. But a Samaritan follows his heart and not the old covenant that this man is my enemy. The old covenant spoken with thunder - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[ and hate your enemy.’ The new covenant – the voice of an angel: But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

We see Jesus frequently challenging the old covenant by eating sinners and tax collectors – the unclean – breaking the Sabbath by healing on the Sabbath asking them,  “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”  The heart law of the new covenant or the old covenant law written in stone. But they remained silent Freeing a woman who should have been stoned because of her adultery under the old covenant of Moses.

 

And that’s why before his arrest and death Jesus says – a new commandment I give to you. Love one another as I have loved you. This puts enormous responsibility on us.  To love as Jesus loves us. When you look at yourself and see what Jesus loves – could you love someone else with the same love? It means that the world will come to know our God because of what they see in us. Love one another as I have loved you and by this all will know that you are my disciples.

 

If our behavior is considered a reflection of the nature of God, what are we saying about God when we don’t love. When we are no different to anyone else? But it is a challenging environment to live out our Christian faith these days. And it has to do with perspective like our gospel reading. To some, the thought of Christianity is like thunder. It frightens them like it did in the Old Testament when God appeared to the people in lightning on the mountain: When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” But to others it is the voice of an angel. A voice they have been needing. A voice that brings hope to them.

 

The difficult task for us to knowing when the right time is. But to again refer to St Peter which I did last week: In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, So our challenge – is our voice to others a voice of thunder with the old covenant with the law written in stone. Or is our voice to our neighbour a voice of the angel bringing healing and hope through the new covenant written in our hearts. Jesus said – this is my body and blood of the new covenant. A covenant where he gave his life for us – and says to us – go and do likewise.

 

Thursday 29 February 2024

Sermon 10th March 2024 – 4th Sunday in Lent Text: John 3:14-21 – the sting of sin.

 Sermon 10th March 2024 – 4th Sunday in Lent

Text: John 3:14-21 – the sting of sin.

 

We have an interesting set of readings today which are intimately linked but seemingly totally opposite in understanding. In the Gospel reading we have what would be the most well known and most quoted bible text – John 3:16.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. A verse of pure grace of God’s love without anything required of us. Much like what St Paul says in the Ephesians reading today: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

But, Jesus prefaces his statement of God’s grace in the Gospel reading by referring to our Old Testament reading: Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 

If you’re not that familiar with the Old Testament and not sure what Jesus is referring to - what a bizarre story to link with God’s grace. The people of Israel were grumbling about God and Moses that there was no water or food so the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. Wow, not very gracious. But then, the people acknowledged their sin and asked Moses to pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us. God commands Moses: Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

 

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of grace in this situation either as the snakes still bit the people – the bronze serpent just stopped the venom from killing them. Why didn’t God just take away the serpents? I guess it’s because it’s a prophecy of what will happen under Christ. Yes, Jesus will die for our sins and we will receive healing through eternal life as John 3:16 promises. But the effects of sin will remain and sting until Jesus returns and finally puts away sin, death and the devil into the lake of fire as described in the Book of Revelation.

 

We get a hint of that sting of sin that remains from St Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 – known as the resurrection chapter that while death has already been defeated the sting of sin remains. The sting of the serpent’s bite – the serpent that lured Adam and Eve away from God’s grace to the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. At the end of that Chapter Paul writes: When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  Paul says, the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice Paul talks about the victory, but victory is over death through Christ that we have NOW, but not the removal sin’s sting. Listen again: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He doesn’t mention the removal of the sting of sin but acknowledges that the sting of death is sin that remains even though we have victory over death through Jesus’ death.

 

And so our readings today focus on trying to walk away from sin which even though as Christians we know that we are forgiven that sin can still cause its harm in our lives. It is very easy to trivialize sin as if it’s not really that harmful. And rather than avoiding sin we can often give in to sin feeling we can just come to God – confess our sins, receive Holy Communion, and that’s about it. But Paul particularly speaks about the very active force of sin that is constantly working to undermine our faith and to undermine our relationship with God. He says: You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.

 

Paul certainly knows the difficulties in life regarding sin even though he knew he was forgiven and saved. Remember what he once said: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. He also knows that Satan attacks where we are most vulnerable which Paul calls the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses. That’s where Satan strikes and stings. Where even the most faithful and strongest loyal Christians have been lured. And despite a lifetime of service to the Lord with that one indiscretion have seen their lives ruined – relationship ruined in a moment of passion or bad decision. And in these days of social media someone will snap a picture and share it – record it without your knowledge and post it somewhere. And despite the grace of God that comes through forgiveness – the sting of sin will remain.

 

So as we continue our Lenten journey let us remember why Jesus had to take this journey – because of our sin. Let us never underestimate the damage sin can do to us and others as the sting of death continues to bite at our heals as did the serpents in our Old Testament. But let us remember the very first prophecy of grace in Genesis chapter 3 where God says to the serpent: “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

 

Satan works hard as he continues to strike our heels but let us remember the victory that Jesus has won for us as he has crushed the head of Satan. Let us remember that God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to defeat sin, death and the devil and that through Jesus: We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Monday 26 February 2024

Sermon 3rd March 2024 – 3rd Sunday in Lent Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – foolish behaviour

 Sermon 3rd March 2024 – 3rd Sunday in Lent

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – foolish behaviour

 

Have you ever been called a fool for being a Christian? I have. Have you ever felt like a fool in front of others when a discussion about Christianity comes up? If so, then don’t be alarmed or fight it because that is exactly what we are learning about ourselves according to the worldly understanding of Christian faith. Which is what Paul says in today’s reading:

The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. The message of the cross is about our salvation – the gift of eternal life in Heaven. So those who reject God’s offer of salvation have no option but to ridicule it because it doesn’t make sense. Paul follows that up with - but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 

Maybe you’ve gotten embarrassed when you’re with a group of friends and the topic of religion comes up and people are making fun of Christians, and you remain silent. Or maybe one of your favourite TV shows or comedians starts to make fun of the Bible or Christians. Do you stop watching – do you boycott – maybe you’ve had a bit of a snigger at it. As much as it would be good if you could argue back and convince them otherwise – sometimes that’s just not going to happen and you could find yourself out of your depth because they are raising some very challenging comments about the Christian faith that are hard to defend and has everyone around them agreeing.

 

If the Christian faith was easy to defend then we wouldn’t need faith to believe it – just clever arguments. In fact that’s exactly what St Peter says when he later talks about his account in the Transfiguration. And remember, Jesus told him not to tell anyone about this until he had risen from the dead. He said - For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We SAW his majestic splendor WITH OUR OWN EYES. There are many arguments that people will confront us with that can actually have a detrimental effect on our faith. Like – if Jesus rose from the dead then why hasn’t he shown himself. That’s not a valid argument otherwise when Jesus was challenged – come down from the cross and we’ll believe in you – then he would have done so. Or remember the rich man and Lazarus.

The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers – they’ll believe if someone from the dead comes back. Abraham says they won’t believe even if someone returns from the dead.

 

So many times after performing a miracle Jesus would instruct the recipient of the miracle to not tell anyone because they just won’t understand. Which is what Jesus says at the end of our Gospel reading: After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. And we have the example of Doubting Thomas after the resurrection who was not present when Jesus showed himself to the other disciples. Unless I see the nail marks – I won’t believe. On this occasion Jesus responds to that request because it was important for the Apostles to have that eyewitness account. But he follows that up with – blessed are those who believe without seeing.

 

So Paul knows how our message is going to be received – as foolishness. But he doesn’t want us to be dismayed about this but accept that this is how the world will see our Christian faith. So Paul says that rather than become defensive to work on your own faith and allow God to deal with those who try to put us down. God says: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. (I, not you) Has not GOD made foolish the wisdom of the world? In fact, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. So don’t be led astray and away from your faith. Even Jesus faced the foolishness of his people who didn’t get him. Even his own family thought he was mad: In Mark 3 he says – Jesus’ family went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

 

In today’s Gospel the Jews said:  What sign can you show us for doing this?”  Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews tried to apply human logic and wisdom to his answer, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”  But Jesus was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

 

Much of the Christian faith is foolishness to the world: Born of a Virgin. A king born in a barn in a feeding trough. A victory over death by dying on a cross. The saviour of the world humiliated – spat upon – and mocked. The mighty king riding into town on a donkey.

 

St Peter gave his advice on how we approach this issue. He said to live out your faith and  In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

 

Notice – firstly be an example – live out your faith. Secondly – always be prepared for the moment to share. Thirdly – gentleness and respect. Lastly – keep a clear conscience. And in doing this we don’t need to attack. No, Peter says by your good behaviour THEY will be ashamed of the way they treat you.

 

Jesus said, before he died, love one another and everyone will know you’re my disciples. And in the 10 commandments God has shown us how to live a good life. Not in order to attain eternal life but to be a blessing to others. And when Jesus was asked which of these was the most important – Love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. And Jesus gave an example of what this looked like when he told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Helping everyone – even our enemies. Loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. Again – foolishness to those who don’t understand what and why we do these. But that’s because they don’t understand how much God loves them. That God loves them so much that he sent his one and only Son to die for them. That while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

God made him who had no sin to become our sin so we could become God’s righteous. Foolish behaviour by God – by the world’s standards. But for us it is such Good News because it is the power and assurance of our salvation.

 

 

Monday 19 February 2024

Sermon 25th February 2024 – 2nd Sunday in Lent Text: Romans 4:13-25 – Covenant not Law

 Sermon 25th February 2024 – 2nd Sunday in Lent

Text: Romans 4:13-25 – Covenant not Law

 

Most people tend to like rules. We know where we stand. Sometimes rules inhibit us – like when we know the road is clear but they’ve either forgotten to take down the Road Works 40kph sign or they’ve finished for the day. But you know that you could face a serious fine if you disobey so you reluctantly abide. But other times we find rules comforting because we know where we stand. Sometimes we complain about the same rules when they are applied to us but expect others to abide by them. A classic example would be at a sporting event. You complain when your team is penalized for a rule infringement but the same situation for the opposition is demanded or you get angry when it’s not applied.

 

Rules are there for a purpose to protect and guide us. One of the first things that God did for Israel when he released them from slavery in Egypt and set them on a journey to their new land was to give them a set of rules – the 10 Commandments. God places himself under what WE might call laws – for example to not flood the world ever again. But the word the Bible uses is Covenant. A covenant is not a commandment but a promise. And where a promise to do something can be seen as a legally binding statement, it actually isn’t. God is not legally bound but acts through promise.

 

If I promise to do something for you and I don’t do it then I’m not legally bound. To be legally bound it would need to be a contract that becomes enforceable. So, if I’m engaging a builder to build a house for me I enter into a contract with them. They don’t promise to build me a house but contractually agree to do so with penalties if it is not met.

 

In our reading from St Paul, he talks about the difference between a contract (Law) and a covenant (promise) which God made with Abraham – and subsequently with us. Paul says - the promise that Abraham would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith – a promise. What’s the difference? The difference is obligation. God actually works with us not by obligation but by love. And that is much more powerful because God’s love is not constricted as it would be if it was law. A law has strict boundaries (eg, .049 or .05 – is there a difference in the person’s soberness yet legally I haven’t broken the law at .049)

 

Paul uses the example of the birth of Abraham and Sarah’s child. The law sets boundaries and conditions. But in grace God goes beyond boundaries – beyond understanding. As Paul says – the peace of God that goes beyond all understanding.

And so Paul says about God and Abraham: Abraham did not weaken even though he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.  Laws of nature say that Abraham is beyond child bearing age and his wife is barren, which is why she laughed at the prospect. Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. So, even though the law of biology or physics or whatever was governing Abraham and his wife with their age and barrenness – God was able to supersede by his promise. God promised and so it was. And that’s the relationship that God has with you – a relationship of promise.

 

God loves you so much that he sent his one and only Son so that you can believe without a shadow of doubt that you will  not perish but have eternal life. Even though Romans 6 says “the wages of sin is death” – the promise of God is the gift of eternal life.. And this speaks to our relationship with God. Is your relationship a relationship based on Promise?

 

It can be challenging because God doesn’t play by the rules because when your battle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms – Well the reality is that they don’t play by the rules. So when Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again, Peter didn’t understand the promise – after 3 days rise again. He did understand the rules – death is death. And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him – that’s not how the game is played. You can’t die – you’ve promised you are the Messiah. Much like the disciples going to Emmaus – we had hoped – but he died. And that’s when Jesus rebukes, not Peter, but the powers of darkness that had put that thought into his mind: He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.

 

So again we see this distinction between law and promise – law and Gospel – human things and the divine things.  Which is why Paul urges us in Colossians 3 (which in case you haven’t figured it out is one of my favourite verses) – set your minds on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God – not on earthly things. Focus your minds on the promise not on the law. It’s not easy because our mindset is automatically focused on earthly things. And that’s why for Abram and Sarai they needed a complete change including a change of name:

 

And Jesus knows this is not an easy path to follow: If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. But the path Jesus asks us to walk he has walked before us and he will walk with us – “I am with you always till the end of the age” And so we are reminded in the Book of Hebrews - For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. So, like Abraham and Sarah, don’t lose heart – God has not and will never forget you.It took till Abraham was 100 before he would see the promise fulfilled. He struggled and thought God had forgotten him having a child, Ishmael, with Hagar. But he discovered that God is a God of his word and will fulfil what he has promised.

As Paul also discovered about God’s love for his children Israel even though they abandoned God, God would never abandon them: He says in Romans 11: As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

 

So may you be strengthened in your faith knowing that God will never leave you or abandon you for that is his solemn promise to you. And God’s promises are irrevocable.

 

Wednesday 14 February 2024

Sermon 18th February 2024 – 1st Sunday in Lent Text: Mark 1:9-15 – Wilderness blessings

 Sermon 18th February 2024 – 1st Sunday in Lent

Text: Mark 1:9-15 – Wilderness blessings

 

I’ve always been intrigued by the sequences of events at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. It begins with his baptism, then sent into the wilderness, tempted by the devil, among the wild beasts and then ministered to by the angels. I’ve always thought of the wilderness as a time of testing for Jesus with the devil using that time of testing to tempt him. But I’ve thought about a different view of the desert wilderness. The wilderness has been a special place where God’s people came to know God’s love, forgiveness, and daily care during their 40 years in the desert.  There they were called out of Egypt as God’s children and when they sinned they were reborn as God’s people.  In their desert wanderings they met God.  When they were thirsty God gave them water from the rock.  God could change a dry arid place to a watering one. When they were hungry God fed them manna, just one day at a time. They were not to go out and store food for themselves and thereby feeling they had provided for themselves. This built up their faith in God to provide the next day rather than provide for themselves. Just one day at a time except for the Sabbath where the day before they would gather 2 days off food so they could rest.

 

What a thoughtful God concerned about their rest even though they grumbled and chased other Gods. So we can actually learn from the wilderness to trust God, day by day. So often we look at day 40 rather than day one. How are we going to get through this rather than taking it one step at a time with Jesus. Isn’t that what Jesus taught in the Lord’s Prayer – give us today our daily bread? We don’t pray – ensure we have enough bread for the rest of our life. One day at a time. Isn’t that what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the mount –

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Or in Luke’s sermon the plain - Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

 

Noah had no idea for how long it would rain. He had no idea for how long it would take for the waters to recede. He simply listened to God and had faith. I would think that Jesus didn’t know how long he would in in the wilderness but simply trusted his Father who had just affirmed his love for him in his Baptism. It’s not always easy when we face an uncertain future or if we have determined what the future is going to be. The Old Testament is filled with examples of God’s people sent into the wilderness. We have Abraham sent from his hometown and family to a land that God would show him – he had no idea at the time. We’ve had Jacob sent from his home to escape death from his brother and along the way was blessed by God where he saw angels ascending and descending. We see Israel journeying the wilderness 40 years – Elijah fleeing Jezebel and feeling he was all alone – all the prophets – Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel – all who lived shunned by the people they were sent to speak God’s judgement against. We see God’s favoured King – the Shepherd David – fleeing the murderous King Saul. And there are more – and in each case we see people abundantly blessed by God. It’s almost like the wilderness is God’s secret plan for us and it is Satan who doesn’t want us to enter it.

 

But look at what happens to Noah at the end of his wilderness experience. God makes a covenant with Noah and the entire world: I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And notice something incredible about this covenant: When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. There seems to be something missing.

 

God will see the rainbow and remember his everlasting covenant – but there is no demand made on Noah or future generations. This is a one-way covenant that God places upon himself. There is no “now you do this and I will do that”. And likewise, in Peter’s letter, he speaks about the New Covenant that God has made with us:

Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. There are no demands or expectations on the unrighteous for the righteous. It’s similar to what we heard on Ash Wednesday – God made him who had no sin to become sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God. The sweet exchange – well for us.

 

In times of wilderness we might feel like we are alone and abandoned but as we see with Jesus he was ministered to by angels. Let us remember that when we talk about angels that they were messengers – which is what the word angels mean. So in times of wilderness we can take advantage of feeling closer to God by God coming near to us. Like Paul did in 2nd Corinthians – when I am weak then I am strong because the power of Christ rests on me. God is the active force in all these covenant actions. We are the recipients. But you don’t have to go seeking wilderness – the wilderness will find you – as it did for Israel, for Noah, for Jesus. We just need to be open to the experiences which we sometimes reject and look to avoid.

They can be times of suffering.

They can be times of frustrations.

They can be times of loneliness.

They can be times of grief.

They can be times of uncertainty.

They can be times of sensing betrayal from family and friends – and maybe the church.

 

The wilderness experience is different for each of us. and often unexpected. So often we try to avoid or end times of wilderness prematurely. It’s like when the doctor prescribes you with medication and advise to keep taking it till it’s finished not when you’re feeling better. It needs the full course.

 

So as we begin our Lenten journey perhaps reflect on those times you’ve been in times of wilderness. Or maybe you feel you’re in one now. Instead of fighting it perhaps listen to it – see if you can hear that small sound of God speaking to you like he did with Elijah. The Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice, or in some translations – the sound of sheer silence.

 

So may God bless you on this 40 day journey and experience again the one who suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God.

Thursday 8 February 2024

Sermon 14th February – Ash Wednesday Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 – God’s Valentine Love

 Sermon 14th February – Ash Wednesday

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 – God’s Valentine Love

 

Around the world today many people will be celebrating but most won’t be aware of the significance of what today brings to Christians – Ash Wednesday. Today, being 14th February, many people will be celebrating Valentines Day – the day when you express your love for the significant person in your life. Today, for God, he too is doing exactly that – expressing his love for the significant people in his life – you and me – the children of God.

 

Today begins again our Lenten journey where for the next 40 days we walk with Jesus to Calvary where he will give up his life because of his love for us – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him would perish but receive eternal life. So God’s love is expressed for the purpose of reconciliation. God created us because of his love and because of his love for us God created us with a “free will”. A free will that enabled us to either love God in return or to reject his love for us. But God wanted that love returned to him freely. But because of sin that love was fractured. Not God’s love for us – that never wavered. But our love was now challenged with competing gods as Paul highlights in Romans chapter one: They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

 

But God’s love for us never ceased as Paul points out in the verse prior to our reading where he says: That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And so our reading tonight begins with Paul pleading to us: We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

So our Lenten journey is all about a journey into reconciliation which begins with Ash Wednesday tonight and ends on Easter Sunday when everything that has kept us apart from God is defeated – namely sin, death and the devil. And as St Paul will state - I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Ash Wednesday commences the journey of a new beginning – the beginning of a journey that leads us to the joy and victory of Easter Sunday.  But let us also remember that the ashes, are a reminder of our mortality as Adam is reminded in Genesis 3 – Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

 

But the ashes are also a symbol of hope and redemption.  They are a call to embrace the love of God, who offers us a fresh start, a chance to be renewed in Him and to be reconciled. Paul urges us to keep the reality of our mortality ever before us.

 

We live in a generation where people think they are invincible and don’t think about death. But Paul reminds us of the reality of our mortality when he says: Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! We don’t like to think about death – either our own or our loved ones. But since the beginning of creation through disobedience death is our reality. But thanks be to God who has given to us the victory over death through Jesus’ death AND resurrection. And has given us the hope that he is the resurrection and life and that whoever believes in him even though they die they shall live.

So, as we leave and begin our Lenten journey again this year, marked with the ashes in the sign of the cross upon our foreheads, let us carry the hope of Ash Wednesday in our hearts. The sign of the cross pointing us forward to the cross of Christ’s death for us and also back to our Baptism where the sign of the cross was first made in the waters of our baptism. May we be reminded daily of our mortality and the urgency to live each day in the fullness of God's grace as TODAY is the day of our salvation. May we be reminded of our reconciliation each day as we drown our old self in the waters of baptism and rise renewed – reconciled in Christ. And may the Lenten season be a time of reflection, repentance, and renewed commitment to follow our Lord, Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God, who loved us so much that He gave His son’s life for us.

 

Let us journey together towards the resurrection, knowing that ultimately the ashes will lead us to Easter Sunday, where we will rejoice in the victory of our risen Savior. Amen.

Monday 5 February 2024

Sermon 11st February 2024 – The Transfiguration Text: Mark 9:2-9 – preparing for the end

 Sermon 11st February 2024 – The Transfiguration

Text: Mark 9:2-9 – preparing for the end

In the beginning God said “Let there be light – and there was light”. This is not the light that we associate with daylight from the sun as the sun would only be created on day 4 of creation. This light is different. This is the light of God’s presence to bring order out of chaos. Before God spoke those famous first words we hear in Genesis One - the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep. Likewise, without God in our lives we too can feel formless, empty and dark. This light is very different to the light that we experience during the daytime. It is the light or brightness that Peter, James and John experience today in what is known as The Transfiguration.

In this account Mark says that Jesus was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. As in Genesis One, this is God’s Glory that is hidden beneath the human flesh of Jesus which is Jesus’ way of assuring the disciples that regardless of what is about to happen that God is still in control and his Majesty is supreme.

And, as we know, they are going to need all the help they can get in the coming days as Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem, where, as he has previously revealed to them – he will be handed over to the authorities and put to death. But Jesus always concluded that prophesy with ‘and on the 3rd day rise again’. And that’s the hidden glory that Jesus wants them to understand – that his death will not be the end.

For whatever reason it’s not yet time to have this fully revealed as Jesus says to them – Tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Because at this point people’s understanding of death was that it was the final stage in a person’s life.

That’s why Jesus rejects Peter’s request to remain in that glory now: the task in not yet complete until Jesus dies and rises from death to defeat, sin, death and the devil. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.

There is a time when the glory will be fully revealed but until then we have to trust in God’s timing and not lose heart. As the voice from the cloud says to them, and to us: This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!

And that’s also what St Paul says to us in Colossians chapter 3: Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. That will be our Transfiguration to eternal glory. The same glory Peter, James and John had a brief glimpse of today.

So this is what the transfiguration means to us. It is easy to become disheartened in our faith and in our outlook in the world. There is so much to suggest that God is not in control or that God doesn’t even exist. That’s the verdict so many have come to which is what Paul speaks about regarding the god of this world who has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.

It would have been easy for the disciples to come to that conclusion at Jesus arrest and is death. In fact, some did. Judas was lured with financial payment to give up Jesus. When Jesus was arrested they all fled. When Peter was confronted he denied knowing Jesus 3 times.

After his death they locked themselves away fearing for their lives. When Jesus appeared to the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus there is voice of despondency: “we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. We had hoped. Maybe you had hoped also. Maybe there have been times you had hoped for more from God as you look at the state of the world or perhaps even your own life. That’s why Paul says – focus on heavenly things not earthly things.

That’s why God said to Peter, James and John – this is my Son whom I love – listen to him. When many disciples turned away from Jesus because his teaching was too hard he asked his 12 disciples – do you want to turn away too? Peter responds – Lord, to whom shall we go – YOU have the words of eternal life. That’s why God said – listen to him – Jesus has the words of eternal life.

The darkness can be quite intense as it was at the beginning of creation when chaos reigned supreme – which is what it seems like now. But Paul reminds us in today’s reading: For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And John’s Gospel talks about that light of glory in the opening of his Gospel – which is John’s retelling of the new creation by that same word that said “let there be light:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

We are about to begin our Lenten journey for this year on Wednesday with Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality – ashes to ashes dust to dust – as God told Adam because of our disobedience: By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

The Transfiguration is a miracle, a revelation of Christ’s glory. It is a glimpse behind the veil between heaven and earth that is currently hidden.  As much as Peter wanted to stay in that amazing experience it no sooner ends and they find themselves walking back down the mountain. Away from the glory and back to their daily life. But what is significant is that Jesus is walking with them. He doesn’t send them down alone and neither does Jesus allow us to experience the darkness of the world alone.

Soon we are going to experience a glimpse of Jesus glory as we receive his Body and Blood in Holy Communion to prepare us to go back to our daily life and give us hope and to be God’s presence to those with a veiled hope. Let your light shine so others may see your good works and give glory to God. Just as the Transfiguration affirms Jesus’ baptism – this is my Son whom I love – so too it reminds us of our own Baptism where Jesus promised – I am with you always till the end of the age.