Sermon 28th February 2021 – 2nd Sunday in Lent Text: Mark 8:31-38 – Human responses to divine plans

 Sermon 28^th February 2021 – 2^nd Sunday in Lent

Text: Mark 8:31-38 – Human responses to divine plans

 

Peter sometimes gets a bit of an unwarranted criticism throughout his time with Jesus. Yes he didn’t always get things right – but isn’t that human nature? Do we always get things right? There is the time he took his eyes of Jesus and sank while walking on water. There is the time he draws his sword at Jesus’ arrest to cut off the ear of one of those arresting Jesus and is criticised by Jesus – put away your sword! And who can forget his infamous 3 times denial of Jesus while Jesus is standing trial. And then there is today’s example.

 

After having been praised by Jesus for correctly confessing him as the Messiah, Peter now blows it by  misunderstanding Jesus’ mission which would include his suffering and death. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. We know from other versions what Peter said – “never Lord, this shall never happen to you! To which Jesus then rebukes Peter. But notice whom Jesus places the blame actually on: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Jesus knew first hand the work of Satan through his own temptations and knew how he was leading Peter astray.

 

As in those other examples I cited about Peter, the disconnect is when Peter allows his human response to a divine situation. Let’s remember that Peter actually walked on water for a brief time until the human response to the crisis of the wind and waves crashing around him – to which he took his eyes of Jesus and sank. Or his human response to Jesus’ attacker where he inflicts harm on the soldier arresting Jesus; Jesus rebukes him saying if that were the way don’t you think God would send his angels to do that? And again Peter’s human response of fear allowing his fear to deny knowing Jesus even though he was brave enough to attend the frontline of Jesus’ arrest.

 

Human responses to divine situations are natural but they don’t help our faith and trust in God. How are we any different if we allow our instincts to direct the way we respond to earthly challenges – which we all do. In our Old Testament reading we see another example of what happens when we allow our human actions to guide our response to a divine situation. Abraham was 99 years old when God appeared to him to assure him of his promise to give him a son – an heir to provide a family line for Abraham and Sarah. God had earlier made that promise but Abraham and Sarah began to worry because God had not acted. So they took a human response to a divine situation and Sarah gave her maid, Hagar, to Abraham to have a child with her – because it seemed God had failed in his promise to provide children to them. As a result, a son, Ishmael, was born and became a thorn in Abraham and Sarah’s life and continues for his offspring today with tension between Jews, Muslims and Christians – all claiming Abraham as their father.

 

This is what Paul means when he says: For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law – through Ishmael - but through the righteousness of faith.

The Law Paul speaks of is his human response to the divine situation. God promised him a child but Abraham and Sarah became impatient and took human action rather than trust God’s plan.

 

So too Peter. Peter didn’t like Jesus’ explanation of his future: that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed. But if Peter rejected this divine plan (Jesus’ suffering and death) then he also rejects the divine outcome - after three days rise again. We too have to keep trusting God and the plan he has for us. We might not always agree or understand but if we take human action then we can only expect a human outcome.

 

 Let me give you a recent example that I’ve had a few people disagree with me. During the last lockdown – the 5 day circuit breaker – you may have seen a church on the news in Melbourne that defied the lockdown order and opened up their church for worship. They said – we must obey God’s orders and not man’s orders. So the question before us is – what is the right thing to do? What is “God’s orders”? What action follows God’s will?

 

Romans 13 says: Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Peter’s letter says: For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. What Peter said in our Gospel reading sounded honourable – he wants to prevent Jesus from suffering and dying – but is that a human response to a divine situation? Likewise, by disobeying a Government direction for a church to remain closed – along with other institutions – is that a human response to a divine situation?

 

The Government wasn’t outlawing worship or religion but asking us, along with other organisations, to participate in an attempt to slow down the virus – asking us to be good citizens. Again, in the letter of Titus, we are to: Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. If organisations and their workers abide by the request and see churches not doing so – is that a good witness? Will we be admired or admonished by the world?

 

Sometimes it’s not always easy or clear to know what the right thing to do is but when we live by faith putting our trust in God then even if it might seem as if it’s not the right thing to do we know that God is and always will be in control. Peter thought it was the honourable thing to do to protect Jesus from what seemed the wrong way to go. But if Jesus said it was the way to go then was Peter acting in faith? It’s not always easy to know what direction God is taking us but what we do know is that it is the way of the cross. So if the way we are going is a way that includes suffering then that suffering is not an indication of it being the wrong way.

 

The way that Jesus said he had to go did not look right to Peter. And if we had been there we most likely would have made the same mistake as Peter. The way of the cross is a way of suffering and that suffering can be experienced in various ways. The lockdown we have just experienced. The declining numbers in church and finances while other churches seem to flourish. The danger is not accepting the path God has laid down for us – like Abraham did – and Peter did – looking for human responses to divine actions. They made mistakes and we too will make mistakes. But look at God’s grace in them also:

 

Abraham became the father of faith and righteousness as he put his faith and trust in God even though he made the wrong decision earlier. Peter became the chief Apostle even though he even denied knowing Jesus in his time of need. And we too, if we continue to put our faith and trust in God to lead us along HIS path – we will get through our time of suffering even if the path ahead seems to be leading to a dead end. But let us remember, Jesus path, that he pointed out to his disciples led to a dead end – but then he rose from the dead – but he had to die first and that’s what Peter and the other disciples had to accept first.

 

So as we journey this Lent and beyond, let us also keep our faith in God who is leading us even if we cannot see or understand where God is leading us to. And remember, Jesus is with us always – even as we walk through the darkest valley – leading us to our eternal home in heaven.

 

Sermon 21st February 2021 – First Sunday in Lent Text: Mark 1:9-15 – Ministering Angels in the Wilderness

 Sermon 21^st February 2021 – First Sunday in Lent

Text: Mark 1:9-15 – Ministering Angels in the Wilderness

 

Wasn’t that quick? We woke up Friday morning to discover that we were back into lockdown for the 3rd time.

We thought everything was going okay. We had hit zero cases – or as people call them – donuts – for something like 4 weeks in a row – twice. The Australian Open had started – I had even been to Punt Road to watch a game of football with Richmond V Brisbane in the women’s competition. Businesses were starting to feel confident again with city workers being told they can have 75% of the workforce return to their workplace. Restaurants and other businesses were getting ready to make up for lost business over the last lockdown with Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year being celebrated. With borders being opened in other states some were even planning long awaited holidays. And we were even hoping that masks might finally come off inside.

 

And then the news came – as of 11.59pm last Friday – a 5 day lockdown as a circuit breaker because of a new outbreak that is much more infectious than previous strains. Weddings cancelled – Valentine’s Day cancelled – holidays cancelled – Masks back on everywhere - we were thrown back into the wilderness – and it all happened in the blink of an eye. It shows how life can change in the blink of an eye and not just during times of pandemics. Take your eye off the road for a second to check that text message – An angry punch thrown that sees a life ended. The bible even talks about Christ’s return being as such: In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. And look at Jesus today – baptised – hearing the loving words from his heavenly father – this is my Son whom I love – and what happens next: The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts.

Our other 2 readings also talk about that sudden twist of events using the example of Noah.

 

Jesus, in Matthew’s Gospel says - in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; No one expected life to change so quickly – so drastically – that saw all of humankind wiped out other than Noah and his family. But it’s not all doom and what we see in the example of Noah and Jesus in today’s reading is the promise and assurance of God’s presence with us in our time of need. As Noah exits the ark to re-establish the earth God promises him an assurance when he says: When I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 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.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

And likewise with Jesus as he spends 40 days in the wilderness – no food or drink – tempted by Satan – surrounded by wild beasts – while all looked hopeless, we read that Jesus was not alone - the angels ministered to him. In those times of difficulty the wilderness can be overbearing – feeling of abandonment where, like Jesus, we cry out – my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.

 

As we begin our Lenten journey this year – a Lenten journey that was interrupted mid-stream last year as we entered into our first lockdown – we begin this journey with uncertainty also. Ash Wednesday already having been cancelled, it is easy to sit in anguish wondering if we’re ever going to see a normal yearly cycle again.

But whatever this journey has before us – our Lenten journey, as our life on earth – begins with Baptism.

Jesus earthly ministry began with his Baptism  Paul’s earthly ministry began with Baptism. Peter’s mission after the resurrection began with his call for the people to be Baptised. And today Peter reminds us of our Baptism as to where we draw our strength in times of wilderness:

He says: baptism, now saves you-- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

 

We pass through many periods of wilderness in our lives, and sometimes our very faith as Christians is seriously challenged.  We feel alone in our struggle against them.  But there are “angels” ministering to us in the deserts of our lives: when a situation seems impossible to break through and a friend turns up unexpectedly; when we are distraught over the death of a loved one and  friends shares their experience of grief and courage; when an anonymous friend comes during these days of lockdown and social-distancing to drop off food at our front door; when our faith is dry and we pray wondering why we bother, but a friend tells us that they have been praying for us;  Maybe that ministering angel is you.

 

Christians are called to be ministering “angels” in the wilderness, ministering to each other. Wilderness and deserts can be uncomfortable and unwelcome but they can also be opportunities for us to be ministering angels to each other where WE become angels unaware.So as we journey this Lent let us look out for each other. It’s very easy to become self-focused as we become despaired at the state of the world around us.

Let us look out for each other and be ministering angels to one another and we may even discover that as we minister to others we are indeed ministering to ourselves. And just as God placed the rainbow in the sky to remind Noah of his promise in the covenant between him and Noah – God has also placed Christ before us to remind us of the New Covenant that is signed, sealed and delivered by his body and blood in Holy Communion to assure us that the Kingdom of God is near and that as we journey through the wilderness Jesus is with us always till the end of the age of our journey – believe the Good News.

Sermon – 17th February 2021 – Ash Wednesday

 Sermon – 17^th February 2021 – Ash Wednesday

 

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return are words we would normally hear after the sermon on Ash Wednesday as you receive a sign of the cross from ashes on your forehead. But because of Covid restrictions and lockdown we will not be able to offer this this year. They are both a reminder of your baptism and your humanity.

 

In Baptism we are reminded that we are buried with Christ in order that we may rise with Christ. The ashes are a reminder of our humanity – and our mortality which we hear when we attend the funeral of a loved one: Ashes to ashes, dust to dust – dust we are and to dust we shall return. A mortality, that because of our humanity we must all face.

 

I’m not sure how soon you usually leave the ashes on your forehead – maybe as you leave the service or maybe you allow them to remain until they wear off. The ashes are easily washed off but our humanity and our mortality remain.  So on Ash Wednesday we are reminded that despite all the advances of technology and health that our mortality remains with us. We might live longer but we do not live forever in this lifetime.

And so St Paul reminds and in a sense warns us to not become complacent as we often do about things – I’ve got plenty of time to worry about that. But St Paul’s warning is about our salvation – our eternal life.

He says: now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. Not tomorrow or the next day – today – now is the day when we should be considering our eternity. And so Paul urges us to be reconciled to God – NOW!

We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

 

This time of Covid has challenged us to think of our mortality also. As we look at the rates of infection and the death rate we become very anxious about our health and wellbeing. At the announcement of a one person outbreak we jump into action. The masks come back on – Western Australia went into a complete lockdown for a week – and even though it was in one locality it impacted the entire state. And now, here in Victoria, we face the same situation – back into our 3rd lockdown.

 

Maybe Covid has made you reflect on your vulnerability. If it has, remember that despite what the world situation can do to your mortality it cannot affect your immortality because Jesus Christ has assured that. As he who had no sin became your sin so that you could become the righteous of God. And along with that righteousness all that comes with it as heirs of the Kingdom of Godlk and all that includes – especially eternal life. We call that the Great Exchange. Jesus took on our mortality so that we could share in his immortality.

That’s what St Paul said in Romans 6 through our Baptism: Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

 

That doesn’t mean we live irresponsible lives but it means that in our vulnerability we aren’t controlled by fear. That’s what Jesus said when he said: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. And because of Jesus’ death for us and the great exchange we don’t fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell – because he took our place. He who had no sin became our sin so that we could become his righteousness.

 

St Paul suffered greatly for his faith in Jesus Christ: in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; But at no stage did he ever fear death even though he faced death every single day because of his faith. Because he knew that to live is Christ but to die is gain.

We cannot avoid the reality of death but that doesn’t mean we allow it to rule our lives. God is the one who rules our lives and again Jesus says: “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows

 

So let us value each and every day that God gifts us with because each day is a blessing and another day in which we can praise our Heavenly Father. And whether our time is short or whether our time is long – let us store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Sermon 14th February 2021 – The Transfiguration Text: Mark 9:2-9 – The Life-Force of God

 Sermon 14^th February 2021 – The Transfiguration

Text: Mark 9:2-9 – The Life-Force of God

 

When we read the book of Genesis, one of the most well-known acts of God’s creation is the first act when God says – “Let there be light”. Like many others I always thought this to mean the creation of light to break the darkness in the sense of when I wake in the morning to see that it’s now daylight with the night having ended. But as I read further I find that on Day 4 of creation God creates the sun and the moon and the stars where we read:  God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. So this first light on day one is not what I originally thought it to be.

So what is it?

 

When we read the opening of John’s Gospel, which I believe is a retelling of the New Creation story it also talks about that 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. So this is NOT the light that is produced by the sun but rather it is the life-force of God, as John said – that life was the light of all humankind. And therefore, if that light is NOT the light of the sun – then the darkness that it overcomes is not the darkness that we experience at night but rather it is the life-force that works against God. A life force we call – Satan – the Devil. And as Jesus is the light of the world that overcomes that dark satanic life-force in the world then we can begin to understand why the church seems to be in a constant battle in the world of what we call Spiritual Warfare – because the church is the body of Christ.

 

If we think that the Christian church is declining in numbers and authority in the world because we don’t make church more entertaining or modern or because we seem to be against everything that the world promotes then we don’t understand the spiritual battle we are in. If we think that all we have to do is change the way we do church and become more modern and popular to attract more and more people then we will fail in our fight against the darkness because we are fighting the wrong fight. We might seem to think we are winning when our numbers increase but that won’t sustain us. You only have to look at what happened to Jesus in a short time from the praises of Palm Sunday to the shouts of Crucify on Good Friday by the very same crowds.

Even when the church seems to be in a time of peace and prosperity it is never out of the warzone.

 

St Paul reminds us that we should not underestimate the battle we are in: In Ephesians 6:12 he spells it out very clearly when he says; For our struggle 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. And so he says that our battle is not going to be won by adapting human solutions but by trusting in God and what he has given us.  Again, in Ephesians 6 he says; Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle 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.

 

As we conclude our season of Epiphany and are about to enter our time of Lent in preparation for Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus wants to assure Peter, James and John – and us – that even though all the powers of darkness are going to be at work to end Jesus’ life, he has already won the battle – because the light of God overcomes the darkness of Satan. And so we read: Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.

Peter, James and John get a brief glimpse of that life-force in the light of God that overcomes the darkness of Satan. And what’s interesting about that encounter and their response is that it says - they were terrified.

Can you imagine that if they, being followers of Jesus are terrified of the light and life-force of Jesus – what must Satan and all his followers feel about that light and life-force of Jesus. Well, James talks about that in James 2:19 -  You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

 

It is so easy to become dismayed as we look at the physical appearance of the church today.

Our numbers are decreasing. Our young families don’t seem interested in continuing the work of the church. Churches are closing down. Our finances are drying up. The world seems to be moving in a different direction to the church. Many believe that the church probably has a generation left in its existence. But Jesus reminds us today that physical appearances hide the reality of God’s victory. Jesus looked pitiful and weak as he hung lifelessly from the cross that the people walked by and shook their heads in disgust. But his physical appearance masked the true glory that was hidden behind his human flesh.

 

St Paul, in Colossians 3 wants to encourage us to not be defeated by physical appearances. He says; since you have been raised with Christ, 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[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Notice that Paul is speaking present terms and not in future terms.

 

Our victory is now but hidden. The best is yet to come and when it comes it will be glorious. The Transfiguration is a message to us to keep trusting God and his plan of salvation for us. The victory has already been won. Our salvation has been secured. There is nothing the world can do to take that away from us. There is a saying, it’s always darkest just before the dawn. And that’s probably what it feels like at times.

And when it’s dark it’s hard to believe that the light is ever going to break through. But let us remember that God’s first act of creation was to create light. Not the physical light that we know from the sun that brings daylight. No, this is the light that cannot be overcome. It is the light of Christ that signals that God is and always in control.

 

St Paul says – when I am weak, then I am strong, because the power of Christ is resting on me. And again he reassures us that the weakness of God is more powerful that human strength. So let the message of the Transfiguration reassure you today that God has not lost – he can never lose – and although there may seem at times like darkness is ahead of us, the light of Christ overcomes even the deepest of darkness. Let us not be disheartened but remember that God is not winning – he has won. And that’s what Jesus revealed in the Transfiguration. The physical looks weak so Jesus stripped back the physical and revealed his glory.

 

The church may at times look weak but we are the body of Christ which gathers with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. We have to stay strong and not let the world bring us down. Paul talks about the God of this age which tries to put a veil on God’s glory which he says - our gospel is veiled to those who are perishing because the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, So let us continue to put our hope in Jesus Christ our Lord before the world  because we do not proclaim oursweelves who appear weak; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord before whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess that this Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

 

 

Sermon 7th February 2021 – Epiphany 5 Text: Mark 1:29-39 – God’s healing proclamation

 Sermon 7^th February 2021 – Epiphany 5

Text: Mark 1:29-39 – God’s healing proclamation

 

As the restrictions for the pandemic ease around us it’s really hard to know the difference between what can and can’t we do as opposed to what should or shouldn’t we do. One of the trickiest for me as a Pastor is should or shouldn’t I shake your hand – and I’ve had a couple awkward moments in the past few weeks.

It’s been customary for Pastor’s to greet worshippers before and especially after the service by shaking their hand. Shaking hands has never actually been banned it was just discouraged. Or maybe you’re a person who likes to hug people when you meet them. And I struggle to believe that at some point the Dept of Health is going to come out and say – you can now shake hands or give hugs. Even our Prime Minister recently said, even when the vaccine is introduced we will still be observing things like social distancing.

 

Physical touch has been an important part of the Christian faith in particular for healing even though it is discouraged for the very same reason – for healing. When Jesus invited the children to come to him Luke says: He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them. When groups were brought to Jesus Luke says: While the sun was setting, all those who were sick with various diseases were brought to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. And in today’s Gospel it was again healing through touch - He came and took Peter’s mother in law by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. I’ve even been wondering about our Ash Wednesday service as a central part of that service is the Imposition of Ashes which would require not just me touching you with the ashes but I would need to sanitise my hands between each member receiving the ashes and even changing the ashes between each person.

 

Personal touch is an important aspect of the Christian faith and I’m sure it is also among other religions. But Jesus reminds us today that there are always going to be distractions to take us away from what is the true focus of our Christian faith – and that is the proclamation of the Gospel. And I believe that this should also remain our focus too – on what is our central mission that supports everything we do. And Jesus tells us in our Gospel reading what the central focus is for his mission because the healing was leading to his disciples being distracted on what God had sent Jesus to do.

 

So let’s look at the sequence of what is happening. Jesus has just healed a demon possessed man in the synagogue – that was last week’s reading. They head off to Peter’s place and find that his mother-in-law is sick. He takes her by the hand – picks her up – and she is healed. No doubt word of Jesus’ miraculous powers got out to the people so in the next scene we see the sick and demon possessed surround Peter’s home.

Mark says: the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons;

 

Jesus could have spent his entire time on earth focused on this. In fact, if he did, the chances are that he would not have been crucified because his popularity and importance would have increased more and more.

But is that what he came to do? In fact he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him and that would have caused more and more people to distract him from his mission. So in the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.

We don’t know exactly what he prayed about but it strengthened him for the task God had sent him for and to keep him focused on that.

 

Peter and the others went looking for him because the crowds wanting healing were building up more and more and there was so much demand on Jesus’ time to heal more and more people. But to their surprise and perhaps disappointment Jesus replies: Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do. Jesus was not sent to be a miracle worker, even though he performed great miracles. No, if we think back to John chapter one it tells us there that “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. God’s word is what the world needs – God’s word of grace and mercy and forgiveness is what the world needs to bring true healing.That is what the world needs today – true healing that comes through God’s word of grace. And that’s what Jesus came to do and that is what the church has been created to do.

 

Sometimes we can be side-tracked by our busyness to do things for the Kingdom of God. We can become burnt out by all the physical needs and demands on us. We can feel inadequate when we are no longer able to physically do the things we used to do. Or we can feel disillusioned when things like last year’s lockdown happens and we can’t do church. It’s not to say that doing things for the Kingdom aren’t important.

Not at all – Jesus didn’t stop healing people but he understood that his task was to proclaim the good news of God. Jesus was so focused on the message being proclaimed rather than physical healing that he told us that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

 

All of us who are waiting for Jesus to return – Jesus will not return until EVERYONE has had an opportunity to hear the Gospel. And as much as Covid has impacted us it has seen an increase in online services with the word of God reaching out further. Jesus prophesied that no one knows the day nor the hour of his return, not even the Son because he would not return until EVERYONE has had an opportunity to hear the message preached to them.

 

The church plays an important role in society looking after the under privileged and other social justice issues.

But Jesus reminds us that the core of our existence is to proclaim the message of the Kingdom. This is what the true identity of the church needs to be – not another charity organisation but a place where people find God’s love and grace and acceptance. Paul also issues a warning if we neglect this important function of the church: He says: An obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!

 

As we do these other functions that we do in the church they too can be the Gospel in action as we serve God by serving our neighbour. But notice what was central to Jesus and his ministry – prayer with his heavenly Father and proclaiming the Gospel. He could have spent his entire ministry healing the sick, feeding the hungry, raising the dead and performing all sorts of miracles. But his concern was not in tending the physical needs of people but to their spiritual needs and eternal life. And it began and was strengthened by prayer.

So friends, as we go about our Christian ministry let us also remember to make time for prayer with God and as St Peter says, always be prepared to give the reason for the hope we have with gentleness and respect.