Sermon 13th February 2022 - 6th Sunday after Epiphany
Text: 1 Corinthians
15:12-20 - Not pitied but envied.
But there was hope that
maybe through this we would re-evaluate our lives and what’s important. But we
saw that each time as soon as lockdowns and restrictions were lifted the news
would film people back out in pubs, clubs, restaurants as if nothing had
happened. We had even hoped that maybe it may have spiritually awakened people
in their faith in God. But attendances at church suggested otherwise. In fact
the Bureau of Statistics reported that only 13% of the population attended
worship at Christmas.
We spend a lot of time
and effort into trying to find out – why aren’t people coming to church. We try
to find out the reason and then we try and fix the issue. I don’t like the
music – it’s too old. So we modernise our music – and they still don’t come.
Sunday’s my only day
off – so churches have tried other times – and they still don’t come. It’s too
early on a Sunday morning – I like my sleep in. We have tried later starts,
evening services – and still they don’t come. There’s nothing for my children –
so we offer Sunday schools, youth programs, holiday programs – and they still
don’t come. There’s too much negativity – too much talk about sin – too much
“thou shalt not”. So we stop talking about sin – start being more entertaining
– and still they don’t come. In fact what happens is that the ones that ARE
coming don’t like the changes and we lose them too.
Personally, I think we
are starting at the wrong end. We spend so much time trying to find out why
people AREN’T coming that we can neglect those who ARE coming. Perhaps our
starting point should be – why are YOU coming? And that’s what Paul is doing in
today’s reading. What is it about Church, or rather, what is it about faith in
God that keeps YOU wanting to come to church and being with other Christians
and experiencing this time with God?
Let me start by
affirming – coming to church doesn’t make you a Christian. And not coming to
church doesn’t make you a non-Christian. But church attendance, whether it’s
weekly, fortnightly, monthly or just Christmas and Easter, or to baptise their
child, get married or attend a funeral, it is the only barometer we have to
gauge how a person’s spiritual life is going.
So let’s look at what
Paul says and often with Paul and other writers they leave the punch line till
last. The most important part of what they want to say is the last thing they
say so we don’t forget it. And the last thing he says is: But in fact Christ
has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.
This is the reason I
believe. This is the reason I have faith in God. And going through these past 2
years – going through life and seeing all the tragedies that life has in store
for myself and other people – what a comfort to know that there is something
beyond this life. That Jesus has been raised from the dead – but not only Jesus
but he is the first fruit of those who have died which means we too will follow
Jesus into heaven.. How amazing to have that hope.
And even if this life
has gifted you with a silver spoon from birth to death – there is still the
matter of “what happens when I die”. Which is why Paul says: If for this life
only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
If this life is all
there is then life is futile. If you have changed your life – given up
opportunities because you’re a Christian but there is nothing different after
you die – that’s why Paul says we should be pitied more than anyone else. Because
at least others have done whatever they have wanted to do without considering –
“what would Jesus do” in this situation.
Paul points out the
meaning of only living for this life. What’s the point of working hard, earning
a huge wage, sacrificing yourself and amassing huge assets and then dying and
leaving it all behind?
This is what Solomon
says in Ecclesiastes: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” “Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.” What do people gain from all their labours at which
they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, So I hated life,
because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is
meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for
under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.
For some people,
perhaps many people, or possible all people, life is not a life of happiness
and joy that it is often made out to be by advertisers of people laughing and
enjoying themselves socialising out and about. Maybe it’s more like what
Solomon said in Ecclesiastes – meaningless – but we’ll put on a brave front so
no one finds out. And that what Paul feels sorrow for – for those whose only
hope is in this life.
But Jesus today brings
us a word of hope for what life can really be about for many if not all of us. “Blessed
are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Maybe you haven’t
achieved everything in life you wanted or you always seem to be just scraping
by while others flourish but there is a greater gift awaiting you – the Kingdom
of God.
“Blessed are you who
are hungry now, for you will be filled. Maybe you’ve seen others enjoying life
while you’ve barely scraped through. Be assured that you’re invited to the
great heavenly feast and it’s totally free because of Jesus.
“Blessed are you who
weep now, for you will laugh. Maybe your life has been a life of suffering and
pain. Maybe you lost a loved one in recent times or you’ve been widowed for
many years. St John, In Revelation, saw the new heaven that awaits us where
there is no suffering or death.
St Paul assures us that
our present suffering is not worth comparing with the glory that awaits us. And
Paul would know because he was taken up to heaven to see the beauty of paradise
and could not put into words what he saw. Christians are not to be pitied but
envied because it is not for this life that we live but for the eternal life
that Jesus, the first fruits has guaranteed for us. And that’s where I believe
we start with in rejuvenating faith and the church. To show the world our joy
and our hope and as St Peter says – to always be prepared to give the reason
for the hope we have. The hope that has gotten us through these past 2 years
and will continue to support us until we are in our heavenly home in the
presence of our Lord.
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