Sermon 25th September 2022 – 16th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 16:19-31 – reversal of fortunes

 Sermon 25^th September 2022 – 16^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 16:19-31 – reversal of fortunes

 

There is the old saying that there are 2 things certain in life – death and taxes. In our Gospel reading one of those is certainly true – death. Jesus tells the story of 2 people at opposite ends of the wealth scale. Lazarus – not the Lazarus Jesus raised from the dead – and an unnamed rich man. They could not be further apart. There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table. Although there would be some question as to whether Lazarus ever paid taxes, the matter of death faces both of them. The Book of Hebrews confirms that also - people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. And apart from Enoch and Elijah in the Old Testament that is certainly true even for our Lord Jesus Christ. And not all the money in the world can prevent the rich man from that same destiny.

 

And as I said – their earthly wealth status could not be further apart. After their death, we hear that that same separation continues. They are worlds apart after death. The difference however is that there is an impassable chasm that now separates Lazarus and the rich man. Whereas Lazarus would eat from the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table, the chasm does not even allow a drop of water to pass to ease the rich man’s torment. And the other difference is that there is now a reversal of status. Whereas the rich man lived in luxury and comfort while Lazarus lived in squalor and pain – that has now been reversed. Lazarus is now comforted by Abraham while the rich is tormented in Hades.

 

This is one of the very few images of hell that we are presented with in the Bible and it’s a frightening picture. It’s an image that many preachers avoid perhaps because we all know friends and family that have rejected Christ and we don’t want to think about what Judgment Day might bring for them. But it is a reality we cannot avoid or ignore. But this should be at the heart of mission so that, as we heard last week, for God’s desire is that all people be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. This is a really difficult story Jesus tells because it is easy to place guilt on ourselves that we are in the place of the rich man because of our comfort. That is not what Jesus is teaching.

 

Last week I had to go to the city to sign some legal papers. As I walked from Flinders Street station, I was shocked at how many people I saw like Lazarus sitting on the footpath begging. Many of them placed themselves outside the supermarkets or eating places perhaps to heighten our wealth and their poverty.

There were men and women, young and old – poverty does not discriminate. I stopped to help one young woman whose sign that she had written to explain her situation blew away with the wind. I chased it down and returned it and she thanked me and I gave her some money and she thanked me again. But I thought – what about the other half dozen I passed previously?

 

It’s difficult and as much as we would love to solve hunger and homelessness off our own resources it’s just not possible. The teaching here is the hope that we can impart which is limitless. That there will be a reversal of fortunes. That’s what Jesus teaches in the beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the  kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

 

Sadly the rich man finally begins to think of others and not himself: I beg you to send Lazarus to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment. The rich man, from what we see in this parable wasn’t an evil person but he had allowed his wealth to blind him from the needs of others.

It had almost deadened his heart to be unable to see the pain and need all around him even at his front door.

St Paul also does not call riches evil but rather the love of riches which breaks the first commandment – you shall have no other gods. Paul further goes on to uphold those are rich but to be careful with those riches; As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty – arrogant or feeling superior to others. Don’t set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

 

It is quite challenging living what some perceive as a comfortable life – a roof over our head – well fed – freedom from war and natural disasters. When we look at the world around us both here and at home – the homelessness, the families struggling financially trying to pay the mortgage or their gas and electricity bills – seeing children go to school without breakfast and then what we see happening overseas – one can feel guilty for simply living the everyday life. But the message here is not against wealth but to urge us to witness to those who have lost their way through wealth and to bring hope to those who feel hopeless.

 

The rich man begs Abraham: I beg you to send Lazarus to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them. We can’t fix poverty and homelessness on our own but we can bring God’s word of hope as Jesus did in the beatitudes. Even if we sold everything and gave it to the poor, as Jesus once said – the poor you will always have with you. But as Peter once said when he was asked for money by a beggar - “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

 

Whilst we might not have the ability to heal a person physically we have the ability bring spiritual care by sharing with them the good news of Jesus and the love of God. Again, something far greater as Paul points out in 1 Corinthians: If I give all I possess to the poor … but do not have love, I gain nothing. It’s very challenging dealing with homelessness, poverty and other social problems. We can support the various welfare agencies but that does not provide them with what they truly need.  The grace of God.

 

Again, remember the poor widow who only had 2 small copper coins. She could have kept both for herself or even just one. But what would happen once they were gone. She realized that there was a far greater resource than money. The love of God. And God’s love has been poured out for us in Jesus Christ and we can share that with others and it will never run out.

 

After I came away from that homeless woman in the city having given her money, I didn’t feel any better and I’m sure that by now that money has run out. But I realise now that I could have shared with her a far greater gift that is everlasting. To remind her of God’s love and to pray for her. And just like Peter, we have a far greater gift to give than any amount of Gold or Silver – the precious love of Christ, as St Paul said today - the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

 

Sermon 18th September 2022 – 15th Sunday after Pentecost Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 – Our mediator with God

 Sermon 18^th September 2022 – 16^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 – Our mediator with God

 

We have a new King – King Charles the third. And no doubt most preachers will be focusing on this and Paul’s encouragement to pray for our leaders in order to avoid trying to interpret and preach on Jesus’ Gospel where he says: Use worldly or rather, dishonest wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. It’s a tough parable to dissect.

 

The 2nd reading from Paul can be just as challenging in today’s society because it instructs us that there is only ONE mediator between us and God and that is Jesus Christ. It appears to exclude all other paths to God whether it be our good works or other religions. And in today’s society that can be challenging as to try and explain. So let’s see if we can understand what Paul is saying:

 

First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. Last week we heard how powerful prayer was. God was angry with Israel for rejecting him and worshiping a Golden Calf. It was not the way to God. So God had decided to destroy all of “stiff-necked” Israel and start again with Moses. But Moses begs for Israel – pleading for God’s mercy as he intercedes for them. And because of Moses’ prayer it says that “God changed his mind”.

 

Have you ever considered just how powerful your prayers are when you are praying for a situation. A prayer that can actually change God’s mind. A prayer that can change the course of history. And Christians are charged with that responsibility by praying for all people – for our King – and all people in positions of authority for a peaceful life of the world. And for this reason our Prayer of the Church where we pray for the world, the church and all people according to their needs is not just another “part of the liturgy” but a fundamental life pulse of the world. Who else has been charged with this responsibility? Who else can change the mind of God? Moses did because he had personal access to God which no one else had in his time.

Remember the people were frightened of God and begged Moses to not let God speak with them but that Moses become the mediator between them and God. They said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” So, because Moses was their mediator, they could have their requests made to God and God would listen and Moses could change the very mind of God.

 

We had seen that earlier with Abraham pleading on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. Interceding as their mediator to stop God from destroying them. And God promised that if he could find a few as 10 righteous people living there he would not destroy them. God has given us access to himself through proper mediation.

Nineveh discovered that also that through their repentance God changed his mind. And now, Paul tells us, that Jesus is the new mediator between us and God to bring our requests to God through him. There is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all.

 

This, as I said, is very challenging in a world that is growingly rejecting Christianity. But Paul is not alone in this understanding of Jesus being the only mediator between us and God. Jesus himself said this: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Coming to God through Jesus is how we know that God has heard our prayers.

 

Communication is important in any relationship. When we send an important letter and we want to know that it has arrived we will send it by Registered Mail and obtain a signature. We might ask for a “read receipt” on an email we send to know that it has been received. With God we don’t need to do that when we come to him through Jesus.

When we pray – in Jesus’ name I pray. We know with absolute confidence that God has heard our prayer.

But the most important prayer that we Christians are to pray and to pray unceasingly is to pray for the world that is moving away from God. Paul says that God desires that all people be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. How comforting to know that God wants everyone to be in heaven with him. And there’s only one thing that prevents that from happening – as we saw with Moses and Israel – our rejection of God through sin.

 

But just as Moses stood between God’s judgement and Israel, so too Jesus stands between God’s judgement and us. He is the mediator. He has paid the ransom to free us. So if we reject Christ then we reject that mediation that Jesus paid for with his life. So as children of God – as the people of God – as the body of Christ we have a huge task that God has given to us – but a rewarding task. We are asked to pray. For all people.

For Kings and those in leadership. And our prayer is for all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. And what is that truth? Jesus says – “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”.

 

God wants the world to know how much he loves the world – so much that he sent his one and only Son to die for us and to be the mediator between him and us. Works of charity – works of service – serving in positions of leadership in the church are important. But prayer is not important – it is vital – it is essential. As Christians – we are the Moses praying to God on behalf of those who have rejected him, like Israel.

 

As Christians we are sometimes called to be the Jonah’s of this world to call people back to God through repentance, like Nineveh, so they can repent and rediscover God’s grace. And sometimes, like Abraham, we might even find that despite our best efforts, despite all our pleadings, that, like Sodom and Gomorrah, there is continued rejection and we need to keep praying. And that’s why Paul says elsewhere - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. If there is only one God – and there is only one mediator between humanity and God in Jesus Christ – and that is what we believe and what Jesus taught – then we have a huge responsibility to pray for the world to come to the knowledge of truth. But what a blessing to know that we can come to God as we read in the book of Hebrews – to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. And not just for ourselves but the world – for Kings – and all people according to their needs.

 

Sermon 11th September 2022 – Creation Sunday

 Sermon 11^th September 2022 – Creation Sunday

As you wake in the morning the sounds begin. It may be the alarm clock that wakes you – or the neighbour’s car starting as they leave for work or their car alarm which annoys you rather than concerns you. It may be your dog or your neighbour’s dog or some other pet telling you they need food.

From there it’s noise from everywhere – TV, Radio, traffic, people. Which is quite sad in a way because we actually miss the beautiful sounds of creation that are all around us. The birds tweeting – the wind blowing and rustling – even the sound of sheer silence – which is a sound as we remember that God revealed himself to Elijah in sheer silence.

We have grown so accustomed to noise that we don’t know how to listen to the sounds around us. Notice the difference – noise and sound. We cannot hear the sounds around us in creation – in the voice of God – because of the noise all around us. And when we don’t hear noise we feel uncomfortable. We put the TV on when we get home not to watch something but to continue the noise.

When we sit with someone in silence we feel uncomfortable and feel we need to speak and say something and so often we end up saying something we wish we hadn’t. Think of Job in his great suffering visited by his friends. They sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. It was when they began to speak that problems began.

Why is silence so hard to deal with? Do you ever surround yourself with noise intentionally because the silence is so difficult to deal with? Are you afraid of what you might hear in the silence.

St Francis of Assisi would preach to the birds in the morning and believed that their greeting of the new day with their chirping  was a song of praise to God. How many other sounds of creation are simply “noises” that annoy us rather than enthral us as a symphony that God has created in creation. In fact St Paul talks about the sounds of creation that join our suffering and anguish to God: In Romans he says: We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Has the birds tweeting – the dogs barking – the wind howling – the possums screeching been rejected as noise because we don’t understand them – rather than seeing them as part of God’s symphony in creation. Are they joining in our voices of concern for the state of the world and we pulled the pillow over our head or thought or shouted I wish they would be quiet?

So many times we ponder and wish God would be more active in our lives – that he would speak to us. Perhaps he is but we have drowned him out. Perhaps he is speaking to us in ways we don’t understand through the sounds of creation that we have translated as noise. “Do you wish God’s voice would be louder in your life?” Does all the noise in our lives make it hard to hear God? Remember Jesus invitation. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest – rest for your souls. Psalm 4 says -  when you are on your beds resting, search your hearts and be silent.

Isn’t it interesting how silence plays a big part in God’s communication. We often think of silence as God’s inaction but when Elijah was stressed and worried about all the things going on around him God spoke to him in his creation – but not in the wind or the fire or the earthquake – but in the sound of silence. Have you spent the same amount of time worrying and talking about your difficult, confusing situations as you have spent in silence, listening to what God might be saying to you? Do you sometimes avoid silence because you’re afraid of what God might actually have to say to you?

Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed but it doesn’t say what he prayed – maybe he listened in silence. “Is it possible that you’ve been searching for God in the voice of creation - in the winds … the earthquakes and fires … and he’s already speaking to you in the silence.

Let us wake each morning and spend time in silence before we turn on the noises of the day to listen to God speaking to us. But remember that speaking may also be silence – so much so that it becomes a deafening silence. I remember in my first Parish in Minyip. The chairman drove us around showing us the farming community. He stopped the car and we got out. It was a still day – not a breeze to be seen, heard or felt. We got out and looked at the flat plain and I experienced what I’ve never experienced before. The sound of sheer silence – and it hurt – it was uncomfortable – it was a deafening silence. And I’ll never forget that. God’s voice is all around us in his creation but sometimes we need to stop and be silent.

As Jesus said when he was told to make the crowds keep silent when they were praising God – The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” All creation is crying out praises to God – let us take that time each day to stop and listen and hear God’s voice of creation even in the silence.

 

Sermon 11th September 2022 – 14th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 15:1-10 – God’s mission

 Sermon 11^th September 2022 – 14^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 15:1-10 – God’s mission

 

The big word in churches is Mission. But it’s a word that can be easily misunderstood. Our parish is undergoing a review at present that we are calling “cultivating a new future” and at the heart of that is mission. We can misunderstand mission if we believe that mission is all about “us”. We go out and make disciples for Jesus. To some extent that is true. Jesus says in Matthew 28 – go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them and teaching them. Interesting that there seems to be a step missing. Why are we baptizing? What is happening before Baptism? Surely we aren’t just baptizing without any request from the person.It doesn’t say – go to all nations, convert them to Christianity and once they believe and decided to follow Christ baptize them. That’s usually how we understand mission. Convert them to become Christian, get them along to church and then baptize them. Again, that’s not saying we don’t at times do that but if that’s what we believe mission consists of – US going out converting and bringing them to church then we are missing out on an important fundamental step in mission – the work of the Holy Spirit..

Look how Jesus talks about mission and who is firstly doing it. The first thing we hear in our gospel is: All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. Notice that the first movement is that of the tax collectors and sinners coming to Jesus. It doesn’t say that his disciples went out and brought them to Jesus. It was the work of the Holy Spirit stirring up their hearts. Hearing complaints from the religious leaders that Jesus didn’t send them away Jesus then tells 2 parables.

The first one is the parable of the lost sheep. In this parable we have a shepherd who has 100 sheep. 99 of them are faithful and do as they are told. One of them, however, has decided to go his own way. And notice who goes out looking for it. The shepherd himself. He doesn’t send one of his workers but goes himself. We know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and so this parable talks about the primary and initial work of God in mission who is going after the lost. This is GOD’S MISSION. As the sheep is brought home on the Shepherd’s shoulders he is put back with the other sheep. We don’t hear of the other sheep rejecting him or criticizing him but the lost sheep is restored. And there is rejoicing in heaven by the angels. And so there’s a huge part that we play in mission of being there to receive when God brings someone into our midst. To rejoice with the angels in heaven that God has brought back one of his lost children into our flock.

The 2nd parable is similar. A woman has 10 coins but loses one. She immediately lights a lamp and then sweeps the house clean until she finds it. As I read this afresh something I noticed is that she lit the lamp – swept the house and searched for the coin. Why not just “lit a lamp and searched”. She swept the house first. Was her untidiness partly to blame for her losing the coin? I know my keys don’t walk off by themselves in the morning when I go looking for them. They are usually under newspapers and catalogues that I’ve dumped on top of them. And I’m wondering if that reference was intentional by Jesus.

Is there something we need to be doing to sweep to allow a person to be found. Is the church in a mess that we don’t  realise is keeping people away or they don’t return? Are there things in our church that need to be cleaned and removed. Is there something preventing a lost member from returning? Is there perhaps a word of forgiveness that needs to be shared first?

There are so many hidden details in Jesus’ parables that we find something different each time we read them. But what we value so much in these parables is God’s insatiable love for us that is always looking for us and looking out for us and never giving up.

Today we see 3 of our young members take that next step in their Christian walk of faith. For Lachlan and Chelsea we see them confirm their Baptism vows. When they were just infants their parents and God parents made a commitment to raise them in the Christian faith which they have done through Sunday School, church and faith at home. We don’t know what that next step of faith is going to be but whatever direction that is they will have their Good Shepherd hot on their heels. If they take a wrong turn later in life then God will go with them and when they are found then God will bring them home. And they don’t have to do anything because God is looking for THEM. Just look at St Paul in today’s reading and how far he ventured off the path of God – and he didn’t even know it.

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst.

And Josh, you too are taking an exciting step in your faith as you receive Holy Communion for the very first time. Holy Communion is a very special gift for Christians. Many years ago it was felt so special that people would only have it a few times a year and you would have to be a lot older before you received it. But we began to realise that if it’s special then why shouldn’t we have it as often as we can and as soon as we can. So I hope that you always see this as a very special gift that Jesus gives to you.

There’s no doubt that our church has changed over the past couple of years through Covid. There’s so much uncertainty in the world whether it’s future infections, economic uncertainty or whatever concerns you. But how comforting to know that even when we travel through the darkest of valleys that we have no fear because our Good Shepherd is with us as he first promised in our Baptism. I am with you always till the end of the age. So Lachy, Chelsea and Josh, may God bless you as you take this next step in your faith journey and know that right on your heels is Jesus to take care of you.