Sermon 28th April 2024 – 5th Sunday of Easter Text: John 15:1-8 – connected to the vine

 Sermon 28^th April 2024 – 5^th Sunday of Easter

Text: John 15:1-8 – connected to the vine

 

Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine… abide in me as I abide in you.” Last week Jesus said “I am the Good Shepherd”. These readings remind us of the importance of community. They call us into a new and wonderful way of living as part of community with others that is closely bonded to our Heavenly Father. As Christians we are branches in the true vine. Separate a branch from a vine and it will eventually die. We are sheep protected by the Good Shepherd.

If we wander off from the pack we become vulnerable to attack from predators.

 

As branches of the true vine we are called to bear fruit that continues the work of Jesus seen at Easter – the work of love – though this isn’t always easy.  How do we respond with love to some of the horrific events we’ve seen lately?  The stabbings in Bondi killing innocent people including a new mother. How do we love a person who stabs a priest while preaching God’s word? How do we love a gang that uses machetes and axes in a shopping centre while families are innocently shopping. How can we love when the news around us leaves us spiritually and emotionally drained? How do we proclaim the Good News about Jesus when we think there is just too much happening around us and in the world?  Maybe you feel like closing yourself off from the world and others.

 

The answer is never easy and yet as branches of the vine this is what we are called to do – to love our enemies – to pray for them – to ask our Heavenly Father to forgive them for they know not what they are doing – even though we are tempted to respond with – they knew exactly what they were doing. And yet this is the Gospel message - a message spoken to us where we are commission to proclaim forgiveness to all nations as witnesses of these things. We love others because God first loved us – even while WE were yet sinners.  We share the Good News with others because that is the Great Commission..  We speak and act in ways that support this message of love because we are branches of the true vine that loves us and we are witnesses of God’s love. If the vine loves us the branches, how can we not love others?

 

John, in our 2nd reading, reminds us that if we love one another, God lives in us.  As God abides in us the love grows more and more even into those situations that ordinarily we would not be able to love.  But what is love?  As John has been telling us in the past few weeks – love is not an emotion it is an action. To understand true love we look to the One who sent Jesus into the world to die for us to create a clear example of love.  A different kind of love to what we will ever experience in the world we live in.  The vine grower, God, is aware of what each vine needs to bear fruit.  The vine grower loves the branches because they are what produce his fruit. Likewise, God examines our hearts, provides for us, and can also remove those parts of ourselves that bear no fruit or are the cause of no fruit growing – anger, hate, jealousy.

 

The vine grower knows the vines and knows that every branch can bear fruit. When we abide in God, we are commissioned to seek our place in this world, loving others, living into the mission of the Church, restoring people to unity with God and each other in Christ. Going sometimes where we don’t expect to go like Phillip. One moment he is beside an Ethiopian trying to make sense of God’s word and no sooner does he baptise him that he finds himself somewhere totally different. The spirit blows where he wills. The image of Jesus as the true vine is a powerful one. Just as a vine is the source of life and sustenance for the branches that are attached to it, Jesus is the source of our spiritual nourishment and growth as he gives us himself in Holy Communion – as he makes us God’s children through Baptism.

 

The source of that energy is not from ourselves but comes from Jesus, the true vine of which we are branches. Sadly, when we do try to run on our own energy we will begin to burn out and eventually our faith will run out. That’s why Jesus told his disciples after his resurrection to WAIT. Wait until the promised Holy Spirit – the power from on high – comes and clothes you – empowers you. So we are called to remain connected to him, through worship, prayer, study of the Bible, and fellowship with other believers.  When we do this, we are able to grow in our faith and bear fruit that will last for eternity.

 

Jesus also tells us that the Father prunes the branches that do bear fruit, so that they will be even more fruitful. This pruning process can be painful, as it often involves removing things from our lives that are hindering our spiritual growth.

It can be people – it can be the way we spend our time, talents or treasures. They are things we wouldn’t normally volunteer to give up which is why Jesus says the vine grower must prune them. But we can trust that just as a gardener prunes a vine to help it grow stronger and produce more fruit, so too God lovingly prunes us to make us more like Christ.

 

But, just like the Ethiopian eunuch in our first lesson, we will not always understand.  We may ask, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”  The Ethiopian was trying to do it by himself – like a branch that has come away from the vine.

And sometimes we need to be grafted back in. And that can be a hard and painful process too. How many times have we been afraid to ask for help?  Or even embarrassed to ask, “Who can help me?”

 

One of the many things we learnt from the pandemic was that it was not good to be alone. We needed our community back.

As branches we needed to be reconnected to our true vine with one another rather than branches our on a limb.  In fact it was one of the very things God recognised when he created Adam to tend to his garden – it is not good for man to be alone. It’s why Jesus chose 12 disciples rather than being a lone wolf. It’s why Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs. Or as we hear in Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Which shows the importance of those 2 branches being connected to the vine – the 3rd cord.

 

Jesus’ example of love is about being in relationship with people and God. Love God with all your heart – the vine – and love your neighbour – the outpouring of the fruit of love to one another.  We have Philip’s example of love teaching, sharing about God, and baptizing.  We have the disciples’ example of love by following Jesus, even with threat of imprisonment and persecution.  All of these are important examples of what is possible if we remain connected to the vine rather than on our own.

 

As we understand this we can begin to understand why Satan is trying so hard to divide the church – our own Lutheran Church included. It has been Satan’s tactic since the beginning of creation. Separating Adam and Eve from each other – Adam and Eve from God – Cain from Abel. Then throughout history – the divided Kingdom of Israel – God’s people chasing after Baal – Ashtoreth and other gods. Then in the New Testament – Peter separating himself from the other disciples and sinking in the stormy sea – the disciples fleeing at Jesus arrest – the Corinthian Church a church of division – one follows Peter, one follows Apollos – to which Paul reminds them – is Christ divided? Then in church history -the great schism of 1054 when the Eastern and Western Church divided – the Reformation seeing the separation of Lutherans and Roman Catholics – and on we go today with a myriad of denominations. And yet, in all this we confess – I believe in ONE holy, Catholic/Christian and apostolic church – one baptism for the forgiveness of sin.

 

Our world needs a church that examples love and unity.  A church that is able to example restoring our brokenness. As we remain in the vine God transforms us and we transform the world.  When we abide in God, God abides in us. God abides in our relationships with one another and then in our surrounding communities.  God transforms us and will allow us to bear fruit that transforms the world. Amen.

Sermon 25th April 2021 – Good Shepherd Sunday Text: John 10:1-8 – Sheepish behaviour’

 Sermon 25th April 2021 – Good Shepherd Sunday Text: John 10:1-8 – Sheepish behaviour’

 

To be called a sheep is not a very flattering thing. It is a term usually used when referring to a person who doesn’t think for themselves but just blindly follows everyone else. Sadly this is often how people see Christians – as sheep. People who blindly follow a religion without thinking for themselves. People who have been brainwashed to blindly accept teachings from a book written thousands of years ago that has no relevance today.  I’m sure you’ve heard that reference before and maybe have even been called a sheep yourself for believing in God.

 

When you see sheep in a paddock you can understand why they have that image of blindly following. The shepherd just has to get one or two sheep going a certain way and the rest will follow.  You’ll even see that if one sheep jumps an imaginary fence that the rest will also jump that fence which is not there. But is that the image of sheep that Jesus wants us to have of ourselves as he calls himself our Good Shepherd? Is Jesus calling himself our Shepherd because he expects us to blindly follow him without any thought process? Not at all.  That’s not the image that Jesus is wanting to portray by calling himself our Shepherd and we his sheep.

 

The relationship of Shepherd and his sheep is one of trust. Listen to how Jesus interacts with Peter when he restores him as his Apostle after the resurrection. Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

 

Jesus’ concern for us was not that we blindly followed him but that we are cared for and nurtured. Shepherds were often considered to be at the bottom of the rung of success in Jesus’ time – hence the Shepherds being a part of the humble birth when the angels first appear to Shepherds to tell of Jesus’ birth and not to royalty like King Herod. But listen to David when he is begging to be given the opportunity to fight Goliath. He calls on his credentials as a Shepherd when speaking to King Saul:

 

David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; all to protect his sheep.

 

It’s interesting how Peter will refer to Satan being like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. And Jesus too talks about us as sheep and his care and concern for us when he is prepared to walk away from everything to come and find us. Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.

 

Does that sound like a God who just wants us to blindly follow him with no regard at all for us?

 

Or then we have today’s explanation by Jesus of what it means to be our Good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Being sheep is nothing about us – it is all about Jesus being our shepherd. He lays down HIS life for us.

That’s what he did on Good Friday – he laid down his life for us in order that we may be raised to new life as he was when we die. This relationship of sheep and shepherd is about the shepherds love and devotion to us and not about any expectation on us to blindly follow and be subservient to him.  And that’s exactly what John said in our 2nd reading: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us.

 

Jesus greatest concern is for those who do not put their faith and trust in him because no one cares for us like God who created us. Jesus calls those false shepherds “the hired hands” – people who have no vested interest in us so they protect only themselves and at the first sign of trouble they leave us for dead: The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. He doesn’t care if one or all of them are lost. He only cares about himself. It’s all about “care”.

 

And our first reading from Acts is very clear what that care is all about – it’s about our eternal life. Jesus came as our Good Shepherd to lead us home to our eternal life in Heaven as he lays down his life for us – as God made him who had no sin to become our sin so that we might become his rightousness. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

 

It reminds me of Peter when asked if he wanted to leave Jesus when many found his teaching too difficult. Peter replied – Lord to whom shall we go – YOU have the words of eternal life. And that is confirmed also by our Psalm today: Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

As we journey through life it is very easy to be led astray by false  shepherds. We follow the almighty dollar. We follow our careers. We follow our possessions – believing these will bring us hope and security. What these do is that they can make us quite selfish – thinking of ourselves – just like the hired hand. In times of trouble, false shepherds are no help – they flee at first chance; Our careers, our money, our possessions – these are useless when we are confronting serious life and death issues. But Jesus laid down his life for us so we can be assured of eternal life through him.

Being a sheep also means being a part of a community, a herd. Community is where we find support and security particularly during those times of concern and insecurity, which we all face. When Peter sank while walking on the water because of his concerns over the wind and the waves – Jesus took his hand and placed him back in the boat with the other disciples. When the Good Shepherd found the lost sheep he carried him home – back to the flock of sheep.

 

Sheep know that they need other sheep, desperately – because their very lives depend on it. That’s why they follow the shepherd because they know that they are safe in his hands. Likewise, God places us within communities of faith to strengthen our faith and also to use us to strengthen one another.  As John said in our 2nd reading: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.

 

I have no problem being called a sheep. Just like I have no problem when people say that my Christian faith is a crutch. Even though it’s intended as an insult that’s exactly what my faith is. We use a crutch when we are hurt and need support. Your rod and your staff – they comfort me.

We don’t blindly follow a religion as Christians – we follow our Good Shepherd because he has promised to take us home with him to heaven.

 So let us not be ashamed to be called sheep in following Jesus for there is no other name by which we can be saved.

Sermon 14th April 2024 Text 1 John 3:1-7 – We ARE children of God

 

Sermon 14^th April 2024

Text 1 John 3:1-7 – We ARE children of God

I would guess that every Christian knows John 3:16 – for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. It is such good news and encompasses the whole Christmas and Easter season. But I also think that our reading from John’s letter today is something that everyone one of us should know also. Whether or not you memorise it – it is something that you should know. In fact it should be something that you cherish because it is so remarkable – so promising – so comforting: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.

John really hammers it home – THAT IS WHAT WE ARE. Not something we strive for – not something that we try to achieve. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE -  children of God. Do you believe that? There are no ifs or maybes – no question marks – THAT IS WHAT WE ARE. The almighty God – the one who created the heavens and the earth – the one who, as the song goes – flung stars into space – we are his children.

Just think what importance the world puts on children like Prince William – son of King Charles the third. You, a nobody in the eyes of the world, pale that into insignificance as you are a child of God. Not a servant – not a slave- a CHILD of God. So why are we, as Christians, so maligned? Why are we so put down – so disregarded – so ineffective in the world today? Well, John tells us why:

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him – that is – God and his son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The world has a different relationship with God as Jesus once pointed out to his disciples.

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John’s Gospel)

It can become quite disheartening at times being a Christian if we listen to the world’s view of Christianity and the Church. So, what we are to do is to not listen to the world but to listen to what God says: And, as John goes on further, he says: Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when Jesus is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

And that’s what we need to keep remembering: We ARE children of God NOW. When Jesus is finally revealed to the world so will we. So we are to remain strong. We are to remain positive. We are not to let the world tell us who we are but let God tell us who we are.

So the challenge for us as Christians is that if people cannot see in us that we are children of God – that we are special in the eyes of the world then we have to live as Children of God.

There is a well know quote that says: Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads. So Jesus today commissions us as to how we are to live as we go out into the world as his Children. Jesus said, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

You are witness of these things!

We are commissioned to witness to everything Jesus taught and lived. His unconditional love – his sacrifice – his new commandment – love one another as I have loved you and by this everyone will know that you are my disciples. An amazing challenge to live out what Jesus has done for us so that the world may know.

It is incredible that the world hates Jesus – the one who sacrificed his own life for us is so despised by so many. And the worst thing that we can do as Christians is to return the hate and anger. Because then we are no different to the children of the world. That’s why Jesus has asked us to live differently. Repentance and forgiveness.

Be examples of the one who while experiencing the worst that humankind can do to him musters his strength to plead to his Heavenly Father – Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Look at the world today and how it responds with hate and opposition. The protests – the anger – the vile comments – the cancel culture. How are we Children of God if we don’t act in the same way that the Son of God reacted. As John says in one of his other letters – how can we love God whom we have not seen if we cannot love our brother or sister whom we can see.

It is a challenge being a Christian in society today. But no one will be able to attack you for living out what Jesus has asked us to do. To proclaim forgiveness of which we are witnesses. How are we witness? Because we have been forgiven by God as Peter said to the crowd today: Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”

Our human nature finds it very easy to retaliate in times of attack, like James and John who wanted to call down thunder on the Samaritans. But we are called to live to a higher standard that was set by Jesus. To love our enemies. To pray for those who persecute us. To turn the other cheek. Or as Paul says - To repay evil with good. Or as Peter says – treat them 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.

People think they know what the Christian faith is about but it’s only by what they have experienced from Christians. As our actions may be the only Bible that some people will ever read let us make it a best seller.

Let us live as children of God for that is what we are.

Easter Sunday

 Easter Sunday

 

A Psalm I often like to quote and refer to myself is Psalm 30 which says: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The Easter cycle begins at night – as we state each time we celebrate Holy Communion. On the night that he was betrayed – Jesus took bread and wine. From night it proceeds into deep and bitter darkness which sees at noon, darkness coming over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And then Jesus descending into the depths of hell cries out – my God, my God, why have you abandoned me. He is in the darkest of dark. The weight of the cross, the whipping, mocking, betrayal, abandonment, the darkness of the tomb – it seemed like all hope was lost.  But God, in his infinite wisdom, had a different plan that Jesus declared when he cried out his last words – “it is finished”.

 

The resurrection is a declaration of victory.   Where O death is your victory?  Thanks be to God who has given us the victory over death through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus’ Resurrection is God's triumphal shout echoing through the ages, proclaiming victory over sin and death.   It's a testament to the power of love, a love that conquers all as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13 – love never fails. This victory isn't just for Jesus; it's for all of us.  His resurrection assures us that death is not the end.  It offers the promise of eternal life, a life transformed by God's love. As Paul says in Romans 6: 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.

 

With death defeated, Easter Sunday is a call to us to break free from all our fears – the greatest of these fears being death: The things that hold us back – fear, doubt, negativity and to replace them with faith, hope and love which will remain.  To let the light of Christ's resurrection be the light that shatters the darkness within us and our community. The tears of night have passed and now the joy of morning has arrived.

 

Easter is a call to live differently.   To let the love of Christ fill our hearts with compassion, forgiveness, and love for others.   To be the light of Christ bringing hope in a world that often feels lost and trapped in the tears of night.  The wars, the climate fears, the racism, the continuing fears of Covid and other medical conditions. The worst that these can do to us have been defeated when Jesus rose on Easter Sunday morning to new life – victorious over death. Let us share the message of resurrection with those around us, spreading the joy and love that Christ so freely gave.

 

This Easter Sunday, let us celebrate not just the historical event from 2000 years ago, but the ongoing reality of Christ's presence in our lives.  Let his love be the guiding force in all we do.  Let us go forth with the same unwavering love that Jesus showed by refusing demands to ‘come down from the cross’. The world may be full of challenges, but the victory of Easter Sunday reminds us that we are not alone.  We have a God who loves us unconditionally, a God who conquered death, and a God who promises a future filled with hope. Let us celebrate, let us rejoice, let us live as Easter people – forever transformed by the power of the resurrection!

 

The cycle of Easter is the cycle of life for us. We have travelled through the valley of the shadow of death but we journey with Jesus to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Weeping may endure for the night but in the morning comes joy and that joy lasts forever.

 

Easter is not just another day. It is a coming face to face with Jesus who has completely triumphed over death. Today is the day to proclaim this fabulous news that the world needs to hear.  The Good News of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – the light that overcomes all the darkness that life can entail.  Weeping has lasted only through the night but now the joy of Easter morning has arrived.

Good Friday

 Good Friday

 

Good Friday is a solemn day as we remember the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross for us.  It is a day of deep sorrow and grief, as we acknowledge the immense suffering that Jesus endured on our behalf. Let us never forget that this was our suffering that Jesus took in our place – God made him who had no sin to become our sin. Jesus’ cry of anguish expresses the significance of sin and the depth of Jesus’ suffering as even he, the Son of God, feels the separation from his Father as he bears the burden of our sin and the abandonment of his Father because of it: My God, why have you abandoned me?

This was not a symbolic death but true death with true pain even crying out in thirst.   

 

But today is also a day of hope and redemption as God made him who had no sin to become our sin so that we would become the righteousness of God.  Let us never forget that through his death on the cross, Jesus offers us the gift of salvation and eternal life because he died the death that had been set aside for us. As St Paul states – for the wages of sin is death.

 

Jesus sacrifice serves as a powerful reminder of the depth of God's love for us, and the lengths to which he is willing to go to save us from that death as St Paul continues – but the free gift of God is eternal life. We must never downplay the significance of today for us and for the world. Jesus was innocent, yet he willingly endured the agony of the cross for our sake.  He bore the weight of our sins on his shoulders, so that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God. Let us remember the incredible act of forgiveness that Jesus displayed on the cross.  Even as he hung in excruciating pain, he prayed for those who had crucified him, asking God to forgive them.  The same God who he felt had abandoned him.

 

This extraordinary act of grace serves as a powerful example for us to follow in our own lives. On this Good Friday, let us not only reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus, but also consider how we can live in a way that honors his memory as a witness to the world of why we believe.  Let us strive to show love and compassion to those around us, just as Jesus did even for those who crucified him – those who betrayed him (Judas), those who denied him (Peter) - those who abandoned him (all his disciples).

 

As we have received forgiveness for our own sins let us extend that same forgiveness to others and be an example to the world where forgiveness seems to be so absent. Good Friday assures us of so much: It assures us that God’s love extends even to the worst of sinners as Paul called himself for persecuting Christians.  Assurance to the criminal by his side in his dying breath that it is never too late to repent while there is still breath. And his crucifixion assures us that even in our darkest moments Jesus compassion is extended to us as even in those final moments he’s not thinking of himself but others as  he cares for his mother Mary and entrusts her to the care of the disciple John.

 

And in those final words of Jesus with his suffering about to end he reminds us that Good Friday completes his rescue mission for us. “It is finished.” – These powerful words mark a turning point.  Jesus’ mission is complete; the work of redemption is accomplished.  It is finished. It’s a declaration of victory over sin and death, offering hope for all humanity. Something that our world cannot give us – hope for the future. And so, even though he experienced the abandonment of his heavenly Father he knew that it was only in his Father that he could find comfort.

 

So as he takes his last breath he musters all his strength to put his hope in his Father: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

 

On this most holy and sacred day let us take this opportunity to deepen our faith and draw closer to God by spending time in prayer and reflect again on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice for us as we live lives of faith, love, and service to others in honor of the incredible sacrifice that was made for us by Jesus on Good Friday.

Maundy Thursday

 Maundy Thursday

 

Often when I’m working on my computer I find things take longer to load and the computer becomes sluggish. When that happens I find that the best solution is not to get angry and feel like throwing my computer out the window but to switch it off and turn it back on again. To reset it – get rid of all the things that build up and up and ends up slowing things down. It’s the same with my phone and many other appliances – turning them off and on seems clear everything and gets them back to basics.

 

In our 2nd reading today, in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, it seems Paul is using the same technique even though it will be many years before electricity and appliances are invented. Paul is hitting the reset button. I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you. Paul is not inventing something. Paul is not beginning a new program or group. He is taking us  back to where it all began at the Last Supper with Jesus and his Apostles. The reason he is doing this is because the Corinthian church had gone off the rails and needed resetting. They were using the communion service to overindulge in both the bread and the wine.

 

In the preceding verses it tells just how things had degraded: He says: When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. So Paul brings them back to basics and reminds them of the solemness of Holy Communion and the setting from which it came – the preparation of the apostles for his impending death and the assurance of his presence with them into eternity. Back to the Last Supper where Jesus sat with his apostles – broke bread and gave it to them and said: Take and eat this IS my body. He took the cup, blessed it, gave it to them and said: Take and drink – this is my blood of the new covenant. Jesus instructed the church to do this often – to keep coming back to where he could be found in his real presence. And that’s pretty much how our lives go also.

 

Our lives get pretty messed up at times. That’s why God set up a particular pattern of life – 6 days we work and on the 7th we rest in God – just as God did. Our human nature needs a constant reset as we have the tendency to allow the Old Adam to guide our way. In his explanation of Baptism, Luther saw the need for a daily reset in our lives. He said: Our sinful self, with all it’s evil deeds and desires should be drowned through ‘daily’ repentance’ and that day after day a new self should arise.

 

But this takes humility to admit our faults and sin. So Jesus exampled that humility when he stooped down to wash his disciples feet. An act of humility that Peter did not understand. Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” “You will never wash my feet.” It’s very similar to John the Baptist who didn’t understand Jesus humility when Jesus went to him for Baptism: John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?

 

It was the same act of humility shown by the father of the prodigal son who ran out to meet the very son who had wished him dead. An act of humility that was not understood by the older brother who showed the opposite of humility – anger, resentment, jealousy and bitterness.

 

Jesus knows that as we journey through life after he had gone that our human tendencies would want to take us on a different tract. So everything about tonight is to bring us back to him By giving us his body and blood under a new covenant that Jeremiah spoke about written on our hearts.. By setting an example of humility by washing his disciples feet. And then, the greatest acts of humility, to love one another as he has loved us. And by this everyone will know you’re his disciples but also you will be reminded of the greatest sacrifice anyone could ever make – to lay down his life for us.

 

That is the standard of love that Jesus asks us to follow – love one another as I have loved you. So if ever we feel that the hurt is just too great to forgive or love someone – we are called back to remember how much Jesus loved us even while we were yet sinners.

 

And that his request from the cross to ‘forgive them father for they know not what they are doing’ was not just for those who nailed him to the cross on that day – but also for us.

 

On this Maundy Thursday, let us take time to reflect on the example of humility set by Jesus in his selfless acts of service and love.  As Paul urged the Philippians to have the same mindset as Christ, let us strive to follow in his footsteps and to serve one another with humility and compassion. Let us also remember the gift of Holy Communion, which unites us in Christ's sacrifice and assures us of his presence among us.

 

May we be inspired by the example of Jesus on this Maundy Thursday and seek to live out his teachings in our daily lives by serving others with the same love and humility that he showed to his disciples. And all of this only possible as we receive the powerful gift of our Lord’s body and blood that unites us as one body in Christ in the new covenant of love.

Sermon 24th March 2024 – Palm Sunday Text: Mark 15:16-20 – Jesus’ foolish coronation

 Sermon 24^th March 2024 – Palm Sunday

Text: Mark 15:16-20 – Jesus’ foolish coronation

 

Both our Gospel readings today are full or what some might call irony. Others, including myself, would call them prophecy hidden in plain sight. Let me walk you through them. Firstly we have the aptly named “Triumphal Entry” which seemingly looks anything but triumphal to the human eye. Here we have Jesus prophesying exactly what would happen: You will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then as Jesus enters Jerusalem the people proclaim prophecy whether they realise they are doing it or not: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Although they were expecting something much different – a victorious political King riding into town on a horse draw chariot to sit on the throne in the succession of King David – they received something completely different to their expectations. Something that they were not really wanting or expecting.

 

Hence we will see a shift from the people where the cheers become jeers which will also be prophetic. Where the shouts of Hosanna become shouts of crucify him. But here is where irony continues as the shouts of crucify him become unintended shouts of grace and mercy as it will be through Christ’s crucifixion that we receive forgiveness and healing. In the words of Joseph from the Old Testament – what they intend for evil God uses for good.

 

In Matthew’s version we see this prophecy even clearer: They shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.  He said “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” “It is your responsibility!”  All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” What a prophetic proclamation of the people, though not intended, that will eventuate in Jesus’ crucifixion becoming the saving blood of the new covenant “on us and our children”.

 

From here we move to Mark’s version of the humiliation and crucifixion which were all meant to mock and demean Jesus but, again, become proclamations of his true Kingship: The soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. This was all meant to humiliate Jesus but in God’s unique way shows that his weakness is stronger than human strength and his foolishness is smarter than human wisdom.

 

They clothed him in purple cloak – the colour of royalty. They twist a crown of thorns – for he is a true king. They strike his head with a reed – much like when a person is knighted with the tapping of the sword on their shoulders. They spit on him – like when a king is anointed with oil. They kneel down in homage to him – Remember Paul’s letter to the Philippians – every kneel shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. They don’t realise it – they don’t intend it – but they are in fact declaring Christ’s hidden kingship through foolishness and weakness.

 

Then they crucify him – they lift him high on the cross which is his throne from where he will reign until he returns. He is lifted high for all the world to see much like the arches of the local McDonald’s that every one sees when they come into town. Much like churches that used to hoist their crosses high on their buildings for people to find their local church.

And then the greatest of ironies. The Roman Centurion – the one overseeing his humiliating execution sees all that happens and makes the first proclamation of faith after his death: The centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

 

Why is all this important? Because this is still how God works in the world. As we heard a few weeks ago from Paul in 1 Corinthians.

God confounds the strength of the world by his weakness. God confounds the wisdom of the world by his foolishness.

Today the church is seen as weak and yet in our weakness is our strength. As Paul says – when I am weak then I am strong.

 

In our failing numbers we have the angels, archangels and all the company of heaven with Jesus promise – where 2 or 3 are gathered there I am in the midst of them. When we are told we are no longer relevant in today’s progressive world we have never been more relevant. Where the mocking of the church and our faith is met with Paul’s warning – God shall not be mocked. But let us see mocking in a different light.

 

I was watching a comedian recently who ripped into the Christian faith. He then decided to make fun of Islam.

He look at the camera – didn’t make a sound – and then said – I’m not stupid. I mean, what is a Christian going to do to me – forgive me. I thought – unknowingly, this so called comedian just prophesied for us. Our weakness is actually our strength. When someone mocks you or the church you can actually honour God by forgiving. You can show God’s authority by praying for God’s enemies. Isn’t that what Jesus did as the greatest act of strength through weakness? Forgive them Father – they know not what they are doing.

 

It can be a tough journey carrying our cross. Even Jesus needed the help of Simon of Cyrene as he walked along. We too have that help. We have one another to pick each other up as we struggle. We have Jesus who has promised “I am with you always”. As we enter into Holy Week we enter into a darkness that will take us into the humility of Jesus washing his disciples feet. A humility that would be seen as ridiculous for someone of high standing to stoop so low. But this will be Jesus’ great act of authority as through his humility he is given the name that is above all names to which every knee will bend and every tongue confess as Lord. He will experience the greatest act of betrayal from his own disciples. A disowning from his closest friend and disciples. An abandonment by his own disciples as they flee when he is arrested. But then the greatest of abandonments will be experienced by Jesus along with pain that made the nails in his hands and feet seem insignificant. As he cries out from the cross –  Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? But again, we will see God work through foolishness and weakness.

 

As this abandoned one, betrayed one, disowned one is lifted high and seated at God’s right hand. As we lift high the name of Jesus by our weakness and foolishness – forgiving where others take revenge. By loving where others would hate. God’s power and authority is a hidden power and authority. Hidden behind weakness and foolishness. And what the world tends as evil towards God, the church and Christians are opportunities to proclaim God’s Kingdom come by loving as God loves.

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

 Sermon 17^th March 2024 – 5^th 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.

 

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

 Sermon 10^th March 2024 – 4^th 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.

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

 Sermon 3^rd March 2024 – 3^rd 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.