Year A 2017 - 4th Sunday after Epiphany

Text: Matthew 5:1-12 - Blessed by looking outside of ourselves

The phrase which we heard over and over again during the American Presidential campaign by Donald Trump and in his inauguration speech was “make America great”.

And he said that the way he was going to do that was by “putting Americans first”.

Making America Great – Putting Americans First.

Basically he is saying that if something is not in the best interests of Americans then he is going to scrap it including any trade deals with other countries.

It spoke to a lot of people because it’s the fundamental thinking of human beings and it is used by marketing quite frequently.

Make your life great by putting yourself first.

That’s the basic message of marketing.

It’s the underlying human condition as we seek the best for our lives.

Jesus tackles this type thinking as he sits with the people and preaches to them his first sermon which has become known as “The Sermon on the Mount” or the Beatitudes.

It was a sermon that challenged the “me first” thinking that goes right back to Adam and Eve and the “you will be like God” promise made to them by Satan:

You will be great – your eyes will be opened and you will be like God – was the trick Satan used.

It was the same trick that Satan tried on Jesus when he tempted him to put himself first:

Turn these rocks into bread – put yourself first and eat if you’re hungry.

Throw yourself from the temple and see if God loves you enough.

Bow down and worship me and I will make you great by giving you all the kingdoms of the world.

Jesus turns this around and says that greatness is found in very different places:

Jesus says that there are blessings that are found outside of ourselves and highlights qualities that would normally be associated with weakness and defects.

Being poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, those who hunger and thirst for the needs of others, not themselves, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers, the persecuted and reviled.

These do not look like symbols of greatness but they are where true greatness can be found.

And the reason is because we are led to understand that our help comes from God.

As Paul said when he needed to look outside of himself and discovered – when I am weak then I am strong.

And he said that because in times of weakness, in times of suffering he realised that it wasn’t about him making himself great but about God’s greatness being revealed in him.

And as a result he said he wasn’t going to boast about his own greatness but about the greatness that is given to him when he lets go of his self-greatness.

When he stops boasting about his own greatness:

He said: I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

What both Jesus and Paul are trying to highlight is that human greatness is always limited.

It is limited by availability – someone greater will always come along – or something may happen to take away our greatness – a sickness – an accident – or an external influence like a recession in the economy that can wipe away our possessions.

Human greatness is artificial – someone will take our place like a sporting champion who is defeated by a younger, hungrier, up and coming star or because of age we are forced to retire.

But greatness bestowed by God cannot be taken away.

But it can be ridiculed, it can be made to look weak, it can be made to look foolish.

But we don’t worry about what others say.

Instead we remain focused on where God has shown his power and strength and that is in the cross of Jesus Christ where his power and authority was revealed in death and defeat.

In Jesus’ death was where God revealed his power by raising Jesus from the dead.

And so Paul keeps directing us there as he says:

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The cross looks like weakness – it looks like failure – but it is where God has hidden his greatness.

People will make fun of what we hold dear to our faith.

They will mock us in the same way they mocked Jesus while he was hanging powerless from the cross.

But it was only powerless in human terms not in Godly terms.

So what Jesus and Paul are telling us is that we are blessed when - whatever our circumstances - we know our need of God.

And sadly, our need for God is often when we can no longer rely on ourselves to provide for our needs.

In times of suffering when we cannot find healing, God comes to remind us of the full and final healing when our time comes to be called home to heaven.

In times of grief when we lose a loved one, God comes to us to comfort us by reminding us that Jesus is the resurrection and life and that whoever believes in him shall never truly die. (John 11:25)

In times of poverty God comes to us as he came to the poor man Lazarus where we see the reversal of fortunes as Lazarus is comforted by Abraham. (Luke 16:19-31)

In times of persecution and ridicule God comes to us to remind us that our Lord is going to return and everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. (Revelation 1:7)

Our comfort and assurance doesn’t come by human effort, they come through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Knowing our need of God allows us to endure the bad things of life knowing they cannot utterly destroy us.

And so as Christians we are called to go through this life trusting God’s plan for us.

And even if in this life we go through those experiences that Jesus speaks about –

Poor in spirit, those who mourn, showing meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being merciful and pure in heart, being the peacemakers, being persecuted, we know that we have God on our side and that he is going to turn these around and ensure we receive justice.

As Paul assures us – if God is on our side who can be against us (Romans 8:31)

The world doesn’t operate under those principles.

You only have to read the letters to the editor and read people’s suggestions as to what should happen to the person who drove down the Bourke Street mall killing and injuring innocent bystanders including children and babies.

As Christians we are called in those situations to speak about mercy and being peacemakers.

That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be punished.

But it means we are careful about the words we use and the judgments we make publicly.

There are enough calling for punitive justice – and there is a place for that.

But there is a different sort of justice that Jesus preached.

It’s the justice that we have been shown by God in that while we were yet sinners Christ died. (Romans 5:8)

It is the justice Jesus showed when he was ridiculed because “he eats with sinners”. (Matthew 9:11)

It is the justice Jesus showed to his executioners when he cried out “forgive them Father – they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34)

And this is the difference that Jesus is trying to teach – to look outside of ourselves as it is God’s will that all people be saved – not just the people we believe should be saved.

When I see the atrocities in the world – the violence, the crime, the injustices – my initial response is very worldly:

I want them punished severely and I even feel at times that there’s a special place in hell reserved for them.

And that’s when I need to stop and think again about the sacrifice Jesus made not just for me but for all people.

And that’s when I need to remember what Jesus said today:

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

That’s when I need to remember the message of the cross which is the power of God for those who are saved.

And if we limit to whom that grace can be shown then we must ask ourselves whether we deserve God’s grace.

And the answer is – we don’t.

For it is by grace that we have been saved so that none of us can boast.

And so we are constantly called to look outside of ourselves and put the salvation of others first,

And by looking outside of ourselves to the salvation of others we shall be truly blessed.

Year A 2017 - 3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Text Matthew 4:12-23 - Called by God

230 years ago a fleet of 11 ships was sent from England to Australia to establish a penal colony for the sending of prisoners.

On January 26^th this week we remember that occasion as we commemorate Australia Day.

Just 50 years later Lutherans in Prussia would set sail to Australia to avoid becoming prisoners in their homeland because of their fight for religious freedom.

Today thousands trek across dangerous oceans risking their lives and the lives of their children in flimsy leaky boats in search of freedom as refugees.

The human life is one that at times sees us taking a risk and journeying to unknown lands and situations.

In our gospel reading today we see also that the journey of the first disciples of Jesus meant taking a risk, giving up security and following an unknown religious teacher by the name of Jesus.

John the Baptist began that journey as he left his parents Elizabeth and Zechariah to live a life in the wilderness eating locusts and wild honey wearing camel hair clothing.

John didn’t know what the journey would bring about.

He most likely would not have expected that a journey called by God would lead to his imprisonment and subsequent cruel death by being beheaded.

Likewise for Peter, Andrew, James and John – they left their livelihoods and family to follow a call by Jesus without hesitation when he called them to “follow me”.

Follow where?

How will we survive?

Will our family business survive without us?

A call by God can be an uncomfortable call as we are sometimes called to give up the things that bring us hope and security.

It has been the example seen throughout the Old Testament with God’s people constantly on an unknown journey following God’s call:

Adam and Eve called out of the comfort and security of the Garden of Eden now needing to fend for themselves.

Noah and his family called to build an ark and let God take them on a journey to start a new civilisation.

Abraham called to leave his country and family to a land God would show him.

Jacob called away from his family to escape the murderous threats of his brother Esau.

Jacob’s son Joseph also received a call that was totally against his will and power when he brothers sold him as a slave to Egypt – a call that would see him become the 2^nd most powerful person in Egypt and in charge of a food bank that would save the world from starvation.

Israel called out of Egypt to wander the desert for 40 years to their new home.

And in our Gospel reading, Jesus’ reference to Zebulun and Naphtali was another journey as the first tribes of Israel sent out of their homeland and into exile as punishment as the people taunt them: Where is your God?

So we see that the types of call by God and the situations vary and sometimes includes an unknown destination, and uncertainty about how things are going to turn out.

And sometimes, like Joseph, it may be against our will.

And it’s not always seen as a positive call.

And that’s because our call is part of a bigger mission field of God that we do not always see or understand.

As we look at the call of Peter, Andrew, James and John, it’s easy to miss the enormous sacrifice and difficulties of answering God’s call.

But put yourself in their position.

If you were to receive an undeniable call from God, would you leave your work, your family, your home?

It’s easy to say yes – until it actually happens.

They were called out of everything that gave them assurance for their physical future.

They could have stayed in their comfortable lives as fishermen providing for themselves an income and even if money was scarce they always had a source of food.

Sometimes God calls the church out of its comfort zone for the sake of God’s mission.

We live in a society where the mission field is growing bigger but the church is getting smaller.

As Jesus once said – the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Luke 10:2)

So God keeps calling.

It’s nice to feel comfortable and have everything in church working like clockwork.

But a call from God always seems to come at the most inconvenient moment.

Just when we’ve paid off the loan at Knox an opportunity arose to build a new kitchen and reach out to the community.

Then we lost 2 of our long term tenants of our church.

But that’s how the call of God works.

Peter and the others could have replied to Jesus by saying that the time is not right at the moment.

We’ve got lots of orders for fish and we’ve got some mounting bills to pay – now’s just not the right time to go with you.

That’s not how a call from God works.

That may be a situation also in your own life.

Maybe God has placed a call on your heart.

It may be a call to a certain task.

It may be a call to visit someone you haven’t seen for a while at church.

It may be a call to reach out to someone who has hurt you.

If it makes you feel a little out of your comfort zone then the chances are that that is a call from God.

Sometimes what we believe our gifts are for a particular ministry may not be what God calls us into.

Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen.

Matthew was a tax collector.

It’s not always about the gifts we believe we have but what God sees in us for his mission work.

So we need to listen and pray and not just say – I don’t have the time or I don’t the skills.

That’s up to God to determine and God will always equip us even if we believe we don’t have what it takes.

Remember what Paul said to the disciples at Corinth when they were starting to doubt their strength and wisdom:

Remember that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. (1 Corinthians 26-28)

So when we are called and there are times when it seems like this is not working, that maybe God got it wrong, we need to remember that God never gets it wrong.

God will always be there guiding us through.

From the experience of John, Zebulun and Naphtali whose journey led them into dark times Jesus reminds us:

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

There are dark times in our lives and sometimes they come even when we have been faithful to God’s call.

When Jesus came into the world the world was living in darkness but they didn’t notice it because they didn’t know any difference.

So Jesus became the light that overcame the darkness.

And seeing a light after a long time of darkness can be very uncomfortable.

So too in your lives when you follow Christ there will be a light calling you.

And sometimes that call into the light can be uncomfortable.

We must never be deterred or afraid to follow when Jesus calls even if it seems like this is not working out.

I’m sure John the Baptist must have wondered where things went wrong when he sent his disciples to ask Jesus whether they should be following someone else.

I’m sure Zebulun and Naphtali and all the tribes of Israel must have wondered “where is God in all this” when they went into exile.

When the call comes to you don’t look at whether you’re good enough or have the skills to do it.

God calls those whom he calls because God knows what he can achieve through us.

Remember that God created the world out of nothing so he can use you to bring about amazing things when you follow his call.

Year A - The naming of Jesus Sunday

Text: Luke 2:15-21

What will 2016 be remembered for?

For many it will be one of the worst years of terrorist attacks.

It’s estimated around 1500 have been killed and 3500 injured in terrorist attacks around the world.

Or perhaps it will be remembered for the celebrity deaths such as Carrie Fischer and her mother Debbie Reynolds, singers David Bowie, Prince and George Michael in recent times.

But on a more positive note 2016 has, for many, been known as the year of the “underdog”.

For sporting fans this year saw the Cronulla Sharks break a 49 year streak without winning a grand final.

It was rugby league's longest title drought.

In the AFL the Western Bulldogs broke the longest Grand Final drought of 62 years.

In America the Chicago Cubs baseball club broke the “curse of the billy goat” when they broke the 71 year curse by winning the World Series.

In premier league soccer Leicester City won the English Premier League even though they were 5000 to 1 with the bookmakers.

The world of politics didn’t escape the underdog making good either.

In a vote that shocked the world the United Kingdom voted in favour of leaving the European Union known as Brexit.

But the one that trumps the underdog victory, if you’ll pardon the pun, was Donald Trump taking victory to become the next President of the United States leaving all the polls scratching their heads wondering how.

What will you remember 2016 for?

Will it be a year where you have grieved?

Will it be a year where you have rejoiced?

Will it be a year you’d rather not remember?

Will it be a year that, like Peter on the mount of Transfiguration, you wished you could build a shelter for yourself and stay there?

Going into a New Year can be quite daunting.

Will the economy hold up or will it cause my employment to come under threat?

Will my reduced pension affect my standard of living?

Will this be the year that interest rates rise and will I be able to make the repayments on my mortgage.

It can be quite frightening except for the promise that we heard last week as we celebrated Christmas:

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us"). (Matthew :23)

Whatever the year ahead has for us we go with the promise of God that we do not go alone – God is with us.

Sometimes it can feel as if we are all alone in our walk; that God is not with us.

But that is where faith comes in for us.

Believing in God’s promises and holding firm to his presence with us.

We need to believe that despite the circumstances that are presented that God is and always will be with us.

In our baptism God reaffirmed that promised when Jesus said:

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, … and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The same “Emmanuel” promise – I am with you always.

When Jesus received his name today, it too was an act of faith and a reminder of God’s special presence with us.

Luke tells us: “After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb”.

We are reminded that God has our life in his hands.

Jesus was named before he was conceived in the womb.

Psalm 139 says similar things about us:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (v13).

When Jeremiah felt daunted about what lay ahead for him God reminded him:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; "

Whatever life has in store for us in 2017 we know that God, as our Good Shepherd, has led the way.

We don’t always know what that path is;

Sometimes we don’t make the right decisions;

But even when we stray from God we can be confident that God’s promise remains true – I am with you always.

Sometimes we’re not sure what God wants us to do.

Sometimes we angst wondering whether we’ve done the right thing according to God’s will.

I believe that if we live by faith then we can live without the fear of wondering whether it’s God’s will or not.

St Paul when writing to the Ephesians says:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10).

Not only has God has prepared the way for us - God has prepared the good works for us to do in advance.

And if we aren’t sure and we make a mistake we have the grace of God to forgive us and set us on the right path or maybe even a new path.

And that’s why the name of Jesus’ is all important as the angel informed Joseph when told “you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21).

As human beings we want to be in control of our future.

We work hard, we build up our careers – we build up our superannuation – we invest in shares and property that will give us a good return and comfort for the future.

But our future is written by God.

And we are called to have the same mindset as Jesus Christ who humbled himself even though he was God.

And because of his humility and trust in his Father’s will he was given the name that is above all names.

We are called to exhibit that same humility and trust -  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5)

That doesn’t mean we can’t prepare for the future but it’s the fear of the future that Satan uses to break our relationship with God.

He did it with Adam and Eve who could eat from any tree in the Garden of Eden except one.

He did it to Peter who while walking on the water took his eyes off Jesus and onto the wind and waves.

As we say farewell to 2016 and welcome in 2017 it is an opportunity to look at ways of increasing our faith in God.

Usually people make New Year’s resolutions.

As Christians we can also use a New Year to spend more time with God.

In the bible there are 1189 chapters.

If we read 3 chapters a day – one in the morning, one at lunch, one before we go to bed, we would read the entire bible in a year.

Imagine if we spent just 3 minutes each day praying for the members of our congregation.

3 minutes doesn’t sound like a long time but if we stopped now for 3 minutes it would seem like an eternity.

Imagine how many people you could pray for and what a difference it could make.

And 3 minutes is one ad break on TV.

Let us remember that as Christians, as baptised Children of God we now bear Jesus’ name as in the Robin Mann and John Kleinig song – because we bear your name.

It’s an important name that we bear.

It’s a powerful name that we bear as St Paul says:

God highly exalted Jesus and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We have the power of Jesus’ name to forgive and restore in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

We have the power to bless and be blessed by the name of God:

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Knowing this amazing power and gift that we have 2017 and beyond should never be daunting but a blessing to have the opportunity to be the presence of God in the world.

To bear the name of Jesus and Emmanuel – God with us and each other.

So may you go into this New Year confident that whatever the year presents that Jesus, our Emmanuel is with us.

Year A The Transfiguration

Text: Matthew 17:1-9 – Experiencing God

In my time as a pastor I have heard many people’s experiences with God.

I have heard of miraculous encounters where a person has physically seen the presence of Jesus during a traumatic time to give them strength.

I have heard the opposite also – a time of wilderness experience where God has seemed absent during times of struggle.

I have heard of miraculous healings that can’t be explained by medical staff.

But I’ve also heard of people who have prayed for healing only to see death being the result.

What I have learnt as I’ve sat and listened is that God works in many and varied ways.

And I’ve also learnt that experience most often can’t be repeated in the same way.

Just because one person had a particular experience with God doesn’t mean if another person follows the same pattern that the same experience will be met.

Experiences with God are up to God, not us.

As St Paul says when the gift of the Holy Spirit is given by God - To each one the gift of the Spirit is given for the common good … and God distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

We can’t control how God makes his presence experienced.

That’s what Peter wanted to do.

Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Matthew 17:4)

Why was this not a good suggestion by Peter?

Wouldn’t you want to capture that moment and stay there?

Wouldn’t it be great if we could control our experiences with God?

That if we asked for healing it happened.

That if we asked to speak in tongues it would happen.

That if we asked to see him it would happen.

As much as that would seem a great experience to have it would mean that we are controlling God rather than allowing God to be God.

God allows us to experience his presence in many ways.

And sometimes that experience is not fully known or understood at the time but in retrospect as we look back at our journey we see the amazing hand of God that has guided us through a situation.

For me that is a much deeper and meaningful experience of God where we contemplate on the vast richness of God’s presence rather than controlling God like a genie in a bottle that we rub every time we want something.

The deep and vast experience with God doesn’t come from getting our desires whenever we want them, as Peter wanted.

The experience for Moses was entering into the presence of God as a thick cloud covered the mountain where he was.

As we look at the Transfiguration account of Jesus with Peter, James and John, it is important to look at the context of where that is happening.

The Transfiguration is nestled in between 2 predictions of his death (Matthew 16:21 and 17:22,23).

It is also nestled between 2 rebukes – first of Peter (Matthew 16:22,23) – “Get behind me Satan, and then of the disciples for their lack of faith.

So what Matthew is trying to teach us with the Transfiguration account is that God’s glory is experienced in times of suffering.

Too often we associate God’s glory with positive physical experiences.

But here, in the Transfiguration, God’s glory is firmly set in the context of suffering.

And that’s where we need it.

When we are struggling – when we are going through those difficult times – when we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we want to know that “you are with me” (Psalm 23).

I don’t need the highs of euphoria whipping me up in a frenzy – I need to know “I am with you to the end of the age”.

And so the voice comes to Peter and the others, but I’m wondering if it was meant for Peter who had been caught up in the moment – “this is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!

Listen only to him, for only he has the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

As we begin our Lenten journey this year, it is a reminder to us that the journey to the cross is one that goes through the darkness of Good Friday.

And the closer we get to the Resurrection the closer we journey to the cross.

There are times of glory, there are times when God feels extremely close, there are times when I have experienced something that can only be considered a miracle.

But these can’t be relied on because we don’t know how or when these arrive; they are what some people might call “serendipitous”.

They come unexpectedly.

But what does come with certainty is the presence of God where he has promised to be:

In his Word as we read again and again the love and promises that God has for us.

Listen to him.

In Holy Communion we hear those comforting words – given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins – listen to him.

In our baptism where water and word combine to wash away our sin and regenerate us for life in God’s family – listen to him.

The context of the Transfiguration and God’s continuing glory in our lives is in the midst of suffering.

As Jesus himself said: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

And so too St Paul: I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Listen again to Peter’s testimony of that great day – now that he has removed himself from the euphoria of that account:

We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.

Jesus received his honour and glory from the voice of God – not from the dazzling appearance.

So too, our honour and glory is received not from dazzling experiences but from the voice of God that speaks to us in his Word and Sacraments.

Life may not be all glory for you.

Maybe you have been dismayed and disillusioned as you have heard of other people’s experiences of God.

But there is only one glory to be truly embraced by – when God says to you – you are my son – you are my daughter – my beloved with whom I am pleased.

That voice came to you in your baptism, it continues in receiving the body and blood of Christ – it is with you as you immerse yourself in God’s Word.

As the disciples fell to the ground in fear it wasn’t the dazzling light show experience that removed their fear, it was the gentle touch and voice of Jesus:

"Get up and do not be afraid”.

And then he journeyed with them down the mountain, down into the less than glamorous valley.

No dazzling light – no Moses and Elijah – no cloud with a thundering voice – but there was Jesus with them.

And he is with you too as he has promised – I am with you always until the end of the age.

May God bless your Lenten journey this Eastertide as you journey with your Saviour by your side.

Year A 7th Sunday after the Epiphany

Text: Matthew 5:38-48 – Love my enemy – is Jesus serious?

The story of a mother who witnessed her son being killed by his father has touched the hearts of our nation and beyond.

But what has been amazingly heart wrenching about this story has been the courage and composure of the mother – Rosie.

She hasn’t lashed out at the police who had 5 warrants for his arrest.

She hasn’t criticised the magistrate who granted bail against recommendations by the police who said that he would harm his wife and son.

Instead she has been an example of healing for herself and for the community around her.

Compare that to another story that made the front pages of the news this past week.

A new law introduced for one person – Julian Knight – mass murderer in the Hoddle Street Massacre, 27 years ago.

There is still anger – and hate – and a desire for revenge.

Julian Knight is eligible for parole this year and overwhelmingly the public don’t want him released.

I’m not arguing one way or the other but what has been noticeable is the anger and hatred that is still levelled at him.

The question is not whether he should or shouldn’t be released but the question is where will healing come from.

It obviously hasn’t come from having had him incarcerated for 27 years.

It is doubtful that it will come if he is never released or even at his death.

When there is this much hurt, healing only comes through forgiveness.

This is a new ethic that Jesus proposes:

To love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, to forgive and love no matter what — no exclusions.

It is what Jesus asks, but is it truly possible?

I have no doubt that if we publicly taught what Jesus proclaimed that it would be an offense to many people.

Is it realistic to expect the families of Julian Knight’s victims to forgive him and to love him?

Is it appropriate to ask an abused person to pray for the one who abuses them, to offer the other cheek to the one who has struck them?

God sends sun and rain on the righteous and the unrighteous — but this is hard: (v45)

We are called to love and be merciful to people who have really hurt us.

These ideals may be fine for God, but for those of us who are victims, can God really expect, even demand this from us?

Can God really expect us to be perfect as he is perfect?

We need to look at what Jesus says in a new way.

To love our enemy is to bring us healing.

To love our enemy is to change the situation that stops the continuing pain when the physical hurt has actually stopped.

To take the initiative and relate to our enemies in a new way.

To take the power out of their hands and to put it into God’s hands.

To love the enemy does not mean to like the enemy.

Instead it means to understand them as human beings — troubled and sinful human beings whom God has created and for whose sins Jesus Christ has died – on whom God makes the sun to shine and the rain to fall.

If we don’t understand that, then the pain will continue even though the physical abuse has stopped.

To many, this teaching is scandalous and offensive.

But that is the power of the cross.

Remember what Paul says –

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who don’t understand it.

It is a stumbling block for those who do not believe.

This is not to suggest that we passively sit back and ask for more hurt by turning the other cheek.

It does not mean that the abused person continues to live with the one who hurts them.

But what Jesus deals with is how we recover from the hurt.

Once we remove ourselves from the source of the hurt, how do we stop the pain.

How do we heal?

Anger and vengeance continue the hurt.

Angry people take out their anger on others around them.

Have you ever worked with someone who is hurting and angry at someone else?

Their anger and hurt affects all of their relationships.

Forgiveness is an invitation to allow God’s healing into your life.

Jesus is not asking the impossible as impossible as it may seem.

Jesus shows us examples in his own life.

As his accusers nailed his hands to the cross he begged his father to forgive them. (Luke 23:34)

He didn’t seek vengeance or harm because that would be simply doing what they are doing to him.

He showed compassion and forgiveness to Peter who had earlier abandoned and denied him. (John 21:15-17)

How would the church look today if Jesus had rejected Peter and not forgiven him.

Hurt can bring out the best and the worst in us.

When we are hurt we can say and do things that are worse than the original hurt done to us.

When we are hurt we have to resist our urges and emotions because it can unleash great power in us to hurt the one who has hurt us and that will then affect others.

Jesus teaches us to resist our anger.

Does it mean a person who hurts someone gets away with it?

Far from it!

Listen to what Paul said:

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. (1 Cor 3:16,17).

They are answerable to God just as we teach our children not to take matters into their own hands but to let the proper authorities deal with justice.

Justice in our hands is a dangerous thing.

Vigilantes deliver unjust justice.

Those who take justice into their own hands often end up in front of authorities themselves, punished for taking matters into their own hands.

This is not about justice against the one who has hurt you.

This is about YOU receiving healing.

Praying for our enemies may bring about change in their lives, but it is firstly about bringing change in YOUR life through healing.

Forgiveness is not about the hurter getting away with it;

It is about the hurting being healed.

It is about fully experiencing the grace of God as we discover that God’s grace extends to all people.

God makes the sun to shine on the righteous and unrighteous.

God offering grace to those who hurt us does not mean God doesn’t care about us.

God wants us to heal but while we are angry and hurt we don’t allow room for that.

That’s what Paul teaches when he says:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Do not take revenge but leave room for God’s anger, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 9:12-20)

Sadly many people know only negative things about the Christian church.

How often don’t we hear “religion is the blame for wars”.

Or the only thing that many people know about the church is that it judges people.

Christ sets us a higher standard because we are living in a world where news of violence comes to us each day. 

We have an opportunity to show the world the true face of God.

Jesus is not advising us to do nothing, but to be the ones who bring about healing.

From the beginning of the church, Christians have experienced their values conflicting with the world’s.

We are in the world but not of the world (John 17:14)

This is a difficult teach and one that goes against our human instincts – to turn the other cheek.

But let us remember the angel’s promise to Mary and Joseph – he will be called Immanuel – God with us.

That’s how Matthew’s Gospel began, and that is how it ends as Jesus sends us out into the world to make disciples of all nations – I am with you always until the end of the age.

So when you find it difficult to turn the other cheek or to love your enemy or to pray for those who persecute you, remember that the one who died for your sins is with you to give you strength to forgive others.