Sermon 12th October 2025 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost
Text:
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 – being a blessing to others
We
often are reminded that as Christians we live in a world that can be quite
hostile to our beliefs. St Paul makes it quite clear in Ephesians that our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So we often refer to this hostility as
Spiritual Warfare. Perhaps you’ve witnessed it or maybe even experienced it in
your own life. Maybe you’ve seen or experienced the mockery for believing in
Jesus Christ.
I
was watching recently the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, the American who
was assassinated during a rally at Utah University. During the memorial a host
of speakers got up to pay tribute including the Vice President of America, JD
Vance who spoke about his Christian faith. He said: I always felt a little
uncomfortable talking about my faith in public,” he said. “As much as I love
the Lord, and as much as it was an important part of my life, I have talked
more about Jesus Christ in the past two weeks than I have my entire time in
public life.”
Let’s
be honest, sharing our Christian faith can be uncomfortable especially if we
are in a situation where people don’t appreciate or accept what Christians
believe. It can be at school, university, the work place, sporting activity, a
family gathering or a party. Some people even find it hard to talk about their
faith at church or in their home. In our Old Testament reading we have the
situation where Jeremiah is speaking to God’s people who were taken from their
homeland by force and now living in a land hostile to what they believed about
God. They were often taunted – where is your God? If you recall last week’s
Psalm where we heard the lament of the Israelites in a strange land where they
sang: By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered you, O
Zion. For those who led us away captive asked us for a song, and our oppressors
called for mirth: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion." How shall we
sing the Lord's song upon an alien soil.
But
God’s message to them is to not give up hope in God even when it seems
hopeless, but to use this opportunity to strengthen their faith in God and also
be a witness to their oppressors. God says to them: Build houses and live in
them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and
daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that
they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek
the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord
on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Interesting
that not only does God say to them to not stop living their lives but also to
pray for their oppressors. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you
into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will
find your welfare. Legend has a similar outlook from Martin Luther: As legend
has it, when Martin Luther was asked what he would do if the world were to end
tomorrow, he answered, “I would plant an apple tree today.” It reminds me of
what St Peter says to his fellow Jews who were cast out of their homeland into
hostile territories: He says that even if they mistreat you - even if you
should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats;
do not be frightened.” But 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 behaviour in
Christ may be ashamed of their slander
I
often get criticised become I don’t encourage people to react against attacks
on the church. But I remind people – what did Jesus ask us to do? Turn the
other cheek. What did Jesus do? He asked his Father to forgive those who were
crucifying him. Despite the exile, God reminds the Israelites that He is in
control. Their circumstances are not
accidental but part of His divine plan. It’s not to say that God directs evil
but he does not allow evil to succeed – as we see in the story of Joseph.
Sold
as a slave to Egypt by his jealous brothers he does not take revenge when he
has opportunity because he says –
It
was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of
his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. You intended to harm me, but God intended it
for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
In
today’s reading, God instructs his people to build homes, plant gardens, marry,
and multiply. This is a call to live fully and purposefully, even in difficult
situations. Instead of despair or evil thoughts against their oppressors, God
urges them to pray for the well-being of Babylon. God assures them that their
exile is temporary and that He has plans to bring them back, giving them hope
amid hardship. In our own lives, we may face times of difficulty or
uncertainty. Like the Israelites, we are
called to trust God's plan and to actively seek His purpose. We are encouraged
to pray for our communities and nations, understanding that our well-being is a
witness to our neighbour, including those who oppose us. God encourages us to
embrace our current circumstances with faith, knowing God has a plan for your
future.
Let
us remember that God's plans are for our good, even when we cannot see the full
picture. By trusting Him and actively
engaging in our communities, we participate in His divine purpose. This passage
challenges us that when life feels like exile—when we’re in places we didn’t
choose, facing circumstances we didn’t want—God’s call is not to escape, but to
live our lives. This is a radical act of faith. It means trusting that God is
present even in unfamiliar places. While Israel lived for 70 years in exile it
meant that some never got to experience God’s deliverance. Trusting in God
requires patience, care, and hope. And
even though Babylon was the enemy, God calls His people to pray for its
welfare. This is a call to love as God loves us: And if we think that’s unfair,
let us remember what is truly unfair - St Paul said - God demonstrates his own
love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And he
died because we demanded his death – and yet God still loves us.
So
we are called to be agents of peace. To work for justice, healing, and hope in
the places we live—even if they feel foreign or broken. We are ambassadors of
God’s peace. So wherever you find yourself today—whether it feels like exile or
the Garden of Eden—remember: God is there. And He’s calling you to bloom where
you’re planted.
