Sermon 6th February 2022 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany Text: Luke 5:1-11 – A broken spirit renewed by God

 Sermon 6^th February 2022 – 5^th Sunday after Epiphany

Text: Luke 5:1-11 – A broken spirit renewed by God

 

We have an interesting set of readings for today. Usually there is a thread running between them that creates a common theme. On one level that theme is being called to serve God. In our Old Testament it is the calling of Isaiah: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

 

In our 2nd reading it is the calling of St Paul: By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you,

 

And finally it is the calling of Jesus’ first disciple in Peter - Then Jesus said to Simon (also know as Peter), "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

 

But what is extraordinary in these callings by God is the preparation. Before I was a Pastor I was a manager of a large multi-national Company and there was no expense spared in preparing me and other managers in pumping us up with self-confidence with no room at all for seconding guessing ourselves or showing any kind of weakness. When you were negotiating with customers you had to show them why they could trust you and have confidence in your abilities. But what we see here, in these 3 callings is a breaking down of that human spirit in order to allow God’s power of the Holy Spirit to be the driving force.

 

Let’s look at each of these 3 and what leads up to their calling by God. Isaiah, considered to be a major prophet of God;

He was privileged enough to see the Lord Almighty in all his glory and the angels attending him. So majestic was his experience that the pivots of the temple shook. But in preparation for his calling God breaks down his human spirit: Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!

 

St Paul, a leading Pharisee of his time. In Acts 22 Paul talks about his credentials when he was the Pharisee Saul: “I am a Jew. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. But Paul now testifies that he considers that all rubbish in receiving his calling from God to follow Jesus: He says: Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

 

And finally Peter and his calling: A successful fisherman he has a bad night on the sea. Jesus calls him to cast his net again even though his previous attempts were futile. At the large catch of fish at Jesus’ request he realizes that his human efforts were nothing compared to the calling of Jesus and he realizes his own unworthisness: When Simon Peter saw the large catch of fish, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!

 

Isn’t it amazing that our human nature, when receiving a call from God, submits to the power and authority of Jesus rather than becoming boastful. They all admit their sinfulness rather than denying it or justifying it. We get a further glimpse in Paul when he is given the extraordinary privilege of having a glimpse of Paradise when called into Heaven while still alive. God breaks Paul’s human spirit to allow his Holy Spirit to be the driving force in his life: Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

 

So often we might look at ourselves when called to a position of service and decide – NO. I don’t have the gifts or abilities to fulfill that role. But we need to understand that a call from God is different to a call to serve in a human establishment.

Calls into human establishments are usually skills based or based on experience that you’ve had in other roles.

But God searches the heart when it comes to serve him. And that’s exactly what Paul discovers and points out in 1 Corinthians chapter 1. He says: Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

 

This sense of weakness and unworthiness affects us all and can create a sense of giving up: It is perhaps a feeling we can all identify with as this pandemic continues.  Many are or have been close to giving up on ourselves We’re starting to believe that getting back to the way things were just over 2 years ago is not really possible. We’re starting to believe our efforts are futile.

 

This is the situation in our 3 bible readings – and there are many many more, and this is all too often the situation in our lives.  This sense of uselessness can affect our faith but Jesus renews our faith and strength. This is quite evident in Peter.

He and his companions have been out all night fishing and have caught nothing. They will have nothing to eat that day and nothing to sell that day. They also may be doubting their skills and capability as fishermen. But Jesus comes into the situation, and everything changes‘  Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.

 

It is easy to give up when we are focused on our human efforts and this will plague Peter and the other disciples in the 3 years they spend with Jesus. How can we feed 5,000 with just 5 loaves and 2 fish. Lord don’t you care if we drown in this storm. And Peter, when he focuses away from Jesus and to his own abilities while walking on the water – help me Lord, I’m drowning. Just as Peter and the other fishermen were directed to cast their nets into the deep water – so too, as we face the challenges we face in life we too have to dig deep into our faith.

 

It’s particularly interesting in our Gospel reading that Peter having been downcast on the verge of defeat listens to Jesus and finds success. But notice what happens next. There are so many fish that his boat is about to sink. But unlike when walking on the water or rowing into a storm he doesn’t panic. He signals for help: They caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them.

 

When facing adversity and challenges we can often feel we are alone in this. So when we have this sense that we are in over our head with everything – we call for help. When our faith is failing we call for help from our brothers and sisters in the faith. No one is going to think lesser of you when you’re not coping. But we tell ourselves that. That’s why Jesus called to himself 12 disciples. That’s why when Jesus sent his 72 followers out he sent them out in pairs – not by themselves. He regularly took along with him Peter, James and John when going into a difficult situation.

 

When we rely only on our own strength we’re going to end up like our characters in our readings today: Woe to me, like Isaiah who thought he was going to die because of his sinfulness, Or Paul who thought he was the least of the Apostles and not worthy of being called an Apostle. Or Peter who did not feel worthy in the presence of Jesus – away from Lord.

We are to rely on God’s grace and acceptance despite our sense of unworthiness by human standards. And when we feel helpless, useless, out of our depth, let us remember who we are – and whose we are. In your Baptism you became a child of God – have you thought about that recently? When you come to Holy Communion you receive in your hand the fullness of God Almighty – the same God Almighty that shook the pivots of the temple and from which Isaiah thought he was going to die. You won’t die – in fact you will find life.

 

Don’t ever think less of yourself because you will be thinking less about God in whose image you were created.

And even Paul, the least of the Apostles and the worst of sinners discovered through Jesus - that by the grace of God I am what I am, And what I am – what you are – is a child of God, loved by God and one for whom Jesus Christ died.

Sermon 30th January 2022 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany - Text: Luke 4:21-30 – God’s “unfair” love

 Sermon 30^th January 2022 – Epiphany 4

Text: Luke 4:21-30 – God’s “unfair” love

 

It was supposed to be a homecoming welcome when Jesus arrives at Nazareth, his home town. Local boy makes good. We get very excited and proud when one of our own makes it to the stage. Like when Ash Barty wins a tennis competition.

We even don’t mind if Tomic and Kygrios win despite their brattish behaviour. But something triggers a reaction in the people of Nazareth that want to hurl Jesus over a cliff. It didn’t start that way. No, after he read the passage from Isaiah and made a comment about it they all spoke proudly about him. All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. What changed?

 

What did Jesus do or say that triggered this angry mob that filled them with rage. Well, you see, it was because Jesus suddenly didn’t seem as loyal to the cause as they were. All of a sudden he seemed to suggest that God seemed more favourable to foreigners than his own people. That even though there were many widows in the land of Israel during the drought and famine of Elijah’s time he went and supported a foreigner – the widow of Zarephath from the land of Sidon.

And even though there were many lepers in the land of Israel during the time of Elisha, God healed the foreigner Namaan – a Syrian.

 

Wait a minute. We were the ones who slaved in Egypt for 400 years. We were the ones who wandered the wilderness for  40 years. We were the ones who built then rebuilt God’s temple. Maybe at times you’ve felt that way. I’ve given my life to God and he rewards me with suffering. I go to church every Sunday and what do I get for it? Yes I know that God makes the sun to shine on the righteous and the unrighteous – but what I don’t understand is when God makes the sun to shine on the unrighteous and I get nothing. That’s what Jesus was highlighting had happened.

 

There were many widows in Israel and God blesses the widow of Zarephath. There were many lepers in the land of Israel and God heals Namaan. This attack on Jesus will continue when he begins to associate with the sinners and tax collectors  rather than the religious leaders who thought they were the privileged ones. When tax collector Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law complained, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” This is not to say that once Jesus has us believing him that he just ignores us and goes looking for new recruits. But sometimes it seems like we should at least have some privileges.

 

Jesus once told a parable about a landowner who needed workers in his vineyard. He offered a group of people a day’s salary to work at his vineyard. They were overjoyed – a fair reward for a day’s work. It meant they could feed their families that night. But throughout the day the land owner realized he needed more workers so he went out again and again right up to the last hour looking for workers. When it came time to pay them he paid the ones who worked only an hour a full day’s salary. Those who had worked the entire day in the heat thought they would get paid more or at least some sort of bonus.

But the land owner paid them exactly the same. If he hadn’t hired the later workers then they wouldn’t have grumbled because they received a day’s salary. It was fair reward for their work. But because people worked less but received the same pay they grumbled. It now seemed unfair.

 

But what they need to understand is that from the start of the day they knew they would be able to feed their family whereas those who only worked an hour had for the entire day not lived with the comfort of knowing if there would be a meal for their family that night. So it wasn’t a case of not receiving what was fair but that God treated others more than they deserved.

And what happens then is that we disregard all the blessings that God has showered on us – including the assurance of eternal life – while God is working hard to convert others who have rejected him. The workers who once were overjoyed at receiving a day’s salary for a day’s work now grumbled at what they once considered to be a blessing because others received it for much less work.

 

God loves everyone and wants all people to be saved. So if God blesses someone whom we believe is not deserving – firstly we need to remember that none of us are deserving. But secondly that God is working hard in their lives to turn them back to him.

As Jesus said, he came to call sinners to repentance. So when Paul explains what God’s love looks like it looks somewhat different: He says:

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; love keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

 

So sometimes in showing this love it might seem unfair to us but not to God. We want God to punish evil, not love them – that’s what seems fair. Whereas God wants to forgive – that can seem unfair to some people. And sometimes God goes the extra mile, just as he has asked us to do. Jesus reminds his hometown people that God works in mysterious ways.  That God’s power is often focused on strangers – those outside our communities of faith.  Not because he loves them more but because they don’t know how much God loves them and has sacrificed for them. They don’t have the assurance of salvation as we do. And during those times we go through suffering, remember Paul’s statement – I consider that our present suffering is not worth comparing to the glory that awaits. Imagine suffering without that knowledge of salvation.

So many times I have heard people when going through difficult times including the death of a loved one – I don’t know how people without faith cope in times like this.

 

That was the difference between the workers who worked a full day and those that worked only in the last hour. God has always looked out for those in need beyond the community of faith, beyond the boundaries of our towns, our countries – our own congregation.  Jesus reveals that God is not a God who lives only in Israel. And neither does God only live in the Christian tradition, in our denomination, in our parish, or whatever boundaries we wish to set.  God is not ours. Jesus is not ours. We are his.  And we are to go beyond the boundaries we set just as Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus did.

And so did Paul when he found that the Jews did not appreciate God’s blessings he declares – from now on I will go to the Gentiles.

 

Maybe, like the Jews of Paul’s time, we have become complacent of just how much God has done for us. Jesus, Paul and all those who have truly heard the Word of God in their hearing, in their hearts, want all people to experience those  blessings. As Jesus said last week - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor – to ALL people. God calls us to work where and when God pleases.

Jeremiah didn’t want to go but God reassures him: You shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,

 

So we need to let go of all notions that Jesus, the hometown kid, is ours, and discover what it means that “we are his” rather than He belongs to us. Jesus belongs to ALL people but sadly not all people know him. God has a special claim on us, not we on him. And remember that God knew you well before you knew him. He knew all people while they were still in their mother’s womb as Jeremiah reminds us today. So we can understand why God sometimes goes after people that we would not. And that’s what the people of Nazareth did not understand from Jesus today. Do we?

 

Our cups are overflowing with God’s blessings but what happens to that overflow? Will it be like rain that falls and goes down the storm water drain with no use – or will it flow to others including those that we might think don’t deserve it.

God loves all people and wants all people to be saved. If we think there are some who don’t deserved to be saved then let us remember that it was while WE were yet sinners that Christ died for us.

 

 

 

Sermon 23rd January 2022 – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Text: Luke 4:14-21 - Mission Statements

 Sermon 23^rd January 2022 – 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany

Text: Luke 4:14-21 - Mission Statements

Mission statements are used by Churches to help them to define who they are. Both of our congregations have a mission statement to which we continue to check ourselves against so we remember who we are.

At Ringwood our Mission Statement is “Living the Word – A people formed by God to be his presence to those around us”.

At Knox our Mission statement is “Called to worship- chosen to serve”.

Notice that in both of these Mission Statements the focus includes both who we are and what our purpose is.

At Ringwood – who we are – A people formed by God.

At Knox – Called to worship.

But then the Mission Statement also includes our purpose:

At Ringwood – to be God’s presence to those around us.

At Knox – Chosen to serve.

Who we are is just as important as our purpose because we don’t exist just for ourselves. Jesus made that quite clear in the Mission Statement that he gave to his Apostles. 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 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. This was Jesus’ Mission Statement which we know as the Great Commission.

In our Gospel reading we hear Jesus Mission Statement more defined – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

So as we see Jesus’ mission statement is not about himself but about reaching out to others – that’s what mission is. John the Baptist struggles with his understanding of Jesus’ mission because he has been arrested by Herod and thrown into jail. John is struggling with Jesus’ mission because he is suffering because of his support of Jesus. So he sends a delegation to Jesus just to double check. Matthew 11 says - When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Maybe John was thinking that someone else would get him out of prison and start real action against the Romans. That’s what he thought was the purpose of the Messiah. But Jesus will send John’s disciples back to John with the very passage he read out today: “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Jesus purpose was not about a rebellion but about bringing hope.

It is very easy in difficult times to become like John and forget our outreach and focus on ourselves. That’s when churches go from what we call Mission Ministry to Maintenance Ministry. When we look at how we can preserve ourselves which often results in looking for ways to cut back on things including our outreach ministry. That’s when we become very individualistic – very me focused like John who thought Jesus wasn’t doing the work he thought he should be doing otherwise he wouldn’t be in jail.

This is what Paul is also describing in our 2nd reading when he speaks about the parts of the body that begin to look after themselves only. He says, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

In fact Paul says that our mission is to look out for those parts of the body – those parts of society that need our help. He says -  the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;

That is very much in line with what Jesus said: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

As the body of Christ, we are the continuing presence of Jesus in the world. The Church is the means by which Christ remains active in the world.  That’s what our Mission Statements say: At Ringwood – we are God’s presence to those around us. What does it mean to be God’s presence? Well, Jesus outlined that by reaching out to those around. If we see someone hungry – we feed them. If we see someone thirsty – we give them something to drink. It is an active presence. As James says in chapter 2 of his letter - Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? As Jesus says – as much as you did or didn’t do it for the least of these you did or didn’t do it to me.

And again, if we take Knox’s purpose – chosen to serve. What does it mean to serve? Well, again, we look at Paul’s explanation of Jesus coming to serve. In Philippians 2, Paul talks about the example of Jesus’ servanthood: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Jesus servanthood NEVER turned to maintenance ministry. He was tempted in the Garden of Gethsemane – take this cup from me – by not MY WILL be done but YOUR WILL be done. Jesus continued to serve us right to his very last breath when he cried out to his Father – forgiven them Father for they know not what they are doing.

Mission statements are an important part of helping us to determine and remember who we are and our purpose in God’s mission. But they are more than just words which they are in a danger of becoming if we focus away from mission ministry to maintenance ministry. Each of us has a vital part to play in God’s mission and the mission of our church. Whether it’s a hand or a foot, an ear or an eye – or even a little toe – Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered - every part is vital and every part has its role to play in achieving the Great Commission of Christ. And as Jesus has said, even a cup of cold water will not go unrewarded.

So whatever God has called you to do – wherever it is that God has placed you in his body, the Church, may God bless you as you play your part which to you may sometimes seem insignificant but to God it is indispensable.

Christmas Day - more than just a memory

 

Christmas Day

I heard a comment recently that BC and AD were going to be redefined from “before Christ” and “Anne Domini” (the year of our Lord) to Before Covid and After Delta.

Yes it’s true that history in the immediate term will be forever remembered as a time of lockdowns and restrictions.

This pandemic will be remembered for all the wrong reasons and will rewrite our modern history books.

However the real BC and AD belongs to Christmas, the day that changed our world forever through the birth of Jesus Christ, but in a good way.

In time Covid and its memory will fade and it will be just that – a memory.

But the birth of Jesus Christ has changed history forever for the good of all – as the angels proclaimed – I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. The birth of Jesus is more than just a memory as it has been over 2000 years since the birth of Christ and despite rumours of the demise of Christianity and the church it continues to survive and grow.

Covid was very difficult for the church but it could have been even more difficult.

We learned to adapt with technology.

We didn’t let the regulations become too difficult as people volunteered to sanitize churches and develop the technology we needed to livestream, do QR codes and a host of other innovations.

We were prepared to adapt away from traditions – individual cups, recorded music, booking for church, social distancing, staying seated while the bread and wine was brought to you, the wearing of masks.

We were given some freedoms other gatherings weren’t such as allowing services for unvaccinated members.

It wasn’t easy but whatever we could do we found a way to do it.

We zoomed for morning tea, bible studies, confirmation and meetings.

We learnt to adapt to the circumstances surrounding us and were prepared to change and even sacrifice and we did it because of our love for the church and each other.

To me that is Christmas in a nutshell.

God too had to adapt to circumstances that confronted him and he did so out of love.

Jesus said that God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son so that whoever believed in him would not perish but receive eternal life.

God loved us so much that he did not want us to perish.

And Paul says the same thing about God and his love for us that required him to adapt to the circumstances facing him:

In Romans 5 he says - God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Love moves us to do whatever we need to do.

As we celebrate Christmas today with our friends and family whom we love we are asked to spare a moment for those for whom this Christmas is not going to be such a celebration.

We have those who don’t have friends or family to celebrate with.

There are the homeless.

There are the unemployed who cannot afford the celebrations.

Those whose friends and family are separated because of border closures – nationally and internationally.

Those who are in isolation – those in hospital because of Covid.

And let us also remember those who have chosen not to get vaccinated who are unable to celebrate with friends and family who are concerned or compromised by that decision.

There are those who would love to be worshiping with us but for various reasons may not be able to including concerns for their health.

If this pandemic has taught us anything it is the value of family and relationships especially those who could not see their family because of the 5km limit or the limit on house gatherings, restrictions on visits to hospitals and nursing homes to see loved ones.

And for many restrictions of some sort still affect them.

Jesus knows the challenges we face – rejected at birth because there was no room at the inn.

Forced to flee to a foreign land because Herod wanted to kill him.

Rejected by his hometown when they ran him out of town.

Handed over to be crucified by his own leadership.

Abandoned by his disciples at his arrest.

Denied by his dearest friend and disciple 3 times.

Feeling abandoned by his own Father.

But through it all Jesus love for us never faded.

In fact at his death he pleaded with his father to continue to love those who put him to death asking him to forgive them.

And all of this because 2,000 years ago God loved the world so much that he sent his Son to us knowing that this is what we would do to him.

This Christmas let us look for ways that we can appreciate what we have.

The friends and family.

But let us also look for ways that we can share the love of Christmas with those for whom Christmas may not be joyful.

A phone call – a card – a small gift – anything that reminds them that they are not forgotten either by us but especially by God who loved them so much that he gave his one and only Son for them.

Christmas Eve 2021 Text: John 3:16 – God’s suffering love

 Christmas Eve 2021

Text: John 3:16 – God’s suffering love

On that very first Christmas Eve as Mary began her labour pains and was preparing to give birth she discovered that her child was going to be very different. It must have initially surprised Mary, after all, she was told that her baby would be a special baby – in fact he would be God’s own son., Surely she should be privileged enough to jump any queue like a VIP who always seems to be offered a table at a booked out restaurant. But as it happened – the answer was no. There was no room at the inn.

During this pandemic the thought went through my mind that perhaps Churches should also have a privilege during lockdown. After all we are important for people’s spiritual well being in a time when people were struggling with their mental health. I presumed as a Pastor I could visit people in hospital who were unwell. Surely if a bottle shop could be deemed as necessary to be opened to help people cope, a church should have been right up there also.

But what we learned through this pandemic, as Jesus did, rejection can happen to the best of us, even God. And as much as I struggled with this realization it has actually helped me to empathise and perhaps rethink what Ministry is all about.

One of my favourite passages in the bible is a passage in Hebrews that speaks of this empathy that Jesus is able to express for us. In Hebrews chapter 4 it says - for we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Empathy is different to sympathy. Sympathy feels sorry for someone’s suffering. Empathy feels the suffering of others. Empathy is at the heart of Christmas when Jesus says – God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but receive eternal life.

It’s been hard during these past 2 years but I think it would have been harder if the church did not suffer with the people. And through that suffering we learnt some very valuable lessons. Firstly, that like Jesus, the church is truly human. We might have thought we had a right to stay open because people need us but we learnt that our place in the world is WITH the people. As YOU suffered so did the church – so did God. But through this we found ways to stay with you. We connected through technology – through recorded services and livestream services. And even though we have returned to gathered worship we still provide these. Because these are not just for those who haven’t returned to church but for those who miss a week here or there. For those who want to hear the sermon again or listen to the hymns and songs again. You shared them with your friends and family. We have reached even beyond our membership to all parts of Australia and even overseas. And therefore through this lockdown we actually were able to break free and fulfill Jesus’ commission to us – go to all nations.

But the 2nd thing we learned was just how much you love and support the church. Even though many suffered physically and mentally and spiritually – you supported our Parish with your offferings and your viewing of our church services and praying for us. You told your friends and they also watched. You rang each other to see how you were coping. And isn’t that what the Christmas spirit is all about. The spirit of giving – the spirit of love – the spirit of sacrifice. All part of that Bible text I just read out  The love – God loved the world. The giving – God gave his Son. The sacrifice – God gave his one and only Son who died for us.

Many people questioned God during this pandemic. Why has God allowed this to happen? Perhaps we are starting to see why God allowed this to happen. We’re not there yet – we’re still making our way. Our attendances are down from before the pandemic.

We still have the challenge of vaccine certificates. But we’re going to get through this and we’re going to look back and see what God has been doing all along and maybe even understand why. We know God loves the world – that’s what began our very first Christmas – God loving the world to send his Son to us.

So there should never be a question or doubt in regards to God’s love for us. His love has already been shown for us and he will keep loving us. And through this pandemic and the suffering we’ve been through perhaps it has taught us a very valuable lesson of loving and caring for one another as we all experienced this suffering together including God. We are the body of Christ and as St Paul reminds us that if one part of the body suffers then we all suffer together. So let us keep looking out for each other because united we can get through this. And through Jesus Christ as God’s Christmas gift to us we are united with God and have the assurance that Jesus is Immanuel – God with us.

Sermon 19th December 2021 – 4th Sunday of Advent Text: Luke 1:39-55 – An unconventional God

 Sermon 19^th December 2021 – 4^th Sunday of Advent

Text: Luke 1:39-55 – An unconventional God

Today’s Gospel is a little different to others in that  it features two women dialoguing with each other and we know both of their names – Mary and Elizabeth.  Usually men are the centre focus in most of the narratives.  Women were important in Jesus’ ministry.  They will be part of Jesus’ traveling community and will be faithful to Jesus to the end, as he dies on the cross surrounded by women, including his mother Mary, even though he was abandoned by his male disciples. At the empty tomb two angels in dazzling white garments will tell the women who came to the tomb about Jesus’ resurrection even though their message will be rejected as “nonsense.”

Luke tells us that the two women in today’s Gospel trusted in the words God had spoken to them even though their husbands had doubts. It’s interesting that both Mary and Elizabeth represent two extremes in God’s actions to bring about his love by sending his Son into the world. Elizabeth was well past the time of childbearing while Mary was at the other end of the age scale, Elizabeth was married to Zechariah while Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but not yet married.

They were given a considerable role to play that involved great trust in God, putting them at odds with the cultural and religious norms of the day, especially Mary. Elizabeth was beyond the child bearing age while Mary was unwed. So what can we learn from Mary and Elizabeth other than the importance of both of them in the work of God.

Firstly we see with both Mary and Elizabeth everything is possible with God. In fact those very words were said by the angel to Mary when she asked - “How will this happen?” How will I give birth to a child if I am not married. Notice she said – how “will” I, not how “can” I. She wasn’t doubting the angel’s message but simply asking what she must do.

The angel explained to Mary about God’s work when he said:

See, your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is going to give birth to a child. She was not able to have children before, but now she is in her sixth month. For God can do all things.”

Elizabeth is the barren woman who is made fruitful by God and will give birth to John the Baptist.  Just as God created the world from nothing, God can also create life from the lifeless. This is what we need to keep reminding ourselves of as we wonder where our world is going to find healing.

Our world is going exactly where God is wanting it to go even if it doesn’t seem like it – even if we don’t fully understand it. It didn’t seem like Elizabeth would or could give birth. Where there was barrenness, God created life. Where there seemed to be hopelessness God creates hope. That’s why we need to keep trusting in God for the future of the church. A church that seems to be barren. A church that seems to be without hope.

In Elizabeth we see a God of renewal in that he removes the disgrace she felt. Elizabeth says: “In these days the Lord has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.” Likewise we know that God is always acting in ways to renew the earth, to renew the church and to renew our lives even using what we see as evil being used to bring about good, such as this pandemic, as Joseph told his brothers who tried to kill him – what you intended for evil God used for good.

So too our hope is in that God will use these past 2 years of suffering and uncertainty to renew the world. But we don’t know how long it will be for the renewal or till we see what God will do.

Like Advent, we are asked to wait patiently as did Elizabeth who gave birth in her old age – well beyond the age that women gave birth. God did the same with Abraham and Sarah giving birth to Isaac in their old age as he had promised many years earlier. We too are asked to wait patiently in the hope that what God has promised will be fulfilled.

God has promised us new life and Christmas will affirm that promise when God’s love will create Jesus’ birth.  The Word of God will become flesh and dwelt among us and he will send him again to bring us to our eternal home. We are asked to wait patiently for the promises to be fulfilled which doesn’t mean we do nothing while we wait.  Until Jesus returns we are asked to be the presence of Jesus in the world by loving our neighbour and being Christ’s presence to them.

God is a God who works in unexpected ways. In our Old Testament reading we hear that God didn’t choose the largest of the states of Israel for the birth place but the one of the smallest: You, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel. Just as he chose King David rather than one of his older or outwardly stronger brothers as God said to the prophet Samuel - “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” as he did with Mary and Elizabeth.

How often don’t we judge the work God is doing by human or outward appearances: That church has more young families – more children – more money – more members – we need to do what they are doing. Does God do what others are doing? Certainly not with Mary and Elizabeth. And that’s what Mary discovered when she wrote her song which we call the Magnificat: My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. And again she continues: He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

I know we all desire to have a full church with every seat filled. But do we desire that so we can meet our budgets and seem to be more successful so we feel a sense of achievement?

That should never be the aim.

The aim should be so that more people hear the Gospel. And if that is our aim then that will certainly motivate us. Let us never give up hope no matter how small our congregations get – remember God chose Bethlehem in Ephrathah, who was one of the little clans of Judah.

Let us never give up because the demographic of our parish is getting older – God chose Elizabeth and Sarah well beyond youthful child bearing age to bring about new birth and a fulfilled promised. Let us never give up because it seems impossible that anything could happen – God chose an unwed young girl to bear his Son for everything is possible with God.

This Christmas let us again celebrate that God is an unusual God who choses unusual ways to bring about his plan and uses very unusual people, like lowly Mary and like you and me to bring about his mighty deeds.

Sermon 12th December 2021 – Third Sunday of Advent Text: Luke 3:7-18 – Joy to the world

 Sermon 12^th December 2021 – Third Sunday of Advent

Text: Luke 3:7-18 – Joy to the world

 

The Third Sunday of Advent is known as “rejoice” Sunday. We know that Advent is a season of waiting and today we are called to be joyful as we await the coming of Jesus Christ. Paul is quite emphatic about it saying:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. In our Old Testament reading, Zephaniah calls on us to sing aloud and rejoice. Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

 

We have been experiencing tough times these last couple of years and many would say there’s not much to rejoice about.  With the suffering, loss, uncertainty, and the state of our beautiful and broken world, how can we hear these words and rejoice? Like Israel, in Psalm 137, when they were asked to rejoice while living in exile in the land of Babylon: How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? Perhaps it’s because most people would associate joy with happiness.

 

Happiness is and emotion that is often connected with what is happening to us and around us in our day to day life. And let’s be honest that day to day life has not been all sunshine and rainbows. Happiness is fleeting – it comes and goes depending on our mood, so Paul doesn’t say – be happy always – again I say – be happy.

Happiness lasts for just a moment sometimes. And sometimes the same situation can produce times of happiness and times of sadness. Sometimes it’s based on our mood rather than the actual situation at hand.

When we are discouraged and afraid, rejoicing in the Lord can be a hard sell.  But the truth is that joy should not be influenced by happy or unhappy circumstances.

 

Joy, unlike happiness can be experienced no matter what the challenges. When you look at Paul’s life I would be surprised if he didn’t have times where happiness was not present but he was able to rejoice always. The prophets looked forward to the day of Jesus coming as a time of great joy but towards the end of his earthly ministry not everyone was happy with him. Zephaniah is an interesting book of the bible: Zephaniah mentions the day of the Lord more than does any other book in the Old Testament. It speaks of the people of God’s fall to Babylon and the judgment and restoration of all humanity in the future.  It speaks of God’s time of judgment on the nation of Judah where he saw in the day of the Lord the destruction of his country, his neighbors, and eventually the whole earth.

 

Zephaniah wrote that the day of the Lord was near, that it would be a time of God’s anger at sin. Zephaniah has been called the most despondent of the prophets BUT he kept the last word for joy—joy over the Lord’s presence, joy over renewal and restoration, and joy over God’s children coming home.  Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. Most of the prophets were asked to deliver messages of doom and gloom. Isaiah also speaks of doom and gloom but he looks forward to the Lord’s coming as a time for shouting joyfully, “Surely God is my salvation.”

 

Paul was under house arrest when he wrote his letter to the Philippians, a time many would not find much happiness.  And still, Paul could say, “Rejoice!”  We might wonder what he had to rejoice about in that situation.  Paul rejoiced because he looked forward to the Lord’s coming, but he also rejoiced because the Lord is always near.  Paul experienced the Lord’s constant presence in his imprisonment and so, he could say, “Rejoice!”  Paul carried the joy of Advent – the joy of expecting Jesus to come wherever he went – even in a Roman jail.

 

Advent is not only a season for waiting. It is also a time of preparation – a time of looking for the coming of the Lord, for the fulfillment of God’s promised restoration, for the peace that overcomes all violence, and for that perfect love that casts out fear. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. He was sent into difficult, complicated times – times we might even say like we are experiencing at present.  And his message was simple: repent; turn back to God.  For John, repentance was not about punishing ourselves because of the ways we have let God and others down;

 

To repent meant turning back to God for hope, for peace, for love, for joy. Even though John’s message sounds harsh and angry: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” they do not turn and leave.  Instead, they listen to his sermon.  John will teach them about how to find joy in their life.

He doesn’t ask the people to change the world, but rather to change themselves.  He tells the crowds to consider sharing what they have with those who lack what they have plenty of.  He told the tax collectors to be honest and fair.  He told the soldiers to act with integrity and not abuse of their power. “Go home,” John told them.  Go home to your families, your neighbours, your vocations, your friends.  Go home and live your lives as generously as you can.  Be generous  Be merciful now  Promote justice now. What John is trying to teach is that we can discover joy in our own lives by bringing joy into other people’s lives.

 

John was no stranger to joy from the moment he first met Jesus – before he was born. When Mary went to see Elizabeth, Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting and the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and with a loud voice she said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Elizabeth voiced how the baby in her womb leaped for joy at the presence of Mary and Jesus.  No wonder it then became John’s great joy to always be pointing to Jesus.

 

Today, it is our great joy to be waiting for the coming of Jesus. So, as we wait and prepare, we are also called to rejoice.  The coming of Jesus, God’s promised one with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Good News we wait for. It is the joy the angel will speak of when appearing to the shepherds, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.”  This brings us hope and joy even amid our struggles and unhappiness so we can rejoice and sing with gusto, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come.”  And the Lord has come and the Lord will come again and that brings us and the world great joy.