Sermon 5th February 2023 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany Text: Matthew 5:13-20 – Salted or Assaulted

 Sermon 5^th February 2023 – 5^th Sunday after Epiphany

Text: Matthew 5:13-20 – Salted or Assaulted

 

We live in a very health-conscious age. We watch our calorie intake – we read that ever shrinking panel on the back of products to see how many kilojoules that frozen pizza has. We try to get those 10,000 steps up each day. We chose “fat free”, “no added sugar” and “reduced salt” as healthy options. You reduce your guilt when you stop past McDonalds and get the Large Meal Deal as long as you get Diet Coke as the drink option.

 

Jesus uses analogies today to describe our presence in the world as Christians as salt of the earth. A very interesting analogy because salt can actually be considered harmful to our health. No doubt if you’ve been for a checkup recently that one of the recommendations by your GP would have been to try and reduce your salt intake. But could you imagine a life without salt? Your fish n chips – that piece of steak – that salad– those salt and vinegar chips. So it’s not about getting rid of salt but finding just the right balance between health and taste. Even though Jesus speaks about salt losing its saltiness there’s a lot of questions as to whether that can actually happen.

 

But what can happen is that salt can lose its benefits particularly when it is overused or wrongly used – hence the saying “rubbing salt into a wound”. Or if you put too much salt on your fish and chips it can actually ruin the flavour. And you can’t unsalt it – it takes into the taste immediately. And you can’t add something to nullify it. You can’t add sugar to counterbalance the saltiness. So when Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth this is something we seriously need to consider. Of how we balance our saltiness in the world so that we don’t cause harm to people and the Christian message by oversalting.

 

But on the other hand, just like fish and chips without salt – our world without the Christian message would be a poor world indeed. So, it’s about striking a balance. It’s how we read our situations. Have you ever put salt on your meal without tasting it? You presume the chips always need salt. But what if the person who prepared the chips had already put salt on them?

 

Likewise it can be harmful to a situation when we come straight in with the LAW of God in order to judge and create repentance to lead to forgiveness and we haven’t read the situation of the person. Sometimes a person’s spirit has been already weighed down with guilt and remorse and they need to hear the freeing word of comfort in the Gospel – your sins are forgiven – you are accepted by God. Like the woman caught in adultery who was already aware of her wrongdoing by those wanting to stone her. Judgment had already been passed.

 

There is a saying that journalism exists to Comfort the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable. As Christians we need to be careful to ensure that we comfort the afflicted which is what Paul says in 2 Corinthians: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. That doesn’t mean there is no place for the law. No. Jesus said - Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

 

Last week we had our latest review and it was identified that a huge part of our mission in the -Go, Grow and Enable model is to “GO”. To be part of Jesus’ Great Commission - go and make disciples of all nations. This doesn’t just happen as Paul tells us in Romans: How can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” And this is what Jesus means about being the light of the world.

 

We have been enlightened with the Holy Spirit through our Baptism. And we are commissioned to not keep that light hidden - No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. But, like salt, the purpose of that light is not for our own enlightenment but God’s –  Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

 

In Baptism is where the Great Commission originates - 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. And notice that last part – TEACH them to obey. It’s not about judgment when it comes to the law but about teaching which is, sadly, how the Christian faith is often heard is - “THOU SHALT NOT”.

We want to teach people ABOUT God. And it is in that teaching that allows the Holy Spirit to do the necessary work. If it’s a word of the Law to bring about repentance then the Holy Spirit will do so in the right measure. If it’s a word of comfort that is needed then the Holy Spirit will do that too, in the right measure.

 

And that’s exactly what Paul discovered in our 2nd reading when he said: I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

 

The Holy Spirit knows exactly what is needed in a person’s life because no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Pastor Nathan spoke about connecting with our community. For those who missed it, he spoke about purchasing a camper trailer. And when he went to pick it up he discovered that the camper trailer and his vehicle had different connections and therefore he couldn’t connect them and take the camper trailer home. So we need to discover how we connect with people around us. Paul discovered that same challenge when he said: Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

 

So we need to start way back at the beginning. And Jesus said the greatest commandment is: Love God with all your heart. And love your neighbour as yourself. That’s the beginning. Be God’s salt in the world. Salt is used for healing – bring healing to those hurting in the world. Salt is used for preserving. We too can perverse God’s world by, as Jesus said, that people may see our good works and give glory to God. And, salt is used not just to flavour but to enhance and draw out the flavour of food. We too can bring flavour into the world by living lives that show our hope in God in a world that is losing much hope through wars, climate change, economic uncertainty, rising crime, health fears.

 

Yes we face them too but we know that God is and always will be in control and so we live with hope.

And as St Peter says - 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.

 

Sermon Christmas Day No room at the inn – plenty of room in God’s heart

 Sermon Christmas Day

No room at the inn – plenty of room in God’s heart

Christmas is an occasion that brings families together. And maybe you’ve been the host trying to fit everyone in to save the expense of a motel. I know we’ve had situations where we’ve had the fold out sofa bed along with mattresses on the floor to try and accommodate family and friends. That’s what it’s like when families gather, the house overflows with people, and we make room.

Unfortunately for Mary and Joseph they didn’t have family put them up even though they had travelled to the town of their family of origin to register for the upcoming census. Maybe it was because word had gotten around about Mary being pregnant before she was married and that there were questions of paternity. But for Mary and Joseph there is further dilemma as Luke’s gospel tells us that Mary, “gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn – or what we would call today a motel.

How sad that the saviour of the world is born in a stable with no bed but a manger, which sounds sweet when we sing “away in a manger” but it’s just another word for a feed box for the animals. Where was their family?  Bethlehem was Joseph’s ancestral home and most likely Mary’s.  If Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, so would have his brother and sisters, father and mother. Surely some were still alive.  Surely one of them could make room for Joseph and pregnant Mary. Anything would have been better than giving birth in a stable and having the new born baby sleeping in a feed box. They probably all had reason why they could not invite Mary, Joseph and Jesus into their homes.

As sad and as unusual as this sounds, sadly it still continues today, well for Jesus.There are still so many people – including people celebrating Christmas today that have no room for Jesus amid all the celebration. There are many who don’t realise that Christmas has the word Christ in it. Life is so hectic that there’s not much room for many extra things in our lives. Even faithful and loyal Christians can often feel quite guilty about their relationship with God because we don’t make room for him in our busy lives.

But have a look at what the Christmas message tells us. There was no room at the inn for Jesus but that didn’t stop God’s plan. Jesus was born, nonetheless. God took advantage of what was available rather than condemning what was not available. As John 3:17 tells us – God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him. And nothing would stop God’s plan from eventuating – whether it be “no room at the inn” or later when Herod sends out a decree to kill all infant boys in the hope of including Jesus among the dead children.

Likewise we need to remember that Christmas is about God coming to us in Jesus. And when we don’t have time or make room for Jesus – God always has time and room for us. For those who don’t have room in their heart for Jesus we remember that Jesus always has room in his heart for them. For God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only son to us.

As we remember this past Advent season –

Christmas is a time of HOPE – And St Paul says that hope will never disappoint us.

Christmas is a time of PEACE – a peace that St Paul says goes beyond our understanding. As the world around us seems to be filled with war, crime, violence and other catastrophes, Jesus says - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Christmas is a time of JOY – that even when the weight of the world comes crashing down around us, St Paul says that we can still “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

And Christmas is a time of LOVE But as I mentioned earlier, it’s not a love that is dependent on our love but as St John says: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son – which really sums up the true Christmas spirit.

Christmas is truly a special time of the year that brings so much hope in our very challenging world. But we also need to remember that for many Christmas evokes different emotions. Those who are financially strained to be able to buy gifts for their children. Those who are grieving the loss of a loved one this Christmas – perhaps their first Christmas alone. Those who experience Christmas alone every year – who rely on soup kitchens for their fellowship and Christmas meal. Jesus has them also in his heart as he began his very life in the same way – alone – rejected.

But God brought Shepherds from the field – wise men from the East – angels from heaven even when the world rejected him. And he made a very solemn promise to us all – including the lost and lonely – “he will be called – Emmanuel – God is with us. May God be with you this Christmas as we again celebrate the amazing gift of God’s love to us in a baby born in a manger and each of our hearts today.

 

Sermon Christmas Eve - The same story – the same God

 Sermon Christmas Eve

The same story – the same God

Has Covid, the lockdowns, curfews, restrictions, changed your life? Has it changed the way you socialize? The way you worship? The way you work? The way you shop? Sometimes changes make us very unsettled and even fearful. Just think of Mary on the day she found out she was pregnant and was to give birth to the Son of God. She was visited by an angel. She was told that she was blessed and favoured by God. She was told she had the privilege of bearing God’s son. Now, instead of excitement and bewilderment we are told she was startled and told to not be afraid.

Change can frighten and startle us – like the changes we had to make so quickly with lockdowns, restrictions and curfews. But they can also challenge us and present new opportunities. Many churches, including our own, now reach out beyond our 4 walls into the wider community through recording of services and live streaming. A lot of people stepped up as more volunteers were needed with the introduction of new procedures like cleaning, sanitizing, communion distribution, contact tracing and a whole range more and they continued to make themselves available once normal life resumed. So it’s more of the unknown that frightens us just as it no doubt frightened Mary who would go forward into motherhood where questions would be asked of the legitimacy of the baby as she wasn’t married – and her claims that she was carrying God’s son.

And that’s why it was so comforting to Joseph when he was told of God’s plan that the angel that visited him said that Jesus would also be known as “Emmanuel” – God is with us. So despite what would happen in the future – their escape into Egypt when Herod finds out he had been tricked by the 3 wise men – they knew that God, Emmanuel, is with them. This promise, will be affirmed by Jesus when he said at the Ascension and in our Baptism – I am with you always till the end of the age.

It is a very different world ahead of us – none of us know how things are going to shape up. But what we do know is that God has promised to be with us. Jesus’ birth is God’s affirmation of his love for us and his presence with us always. And Jesus himself comforts us about the uncertainties in life when he says in the Book of Revelation: “I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. Similar to what the book of Hebrews says about Jesus: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

So whatever uncertainty the future holds we have the certainty of God, through Jesus being the Omega – the end who is to come. And that’s why each year we tell the same Christmas story. It may change in the way we tell it but the story never changes. God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. The Virgin birth – Jesus, Mary, Joseph. Born in a manger because there was no room at the inn.

The shepherds. The wise men following the star in the east. The Christmas Carols we sing are all the same, be it Away in a manger, O come all ye faithful or Silent Night. These are all messages of comfort, assurance and stability in a world that is ever changing while being governed by God who doesn’t change. It was the story told to our great grandparents – it is the story that will be told to our great grandchildren. It won’t change and neither will God’s promise to be with us always.

As the world around us changes we have a God who sent his son Jesus, called Emmanuel – God is with us. And so, like Mary, the message to us is - The Lord has blessed you and is with you – do not be afraid. So this Christmas, let us celebrate and not be afraid of whatever the coming year has before us because God is indeed with us through his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord – born in a manger – destined to rule for eternity.

Sermon 18th December 2022 – 4th Sunday of Advent Text: Matthew 1:18-25 – We are all needed by God

 Sermon 18^th December 2022 – 4^th Sunday of Advent

Text: Matthew 1:18-25 – We are all needed by God

 

I’m the sort of person who believes if you want a job done well you do it yourself.  I’ve never been that good at delegating. And I know a lot of people like that – that’s it’s easier and quicker to do something yourself than to explain and oversee someone else doing it. It’s probably something I should have worked on because it’s not how God works. God breaks into human history bringing his plans to work through ordinary people. And he doesn’t stand over us telling us what to do or, what we call, micromanaging. Sometimes we get it wrong but God doesn’t take over. He gently guides us back or rearranges things.

 

We see this pattern in the Bible. We have the patriarch Abraham whom God used to bless the world. Now, Abraham didn’t always get it right. Like having a child with Hagar, Ishmael, instead of trusting God’s promise. In fact God honoured Abraham’s wrong decision by promising to bless Ishmael and make him a mighty nation even though it was not part of God’s original plan.

 

In choosing Israel’s King – God chose, seemingly, the wrong person – Saul, who disobeyed God and was replaced by King David who during his Kingship committed adultery and murder. God chose the persecutor of Christians, Saul, who becomes the Apostle Paul to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles.  God didn’t stop Saul’s earlier work but chose him despite his previous persecution.

 

God used women like Deborah and Esther to bring hope and freedom to his people. He also chose Mary Magdalene as a witness to the Resurrection and then sent her to the apostles with the Good News.  God chose a simple young woman, Mary, to bear the Saviour of the world. God used Mary and Joseph in a plan that would turn the world upside down. This is how God works. He uses ordinary people – he uses people that get it wrong – he even allows people to get it wrong without interfering or micromanaging. He guides and directs but at the end of the day we have free will.

 

But we also see in our Gospel reading that God doesn’t just leave us on our own to achieve his plan of salvation. No, he tells Joseph that the child that Mary will give birth to will be called by a very special name – Emmanuel – which means “God is with us”. At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus affirms that promise when he says – behold, I am with you always, till the end of the age. What we also find in our Gospel reading is that God sometimes interrupts and challenges our plans in order to bring them in line with his will.

 

Joseph is a person with hopes and dreams for his own life but finds himself with a predicament.  He is engaged to Mary but learns that she is pregnant.  Joseph plans to dismiss her quietly but God uses a dream to change Joseph’s mind. We can sometimes have our own plans that get interrupted by God. What we learn from Joseph is that despite having free will to make our own decisions that we also need to be in tune with God to listen to him. To pray about situations. To ensure we regularly read our Bible to refresh our understanding of his will.

 

I think of the Old Testament again where Israel had gone way of the track with their worship of false gods like Baal and Molech until King Josiah found a copy of the Covenant in the temple and read it and realised how far they had drifted away from God’s will. Joseph is often forgotten in the important role he takes in the nativity. 

Obviously God saw the important role that Joseph played. Otherwise why would he send an angel to him to change his mind regarding the plan he had. Without Joseph how would Mary have been supported?  Her family would have been bound by the law to reject her if Joseph had rejected her.  Mary’s baby would have been seen as illegitimate in their culture.   And importantly, Mary’s life, would have been in danger and without Jesus to intercede as he did for the woman caught in adultery in John’s Gospel.

What this tells us is the role each of us has to play in God’s plan for the world, even if we don’t see ourselves as important. Some might say that Joseph has no role to play – after all, as we confess in the creeds – Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary – but no mention of Joseph. Maybe you don’t see your name up in lights. Maybe you don’t see your name listed anywhere. But you are all vital to God’s plan of salvation for the world. God has a plan for you just as he had a plan for Joseph even though we don’t hear anything of him after the birth narrative.

 

Some might think, God doesn’t really need me. Look at me. But God needs each and everyone of us regardless of the small insignificant role we think we might play. Regardless of the accolades we don’t receive. How often when a car breaks down that it’s a small minor part in the engine that has caused the car to break down. We recently had our heater break down. The serviceman we called in took one look at it and said it was unrepairable and quoted us $6,000 to replace it. I wasn’t comfortable with that and got a 2nd opinion. He looked at it and said it needed a new thermistor – a $20 piece he reckoned that he had one sitting in his car. Each part is significant and has a role to place. If a $20 part breaks down it makes the entire unit broken even if the unit was worth $6,000.

 

Likewise, without YOU our church body suffers. And sometimes the smaller the part the more important function it has. Which is what Paul says when he explains the human body as an example of the body of Christ. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it.

 

So to all you Joseph’s out there – thank you. Be encouraged. We need you. I need you. But more importantly – God needs you.

 

 

Sermon 11th December 2022 – Third Sunday in Advent Text: Matthew 11:2-11 – Do we look for another?

 Sermon 11^th December 2022 – Third Sunday in Advent

Text: Matthew 11:2-11 – Do we look for another?

 

You can almost feel it – you can almost taste it – you can almost touch it. Christmas is in 2 weeks.

Whether the excitement is because you can’t wait to celebrate – or you’ve got some friends or family coming over that you haven’t seen in a while – or like me, you’ve got some time off. There is excitement. But what happens after Christmas is over? It’s back to normal – sort of. You step on the scales and realise how much you overindulged. You see the credit card statement and you realise how much it’s all cost and you wonder was it worth it. Did it meet your expectations? Did Jesus coming at Christmas meet the excitement? Do the benefits outweigh the costs.

 

That’s the question before John the Baptist today. Did Jesus’ coming match the excitement he had built up.

Did the cost of following Jesus outweigh the benefits? You know – the one coming after me that will baptize with fire. The one coming after me whose sandals I’m not worthy to tie. You know – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Who is so important and exciting that “I must decrease so he may increase”.

But now – John is languishing in prison and he starts to reflect on what it’s cost him. Not his credit card – not his waistline - but his freedom.

 

And so, from jail, John sends some of his disciples to ask Jesus - “Are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another? Why would John ask that?  It’s because Jesus didn’t turn out to be all John expected him to be. John had become so bold believing Jesus would “have his back”. He called the Pharisees and Sadducees “you brood of vipers”. He seemed to insult Abraham – don’t think just because you’re Abraham’s children.

But he goes too far and criticizes Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. For that he finds himself in jail.

For John, Jesus was not following his expectations.  John said that the chaff would burn with unquenchable fire.  But Jesus didn’t seem to be pointing the finger of judgment against the evil doers.  This was a disappointment for John sitting in prison, awaiting his own judgment instead of his enemy’s.  Instead, Jesus is proclaiming forgiveness, healing the sick, bringing Good News to the poor.

 

Was this really what Jesus was supposed to be doing?  Couldn’t anyone do that? Are you the one who is to come? Or should I hope for someone else? Sometimes Jesus said and did things that weren’t what people hoped for.  Like riding into Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a chariot drawn by horses. Sometimes Jesus says and does things that aren’t what we hope for.  Maybe at times we are tempted to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?” And, certainly, many have done just that- looked for someone or something else.

 

Each of us has expectations about the kind of Savior we want.  Some want a judgmental Messiah who points out where everyone else is going wrong.  To punish the evil doers and throw away the key – no chances. Some of us want Jesus to back our favorite cause, who will assure us that God is on our side on this issue. Or maybe we want a gentle shepherd who will not demand anything of us, but only assure us that he loves us.

Jesus will at times upset our expectations. But that’s when we have to trust the words of Jesus who said – “your will be done, not mine”.

 

John wondered if Jesus was really the one in whom he should hope.  Maybe Jesus wasn’t exactly what John was expecting: He brought fire – but it was the fire of the Holy Spirit. He sought out sinners – but forgave them. He confronted the unworthy– but he confronted them with grace – like Zacchaeus – like the woman caught in adultery – like the Samaritan leper – like the demon possessed man called Legion – even an undeserving dog, the Canaanite woman begging for crumbs from his table.  Grace upon grace.

 

John couldn’t see that grace for himself being locked away in his prison cell. And maybe, at times, it is hard for us to see God’s grace in our time of suffering. But it’s there. It’s always there. Paul struggled too with his thorn in the flesh – praying 3 times to have his suffering removed with the response from God: My grace is all you need – my grace is sufficient.

 

There will be times when we feel let down by God, like John the Baptist did. There will be times when we may feel like looking for another Saviour. But Jesus is the only one in whom we can put our hope. As Luke says in Acts 4:12 - there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved. As Jesus says in John 14 - I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus is the one who was promised by God. But it’s the mystery of God we don’t always understand.

 

Jesus himself struggled with this when he cried out from the cross - My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? He was repeating the very words of King David – God’s most loyal subject who cried out words that John the Baptist could also have cried out: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. Words that maybe you have cried out at times expecting more from God. But we heed the words of James today – Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

 

Just as Christmas Day is near so too is the return of our Lord, as St Paul reminded us recently: Salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; So, friends, you don’t need to look for another. We need to trust and have patience. Patience in a God who does not want anyone to perish. Jesus is the one we have been waiting for – Jesus is the one we continue waiting for. And in the words of St Paul recently: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sermon 4th December 2022 – 2nd Sunday in Advent Text: Matthew 3:1-12 – Be prepared

 Sermon 4^th December 2022 – 2^nd Sunday in Advent

Text: Matthew 3:1-12 – Be prepared

 

There is a lot of evidence that Christmas is upon us. Shops are starting to put up decorations. Christmas catalogues and specials are hitting our mailboxes. Christmas breakups seem to be happening every couple of days. Maybe the Christmas cards have started to arrive. There’s a lot of joy about.

 

Christmas is a special time of year in the Church as we prepare to celebrate the true occasion of the origin of Christmas – the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. So it might be surprising that when we come to church during Advent, the preparation for Christmas, that the readings don’t really reflect an air of joy and celebration. We are introduced to an interesting character by the name of John the Baptist. He doesn’t seem to live a life of joy - John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. He doesn’t really exude much rejoicing. He addresses those who had come out to hear him as a “Brood of Vipers” He doesn’t speak to them about a “gentle Jesus, meek and mild”.

 

“You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

 

And, yet, John is the messenger of Advent. Advent is the preparation for Christmas – the coming of baby Jesus. John is the advent of God to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus also. He is - “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” He is preparing the people for the coming of the promised one of God: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

As much as Christmas is a joyous occasion as we celebrate with friends and family – giving gifts, eating drinking and celebrating – the true message of Christmas is not the celebration but what we are celebrating. And please don’t misunderstand me. The celebrations are fantastic. I too look forward to it. But as Christians we know that there is a reason for celebrating. And when we forget that we often hear people’s comments of how they “hate Christmas” because of all the work and cleaning up – the parking – the crowds. Because that’s all it is. But as Christians we celebrate that God is entering into our existence – entering as a fully human being.

 

This is true reason for celebrating as Paul calls upon us: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; God didn’t have to do this, as John warned the people. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” God knows we need more than just a Merry Christmas filled with tinsel and decorations.  We need more than receiving the perfect Christmas item, or latest hi-tech gadget.  John spells it out quite clearly what we need for Christmas.  We need a renewed Spirit that will make us more attentive to God in our daily lives.  We need the Holy Spirit to move our faith beyond the routine of daily life.   We need a purging fire that will make the love and presence of God more real, tangible and intense so it will enlarge our love of God and neighbor. That’s what John tells us God wants to give us, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand...”

 

I don’t know about you – and I might be wrong – but I sense that there is more excitement this year about Christmas than we’ve seen for some time. Usually about now we see a lot of objections to Christmas. We can’t have Christmas carols because it might offend some people.

We must say “Happy Holidays” to be inclusive. Councils not putting up decorations. I’m finding that there is more acceptance and perhaps that’s because for the past couple of years we have been in the wilderness celebrating Christmas because of Covid. Maybe John’s voice is the voice we need to hear despite its harshness – to make a path for Jesus as we celebrate this year.

 

But what is the path that Isaiah is talking about that John was sent to prepare? It was the path of repentance.

To repent doesn’t mean to simply be sorry. To repent means to begin seeing differently, to begin thinking differently, both of which lead to acting and living differently. Our English word repent comes from the Greek word – metanoia

 

Meta meaning to change – like metamorphosis – metaphysics. Noia – means knowledge

 

So repentance is not just feeling sorry for having done the wrong thing but a change of mind – a change of being. To repent is to change - to live differently, because as we enter a new mindset or as we develop a new way of seeing, we become aware that our actions are out of step with God’s will for all creation. And I think that is what Covid has done – as hard and devastating as it was on our lives it has changed our outlook on life to value things we devalued or undervalued or took for granted. Just think of the hunger for gathering together – the hunger for Holy Communion as we lived in the wilderness. Our relationships – our gatherings – our celebrations.

 

Sometimes it takes a time in the wilderness to see what we truly value. Israel had been in the wilderness for 400 years since their last prophet and John the Baptist and they were ready to accept John as their Messiah.

But he said – no. God has something much better planned for you. There is one coming after me – don’t settle for less. In fact, John will later say – I must decrease so he may increase. So the message of John today is to examine what it is in our lives that we sometimes accept as 2nd best.

 

What obstacles do we put on the path for Christ to bring true joy into our lives. We know some of the cliché answers- money, possessions, careers, sports and the like. But it’s much deeper than this and our wilderness experience during our lockdowns and curfews have helped to reveal them. Maybe we took our faith for granted – our freedom of religious worship for granted. We shouldn’t be afraid of the wilderness. Noah journeyed the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights before reaching dry land Israel journeyed the wilderness for 40 years before reaching their Promised Land. Jesus journeyed the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights while being tempted by Satan but during that time he was ministered to by the angels.

 

And now our wilderness experience, which for many people is still continuing, has hopefully opened our eyes to God’s presence with us during that time, as he was with Noah, Israel, Jesus and others, and is now preparing us to celebrate with joy the coming of Jesus at Christmas and as we wait for him to return in all his glory. Sometimes in the wilderness we can’t see our way out but we know God will never abandon us.

Even when there seems lifelessness, like a dead stump, out of the stump of Jesse God brought a new shoot to give hope. So may the voice of John calling from wilderness give you hope with whatever wilderness experience you may be going through to bring you joy through hope.

 

And may this time of Advent prepare you for whatever Christmas brings to you this year as you celebrate God’s precious gift in a manger – Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sermon 27th November 2022 – 1st Sunday in Advent Text: Matthew 24:36-44 – End Times Complacency

 Sermon 27^th November 2022 – 1^st Sunday in Advent

Text: Matthew 24:36-44 – End Times Complacency

 

As we prepare for Advent the weeks leading up to Advent and also today speak about the end times. Usually when we think of “end times” we think of quite horrific and scary events. We heard a few of those just recently – Wars and rumours of war.

Nations fighting against nations. Earthquakes, famines, pestilences. Many people like to turn to the Book of Revelation to read about end times with frightening scenes of beasts, dragons, antichrists, lakes of fire.

 

In our Gospel reading today Jesus again speaks about the end of the world but there is nothing frightening at all in the events leading up to Judgment Day. In fact it’s quite the opposite. Jesus said: Just as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. It will literally be normal living rather than cataclysmic events according to Jesus.

So when we start looking at the state of the world and thinking we must be in the last days because of all the turmoil in the world, that’s not Jesus warning.

 

Jesus’ warning was about complacency, like the days of Noah. It does say that the world was corrupt and violent but it seems that it was so common that it was everyday life. And that’s the danger we face, like the days of Noah, no one was ready for the flood that would wipe out all the earth. They couldn’t see the violence and decay because it had become so commonplace.  So part of ordinary everyday life. But what we shouldn’t be confused about is that living our everyday lives is not complacency. Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage was not the problem. The problem was in the last part of that statement by Jesus - they knew nothing until the flood came and then it was too late.

 

And that’s the difference. We may not live very different lives to our neighbour who is not a Christian but we are in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ as our Saviour. And that’s the difference – our relationship with Jesus. We may look no different to the person next to us and that is often the criticism of Christians as we live out our daily lives – eating and drinking. In fact Jesus faced that criticism at one stage – John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. We don’t have to live “holier than thou” lives. But we must be ready for whenever Christ returns or he calls us home. And that’s why Jesus says – on that day – Two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. There was no difference between the 2 other than one was in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ their Lord and one was not. There was nothing that distinguished them other than their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

 

So it’s a question of, if there is no difference then how will people come to know about Jesus in their lives through us. As St Peter says – always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have. But how will they know you have hope? We need to remember that life is a gift from God. Just because we are Christians doesn’t mean we have to live a life where we can’t enjoy the finer things of life – given to us by God to enjoy. But Paul reminds us that not all of life is beneficial to us nor a good witness. A good example of that in Paul’s life is his explanation of eating meat.  Paul believed he was free to eat meat, even meat that had been sacrificed to idols.  But if his eating meat harmed another person’s faith then he said he would never eat meat again, even though he was free to do so.

 

And that’s the challenge for us. Some people can enjoy a drink while for others one sip could destroy their lives and the lives of their family. Some people can enjoy a flutter on the pokies or the Melbourne Cup but for others they have lost homes and livelihoods through addiction. So it’s a personal challenge for us to examine our own lives and what behaviours could harm our relationships – with God and others. So Paul says: Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, debauchery, licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Anything that harms our faith or is a bad witness to God should be avoided.

 

Even though we have the forgiveness of sins – there are behaviours that affect our faith which we need to become aware of. As Paul says - “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.

So we need to identify those things in OUR lives that affect our faith. And it’s different for everyone. So it’s not about judging others but reflecting on and examining our own lives. It’s about identifying those impulsive desires that affect our lives and the lives of people around us: The desire for revenge, the desire for wealth, the desire to prove others wrong, the desire to be seen as important by others can affect our love for God and our neighbour.

 

Paul says make no provision to gratify any of these but instead put on the Lord Jesus Christ. And the best way to get rid of negative impulses in our lives is to build up our positive impulses. What we are called to do is to live our lives ready for Jesus to return. It’s living our lives, not as if Jesus is coming tomorrow but today. It’s about living our lives not as if Jesus is returning later in the day but now. It’s about living our lives not as if Jesus is coming but is already here. And that’s why Jesus says - Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But that’s not about living in fear – what if Jesus comes if I’m doing something wrong. But it’s about living in hope and readiness – and people will see that. And it is God who has made us ready – through our Baptism where we were sealed with the cross of Christ to live as his baptized child. We are kept ready by the body and blood of Jesus that cleanses us from the disobedience that kept the people of Noah’s day from knowing the truth. We don’t accept disobedience because everyone’s doing it these days – or I’ve tried but I just can’t break the habit.

 

Paul also struggled in that area – the good I want to do I do not do. The evil I should not do, this keep on doing. Who will save me from this body of death? Thanks be to God. New Years are always good for New Year resolutions. As we begin this new Church Year maybe it’s a good time to make some New Year Christians Resolutions. To begin the day with Prayer. To read your bible everyday. To ring one of our members you haven’t spoken to or seen for a while to see how they are or even to introduce yourself. There are so many positive things we can do each day and it’s these positive things that are the best way to put aside the negative things – the things of the flesh – the things of darkness.

 

Remember, our entry into heaven is one day less that it was yesterday, as Paul said: You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. So may God bless you as you get ready for that great day when Jesus returns to brings us all home to his Kingdom.