Sermon 31st January 2021 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany Text Mark 1:21-28 – Head to heart knowledge

 

Sermon 31^st January 2021 – 4^th Sunday after Epiphany Text Mark 1:21-28 – Head to heart knowledge

 Marks’s Gospel is an interesting account of the life of Jesus. It doesn’t have the sweet recording of Jesus birth – shepherds, manger, wise men coming to visit. No, here we are in chapter one of Mark and he’s in a synagogue confronted by an evil spirit. And what’s interesting is that this unclean spirit is the first to acknowledge who Jesus is. Others took a while and still others could not get their head or heart to acknowledge Jesus is. Remember Jesus’ question to his disciples well into his ministry? He asked his disciples “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” But there was no confusion at all for this unclean spirit: I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

 

So what we are seeing in this passage is the difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone. Hang on – didn’t I just say the same thing? No. There is a difference between knowing about someone and knowing someone and this is what we are seeing. James, in his letter, also says the same thing:

(James 2:19) - You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. The difference between knowing Jesus and knowing about Jesus is relational. I can read the bible from cover to cover and recite facts and figures and quote this passage and that passage – but that is not relational; That is head knowledge rather than heart knowledge. Heart knowledge is when we don’t just know about Jesus but are able to confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and that I trust him with my life and soul. This is when Jesus doesn’t just become a compartment of my life along with many other things but he is my very being and existence. Remember a couple weeks ago when Paul said – do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

 

God is not meant to be another thing that we fit into our lives but our very life. Because the problem when God is something we fit into our lives – when our lives get squeezed – we can often squeeze God out of our lives. And that’s when we might know ABOUT God but no know God in our hearts. Peter is again a good example to show both at work. When Peter is asked who do “people” say I am he gives a list: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

 

But look how quick Peter’s “heart” knowledge resorts to his head knowledge when Jesus says: that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,  and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” But Jesus then turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

 

Notice the difference – with his heart knowledge he knows Jesus as his Lord and Saviour – you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. But sadly when he faces danger he reverts to his head knowledge that only knows “about” Jesus – fuelled by his “merely human concerns”. And that’s where the rubber hits the road when it comes to our faith – when we face difficulties and uncertainty and our natural instinct is to protect ourselves. As Luther said in his Large Catechism – whatever you run to in time of danger – that is your God.

St Paul made the same distinction in our 2nd reading where he says: Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Head knowledge compared to heart knowledge.

Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him. And there’s an important distinction; Head knowledge knows about God.

But heart knowledge is where we are known by God.

 

So faith is more than just knowing about God – knowing about Jesus. Faith is being in a relationship with God through his Son Jesus Christ. It is confessing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and not just a head knowledge of Jesus. Because head knowledge won’t sustain you when your back is against the wall and you face uncertainty. When you cannot see a way through your situation and you don’t turn to your own strength but to God as the Book of Hebrews says: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. And it talks about several Old Testament people distinguishing between head knowledge and heart knowledge:

 

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

 

You see there – faith is not about knowing God but trusting God and that’s the difference between the confession of knowledge of the unclean spirit in today’s Gospel and the confession of Peter of Jesus as the Messiah. God wants to be in a relationship with you. He doesn’t care if you can’t recite chapter and verse from the Bible. He just wants to be in a relationship with you and for you to call on him in time of trouble and as we read in several places in the New Testament; Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

May God grant this to us all and the peace of God that surpasses all our understanding watch over your hearts now and always. Amen.

Sermon 24th January 2021 – Epiphany 3 - Text: Mark 1:14-20 – The Good News of repentance

 Sermon 24^th January 2021 – Epiphany 3 - Text: Mark 1:14-20 – The Good News of repentance

 

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night to a house or car alarm going off? What’s your first response? If it’s like mine, it’s usually not – I hope everything is okay. No it’s normally annoyance – seriously, don’t they know what time it is. Last week we heard an alarm going off in the afternoon and rather than rushing out to see if there was a problem we pondered wondering where it might be coming from.

 

It seems that we have somehow drowned out alarms from our system finding them an annoyance rather than a warning that something is not right. And I believe that this is one of the greatest challenges that faces the Christian Church today. You may recall a generation or so ago when Preachers were more known for delivering fire and brimstone sermons which seemed to draw in crowds through fear but that doesn’t seem to be working these days.

People have drowned out the warnings coming from the church about the dangers hell.

 

I’m not suggesting that we go back to those days but I’m wondering whether we are a little bit reluctant to use our sermons and messages to warn people but to be more warm and accommodating – but is that working? Even Jesus used a warning to remind people why it was necessary for him to come: Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. It was the message that John the Baptist had also preached to the people to repent. Notice Jesus connects – repent with the good news.

 

Our teaching has always been one of Law and Gospel. We preach the law in order for people to understand the human condition before God – one of our fallen relationship through sin. But we don’t leave the message there – we assure people of the Good News that God forgives our sin and restores our relationship with him.

In order to truly appreciate and understand God’s grace we need to be fully aware and understand what God’s grace is delivering us from. If there is “good news” then what is the news that is not good?

 

St Paul says that the not good news is our punishment for sin – as St Paul says in Romans 6 about sin – for the wages of sin is death – but the gift of God – the grace of God – the good news of God is eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. There Paul preaches – Law and Gospel. And what we see in our Gospel reading and also in our 2nd reading from Paul is the urgency of needing this good news.

 

When Peter and his brother Andrew heard the call from Jesus to follow him their response was “immediate”.  Immediately they left their nets and followed him. When James and his brother John heard the call of Jesus to follow him – their response was immediate. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. Even the people of Nineveh in hearing the judgment of God at their doorstep took no time at all to respond: When Jonah came and told them that in 40 days God was going to bring about his judgment, they didn’t say – well, we’ve got 40 days, let’s have a think about this. No, the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. They saw the urgency of needing to turn their lives around and receive God’s grace.

 

St Paul also stresses the urgency: The appointed time has grown short; the present form of this world is passing away. The growing shortness has been used as a way of frightening people but it need not be frightening. Jesus, connecting repentance and good news is to bring comfort to the suffering and concerned.

 

As we live in a world that continues to bring grief and concern to us how comforting to know that the time is short for which we must endure this lifetime.

 

Once sin entered into God’s perfect world, life in this world would not be a blessing. Even if a person is born into a well off family, never needs anything, they will still face the day when their life draws to an end and their health diminishes. So God has limited this lifetime and assures us that after this life there is new life in heaven where perfection is guaranteed because nothing evil will ever live there. Where there will be no more suffering or death because the old order of things will have passed. That’s what Jesus comes to proclaim as the Good News - The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;

 

The Kingdom of God is where there is a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Where God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  Tears that we have shed through suffering and mourning. And after God has wiped away our tears, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

 

So what is the Good News of the urgency? If fire and brimstone preaching and the fear of hell is not behind the immediacy of these readings what is? It’s because of God’s love for his children that does not want to see them burdened by the weight of fear that comes to us through sin. That’s Satan’s preferred way of attack.

Remember back to Adam and Eve. When they first sinned they feared God – they hid from God – “Adam where are you”. Adam responded - I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.

Sin didn’t keep God away from Adam but sin took Adam away from God. So Jesus issues an invitation to us when he says – come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest - I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 

God wants you to begin to experience the comfort of his presence now and invites you – repent for the Kingdom of God is near. That’s what Paul refers to when he says - For the present form of this world is passing away. We don’t have to wait until WE pass away to experience the joy waiting for us. We can experience it now through a relationship with God. It doesn’t mean we can avoid the suffering of this world but we can know the comfort that soon it will be over. That’s why Jesus says – the Kingdom of God is near. Come and experience it NOW.

 

The message may to some be a message of fear and concern where they are not in a relationship with Jesus.

As Paul says in Corinthians – the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God, not wanting anyone to miss out on the blessings of eternal life in Heaven. The message of repentance is not one of fear but one of invitation to experience the comfort and assurance that Jesus is with us as we journey in this life.

Sermon 17th January 2021 – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Text: John 1:43-51 – Come and see Jesus

 

Sermon 17^th January 2021 – 2^nd Sunday after Epiphany

Text: John 1:43-51 – Come and see Jesus

 

This is my first week back for 2021 so firstly I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year. In my break I have tried to contemplate what will 2021 look like. We are already hearing about a new strain of Covid that has entered Australia from overseas. We’ve seen restrictions tightened in Victoria – we’ve seen other states going into lockdown. Churches in greater Brisbane had to cancel their services at short notice last Sunday. I guess for me, as a Pastor, one of my concerns is for our outreach.

 

My role as a Pastor of this congregation won’t change- I’ll always be here for you. At times it might get impacted if some of the earlier restrictions return like the 5km rule. There are some restrictions on visiting nursing homes and hospital. But the biggest concern I have is our outreach. It’s hard to do what Philip did with Nathanael when he reached out to bring him to Jesus and said – come and see. It’s hard to say to someone – come and see but I first need to ring our booking line to make sure there’s enough room. Or what do you say to someone who arrives at church unannounced for the first time and it’s booked out? Do you say “come and see” next week and I’ll book you in.

 

I guess we’ve always worked with the objective that Sunday church is our goal – and to an extent that is important. But we have been challenged in the last 12 months – what becomes our mission if our church building is not available or if we will continue to face limits on how many we can have and can’t even fit all our regular members in? I know that for me the Covid experience has made me evaluate how we do church – how we do evangelism. For me, prior to Covid – getting as many people into church – getting the budget paid – justifying the amount of work I was doing were my priorities. But look at Philip’s priorities – look how Phillip does evangelism He shares his experience with Nathanael. He shares his excitement and invites Nathanael to come and see Jesus and experience a relationship with him. And whereas the church building on a Sunday was the place we would have as our objective – to invite people to come and see Jesus - is that the only way?

 

St Paul reminded us in our 2nd reading today – you are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. The church is not a building – the church is the people who gather to create the body of Christ. If we have no church building – we still have church – you are the church. And as important as our Sunday gatherings together is, it is not the only way that the church can exist. If our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit then we can invite people to come and see Jesus in our own lives – in our own homes.

 

We’ve already experimented this past year with smaller gatherings outside of our regular church times – can we explore that further – maybe in our own homes where some newcomers to the faith might even feel more comfortable – less threatened. We know how often we have a visitor come along and they slip away either because they don’t feel comfortable or they feel no one has come up to them to speak with them. We can let this pandemic defeat us or we can grasp the opportunities and look for ways to adapt to new challenges.

 

Personally I like the sounds of new challenges and would like to see us look at new ways of doing church. It doesn’t mean that we do away with Sunday gatherings here in our church buildings but we can look to ways to supplement our Sunday gatherings and take church outside of these 4 walls. Phillip was excited and I believe that if we are excited about our faith then we will look for and find ways to be the body of Christ – to be the church in new ways. Maybe God is speaking to us through this experience and, like Samuel, we need to stop and listen and say – speak Lord, your servant is listening.

 

There is nothing I have loved more than a full church with music and singing at full blast- but what happens when those things are taken away from us? Do we take the position of – well that’s it – or do we say – okay, what’s next.

The digital revolution has helped to keep us going but that cannot be our goal. Like everything else, it supplements what we do.

 

The Christian faith is a personal experience – one of being together with each other – supporting one another.

I’m sure if they had internet available Phillip would not have said to Nathanael to log onto to the internet and watch this. No, he took him to Jesus. He didn’t just tell him about Jesus. He showed him Jesus and shared his own experience and then said – Come And See.

 

It’s going to be a challenging year ahead of us but it is in times of challenges that allows us to respond in new ways. As I have said previously – what we do that is essential won’t change. Word and Sacrament. How we do these has started to change with the common cup not being available – gloves and mask being part of the way we do things. Even our music has presented us with challenges. It’s not to say it will always be this way but it has shown us that we can adapt and we shouldn’t be afraid to adapt. How we do these may change even further – where we do these things may change even further.

 

Let us not be afraid to grasp these new challenges but trust where God is leading us and like Samuel let us be prepared to respond: Here I am, for you called me.

 

 

Christmas Day 25th December 2020

 Christmas Day

25^th December 2020

 

There have been many emotions throughout this Covid year – anger, uncertainty, confusion – but high up there, perhaps at the top, was and still is – fear. Fear of a 2nd wave – which did happen. Fear of a 3rd wave – we watch those daily numbers from the DHHS and breathe a sigh of relief when it’s zero again. Fear of catching or transmitting the virus – so we clean everything and wear masks when we think we might be vulnerable.

 

Fear, in the Bible, is the greatest attack on faith. Fear is what makes us look away from God and to our own strength. Whether it’s Covid 19 or Climate Change or whatever has caused fear in us – it’s easy to want to take control ourselves of the situation.  Luther said, in explaining the First Commandment – whatever you run to in time of fear is truly your God. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t do something but that our first response to any fear should be to turn to God in prayer. Because God promised – Jesus would be called Immanuel – God with us. Jesus promised – I am with your always to the end of the age.

 

So in any situation, let us turn first to the one who is Lord of Heaven and Earth. Isn’t that how we normally operate? When we purchase something and it breaks down we turn to our manufacturer’s warranty. We turn to the company that makes the product or the store that we bought it from. If we tinker with it first we can void the manufacturer;s warranty.

 

In many of the Christmas stories that we hear during Christmas period, we hear of God’s messengers, the angels, delivering this very message.  Do not be afraid.  When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to announce that his wife Elizabeth would become the mother of John the Baptist, even in her old age, Gabriel’s first words to him were, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, your prayer has been heard” Not long after, Gabriel appeared again, this time to Mary, to announce that she would be the mother of Jesus. And again his first words were, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God” And an angel appeared to Joseph, too. He was betrothed to Mary and it would have been understandable in those days if he had broken off the relationship with her, but the angel said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit”.

 

And finally, on Christmas Day, in glorious splendour and light, an angel appeared to the shepherds while they were tending their sheep and said to them, “Fear not, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord”. The story of Christmas is all about removing our fear and replacing it with faith and love. For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son. The faith of Elizabeth and Zechariah giving birth to John the Baptist. The faith of Mary and Joseph giving birth to the Son of God. The faith of the Shepherds that believed the angel’s message – let us go and see this thing that has been told to us. The faith of the Magi who travelled great distance to worship the newborn King of the Jews, even though they were not Jews themselves. And their faith that disobeyed Herod’s command to return and tell him where this child was and returned home via a different route.

 

There is so much fear in the world that influences how we live our lives. That’s not to say that we become irresponsible but that we turn to God first so that how we live our lives is not motivated by fear. We may in fact live no differently in our responses but we will live without the fear, trusting God that he is with us.

Do not be afraid.

We may still reduce our carbon footprint – wear our masks and sanitize everything – but not out of fear but out of respect and love for God and our neighbour – and that makes a big difference in how we live.

So may the Christmas message for you in this very different year – a year of uncertainties – a year of confusion – a year of concern – may it be a year that is not lived in fear but in joy knowing that God loves us so much that he would never abandon us.

The one who gave his one and only Son for you – surely would not let you do this on your own.

The message of Christmas is a message of great joy for all the people. Today your Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to all.

Christmas Eve 24th December 2020

 Christmas Eve

24^th December 2020

 

There are 2 major celebrations in the Church – Christmas and Easter. Last Easter none of us would have thought that we could not have had an Easter Service – Good Friday or Easter Sunday. As the pandemic progressed and hit a second wave in the 2nd half of the year there were warnings that Christmas might also be under threat. But here we are. Yes it’s a little bit different to previous years. In fact it’s somewhat symbolic of Mary and Joseph who had to give birth in a barn in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

Likewise we could not guarantee that there was going to be room in the church for our usual families and visitors.

This scene, of Mary and Joseph with nowhere to stay, has a ring to it in Jesus’ words in Chapter 25 of the Gospel of Matthew: “‘I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’  Mary and Joseph were strangers, and no one invited them in. And those who shut their doors to Joseph as he looked for room for himself and his pregnant wife, didn’t realise it but they were shutting their doors on God. Remember how the people responded to Jesus in Matthew 25: ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.

 

 When they did not make room for that one pregnant everyday ordinary commoner girl, they did not make room for the maker of heaven and earth to be born among us. And yet, the story of Christmas is a story of good news of great joy for all people. It is not just for those fortunate to be surrounded by family tonight. The good news and joy is not just those who will celebrate by exchanging expensive gifts.  Christmas is exceedingly joyful good news for all people because in coming to Mary and Joseph who were themselves lost and left out, God turned the world upside down. For the Christmas story did not start with Mary and Joseph alone in that stable in Bethlehem. The Christmas story did not begin with the angel appearing to Mary, or even with the prophets who prophesised of the event centuries earlier.  The Christmas story began with God looking on creation, so lovingly made and so needlessly gone astray. For 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’s bold and daring plan coming in human flesh – coming as a servant, not to be served but to serve, God sided with the oppressed and the outcasts, and showed it by coming first to poor and lowly family. The very thought of God, the creator of the universe and all life, becoming human in lowly circumstances is wondrous but unimaginable. Born to an unwed couple.

Born in the lowly circumstances of an animal feeding trough. Soon needing to flee in the middle of the night to avoid Herod’s death sentence – fleeing to Egypt where Israel were held captive as slaves for 400 years in the time of Moses. But it means that God knows you and loves you even as you are, whether you spend tonight alone or sleeping rough or in a house full of extended family.

 

The miracle of Immanuel, “God with us,” is that we see that even though Mary and Joseph may have been forsaken by others, they were never forgotten by God and even more important, God never abandoned those who abandoned him.

Jesus was raised by Mary and Joseph. They had no status other than being of the line of David The only thing they really had to offer was love for their baby Jesus.  Having nothing to offer but love is exactly what the creator of heaven and earth had in mind all along. Love of Jesus.

 

And we who gather today, gather in the light of God’s love. And that’s so important as we live in a world turn that has been transformed by a baby in a manger whether they realise it or not.  That the one who created heaven and earth and all that exists – once found in a stable, and now in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. As we ponder this miracle may it also turn our eyes to see our Lord also in the people in need all around us.  The hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the lonely.

And may we come to them in all their need just as our heavenly Father came to us in all our need in this baby born in a manger And it is this vision of the world that is indeed good news of great joy for all people.

Sermon 20th December 2020 – 4th Sunday in Advent Text: Luke 1:26-38 – God knows better

 Sermon 20^th December 2020 – 4^th Sunday in Advent

Text: Luke 1:26-38 – God knows better

 Even though much of the bible is what we call Patriarchal – that is heavily written from a male perspective where many women remain unnamed – Jairus’s daughter – Jephtha’s daughter – the woman at the well – the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’ cloak – just to mention a few. But here we have Luke highlighting the example of faith shown in Mary. Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel’s message of her giving birth to God’s Son - “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Compare this to her relative Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah’s response to the birth of John the Baptist - Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? As a result Zechariah is punished by not being able to speak until the birth of his son.

 But what an example of faith Mary showed - Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.

Just consider what Mary was about to face – rejection by her family and Joseph’s family. Rejection by the community and perhaps being stoned to death like the woman caught in adultery. Arrested and crucified for blasphemy claiming to be giving birth to the Son of God – just as Jesus was crucified for blasphemy for claiming to BE the Son of God. But Mary doesn’t go into defence mode but trusts God that if this is the way that he was going to restore Israel and the world that she would trust: Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.

 This is not a gender matter but an indication that God chooses people whom he knows can do the task he has called them to do. Even though they might not think in any way they have the qualifications or surely there are people better suited – God knows exactly who it is that will do the work he has called them to do. So many in the bible didn’t think they were up to the task but God knew better. Moses pleaded with God – choose someone else – I can’t speak properly – God knew better.

Or there was Jonah – sent by God to preach to Nineveh. Jonah didn’t want to go so hopped onto a ship going the other direction – God knew better. Or Esther – asked by Mordecai to rescue the Jews from genocide. She was too frightened to confront the king but Mordecai reminded her that this is God’s doing and if she didn’t do it he would still get it done and that she had arisen “for such a time as this” – God didn’t choose someone else – God knew better. Or the prophet Jeremiah who said: “Alas, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But God knew better: “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. And when it came to Mary – a young, unmarried commoner – God knew better.

 And what about you? Does God know better? Has God maybe spoken to you but you’ve dismissed it? Maybe you’ve questioned some aspect of your Christian calling – or even your everyday life wondering what could God possible want with me or even do with me. Maybe you’ve questioned your age like Jeremiah – I’m too young – I’m too old. Maybe you’ve questioned your ability like Moses or Esther – send someone else. Or maybe you’ve fled the scene and avoided God’s call like Jonah. But you see, God knows better. As he told Jeremiah - “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;

 This is the central messages of Christmas and the candle of love. God LOVED the world so much that he sent his one and only son so we would not perish but receive eternal life. God has a special place in his heart and in his plan for you.

And there is never a point in your life where God has finished with you. That’s why Jesus last words before his ascension were “I am with you always – till the end of the age”. That’s why at the announcement of Mary’s pregnancy the angel said – he would be called Immanuel – which means God is with us. God’s love is eternal for you – God’s love is unconditional for you.

 We might rule ourselves out at times but the angel told Mary - For nothing will be impossible with God.” So don’t ever rule yourself out – don’t ever put yourself down – don’t ever rule out the plans God has for you. God knows better – he created you and you are so special to God – so loved by God – that he gave up his one and only Son JUST FOR YOU. That is the true Christmas miracle.

Sermon 13th December 2020 – 3rd Sunday in Advent Text: John 1:6-8, 19-28 – Reflecting the true light

 Sermon 13^th December 2020 – 3^rd Sunday in Advent

Text: John 1:6-8, 19-28 – Reflecting the true light

 

I was interested in reading last week that China landed a rocket on the moon and obtained some samples from the moon’s surface. I am always fascinated by moon travel and expeditions to other planets.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said that the worst thing humankind ever did was land a man on the moon.

Now, he says, everything is compare to that. We can land a man on the moon but I can’t get a decent cup of coffee. Or, as I heard recently, we can land a man on the moon but we can’t introduce reliable quarantine or contact tracing. I just love when it’s a full moon and in the early evening as it is rising it is so big you can see so much detail on it.

 

I’ve always thought that John the Baptist reminds me of the moon. He came rising onto the scene out of nowhere – from the wilderness – and told the people that he is not the light but was pointing the people to the light: He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. And that’s what the moon does. The light is not its own light but it merely reflects the light of the sun. And what’s interesting is that the sun is nowhere to be seen – it’s at the opposite end of the world. And yet it shines the sun bright enough to bring light in the deepest darkness.

 

And that’s what we are called to also be as Christians. Jesus says - “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. So just as John was a witness to the light, we are to be a witness to the light. The light of Christ. And we do that by reflecting the light of Christ in all that we do. Because people look at us and they don’t just judge us by the things we do or say but they judge God as well.

 

As we look to see how we are reflecting the light of God it is often helpful to look in the mirror to see what others are seeing. Quite often we don’t realise what we are reflecting. We might think we are looking okay – until we look in the mirror and see our shirt button isn’t done up or we have some breakfast remains on our face. We might think we are leading great examples of Christian living but it’s not important what we think but what others see in us. And that’s why Luther, when he wrote his Small Catechism, always asked the question when reflecting on the Ten Commandments – what does this mean. And in each of the commandments he always explained them in 2 parts – what we call acts of commission and acts of omission.

We break the commandments not just by what we do – acts of commission – but by what we don’t do – acts of omission.

 

Usually we’re pretty good at refraining from doing the wrong thing – acts of commission. Such as in the 5th Commandment – you shall not kill. What does this mean – we are to fear and love God so that we do not hurt our neighbour in any way. Yep, I can check that one off. But Luther continues – BUT – I am to help him in all his physical needs. That I’m not always so good at – look, I’m a little busy at the moment – can’t somebody else help you. Or the seventh commandment – you shall not steal – we are to fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbour’s money or property – check. BUT – we are to help him improve and protect his property and means of making a living. But I’ve got my own business to worry about – I have to make enough to pay my mortgage – my credit card – save up for my retirement. Can’t my neighbour get his act into gear? I’ve worked hard to get where I am – why can’t he?

 

Sometimes it’s not the light of what we are doing that is reflecting on people around us – but what we are NOT doing that people are taking notice of. As the old saying goes – all it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing. Sometimes it’s the acts of omission that do the most harm. And so it can be a real struggle sometimes reflecting the light of Christ. And we need to remember that we will always be judged on the last thing we do – not by God but by others. We might spend our entire life helping our neighbour in need but one day someone will come up to us for help and we legitimately cannot help them – and that is what we will be judged on by them. They won’t care that you’ve helped out at every soup kitchen for the last 10 years – it’s that one time they needed help that they will judge you on.

 

And so it can be hard and challenging when we strive so hard and feel like we are not really reflecting the light God wants us to shine. And that’s when as Christians we can fall into the danger of not reflecting the light of Christ but trying to reflect our own light. A sort of – look at me – look at all the good things I’m doing. And that’s where John had to try hard to keep reminding people that he is NOT the light. He said – I’m not even Elijah or one of the prophets. I’m just one who is pointing you to the true light of Christ. St Paul shares with us how we CAN reflect God’s light which is not always in doing good works in order for the world to be impressed with our service. No, Paul says - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. What a freeing thing that is. Rejoice – pray – give thanks.

 

It’s so easy but it’s just as easy to reflect the opposite. To grumble about everything instead of rejoicing.

Like the Israelites who grumbled about their conditions rather than rejoicing that God had freed them from slavery in Egypt. And I must admit I was a bit like that coming out of restrictions. Instead of rejoicing that we were beating the virus and back at church, I was grumbling. How come we can only have 10 or 20 when cafes could have more. How come we have to wear masks in worship – rather than rejoicing that we were back and keeping people safe. Likewise, I became neglectful of giving thanks. That’s when I need to look at myself in the mirror and ask myself, what image am I reflecting to the world. What light am I shining? Am I shining my own light or Christ’s light?

 

So often we believe it is up to us to take the fight to the world. That it is up to us to defend the rights of God and the church. And often what happens is that we replace God’s light with our own. And that’s what John was avoiding – I’m not the Christ, I’m not Elijah – I’m not one of the prophets. In fact I’m not even worthy enough to untie the sandals of the one I’m pointing you to. Yes I know I want to defend God – I want to defend the church – I want to defend the name of Christ in a growing Godless world. But the best way I can do that is to rejoice in the midst of it all – give thanks in the midst of it all – and pray. And Paul says – pray without ceasing – because the challenges on the church and on God’s name are without ceasing. And in doing that you will be reflecting the light of Christ even if sometimes we don’t always live perfect lives. And even when that happens, we are assured by the Word of God: That the God of peace himself will sanctify you entirely; and your spirit and soul and body will be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

wThe one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.