Sermon 5th November 2023 – All Saint Day Hidden glory

 Sermon 5^th November 2023 – All Saint Day

Hidden glory

 

People often talk about the Book of Revelation as if it’s a taboo book. You hear comments along the lines of – it’s too freaky – I don’t understand it – it’s too frightening with all that stuff about the dragon, the mark of the beast, Armageddon and all that end of the world stuff. Others misuse it as if it’s some sort of timeline for judgement day and trying to figure out where we are in the timeline of Jesus returning. And when we see all the troubles around the world especially in the Middle East doomsayers try to find where in Revelation it speaks about it. But the book of Revelation is a book of hope. It is a book about Worship and our relationship with God in Heaven which is not just a future event but a current event.

 

It was written by John who was persecuted for his Christian faith and banished to the Island of Patmos as punishment because he wouldn’t reject Christ and bow down to the emperor. There on the Island of Patmos John has a vision where God reveals to him that despite what his eyes see and his life experiences that God is in control of the spiritual warfare battle against the powers of darkness. Here in today’s reading we hear of great comfort as we read about the great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. crying out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. This, as I mentioned earlier, describes worship both of our future existence and also our current experience. We hear that whenever we celebrate Holy Communion where we gather and commune with the angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim and all the company of Heaven.

 

Even though our eyes don’t see it, if God were to unveil our worldly flesh we would see ourselves among that heavenly gathering standing before the Lamb crying out to the one seated on the throne. As Hebrews say – we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses – the heavenly saints gone before us. That’s what God did for John. He wasn’t taken up into heaven away from his earthly existence but had the veil removed – which is what the word Revelation means – which in its original language was called the Book of the Apocalypse. Again, the word ‘apocalypse’ has changed in meaning to create fear – a destruction. But, the origin of that word was far from that meaning to uncover, reveal. Which is what John has had done to him. He has had the veil covering his earthly eyes to have the heavenly realm revealed to him.

 

St Paul talks in very similar ways in his letter to the Colossians – and remember St Paul was also taken into Heaven but he wasn’t sure if it was in the body or out of the body. And in Colossians 3 he writes about that uncovering or revelation: He says: Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Note Paul speaks of the future in present terms – already but not yet – it’s often described as. You HAVE died. Your life is hidden NOW. Paul says elsewhere – we ARE citizens of Heaven – not WILL BE citizens. When Christ’s glory is revealed then your glory that you have NOW will be revealed.

 

So on this day that we commemorate as All Saints Day our focus is on giving thanks to God for those of our loved ones who have run the race and finished. They have received their crown of glory. As Paul said to the Philippians - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Paul was torn – he wanted to be with Christ in Heaven but he also knew that while he remained here on earth he had opportunity to share the Gospel with others. But until then we live in the hidden glory which Jesus speaks about in our Gospel reading. Where he begins with the reality we live in (that is, what our eyes see and our lives experience) and the revealed glory hidden in Christ:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, - the hidden glory - theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, - the hidden glory - they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, - the hidden glory - they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, - the hidden glory - they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, - the hidden glory - they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, - the hidden glory - they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, - the hidden glory - they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, - the hidden glory- theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

The hidden glory - Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.

 

So, particularly on this All-Saints Day as we grieve for our loved ones –  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. It is human nature to grieve. It is not a sign of lacking faith as St Paul says – We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. So Paul confirms that grieving is a natural process when someone we love dies- or as Paul calls it – who sleep in death. But, we grieve with Christian hope a hope that means ‘blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted’. Comforted by the reality that Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life and that those who die believing in him shall live forever in Heaven.

 

It’s not easy dealing with death but how would one ever cope without our Christian faith. Death is death without Christian faith. And so we hear Jesus words to his disciples as they prepared for his death: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; I am going there to prepare a place for you? And I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

So as we grieve, as we mourn, we take comfort knowing that this is part of God’s true plan in Christ.

To bring us all home to him where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 

So may God bring you the comfort and peace that only God can give by him who is the resurrection and the life and that whoever believes in him will not die but receive eternal life.

 

Sermon 29th October 2023 – Reformation Sunday Text: John 8:31-36 – Truly set free

 Sermon 29^th October 2023 – Reformation Sunday

Text: John 8:31-36 – Truly set free

 

Like a lot of people, maybe most people, perhaps all people, I don’t like to admit I’m wrong or to have my errors pointed out.

It’s very uncomfortable and we become very defensive. It’s a human weakness that goes right back to the beginning of Creation. Adam and Eve sinned and when God confronted them, they both pointed the finger away from themselves. Adam even blaming God along with his wife Eve. “The woman YOU gave me, she made me eat. Eve, in turn – don’t look at me – it was the snake, he tricked me. I’m not suggesting things would have turned out differently but what if Adam and Eve fell on their knees searching for God’s mercy and admitted their error instead of hiding and denying their blame. It seems to be a natural defense mode to deny responsibility and look for ways to justify our actions. It can manifest itself in several ways.

We can deny any wrong doing – it wasn’t me. We can compare ourselves to others – at least I’m not as bad as that person.

We can point the finger at other people and blame them: Children love that one – well, he started it. We can even justify ourselves – everyone is doing it.

 

And it is this principle that is at the heart of the Reformation. The Reformers had a term for it - Incurvatus in se – that we are curved in on ourselves. And so Luther, when he was dealing with his sinfulness that drove him to despair – looked within himself for relief. To balance his sin with good deeds trying to prove to himself that he was worthy of God’s acceptance. But the more he looked inside himself the more despair he discovered. Luther in fact began to despise Jesus through this as a tyrant. It was said that the only way to appease this vengeful Jesus, as taught by the church, was to seek the kind and beneficent intercession of his mother Mary. Luther went to the 'Mother of God', who, unlike her vindictive son, was full of tenderness and compassion.  Mary became the sole refuge for the terrified monk. Until he discovered the glorious truth of salvation by grace through faith. The message of the book of Romans.

 

Luther discovered what St Paul discovered in his writing to the Roman Church - no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; that the righteousness of God has been made known and that righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Luther discovered that comfort for our sin was not found in ourselves but rather outside of ourselves. This is so counterculture because it’s not inbred in us by birth and by society. To many it would seem like weakness to admit to a fault in yourself. Jesus had this discussion with the Pharisees. They looked to themselves for justification before God: We are Abraham’s descendants. But that was not going to give them any true peace. Instead, Jesus said - “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”.

 

Luther finally discovered  true peace that came not by trying to meet an unobtainable standard before God. Not by trying to justify himself before God as Adam and Eve tried to. Not by trying to justify himself by comparing himself to others – in fact he discovered what Paul said in Romans - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Not by his credentials as if somehow they might balance in his favour as the Pharisees did with their “we are children of Abraham” comment. But by discovering God’s grace and mercy in Jesus Christ and the truth that all are justified freely by his grace through Christ Jesus.

 

So, just all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – so too, Jesus Christ has justified us freely by his grace. And it was THAT truth that set him free. That was the beginning of the Reformation.

 

We live in a world where there are so many expectations placed on us. Whether it be financially, socially, career, sporting achievement. There is the expectation to succeed that is causing so much mental strain on children trying to achieve expectations placed on them. Especially at this time with exams and tertiary entrance scores to see if you’re accepted. But how freeing it is that when it comes to God there are no expectations when it comes to accepting us as his children.

 

Before God there are no distinctions as Paul said in Romans - There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, or any other classification. All have been created in God’s image. All have been saved by grace through Jesus. It is only we who make those expectations, be they on ourselves or on other people. How truly freeing it is knowing that we are loved by God so much.

Sometimes that is hard to understand when we look in the mirror and can’t even love ourselves and yet God, the creator of the universe actually loves us. He loves us because he created us in order to love. That is something we should never doubt because God is love.

 

The Reformation was an historic event in the church. It began a new movement of Protestant Churches. But more than that it reinstated in the minds of the common person that God loved them unconditionally. That God would remember our sins no more and neither should we. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians – love keeps no record of wrongs. There is only one person who remembers sin – and that is Satan – the accuser. He will have you believe that there is nothing lovely in you – that there is nothing loveable in you when it comes to God. But just as God said to Israel he says to us: The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you. And the Lord loves you and has given his Son for you so that you may live in Heaven with him.

 

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life – and his truth truly sets us free.

 

 

Sermon 22nd October 2023 – 21st Sunday after Pentecost Text Matthew 22:15-22 – Image is everything

Sermon 22^nd October 2023 – 21^st Sunday after Pentecost

Text Matthew 22:15-22 – Image is everything

 Image seems to be everything these days. In social media you have to get that profile picture just right so people will friend you, add you, follow you, swipe you, like you – after that I’m not sure what’s next. If you’re a public figure you have to make sure your public image is kept clean especially these days with the ability to go back on the internet to find pictures or stories about you that can come back to haunt you. And we know how many politicians and celebrities have been brought down because of their public image being tarnished from 20 or 30 years ago. We used to have a phenomenon called “Tall Poppy Syndrome” where while it was exciting watching a person rise to the top of their field – if they got too successful and too boastful we would look for opportunities to bring them down – like a child who sees a tall poppy a feels the need to kick it. More modern is the phenomenon called “Cancel Culture” where we are not satisfied with just smearing a person’s image we have to make sure they leave in disgrace. Image is important.

 

Today Jesus’s image is inflated by the Pharisees: “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. You just feel there’s a “BUT” coming soon. And sure enough we’re told that the Pharisees intention was a plot to entrap Jesus. Tell us, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not. They’re trying to get Jesus with one of those – damned if you do and damned if you don’t scenarios. Much like Jesus caught them out regarding John’s Baptism – was it of human origin or from God. Whatever answer they gave they were doomed. If it was from God then why didn’t you believe him. If it was from human origin they were afraid of a revolt. Likewise if Jesus says it is right to pay taxes to Caesar he could lose followers who were hoping that Jesus would lead a revolution against the Roman rule. If he says it is not right he could face charges of treason against the Romans. Brilliant as always, Jesus turns the tables on them. Whose image is printed on the coin. They say – Caesar’s. So, Jesus says, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God.

 

So the question is – what belongs to God? Where is God’s image imprinted? Well, we go back to the beginning of creation in Genesis chapter one. God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness. So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them – in his own image. What belongs to God – we do. Where is God’s image imprinted? In us. Our very lives. As St Paul also testifies in 1 Corinthians: Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. And again, Therefore, I urge you, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

 

It’s interesting watching our grandson growing up. As he gets older and more interactive you begin to observe similarities in looks and actions not just with parents but also as grandparents. This includes both looks and behaviors. They copy things you do but also some natural instinct behaviours are noticed because they are family. And, in a sense, this is what Jesus is referring to in the 2nd part of his answer. We render to Caesar what is Caesar’s because the coin has his image on it. But we also offer to God what has his image on it – ourselves – our very lives. This is what Jesus sums up as the greatest commandment. Love the Lord your God with all your hearts, soul, mind and strength. And, love your neighbour as yourself because your neighbour also bears God’s image as you do. As John says – how can we love God whom we have not seen if we cannot love our neighbour whom we can see.

 

And so the way we treat one another reflects on our love for God. That’s why when Jesus asked, what is the greatest commandment – another attempt to trap him – he again brilliantly answered this by saying – love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. He didn’t have to choose one of the 10 commandments above the other because LOVE for God and neighbour ensured we kept all of them. The reason I don’t steal from my neighbour is not because God’s commandment forbids me to do so or because I fear punishment if I’m caught. No, I don’t steal from my neighbour because I love them and don’t want to hurt them. And because they are created in God’s image I don’t want to hurt God either. And every single commandment or law can be kept in such a manner. Even if we’re not sure which commandment applies to a certain situation – or we’re not even sure if it’s against God’s will then we can apply this measure – is it hurting my neighbour? Is it going to reflect poorly on God’s image?

 

Did you know that it is an offence under the Crimes (Currency) Act 1981 to intentionally deface, disfigure, mutilate or destroy Australian banknotes or coins? It incurs a hefty fine and up to 2 years imprisonment. God values human life even more. Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. All life belongs to God and God values life as he has imprinted his own image onto each and every person. And we are called to respect that in ourselves and in every person. Do not ever undervalue yourself. You were bought at a very hefty price – not with silver or gold but with the life of God’s one and only Son.

 

Do not ever undervalue your neighbour because they are your brother or sister in Christ. Which is why God commands us to love our neighbour as ourself – because we are one in Christ – in the image of God. Even though sin marred our relationship with God we never lost God’s love for us. Sin put a barrier between us an God that did not allow Moses to look at God’s face an live. But at Jesus death, as the temple curtain was torn in two – Jesus opened up our access to God. So much so that we don’t just look at God’s face but we receive his Son’s body and blood into our hands. We are able to hold God’s Holy Word in our hands and through that word and water become his children with full inheritance restored. Even the angels see us as if they are staring into God’s face as Jesus says in Matthew 18. See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

 

So when you look around you – see what God sees in your neighbour. When you look in the mirror – see what God sees.

As Paul says in 2 Corinthians: We reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. His own image – an image he loves so much that he sacrificed his one and only son so he could have you in heaven with him.

 

 

 

Sermon 15th October 2023 – 20th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Matthew 22:1-14 – You are invited

 Sermon 15^th October 2023 – 20^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Matthew 22:1-14 – You are invited

 

Jesus has used quite a few parables in recent weeks to give us a picture of what the Kingdom of Heaven is going to look like. He used examples of a fine pearl, a great treasure, a mustard seed, a treasure found in the field, a net cast into the sea to catch a load of fish. But here we have an imagery of what life in the Kingdom of Heaven looks like. It looks like a wedding feast. And what a beautiful image that is. If you’ve ever been to a wedding and a wedding reception you know how much effort goes in for this to be perfect. This is the bride’s special day – it has to be perfect. You can’t have a hair out of place. You have wedding rehearsals to hopefully prevent any last minute uncertainty. The hair and makeup is started at the crack of dawn. The photographer arrives early to capture every preparation of the big day.

 

One of the hardest parts however of a wedding is getting the invitation list together. Weddings are expensive – a meal you might pay $30 to $50 in a restaurant can end up around $200. So you refine the list – you have a back up list so if someone can’t make it you can invite them because you would have already paid for them. I remember with our son getting married that because of Covid we were even ringing people the day before the wedding to invite them because someone had come down with Covid.

 

In our bible reading we have a King giving a wedding banquet for his son. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would say NO to a royal wedding - such an elite invitation yet this is what we find. But not only did they say NO they got angry at being invited: They made light of the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. Not wanting the day to be ruined the King extends the invitation to anyone who is prepared to come. It didn’t matter if they were on the A list – anyone, good or evil was invited. Through this parable we see that the King is a gracious King wanting nothing more than to invite people to his celebration and for some unknown reason his invited guests reject him.

 

This is a picture of our world condition. We have a God who loves the world so much that he sacrificed his own Son for us.

We have a God whose desire is to have all of us live in heaven with him. We have a God who wants to lavish on us all his love and abundance as John saw in Revelation: A new Heaven and Earth, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Where there will be no more suffering or death – where nothing evil will ever exist – and not only do people say no but they become violent and hateful to anyone who tries to share the Good News with them. Just like how they treated the King’s messengers who only came to let them know the sumptuous feast was ready for them: They seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. And yet this is how we find more often than not the response to the Gospel in the world today.

 

But we are not to give in but, like the King, continue to go out to the highways and byways to invite people to experience the joy of heaven. It’s so hard to understand what is so offensive about an invitation to experience heaven without anything required and yet that is what Jesus experienced and what the church continues to experience today. But God is a gracious God and does not treat us as we deserve. As we see in our Old Testament reading. Despite all that God has done for Israel at the first opportunity they replace God with a golden calf. The people demand from Aaron:“Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” Aaron took the gold from them and cast an image of a calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

 

God was furious – he disowned them - let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them;

But Moses stood between God’s judgment and the rebellious people who had rejected him. Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. And what did God do?

The Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people. You see, God is not a vengeful God.

So often we read, as we read in today’s Psalm, the qualities of God as, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

 

Do you realise both the power and the responsibility that you have – that the church has – in standing between God’s anger at how the world treats him and the world. That’s why as Christians and the Church we pray for the world.

Because, as we see in the parable of the wedding feast there is a time of Judgment when those who reject Christ will face a judgment without the covering of Christ’s forgiveness. When the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

It’s unthinkable to imagine but there will come a time when all must face God’s judgment – when every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ as Lord. As we read in Hebrews 9: people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

 

So let us be like Moses. Yes there is so much antagonism and rejection of the church but it’s not our place to call down fire and brimstone like James and John wanted to do when the Samaritans rejected them: “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. No, let us be like Moses, praying for them.

Let us listen to Paul who said:  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. We can all get passionate and emotional at times and wonder why people can’t understand that God loves them and offers them eternal life in heaven. Just like I can’t understand why anyone would have rejected an invitation to a Royal Wedding. But that’s the reality of Satan turning the hearts of people against God.

 

But let us not be deterred from our faith that God can work miracles in the hearts of hardened hearts. Let us keep valuing whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable – and keep praying for the world and the God of peace will be with you.

 

 

Sermon 8th October 2023 – 19th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Philippians 3:4b-14 – True treasure in heaven

 Sermon 8^th October 2023 – 19^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Philippians 3:4b-14 – True treasure in heaven

 

Two teams played off last week to determine who was the Premiership Club in the AFL. A week earlier both clubs were ecstatic to have made the achievement of playing in the Grand Final. But there can only be one winner- the honour cannot be shared. I’ve always thought that it actually feels better to have not made the Grand Final than to compete in the Grand Final and lose. It’s like coming 2nd in the Olympics. You don’t focus on the fact that you’re the 2nd best in the world in that sport or in the competition but rather you feel that coming 2nd is losing. It’s interesting how quickly success can turn into seeming failure. But that’s the fickle nature of success – it doesn’t last and only lasts as long as your next defeat.

 

That’s why Paul when he reviews his life, despite all the accolades he received he regarded them all as rubbish compared to what knowing Jesus has given to him. Paul is speaking to his former colleagues who were perhaps trying to belittle Paul by revealing what he had thrown away because of his insane idea of becoming a Christian. His fellow Jews, particularly the Pharisees couldn’t understand why Paul would throw away his future for this group of people who were spreading a rumour that their leader, Jesus of Nazareth, rose from the dead. What a ludicrous idea to throw away your life for. In fact, the Romans thought this of Paul also:

When Paul was giving his defense before the Romans he said: Some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike.

I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.” At this point Festus, one of the Roman leaders, interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

 

Maybe some of your friends, or even family, have thought that you’re crazy spending all this time, energy and even money on this crazy idea of Jesus rising from the dead. Maybe you’ve had the opportunity to stand up for your faith but was afraid of what people might think. We all know what the media and general public think of Christianity. But that should never deter us. And remember what Jesus once said – if they hate you, remember they hated me first. In fact Jesus said that we are blessed if we are persecuted because of our faith: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Which is what Jesus is describing in his parable today:

 

A landowner sent his servants to collect the harvest for him. But they beat and killed them. He sent more servants – and they did the same. Then the landowner sent his own son believing they would listen to him. But they didn’t and killed him also. We have here the short history of Israel and God sending his prophets to urge them to return to God. But they didn’t listen. Now this parable was specifically written for Jesus’ time to explain God’s never give up attitude to saving humanity despite what we did to his prophets and what we did to his own Son. And that never give up love for humanity continues today. Despite the rejection of God’s church -the mocking – the attempts to close down the church – God never gives up on saving humankind.

Remember, it was WHILE we were yet sinners that Christ died for us.

 

And that is the understanding that we need to have towards the salvation of humankind. Some religions will issue threats and even death warrants if you dare disrespect their god and prophets. But God calls on us to turn the other cheek – to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. To go and do likewise as the Good Samaritan who stopped to help him enemy who had been hurt, at his own time and expense, rather than rejoice over his pain. Paul was even willing to give up his own salvation if it meant salvation for his people.

He says, in Romans 9 - With Christ as my witness, I speak the truth. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it. My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. Not only do successes only last a brief moment but so does our hurts and rejections. They only last for this lifetime and not in eternal life where nothing evil can exist. But sometimes we allow them to keep affecting our lives and keep hurting us. That’s why Paul says - forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Yes Paul gave up a lot when he became a Christian – but he gain immeasurably more. As Paul says - For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The message Paul is trying to convey is value what is truly valuable. Everything else is passing or as Solomon says – he says everything is vanity - There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be     among those who come after. But what will not pass away is God who is eternal. And he has prepared a home in heaven for us that no one can take away. It’s waiting there for us which is why Paul says – to live is Christ, to die is gain.

 

If you come 2nd in life – or even if you don’t even get picked for the team. If you never achieve the accolades or possessions that others have. Remember what Paul says - I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Even if you are mocked or ridiculed because of your faith, remember – great is your reward in heaven.

Sermon 1st October 2023 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Exodus 17:1-7 – Is the Lord among us or not?

 Sermon 1^st October 2023 – 18^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Exodus 17:1-7 – Is the Lord among us or not?

 

Is the Lord among us or not? Great question. Have you asked that question before? Is the Lord among us or not?

What has made you ask that question? What prompted that question by Israel. It was because God had sent Moses to free Israel from slavery in Egypt and to lead them to a new land – their own land – a land flowing with milk and honey – a land which will be known as The Promised Land. But the journey was not what they expected from a God who was supposed to be loving and caring for their needs. They are hungry and thirsty so they reminisce back to the days in Egypt when even their horrid and cruel slavedrivers at least made sure they had enough to eat and drink. They were starting to think that their cruel slave drivers cared more for them than God.

 

When have you asked that question of God – is the Lord with me or not. Have you thought that perhaps the world has more concern for you than God? Maybe that’s why many focus more energy on their careers, their sports and their leisure. It sometimes seems that people much less faithful seem to get more breaks than I do. It seems that even those who reject and mock God have easy comfortable lives. How is it fair that God makes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the good and the evil. What benefit is there to being a Christian?

 

The benefit is not in the joy that earthly pleasures offer but the eternal blessings the world cannot give. Earthly pleasures last for a moment compared to the eternal life that God gives to us. Hunger and thirst soon return after a full stomach. Like the Israelites sometimes we are led to believe God is unfair and that others would have treated us much better. And so we ask - Is the Lord among us or not.

 

Israel looked backwards rather than to the promise of God – what did God promise – to lead them to the promised land.

What has God promised us? God promised that his Son whom he sent to us would be called “Immanuel” which means God is with us. When Jesus had completed his earthly ministry after his death and resurrection he ascended to Heaven with the same promise – I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS TILL THE END OF THE AGE. So there is never any doubt whether God is with us or not because God has promised to do so. The real question is why, if God is with us, are our lives not perfect. A lot of the times it’s to do with our lack of trust in God. That was Israel’s problem – they looked back rather than trust what God had promised. There was no way that God was going to let Israel die of thirst or starvation. But their expectation of what

they believe God should be doing didn’t match how God was looking after them.

 

There’s an interesting passage in Deuteronomy 29 where Moses says to Irael. Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land.  With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders. “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.”

 

That’s really interesting that God did not allow their clothes or shoes to wear out while walking the wilderness for 40 years.

If God was able to do that then wouldn’t God be able to suppress their hunger and thirst and not let them die of hunger or thirst. Surely God was more concerned for them than their clothes and shoes. But they were so used to filling their stomachs that they looked back to their past in Egypt. Now compare that with what we read about Jesus in Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  Though Jesus was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.

 

So, Jesus did NOT look back on his former glory but trusted in God even when he had not eaten for 40 days and was tempted by Satan to turn rocks into bread. And even though that trust would lead to his humiliating suffering and death – he humbled himself and trusted God. And as a result of that trust, God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Paul says - Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. God IS with you. In your Baptism Jesus promised – I am with you always. In Holy Communion Jesus promises – this IS my body – this IS my blood.

What we are to learn from this for our own lives, is that God is with us even when we don’t feel it. And the way we can be sure of that is not because of our prosperity, or lack thereof, but because of God’s unchanging word of promise. God’s presence is not about feelings but about promises. Our world is of great concern to so many people. With cost of living, Covid, climate change, sickness, aging, death. While these may weary us they are also opportunities to support and uphold each other as Paul points out: Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

 

If you ever have any doubts about whether God is with you or not then look to what God has done for you and promised you. God sent Jesus to die for you. Paul really sums it up in Romans chapter 8: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

 

As Christians, the good news is that these experiences are limited to this lifetime. In Heaven there will be no more suffering or death, no more hunger or thirst. And so for Israel, rather than looking to the past they should have been looking to God who had promised to lead them to their promised land. And if God was taking them there then surely he wouldn’t have let them die of hunger or thirst. Likewise, we are being led on a journey to our Promised Land. And yes the journey can be tough but the worst that the world can do to us is what they did to Jesus. And remember what Paul said last week – to die is gain – because we achieve eternal life and reach our eternal home, our Promised Land..

 

Sermon 24th September 2023 - LCA Lay reading sermon - Matthew 20:8-10 - Our Gracious God

 

The LCA provides this sermon edited for lay-reading, with thanks to the original author.

Sermon for Year A Proper 20

Text: Matthew 20:8-10

Apparently, it was the custom in Jesus’ time for those people who relied on work on farms or labouring jobs to go to the town square early in the morning and wait for work.  Sometimes there was an urgency to harvest grapes and grain before bad weather rolled in and destroyed the lot.  A builder may have needed to get a house built quickly. Of course these landowners, builders, or whatever, would pick the youngest, fittest and strongest workers. 

Getting work was important.  It was a matter of survival. Those who were given work first thing in the morning were certain that at the end of the day to have a day’s wages to spend buying wholesome food for their household and everyone would go to bed with full tummies.

For those who were left standing in the town square things were less certain.  Waiting and hoping and praying for some work was nerve wracking.  Landowners and others offering work would come and go all day and each time those workers in the square would hope that they would be picked.  How frustrating it must have been, knowing that the well-being of their families depended on a stranger, a landowner, who may or may not choose them to do some work and who didn’t know or care much about the consequences of not having work on their families. 

It’s not that the workers in the town square were lazy, in fact, they wanted to work. But if they were still in the town square when the sun went down at the end of the day they would have to go home and say to their families that they had nothing to give them to eat that night.

In Jesus’ story just as the workers were about to give up hope someone comes and hires them and tells them that they will receive whatever pay is fair.  Something is better than nothing and a small amount might be just enough to get the family through to the next day.

But then the landlord does something completely crazy, completely unexpected, completely and totally generous, something beyond their wildest dreams. He gives them a full day's wage even though they haven't earned it.  He gives them enough to live on.  He gives them enough to take home to their families and if they are careful this will be enough for tomorrow as well.

We know that those who had worked all day were unhappy with this kind of generosity.  The landowner explained they had no right to be unhappy because they were paid the agreed wage and besides, what right did they have to question his generosity. 

This kind of generosity flies in the face of everything that we would consider good work practice. Both trade unions and employers’ associations would be up in arms.  It hardly fosters good relations among the workers and between workers and their bosses.  But this isn’t a story about what is fair, just and right. It’s a story about generosity that is unbelievable. 

And Jesus says that is what the kingdom of heaven is like. This is what the generosity of God is like.

Jesus, beaten, whipped, mocked and nailed to a cross is evidence of the generosity of God.  The Son of God had come from heaven to earth, not because he was looking for a nice place to have a break from heavenly chores, but because he was part of a divine plan set in motion when the first man and woman disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden.  God became human, born in a stable, laid in a manger, raised in an out-of- the way country town, Nazareth, was misunderstood and rejected, falsely accused and wrongly sentenced to die on a cross. 

Why?  Why did God go to such extremes? Because of his extravagantly generous love for each one of us. 

There is nothing fair about the way Jesus was treated. There was nothing fair about his trial. There was nothing fair about the way this totally innocent man was executed as a criminal. There is little doubt that the man who could command the wind and waves to stop, walk on water and raise the dead could have given his executors (and that includes us) what they truly deserve but instead he is able to say with such generosity of spirit, “Father, forgive them.  They don't know what they are doing”.

This generosity of God has confused people for centuries.

In today’s Old Testament reading we find Jonah sitting on a hill overlooking Nineveh. He is very unhappy, even angry.  Why is he so upset?  After all the people of Nineveh had given up their wicked ways and God had decided not to punish them. 

Jonah thought this so unfair.  He considered himself a God fearing man always doing his best to follow God's ways and he slipped up just once. Just once he disobeyed God and ended up in a storm, thrown overboard and then in the smelly belly of a big fish at the bottom of the sea.  And now here are the Ninevites, wicked through and through and they get off scot free.  Where is the justice in that? 

That day Jonah learnt some valuable things about God's generous love not only for the Ninevites, but also for himself and for all his creation.  The Ninevites might have been some of the most perverse people on the face of earth but his love for them was no less generous than his love for the often cranky and self-righteous Jonah.

Just before our Gospel reading Jesus is asked by Peter, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him?”  Peter suggests seven times but Jesus is far more generous.  His answer implies there is no limit to the number of times that forgiveness is to be given. 

That sounds extremely unfair. By our human way of reckoning, there must be a limit to the times we forgive another person. There must be a time when we say, “That’s it. You’ve hurt me for the last time. Just watch me give you back some of what you have dished up to me!”  Jesus totally shatters our human standards of fairness and justice by giving each one of us his love and grace without us having to work for it or deserve it. He sets a new standard for our relationship with others. 

There’s more to forgiveness than counting how many times we should forgive. Let’s not forget that God's generosity toward us is totally undeserved and unconditional, so it follows that we extend the same kind of generosity toward others. 

This can be expressed in any number of ways.

·       We can be generous in the way we give a person encouragement and a kind word when they are feeling down even though that person might not be one of our best buddies.

·       We can be generous in the way we give of our time to help someone going through a rough patch.

·       When someone says something that offends us we can be generous in our reaction and sympathise, understand and appreciate what has made the person respond in the way they have rather than give back as good as we had given to us.

·       When we have fallen out with someone or believe we have been unfairly treated we can be generous in our willingness to reach out and make amends and restore friendships.

·       When someone really annoys us and gets under our skin we can be generous with our patience and kindness and deal with that person in a way that reflects the generous nature of God.

This happens in reverse as well.  When we are tired and worn down and depressed and feeling alone I’m sure we would appreciate someone being generous toward us and patiently taking the time to talk with us and help us see the brighter side of things.

It’s nice to talk about generosity in this way and how our lives ought to reflect the generosity of God, but we all know how hard it is to do just this.  As the workers experienced in the parable, the biggest barriers to generosity are envy and selfishness.  It’s that part of us that wants to be first and foremost over and above everyone else.  And it is just at that moment that we look to the generosity of God to forgive us again, renew us once more and redirect our attitudes to be more Christlike.

The generosity of God toward us is summed up in one word ‘grace’.  That’s what Jesus’ parable is all about and that’s what Jonah experienced that day outside Nineveh—the grace of God.

The workers who received a full day’s wages for only a half-day’s work or less were surprised and no doubt appreciative of the landowner’s generosity.  This unexpected gift was a source of hope for the workers that would bring happiness to their families and hope for a better tomorrow.  The generosity of God is what gives us hope when it seems that only gray skies and dark clouds colour our days.  It is this hope that changes the grey into the bright colours that only the grace of God can bring into our lives. Amen.

And the peace of God that surpasses all understand keep your hearts and minds forever in Christ Jesus. Amen.