Can't make it to church - 7 May 2017

We've reached the fourth Sunday of Easter and I've decided to be a bit contentious as we start our journey with a visit to the book of Acts and what is probably one of the most preached, quoted and desired Church experience there is in the New Testament. It's also possibly the simplest of all church growth strategies - or the most ridiculously idealistic way of doing Church - but it is something that should make us stop and think!

How much more simple can it be than this:

1. Get together and share the teaching, break bread and prayers (possibly formal rather than spontaneous).
    [Yep - I can do that!]

2. Get the guys and gals to do some of the 'signs and wonders' stuff
    [Been there - got the tee-shirt. Let's get those arms in the air and get those tongues going people]

3. Hold everything in common, if someone has a need: Deal with it!
    [Yeah, as long as the 'deserve it, after all - that's my stuff we're talking about]

4. Let's do it EVERY day: Everything - the meeting, praying, breaking bread, selling and sharing.
    [Whoa, hold the bus - Sunday's cool but Monday, well that's my night for . . .  [whatever you do]!]

And so, having stopped at step 4. could this be the reason that we don't see the final part of the process before us:

5. Growth! Three thousand people bounding in to swell our numbers!

As much as I'm happy to 'break bread' with people on the grounds that it's what we do on a Sunday in the Communion, eating every day with people, for some that's a bridge too far - after all, it's not like they're family is it?

What's that Sooty, they are family - Get up off the floor Sweep - it's about being Church, it's not that important, is it?

And of course it is and they are family and the fact that the church mentioned in Acts did also see the people live in their own homes - it wasn't a commune (and Jesus was not the first Communist!) - and what they did was sell stuff and club together to meet the needs of those who had them. Well suddenly we've gone from a church growth model to a distinct feeling of unease!

I have been in church settings where someone turned up with a need, so the people clubbed together and bailed them out. Then they came back again with a need and the people bailed them out. And then the same person came back with a need and the people said, "Oi get lost. What do you think we are, stupid?"

It's easy to meet a need once, twice, or even thrice - but where do we draw line? After all, when asking about forgiveness, Peter offers the number seven times. (Matthew 18).

Jesus, who is so often the party-pooper, offers a new number: Seventy times seven! Now He wasn't setting the bar but nodding at the attitude before Him and saying in effect, "Until you lose count of the number of times!"

So here we are at the end of the first reading - I wonder how many will be left in the congregation (and whether there's anyone out there still reading this stuff?) - after all, not saying well done and few of us will be heading for tea and medals at this rate, will we?

Well actually it's not the end because I have the words of so many teachers who tell me that the Acts behaviour was abortive and that, "No one else did the 'money' thing!" What we have here is one overtly zealous, over the top bunch, who did it a bit too enthusiastically. Everywhere else the Christians live like we do now with our own homes, incomes, possessions and lockable front doors. They lived as we do with our own private and personal faith and cared for their own rather than all this showy giving and living together stuff . . . and that's what makes Church what it is today.

Moving on (quickly) we come to 1 Peter 2 and read that we need to do that which is right, even if it causes us pain and suffering!

Talk about a downward slope, seems to me that the readings are just set on 'bringing it down' (as a local friendly clown keeps reminding me). Here we are trying to walk in Jesus' footsteps and we keep being dragged into counting the cost and being sacrificial; not fighting against the struggles but recognising that seeking to do good is not always its own reward.

So I'll stop here and rush off to tell the newspaper photographer to stay where he is as we don't want a, "Successful church does good deeds photograph on the front page after all!"

We do good and we keep on doing good, blessing where there is curse and continuing onwards where there are beatings - the second of two uncomfortable readings thus far. But let's head to John, after all he's always good for a bit of a 'thumbs up' (well as long as you believe in Jesus and all that sort of thing. Surely this can't go wrong, can it?

Ah, a nice pastoral scene where the sheep all stroll in through the gate and that gate, being Jesus, well that's great because after all He is the way, the truth and the life; this is looking good indeed because it's all about Him and us and our relationship with Him. He opens the gate and we, hearing His voice, enter - we follow Him because we know and trust Him. He leads and we follow, sticking to the same path and planting our feet where His have been.

The shepherd leads his sheep and feeds them and engages with dangerous situations to keep them safe (this is more like it, nothing to worry about with this reading). When we are under threat, we all bleat out, "Stranger danger," and the shepherd comes a running to save us. We trust Him and go where He calls us to be in the company of others (Oh no, not that Acts things again!) and keeping to the Shepherd's path (does anyone else thing that sound a bit controlling?) we find abundant life.

All we need to do is to follow Jesus, live together in a public, open and simple way, trusting in Him for our needs and everything else is hunky dory.

You know what, I don't think this story is about sheep or Shepherds at all. In fact I'm beginning to think that this Gospel account has more about the Acts reading that something I might hear on BBC Radio's 'Farming Today'.

What about you?

Father God, the way to life, we are told, is to follow Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life and He will lead us into You presence and into the plentiful life that You give us. You tend and care for us, You call us to be one flock, following in the footsteps of Him who endured death upon the cross for us. Help us to be obedient, constant, compassionate and (The Collect) pray, Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Acts 2.42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.

They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

1 Peter 2.19-25
For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 'by his wounds you have been healed.’ For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

John 10.1-10
‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.’ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.'

Post Communion
Merciful Father, you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd, and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again: keep us always under his protection, and give us grace to follow in his steps; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Can't make it to church - 29 May 2016

As a military Chaplain I often find resonance with military values in the accounts written in the Bible and often in the words Jesus Himself speaks. Today is one of those days as, in the Gospel, we find Jesus encountered some people who had been sent to Him by a Centurion whose servant was sick.

Jesus responds by setting off for the Centurion's house, but before He reaches the house the Centurion sends people out and they meet Jesus on the road. They explain that the Centurion sent the elders to make the request as he considered himself to be unworthy to encounter Jesus personally. "Don't come to my home, I'm not worthy to have you enter it," says the Centurion though his emissaries - and then comes the military resonance:

"I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it."

First, and foremost, the Centurion recognises the fact that Jesus is a 'man under authority' - He comes in the name of the LORD (who is the absolute God - YHWH) and secondly he realises that it only needs Jesus to issue the word and His command, like that of the Centurion in the world he occupied, carries power and authority.

No wonder Jesus is amazed, for this Roman has recognised and submitted to the higher authority of the one in whose name jesus comes and in the the authority Jesus also has. No wonder Jesus notes that he hasn't seen faith like the Centurion's 'in Israel'.

Here we have an example for us - from one who was 'far off' and yet by his actions and words was perhaps nearer than many of us we find an example and encouragement to recognise, and petition, the Lord - how we should respond and relate and live out our lives as followers of Jesus, the Christ.

Paul reflects on his call which he notes was, "Neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead,' the calling we all have as believers. This is the calling and commission all who follow the Christ have - not a parchment scroll signed by a monarch giving a commission but the commission that gives us the 'Great Commission' to go into all the world and teaching those around us to keep God's laws and to turn from their wrong ways (being baptised) to live in the fulness and freedom of God's love.

What encouraging words - what a wonderful promise - what a fantastic calling and commission we have. How can we top this, this morning?

Well I have to point to Elijah (another of my heroes) as he encounters the followers of Baal and challenges them and their god to a contest. "If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him,' he says. So Elijah sets up the stuff to carry out a bit of worship of the true God - this comes in the shape of some wood and a bull for the burnt offering (a thought: burnt offering = holocaust, which is why many of us prefer 'shoah' when it come to speaking of the Jews who were murdered in the Nazi camps).

The followers of Baal shout and scream, the get in a right tizzy, but no fire.
So, helpfully, Elijah calls on them to shout louder, "Perhaps your God is on the loo and can't hear you, " he tells them! And yet not a spark.

So it's now Elijah's turn and, to make things a bit more even, he orders the wood to be drenched and then says to God, "All your!' And whoosh, the wood, the bull, the water, the stones, the dust - everything vanishes in a flash of fire.

So today, when you look at those who follow the false gods of the age come before you - remember that we have a God who indeed does 'answer by fire'.

So here we are called by the God who answers by fire - what more do we need to know to take us onwards into life?

The Collect
God of truth, help us to keep your law of love and to walk in ways of wisdom, that we may find true life in Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.

1 Kings 18.20-39
So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ The people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, ‘I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred and fifty. Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the Lord; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.’ All the people answered, ‘Well spoken!’ Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, ‘Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, ‘O Baal, answer us!’ But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, ‘Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is on the toilet, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.’ Then they cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them. As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.

Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come closer to me’; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down; Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, ‘Israel shall be your name’; with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed. Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, ‘Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt-offering and on the wood.’ Then he said, ‘Do it a second time’; and they did it a second time. Again he said, ‘Do it a third time’; and they did it a third time, so that the water ran all round the altar, and filled the trench also with water.

At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, ‘O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.’ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt-offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, ‘The Lord indeed is God; the Lord indeed is God.’

This is big and dramatic!

Galatians 1.1-12
Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - and all the members of God’s family who are with me: To the churches of Galatia:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!

Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Luke 7.1-10
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.
A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.’ And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.’ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Post Communion
Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly gifts: may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

and this isn't!

Can't make it to church - 24th April 2016

The Easter proclamation is, by the sound of it, wearing a little thin if the tone of some of the people in church as they proclaim, “He is risen indeed, Alleluia!” is anything to go by! 

Is this the place you find yourself occupying today?

Has your faith become habit rather than passion bad are you relatively passionless about it all?

When I became a Christian, some around me smiled at the exuberant joy I possessed and knowingly commented on how, “I’d soon grow out of it.” The problem is that I did! For just as the first flush of love turns into a steady, sometimes almost habitual, being together – the same is true in the world of Christian faith – and habit missed the marvellous truth and tajes something wonderful for granted.  

The Church, as seen in Acts, is full on and passionate and this translates itself into converts because people saw, and felt, the buzz and wanted it too. Jew and Gentile were drawn into this body as their passion- their excitement – turned into lifestyle. And it was this drawing in of Gentiles that we consider today as Peter, who had been in Caesarea preaching (and living) the Gospel, finds himself and his attitudes (and the attitudes of those who were Jewish believers especially) a bit of a challenge.

Peter is hauled before the believers in Jerusalem to give an account for his actions for they had heard that he wasn’t just teaching them about Jesus but was eating with them and this, in their Jewish thinking meant being defiled. They were happy with taking the message out to the Gentiles but there were limits you know – there were the old ways to consider, after all ‘The Way’ was a Jewish sect and so the old rituals and practices needed to be upheld. Kosher food, circumcision and the like were part of it, weren’t they? Well actually, they weren’t and this is to be the opening shot in a battle which later sees Paul talk about the ‘judaisers’ (those who demanded that Jewish custom and practice was an essential part of being what we now call ‘Christian’.

Peter is erasing the things that divided Jews and Gentiles – what was he doing? If everyone started doing what he did then soon there would soon be no difference between them (the superior race) and the gentiles (the ‘dogs’) then where would the Church be?

This is frightening stuff and so they summoned Peter and acted as frightened people so often do – badly!

But challenged, Peter responds by recounting a vision he had had – one in which he was called upon by God to get up, kill and eat animals which he had previously considered to be forbidden. Baulking at the call Peter responded by saying: “No way God - nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” So God called him again to eat with a bit of a hint about what he could eat: “What God has made clean, you must not call unclean.”

Men arrive whilst Peter is wondering what God might really be talking about; after all, if the food the Gentiles eat is clean then this must mean that they are also clean – now where does that leave a good Jewish boy? 

The question is about to be answered for him once and for all - and when it is, well if the Gentiles were obviously filled with the Holy Spirit and if they were good enough for God then who was he to stand in the way? The question was settled once and for all.

And those who had called and challenged Peter, on hearing these words, suddenly realised the validity of his them and rejoiced giving thanks to God that Jesus was so effective in His ministry though Jesus that it even reached the people other faiths could not reach (what I like to think of as a ‘Heineken’ moment). Would that we might learn a lesson from this and understand that ‘nothing we are, nothing we’ve been, nothing we’ve seen, nothing we’ve done or are going to do can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8)!”

The resurrection of Jesus breaks the power of death and that in turn removed the power of sin in our lives – and if this is true, how can we not shout with joy:

He is risen indeed – Alleluia!

May the power of the risen Christ and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit fill you, free you and set you free this morning.

Acts 11.1-18
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying,

‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.

There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.”

But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”

This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven.
At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were.

The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Get in! God has given the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life, not just to us (Jews) but to the Gentiles too.’

Postscript
Our Gospel today adds a cherry to this marvellous cake by bringing us back to the day before Good Friday as we are reminded of the 'New Commandment' (the mandate ovum that gives us 'Maundy Thursday' that we love each other as Jesus, the Christ, has loved us.

A handy thing to be reminded ofI reckon for it is too easy to become legalistic and bound up in our own salvation and rightness and forget this basic instruction rearing those around us.

Simple innit - so why do we all too often fail to live it in our own lives?

God has indeed made all things new and the spring of the water of life is made ours through the sacrificial love of Jesus - Death is overcome and we, and eternity, are newly created through Him.

Alleluia!


The Collect
Risen Christ, your wounds declare your love for the world and the wonder of your risen life: give us compassion and courage to risk ourselves for those we serve, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

John 13.31-35
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Revelation 21.1-6
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’

And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

Post Communion Prayer
Eternal God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life:  grant us to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth, and to share his risen life; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.

Can't make it to Church? 14 December 14

Here we are at the third Sunday of Advent and this goes under a variety of names but my favourite is 'Gaudete Sunday'. The reason for this being that this a Sunday where we remember John the Baptist but more especially we do a bit of rejoicing at the good news of Jesus - and that's what 'gaudete' means, 'rejoice'!

Always happy to take up the opportunity to play Steeleye Span, have a listen to this (even after 35 years they're great):

Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born of the Virgin Mary – Rejoice!

Now that's a great thought to be getting to grips with this Sunday as we look at the readings, the first of which coming from Isaiah is extra special because these are the words Jesus uses almost six hundred years later to speak of himself in a synagogue (in his home town) after His being tempted in the wilderness and at the beginning of His ministry.

Here we have reason to rejoice because of the benefits of having Him around: Good News (which is what Gospel means); healing of broken hearts; freedom for those held captive (physical and spiritual) and to set the prisoner free - proclaiming the year of the Lord's favour. The 'favour' bit (or year of jubilee) was about cancelling debts, setting free those who had gone into slavery, and zeroing the accounts - it meant that the rich didn't grow richer by virtue of misfortune of others or abuse of their power.

Every seven years there was a 'sabbatical' year and after seven periods of seven years, the next year was regarded as the year of jubilee. It speaks of restoration and justice and a balanced socio-economic reality. Perhaps this is why we are called in our second reading to 'Rejoice Always' and to hold onto the prophecies (of the Messiah and of God's provision) and to keep ourselves doing that which is good and right until Jesus returns; for Just as John the baptist prepared the way for His earthly ministry, we are called to do the same now. Rejoicing at the coming of Jesus, the Christ, as Saviour to us and (I believe) Messiah to the Jews.

As we reflect on the life and ministry of John the Baptist. As we remember that he preached fearlessly and died because of it, we must remember that He whom we follow went to the cross for us and should be willing to walk that same path for Him and His Gospel of peace.

let us live rejoicing and proclaiming Jesus, the Christ, and encouraging those around us to live holy, righteous and peace-filled life (just like we are living ourselves - we are, aren't we?).

Isaiah 61.1-4,8-11
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion - to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

The Collect
God for whom we watch and wait, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son: give us courage to speak the truth, to hunger for justice, and to suffer for the cause of right, with Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5.16-24
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

John 1.6-8,19-28
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 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.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord” ’, as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptising if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptise with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptising.

Post Communion Prayer
We give you thanks, O Lord, for these heavenly gifts; kindle in us the fire of your Spirit that when your Christ comes again we may shine as lights before his face; who is alive and reigns now and for ever. Amen.

Can't make it to Church? September 28

This week's readings give us an interesting bag of things to look at and consider.

The Exodus story is interesting and I have always thought that the image of journeying away from the wilderness of Sin was surely what we should all be doing, but of course Sin is a place rather than a state of mind - isn't it? So here we are with the Israelites who are on their way from captivity and walking towards God's promised land. They are tired and fed up because they journey has been long (and will be even longer still) and yet in the chapter before they've received food from heaven (Manna) and having food they are now complaining that they are thirsty. God responds by providing water and the name of the place at Horeb where it appeared is the response that every leader has asked at some time during a journey (new building, new project, service and the like):

‘Is the Lord among us or not?’

Our Psalms sings of this and all the mercies God showed the Israelites - grumpy bunch of wotsits :-)

The Philippians passage provides us with some great food for thought because is asks another question:

Are you happy because you are Christ's  - comforted by His love and one with the Holy Spirit?

Because if you are then love each other, encourage those around you and seek to bless them! Do the stuff you do to be part of the family rather than to stand in the limelight and get praise. Be like Jesus who although being God put that aside and emptied Himself of it all to became a servant to all (not just the powerful - but everyone).  The emphasis on 'emptied' is important because it's what we call kenosis - and this small word speaks pages about Jesus and His ministry because it talks of Jesus as a man who had revelations, insights and struggles in the way that we do. Many assume that Jesus knew everything and was just God playing at man but the act of kenosis is akin to someone with six numbers in the lottery putting it in the bin - He really was man and so the, "Well He was God wasn't He?" comments fall to the ground because although He was (and is) he was truly man and so His obedience and ministry is in so very many ways the same as that which is open to every one of us.

The Gospel reading leads us into something that is a most useful technique when being challenged, the art of responding to a question with a question. Here the issue is that of authority - an issue that crops up weekly in some churches as the leaders ask Jesus who gave Him permission to do stuff. So Jesus asks them first to give Him a datum (a line to work from) so He can understand their thinking, and this is about John the Baptist and his baptism. They are stymied because the answer will with either damn them before the crowd or show them to be disobedient to God.  Point made Jesus talks of two sons. The first says he will do stuff, but doesn't, whilst the other says he won't do stuff and at the eleventh hour relents and does. So here's our third question:

"Which son are you?"

So, three questions for us and these relate to our corporate (Church) life and our personal too. It is easy to feel God is with us when things are going right but when the going gets tough and the parish share is building up and the members are growing down or the health or job prospects or wealth are tested and the car has broken down - then that question, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’, becomes a very real and most challenging one.

Add to this the fact that it's easy for us to be happy Christians when we have few needs but the question that needs to be answered is simple:  "Are you happy because you are Christ's  - comforted by His love and one with the Holy Spirit?" This is a tough one because, following on from the first question it causes us to examine whether relationship with God is the source of our happiness or not - and sometimes the answer (if we are honest) is perhaps not what we'd claim.

The final shot is obviously the most challenging for many because many I meet talk a game that says "I'm willing to do the stuff," and yet the reality is that they don't do it! Is this you? Do you say you'll be at a service and then fail to appear (always, of course, with the good reason!) or make positive noises about church things but are never there to be counted when the work is being done? This question: "Which son are you?" is perhaps the most telling and the hardest to own up to. Letting our 'yes be yes' and our 'no be no' is a key element.

So let's pray (the Collect): 

Lord God, defend your Church from all false teaching and give to your people knowledge of your truth, that we may enjoy eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Father God - help us to be honest in all our thoughts, words and deeds,
To recognise that you are indeed with us
and to live in the joy that that reality brings.
We pray that your hand will be seen in the lives of all people
And pray for those who bear your name across the world.
Be with us today, make your presence known, and your love apparent,
help us in our unbelief and fill us with your Spirit. Amen.

Exodus 17.1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’ But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’ So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’

Psalm 78.1-4,12-16
Hear my teaching, O my people; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will pour forth mysteries from of old, Such as we have heard and known, which our forebears have told us. We will not hide from their children, but will recount to generations to come, the praises of the Lord and his power and the wonderful works he has done. For he did marvellous things in the sight of their forebears, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through; he made the waters stand still in a heap. He led them with a cloud by day and all the night through with a blaze of fire. He split the hard rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great deep. He brought streams out of the rock and made water gush out like rivers.

Philippians 2.1-13
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 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, who, though he was in the form of God, 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. Therefore God also 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.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Matthew 21.23-32
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Post Communion Prayer
Keep, O Lord, your Church, with your perpetual mercy;
and, because without you our human frailty cannot but fall,
keep us ever by your help from all things hurtful,
and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

My apologies for the absence of this post over the past two weeks - caused by absence and illness - (ab)normal service is now resumed :-)

Can't make it to church - August 31

Today's Gospel reading takes us to a place we often talk about and yet rarely, like Peter, really want to go. Jesus is talking about His death and, as is often the case, the minute we start looking at the cost, we being to look elsewhere. Rather than look at the cost we merely focus on the benefits and claiming the benefits look to our rights whilst glancing anywhere other than at our responsibilities; and Jesus points to the fact that we really do live in a world where unless there is pain there is definitely no (eternal) gain!

Now this doesn't mean that being a Christian is something whereby pain is volunteered for, but when the need is before us, neither do we run away. When battle is engaged, we are resolute in our faith and the defence of it. Jesus sums it up rather nicely (but He would, wouldn't He?) when He says:
‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

I recently met someone who was under the impression that they were 'God's gift to the Church' because they 'did stuff' and yet, although they did indeed 'do stuff' they were working on a human level and when it came to things of a spiritual nature had about as much understanding as the rubber ducks that grace my bookshelves (don't ask me why they're there - they were something people bought me a few years back) and that's a big problem with Church:

People are under the impression that 'doing = good Christian' and whilst we find (in the book of James - chapter two) the following cautionary words:

"What good is saying you have faith if it's not seen in your actions - do you think anyone is saved by it? You see someone with no food or clothing and say, 'Go well, be blessed,' but don't feed or clothe them. What use if your faith? The answer is, "None at all," because faith, without good works, it is impotent, dead and useless.

Some say, "You have faith and I have works." My response to that is: "But if you don't do good stuff how can you show your faith - I have faith and from this comes good stuff. Some say I believe in one God, which is great, but so too do the demons!" 

Faith and works are one and the same - they are inseparable; for from one comes the other and together we demonstrate the reality of our Christian belief. Then comes the coup de main as Jesus tells us:

"If you want to be a follower then you need to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me - Those who wish to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what profit is there if you gain EVERYTHING but lose your life? 

And this brings us rather conveniently back to the Gospel passage where the same words are to be found with the challenge it puts before us to put aside the things we want to do to please ourselves and to be willing to pay the price (as Jesus did on the cross) and follow Him (Jesus) on the path that may cost us everything in this life. Human things or divine things - It's our choice - nothing is forced upon us - and we are free to choose (I just wish sin was less attractive, don't you?).

The Collect for today is a great blessing:

God of glory, the end of our searching, help us to lay aside all that prevents us from seeking your kingdom, and to give all that we have to gain the pearl beyond all price, through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Father God, come to us today and aid us in our daily life.
May we give without counting the cost,
Receive without feeling the shame of need,
Love without demanding reward
And bless because our faith demands that we act.
Be with us, heal, strengthen and bless us as we seek to take up our cross and follow Jesus, the Christ.
Amen.

Matthew 16.21-28
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’

Exodus 3.1-15
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ He said further, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Then the Lord said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.’

But Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you”, and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.” ’ God also said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you”:
This is my name for ever, and this my title for all generations.

Psalm 105.1-6,23-26,45b
O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises, and tell of all his marvellous works. Rejoice in the praise of his holy name; let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his face continually. Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders and the judgements of his mouth, O seed of Abraham his servant, O children of Jacob his chosen.

Then Israel came into Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And the Lord made his people exceedingly fruitful; he made them too many for their adversaries, whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people and dealt craftily with his servants. Then sent he Moses his servant and Aaron whom he had chosen. That they might keep his statutes and faithfully observe his laws. Alleluia.

Romans 12.9-21
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Post Communion
Lord of all mercy,
we your faithful people have celebrated that one true sacrifice which takes away our sins and brings pardon and peace: by our communion keep us firm on the foundation of the gospel and preserve us from all sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.