Saint Swithun's Blog

Easter 7- Ezekiel 36.24-28; Acts 1.6-14; Luke 24.44-53

Returning from a walk with Angel this week I spotted a person going into the front garden of the church with a dog.  This was a woman, wearing a track suit and having the look of a person from the hostel.  Do you know what I did?  I followed her in to check if the dog had pooed in the garden – and meeting her coming out I looked at her not in fellowship but with my killer stare which says – what do you think you are doing in the church garden?

How quick you and I are to make judgements!

Jesus would have been very disappointed.  Why?  Because the only response to that woman should have been to say “good morning – what a lovely day – how are you – what is your dog’s name?”  And then possibly “why don’t you join us later – we are very inclusive, friendly and loving people who would welcome you with love into our church fellowship.

My failure to exemplify a Christian in the community might help us all to reflect on who Jesus wants us to be in the Community.

So let’s start with a definition.  Christians are not people of the Book, we are people of the Word.  Now that sounds a bit pedantic until we understand what happened in this glorious season that we call Easter – the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, Son of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  The Word, Jesus Christ, who was and is and is to come, is living and here with us.

And the first clue is here.  Jesus is killed by the people of the Book – the Law – God in awesome and redemptive power raises him from the dead.  The disciples are beginning to come to terms with this, when the next earth shattering event happens.  The resurrected Jesus then begins to explain to them who he is using the Scriptures – from the holy book of the Old Testament – and particularly the prophets.

And he gives them a mission. Then he tells them to wait.  They were not to go out into the world until they were clothed with power from on high.

The disciples were not to go out with a rational, well-argued case for the religion of Christianity.  They were to go out to proclaim the possibility of new life through repentance and forgiveness of sins: repentance and forgiveness the two most powerful forces in our world.

Jesus leaves the disciples with a promise of power to achieve this, and then they experience the next awesome, miraculous experience:  Jesus’ Ascension to the Father – the godhead is complete – human beings are elevated to the side of the Father.  Jesus came, redeemed humanity and returned to the Father.

(Luke 24)⁵²And (the disciples) worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Christians are people of the living Word.  Going back to my opening story – we live in a world of people of the Quotation Marks – we are “these people” – or “those people”.

I could go around this church this morning and label almost all of you – in fact most of you already have been doing that from the moment you came in.  I could but that would be really offensive – so I will talk about me!  I am divorced – well you know what those people are like!  I am a female priest – well who do I think I am!  I am 60 this year so I am ten years into a SAGA person – so past it really.  I like a glass of wine – well that explains a lot doesn’t it!?  You see once we have done the labelling we can make assumptions and not bother to engage at all.

If you watch the programme Gogglebox you will see how much we are the people of the Quotation Marks – judging everyone who comes on – stereotyping and accusing.

But we are not people of the Book, we are not people of the Quotation Marks. We are not to sit in judgement about people.  We are people of the living Word, who bring new life.  We do not ask people to jump through hoops to get close to God or to pay a price to be in God’s presence.

Jesus asks us to walk through that world and not see the stereotype but the human light shining out of the eyes,  however dimly, however darkened by pain or sin.

And Jesus asks us to shine a light in that darkness – not in judgement but in fellowship and love

We are to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ, to teach what he taught, to heal a broken world and release those who are imprisoned literally and spiritually, and challenge injustice and oppression.

This is a tough call.  Nobody is going to be able to do this in their own strength – just look around the world and see the damage that is being done by people convinced they are doing the work of God.  The work of God cannot be done by judgement and punishment;  there lies disillusionment and great damage.  The work of God is done by demonstration and teaching his wisdom and love.

In the face of disbelief, ridicule, cruelty and self -interest – the only thing that is powerful enough to stand against the world is love.

And that is why we need the Holy Spirit – the power that makes it possible to go out into a world that is not listening and live the Word of God.  Humanity working alongside the Father – part of the Godhead.  Perhaps It is the sheer awesomeness of this power that frightens us. 

But let’s put that fear aside and be adventurous people of the living Word.   Over the next week, let’s spend time in prayer and preparation, waiting with the disciples, ready to open our hearts once more to the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost! Amen

6th Sunday of Easter: Genesis 8.20-9.17; Acts 17.22-31; John 14.15-21

This morning we are going to renew the marriage vows of a couple in our family here at St Swithuns.  I will try to make a connection with this and our readings this morning.

Happy Valley is a television series which explores the descent into sin that is predictable and almost inevitable in a world without God, and particularly marriage without the stability and redemptive power of God. 

Let me use a couple of examples from the first episode which relate to marriage and family.

The first is very much about a distorted focus on idols.  A man asks for a rise in salary to pay school fees for his daughters.  This is initially refused.  He allows envy and resentment to build up in his heart to the point where he contemplates the kidnapping and ransom of his bosses’ daughter.  He suggests to a local villain that he helps him in this venture. Meanwhile, the next day, our man is told by his boss that on reflection he has decided to pay the school fees in return for our man’s taking over the reins of the business while the boss travels with his wife who has cancer.  The boss tells our man that one of the reasons for his capitulation is the persuasion of his daughter – the one who is about to face the brutal ordeal of kidnap and violation.  The die is cast and sin is released.

In a world where the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.  A private school – a rise in status – is hugely important, or at least we think so.

The second example is more subtle. A divorced couple go out to dinner and end up in bed together.  The man is now married to someone else.  The reason they got divorced is because they did not work through the terrible experience of the rape and subsequent suicide of their daughter.  The child of this violent union reminded the husband so much of the incident that he left the marital home.  Don’t judge these people, just reflect on what is going on.  The woman’s sister asks her, “did it help” she says “no”.  But the next day calls her ex husband again to arrange a meeting so they can repeat their mistake. Very few men can refuse a booty call and so they meet. The die is cast and sin is released.

The first reason I mention these two incidents is because they illustrate with aweful clarity the descent into sin, one step at a time: a series of choices in a moral vacuum.  This is not because I want to bang the pulpit about the 10 commandments and judgement but because the descent into sin is a dark and despairing place to be and God sent Jesus to bring us light and love and hope.

John 14 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

And the second reason is to link to the place of marriage in the Christian church with these incidents.

Marriage has been distorted by sin; by our ancestors’ rejection of God in the Garden of Eden.  Going back in time we see the relationship between men and women distorted by mutual recrimination, their mutual attraction, a wonderful gift from God, their Creator, changed into a relationship of domination and lust.  And the beautiful vocation of man and woman to be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth burdened by the pain of childbirth and the toil of work.  But in his covenantal relationship with his people God elevates the state of marriage again into a sacramental act – the example of God and his people, Christ and the Church.  And as the couple work together to build their relationship of love and trust – they are giving an example to the world of redemption and grace.

The tragedy of the two examples I have given from Happy Valley is that with our helicopter vision and detached wisdom can see how God might have worked in both situations to bring about a fruitful and richer and more abundant solution.

Had the divorced couple worked together through the pain of the tragedy of their daughter’s rape and suicide, their grandson might have been a source of joy and living proof of the power of forgiveness, their relationship deepened and enriched.

Had our weak and envious friend listened to his family and been open to the love and gratitude of his wife and children he would not have craved the idol of the status of private schooling.

The Athenians flocked to Paul for an intellectual argument – a piece of entertainment – what he did was hit them between the eyes with the possibility of repentance and new life.

Acts 17 28 For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ 

Marriage is an exemplar of Christ and the church precisely because it is difficult – it is difficult because of sin.  If that word offends you then think of ego – marriage is difficult because of our ego – demanding selfish satisfaction and instant gratification.

The trouble is the further we sink into sin, the more difficult it is to dig ourselves out.

But God has given us assurance to us that if we repent there is redemption and this assurance has been given by Jesus’ rising from the dead.  The world cannot receive this truth because it is dark and blind and deaf. 

John 14 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.  You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you

Marriage is one of the vehicles of the Good News of Jesus Christ – his Gospel.  The elevation of Marriage to a sacrament demonstrates God’s relationship with his people – Christ’s relationship with the Church: one of tenderness and fidelity, self-control and grace, saying sorry and I forgive you.  This all powerfully witnesses to the righteousness and grace of God.

And the ripple effect of a loving marriage, in the true robust sense of love, touches the children of that marriage.  Unfortunately children are completely deaf to what we say if our actions shout more loudly of a different truth and different morality.

And the influence of a loving marriage ripples out into society in generosity and hospitality – in stability and hope.

So what a privilege to carry out this ceremony for a couple who have been married for 15 years and demonstrated in the short time I have known them – compassionate and dedicated parenting, generosity and kindness to people around them.   

They are not perfect of course, but a pretty good example! And we are grateful for their contribution to our church family and honoured to perform this renewal of their wedding vows.  Amen

Genesis 8.1-19; Acts 7.55-end; John 14.1-14

Yesterday at Hither Green Festival Fayre a young man told me his story of a miracle.  He had been a heroin addict and so had his partner.  They had a little girl together.  He had kicked the habit – still on the alcohol but working with Narcotics Anonymous – as he said, you have to start somewhere.  But his partner left him and ignored his text messages, keeping the child with her.  One day he remembered God and sat in the big Roman Catholic church in South Kensington and with his rosary prayed for reconciliation or even just a return of his calls.  That week she ‘phoned him.  For him that was a miracle – an act of God – He said, God still works miracles.

This man’s relationship broke down when he stopped living the life of an addict.  His partner rejected him because he had made a bid for freedom – because his life was going to be different – he had escaped from the pit of drug abuse, and she did not like it.

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, says Jesus

Show us the Father says Philip.  Jesus says, How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves

Let’s put the cards on the table right now.  Christianity is different to any other religion.  Christians believe that God came to earth himself to show us himself – to live amongst us full of grace and truth.

God was not revealed by man’s wisdom, or scholarship, God himself was revealed by himself – Jesus the wisdom, the Word the Logos of God – God himself in human form.

The Jews stood around Jesus’ disciple Stephen as he looked up to heaven and shared his vision of Jesus in heaven as the human being in the God head – divine and human – God and redeemed humankind.  And they stoned him for blasphemy.  They did not like it!

He brought them the truth and they couldn’t bear it so they destroyed him thinking that might stop the power of God!  And as they tried to destroy Stephen, their coats were laid at the feet of a man called Saul; Saul who would become the great apostle to the Gentiles – St Paul!

In our modern world there are those who would like to make Jesus just a man, just a prophet, just another way to God. But this is not what he said.

Jesus said when you look at me you see the Father because he and I are one.

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Young people are often told by their peers that becoming a Christian means losing your freedom – losing what the world has to offer you.

Well let’s take a look at that for a moment: what does the world have to offer a young person – in my day we talked about a life of sex, drugs and rock and roll?

Well let’s unpack this: anyone who has had the privilege and joy of experiencing sex within a committed loving relationship,  knows it is a lot more fun than in the car park with a stranger after a drunken night out. 

And drugs or obsessions or addictions; there are many people who are walking through our world like zombies – from the street drinker to the city whizz kids.  The financial crash probably had more to do with Cocaine than competence.  But everybody is doing it – don’t be scared man YOLO!

And rock and roll: yes you can try to be a PLAYA and a GANGSTA, but have you seen young people praising the Lord in the Spirit – or getting down and dirty working together in the community and learning to love and respect each other and their world?

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Augustine said – our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.

People search for satisfaction and meaning in reckless and selfish ways or they anaesthetize themselves from reality in television, drugs or noise

Jesus came to give us life.  And in this life, he says that we will do greater works than his.  Whatever you ask me in my name – I will do it.  Jesus is not offering us safety but an adventure.  So let’s get out there.

Noah and his family are in the Ark – they are saved and safe – but that is not the end of the story.

God wants them to go out into the world and make a difference. God wants them to take all that grace and blessing that they have received from God and influence a new world.

If I do a reality check this morning on my relationship with Jesus Christ – where am I on a scale of habit and love?  What if habitual attendance at church but no action is 1 and completely in love with God and fully alive with his work is 10..  How intimate is my relationship with my Lord?

If you look into my eyes do you see the love of Christ?  Do you sense the spirit moving in the life that I live?  No of course not always.  But we all have moments of greatness and moments of shame.

But where is our desire?  Do we want to stay in the boat and be safe?  Or do we want to open ourselves to a closer walk with Jesus Christ?  Do we want to be filled again with the Holy Spirit of Pentecost to burn away our nonsense and purify our lives?

Do we want the heart of Christ?

Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life.  I am the way – my path is straight and good and noble; I am the truth – I am God the true revelation of his love and being; I am the life – and I come to offer it to you so that you can be me in the world.

And God knows Noah made some mistakes and so will we – but rather step out and get it wrong because getting it wrong is so much closer to getting it right than doing nothing!

And over the next few weeks there are tremendous opportunities for being Christian – for being the Body of Christ in our Community: Hither Green Festival,  when many events are being held in this church and in the hall, Richard is organising stewards and helpers for those events.  The Crossing London event on Monday 26^th May where we can worship with other Christians – maybe outside our comfort zone but live dangerously!  8 June when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the church at Pentecost at Lewisham Theatre.  After this there will be opportunities to demonstrate the love of God, the salvation of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in our communities.  And of course there is our own revival service here on 21 June.

So this morning – am I going below decks to snuggle under the duvet of my habitual worship and the safety of quiet Christian life? Or am I going to open my heart and soul to possibilities of  power and adventure?

Jesus is holding out the olive branch of possibility this morning – are we going to grasp it and step out with him?  He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!  Amen