 |
Sermon Archive |
|
|
For previous two months |
|
Luke 10.38-42 Martha is preparing the dinner. Mary has gone off to sit with Jesus. Martha is getting cross that Mary’s not helping. She crashes a few pots about to indicate she’s not happy and to give Mary the message –I need help! Mary takes no notice. Does anyone recognize this scene? Finally she goes to Jesus, ‘Don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!’ Martha doesn’t ask Mary, ‘Please come and give me a hand.’ Why doesn’t she ask Mary? Maybe she thinks –if Mary doesn’t see I need help, I’m not going to ask her! Is anyone familiar with that way of thinking? Martha challenges Jesus with not caring! Just a minute! Jesus is the most caring man who has ever lived! Martha has already written Mary off as uncaring. She expects Jesus to tell Mary to help her. To Martha’s shock and horror, while Jesus acknowledges her feelings, he affirms Mary as having done the right thing! Scholars have thought Jesus favoured Mary’s studying way over Martha’s practical way. Did Jesus favour Mary sitting with him over Martha preparing a meal for him? I don’t think it’s that simple. Remember Jesus was often accused of eating and drinking with sinners? Jesus liked people eating and drinking together. Around a table we are close to one another. At the heart of our Faith is Communion. Jesus would value Martha’s hospitality. I remember when I visited my grandmother, she would immediately get busy making sandwiches and sometimes scones. I wished she would just make a cup of tea and sit down with me and enjoy a talk. I can see now, preparing food for me was my grandmother’s way of saying, ‘I love you.’ Jesus would appreciate and value Martha’s hospitality. What is this story about? Were Mary and Martha both romantically interested in Jesus? Was Martha upset that Mary, not her, was sitting at Jesus’ feet, looking up adoringly? Quite possibly. Although I don’t think the story’s about that! What is the story about? ‘Sitting at the feet of a teacher’ describes the classic pupil-teacher setting. Former
students At the time of Jesus, there were clear and fixed demarcation lines dividing what a woman could and could not do and what a man could do. A woman’s place was in the kitchen. A woman’s role was preparing food. The women would serve the meal to the men and then eat their own meal separately. I
remember when I first had a meal with the Shin family who came from Mrs Shin and her two daughters served Mr Shin, their son and me sitting at the table. Then they had their own meal in the kitchen. I remember my grandparents and parents: The women would be in the kitchen expected to be talking about recipes and children; The men would be in another room expected to be talking about business and politics. Does anyone else remember that custom? It is likely Jesus had a number of men sitting around him, disciples and others. When Mary sat down at the feet of the Lord and listened to his teaching, she had crossed the demarcation line. Mary had broken out of the restricted life of the women. Mary had declared: -I’m interested in Jesus’ teaching! -I can think! I can discuss things! Last week we looked at the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus was affirming, not only Jewish people -a Samaritan can be a good neighbour! Jesus had brought a Samaritan across the demarcation line of who can be a neighbour. Now Jesus brings a woman across the demarcation line. Not only men can think: -A woman can think! -A woman can be interested in learning! Martha complains that Mary is not helping her in the kitchen. Jesus understands Martha’s anxiety. And he affirms Mary’s decision. Martha also can join Mary and the men enjoying Jesus’ teaching. Then they can both attend to preparing the meal. I was thinking, Jesus didn’t go as far as suggesting the men might help cook! Then I remembered, the risen Jesus at the lake-side was cooking fish on a charcoal fire –Jesus was handy on the ‘barbie’! (John 21.9) Maybe the men did help in the kitchen. Early
in my ministry I visited an older woman, Her husband had gone back to work. She was washing the dishes. I asked her, ‘May I dry?’ She said, ‘No man has ever been in my kitchen and you won’t be the first!’ She had set up her own demarcation. What is your feeling about her demarcation? I invite you to have a word with your neighbour about that. ………………… Maybe
Christine has been thinking about this: Elements
of the story: Maybe
the story’s about expectations. Maybe
Martha is expecting too much of herself and of Mary -which
makes her disappointed and angry. We
can set ourselves up for frustration. A
few years ago when we visited my mother, she would have been busy baking -a
cake, a square and biscuits for us. Having
us come meant a lot of work. Now
she’s happy to put out bought biscuits. Everyone
is more relaxed. Maybe
the story’s about roles. Maybe
when Mary stepped out of her role, Martha felt threatened. When
someone steps out of her role, it affects everyone around her. If
people are not communicating well, having clear roles is helpful. If
we are happy with expectations of us, that’s fine. If
we are happy in our role, that’s fine. But
expectations and roles can be restricting and oppressive. Jesus
affirms Mary in her decision to sit at his feet. And
Martha can do the same. When
it comes to needing something to eat, they
can send out for a pizza! What is this story about? It’s not about two sisters, one not pulling her weight. Its not about two sisters romantically interested in the same man. It’s not about studying people being favoured over practical people. It’s not about different roles for women and men. What is this story about? It’s about: Jesus breaking down barriers that hold people back. Jesus setting people free to make their way on their faith and life journey. Jesus setting people free to love and to be loved, to care and to be cared for. Jesus encouraging people to be the person they could be, to grow and to flower. Yesterday I spoke with Lois Shipley, whom some of you know. She
lives in Timaru and worships at She said, ‘The statutory managers provide the Hubbards an allowance of $1,000/wk.’ She said, ‘Allan is continuing to help people from that $1,000.’ Little Theo, today your parents have engaged you in a wonderful Faith. They have engaged you in God’s great and beautiful love we see in Jesus. You will grow up with your parents and grandparents, people of faith, hope and love. You will be encouraged to fulfil your own possibilities and dreams. You will be encouraged to nurture your own gifts and promise. You will be accepted and loved as your own person. You will grow up to be confident, caring and happy. And one night you will thank God for what your parents did for you today. |
|||
|
Luke 10.25-37 For many years I thought how nice it would be to have our own home. Now we have our own home, I am not so sure! We seem to need tradesmen to fix things. And the account is always enormous. I have been set upon by robbers! Has anyone else felt like that? It’s not a nice feeling. How do we handle it? We can’t move back into the manse! It was wonderful when Gordon Shields and the Board looked after the house. How do we handle it? I
think about this man walking from ‘They attacked him, stripped him and beat him up, leaving him half dead.’ When Margaret and I looked at this, Margaret considered the Victim Impact. Elements
of the story: The
poor man was physically injured. He
was emotionally shaken. He
was humiliated. He
no longer felt safe. He
could no longer trust people. You and I have thankfully not been physically attacked. We have from time to time been shaken and humiliated. We have sometimes lost our trust in people. I think about him lying by the road in pain –and hearing footsteps approaching. Is it someone who will help me? The steps approached but walked on past him. He would be disappointed. He could hear someone else approaching. Maybe this person will help me. The steps came closer, then walked on. He would be disappointed in people: first robbers, now uncaring passers by. Then he heard a third person approaching. He could see him –a Samaritan. He won’t stop. Margaret was happy to see: Elements
of the story: The
Samaritan’s heart was filled with pity. He
poured oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them. He
took him to an inn where he cared for him overnight. He
left money for the hotelier to look after him. What do you think the injured man was feeling now? He would be no longer disappointed in people. He would be moved by the kindness of people. This is not only a story of a good Samaritan. It is a story of a good innkeeper! The innkeeper didn’t say, ‘This isn’t a hospital, it’s an inn! I’m not a nurse, I’m an innkeeper!’ He was willing to look after the injured man. He trusted the Samaritan would one day pay him for care given. What would the injured man be feeling?. He would be filled with wonder. He would be deeply thankful. The world is not full of robbers and uncaring people. There are wonderfull kind and generous people. His physical wounds were healing and so were his heart wounds. Margaret remembers being robbed. Elements
of the story. I
was doing my duty at Q.E.II helping with the school sports. When
I went to my car, I found it had been broken into. My
bag was gone. In my bag were my Lesson Plan book and
my book recording the girls’ marks. When
I got home, I phoned The Press ‘Reporter’s Diary.’ I
told the reporter what had happened and asked him if he would ask if
anyone finding the bag would return it to the school. He was very pleased
to do that. Then
I got a message that someone had in fact brought it to the school! It
was wet. It might have been in the river. But my books were intact. I
phoned ‘Reporter’s Diary’ with the good news. The reporter then had
a new story! He
asked me, ‘How did it make you feel?’ I said, ‘It
confirmed my belief that people are basically good.’ ‘What must I do to receive eternal life?’ What must I do to have a good life. What must I do to have a life engaging with the eternal? Jesus responded in the Jewish custom, asking another question, ‘What do the Scriptures say?’ The man answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind –and love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ It was the classic answer. ‘You are right,’ Jesus replied; ‘do this and you will live.’ Jesus had not been trapped. Now the lawyer was uneasy. Luke tells us, ‘The teacher of the law wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?”’ The teacher of the law knew the Scripture, but he didn’t have the spirit in his heart. He was looking for a way out. He might have expected Jesus to say, ‘Your fellow teachers of the law are your neighbours.’ The Jewish people were clear: Anyone not Jewish is not their neighbour. Anyone who offended against the law is not their neighbour. You don’t have to love people who are not Jewish, like Samaritans! And Jesus told a story about a Samaritan who was a good neighbour. The teacher of the law would be shocked and horrified! Today Jesus might have told a story about a Palestinian who was a good neighbour. We might be silent a moment, bringing before God Israelis and Palestinians, praying
that they ……………………… Did you read in The Press, we have 1000 more people in prison than we did in 2008? A thousand sons, brothers, grandsons, nephews –they are mainly boys. Are they the robbers or are they the victims? Most of them will be addicted to drugs. Most of them will have been abused as little boys. Do they need the care of a good neighbour? Garth McVicar of the Sensible Sentencing Trust said, ‘Prisons should be made tougher as a deterrent. Prison needs to be ultimately used to punish people.’ When
in Jarrod Gilbert of the Howard League for Penal Reform said, ‘More often than not people come out of prison worse than when they went in. It isn’t working. Each prisoner costs $90,000 a year. At what point are we going to say, we need to think of another way?’ Long ago Jesus offered another way. $90,000 a year will pay for a lot of care. $90,000 a year will pay for a lot of support for struggling families. We look to a day when little boys are tucked into bed with a story, a prayer and a kiss. We look to a day when little boys know they are loved and they feel secure and safe. We look to a day when little boys look forward to having a job and a good future. We look forward to a day when our prisons are almost empty when prisons are turned into accommodation for back-packers. We look to a day when everyone sees everyone else as their neighbour. |
|||
|
Luke 10.1-11 The Papanui Medical Centre nurse asked me, ‘Would you like a flu vaccination?’ I said, ‘I’m not worried about getting the flu.’ I said, ‘I need a vaccination against injuring myself!’ I asked, ‘Have you got a vaccination against falling over?’ I asked, ‘Have you got a vaccination against forgetting things?’ If you would like a vaccination against forgetting things –hand up! There is no vaccination against the things that really trouble us. There is no vaccination against getting older. There is no vaccination against forgetting things. What does God have for us? Jesus chose seventy men and sent them out two by two to go ahead of him. Jesus didn’t send people off on their own. He sent them off with a friend. Don’t we feel better having someone alongside us? Don’t we feel stronger having someone sharing our ups and downs? Don’t we feel stronger having someone to talk to, someone to laugh and cry with? My friend Paul and I have talked on the phone every week for about thirty years. Last week he moved house. He said, ‘I can’t find the television remote!’ I said, ‘After eighteen months, I’m still looking for my tweed cap yet!’ We groaned and we laughed. Do you think having someone to talk to helps you keep things in perspective? Do you think having someone to talk to helps you know when to laugh? Today we are happy for Pinky and Allan making their life together. I think there will be a lot of keeping things in perspective and a lot of laughter. Someone said, there might be a Lone Ranger, but there are no ‘Lone Christians.’ As people of faith we are alongside one another, in twos -and fours and eights and sixteens and hundreds. And together we step out into the things that really trouble us. confident we will handle them well. Luke tells us Jesus said, ‘“Go! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Don’t take a purse or a beggar’s bag or shoes… Whenever you go into a house first say, ‘Peace be with this house.’… Stay in that same house eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for a worker should be given his pay.”’ Well, Jesus says ‘I am sending you like lambs among wolves.’ Do you sometimes feel like a lamb among wolves? Recently when I came home, I could hear the sound of a buzzer in the garden. I got the torch to see what it could be. It was on the septic tank. The plumber said, ‘The pump had not been fitted properly. It was just lying on the bottom of the tank.’ Then the television picture was coming and going. The television man said, ‘The aerial you have, was designed for a caravan.’ I wonder if the tradesmen could see Lesley and me are innocents and took advantage. There are a few lambs and a few wolves about. However, Jesus said, ‘Don’t take a purse or a beggar’s bag or shoes.’ They may have asked, ‘How will we get money? How will we eat?’ Jesus may have said, ‘Don’t worry. People are kind and hospitable.’ There may be some wolves out there. But mainly there are people who are caring, generous and hospitable. Do you feel we need to look out for the wolves? Or do you feel we can assume people are caring? I invite you to have a word to your neighbour about that. ………………………. When I go to Anne and Norman’s house, there are always lovely smells coming from the kitchen. Elements
of the story: When
the family come, they know there will be sausage rolls or cakes. Even
the little great-grandchildren know where the tins are. I
thread elastic through the cupboard door-handles. Little
Freya pulls out the elastic and reaches through to the cake tin! Family,
friends and strangers are welcome at our house. And
there will always be a cup of tea and something to eat. The Celts were clear, on the whole, people are friendly and kind.
At our Worship Committee meeting last week, Karen spoke about getting to know a woman sitting next to her on a plane. By the end of the flight they had become good friends. On Friday the woman’s daughter came to stay with Karen and John while she finds her way at university. Jesus said, ‘Whenever you go into a house say, ‘Peace be with this house.’’ When we go into a house, you and I take the gift of peace. We don’t take into the house aggression. We don’t take into the house criticism. We take into the house, peace. It may be there has been in the house anxiety or tension. And we bring into the house peace and smiles. I invite you to bring to mind someone bringing peace into your house. Jesus said, ‘Stay in the house eating and drinking whatever they offer you, for a worker should be given his pay.’ Do you have difficulty accepting someone’s generosity? Do you worry about being beholden to someone? When someone is generous to you, do you immediately wonder how you can pay back the generosity? I remember caring for someone -and when I got home an hour later, there was a pot plant at the door! Jesus is saying, ‘It’s okay to accept hospitality. You don’t need to feel embarrassed. You don’t need to feel a need to pay back. Jesus is saying, ‘The hospitality is your pay happily given for bringing peace into the house!’ On Wednesday we had here the funeral of Madge McMeekan. She had been a member of John Knox Church in Rangiora but spent her latter years at Ngaio Marsh. Her three daughters honoured their mother’s good life. Their mother had cared for them and they had cared for her. On Thursday we had the funeral of Jean Smart. Jean was a member of St Giles from when she was a little girl. Her three sons honoured their mother’s life. Their mother had cared for them and they had cared for her. On Monday in Dunedin we had the funeral of Neil Churcher. A great number of people gathered to give thanks for the blessing Neil had been in our lives. Our Christian Faith nurtures a good and rich life. Today we celebrate our good life, people loving and being loved, people who bring peace. |
|||
|
June27concern Prayers in ConcernJohn We grieve the passing of Very Rev Neil Churcher. Neil grew up in Linwood. He was a much-love minister in Te Kuiti, Greymouth, Khandallah, Knox Dunedin and in Lower Hutt. He was one of the founders of Spiritual Growth Ministries. He was elected Moderator of Our General Assembly. He was the husband of Muriel, the brother of Ruth. He liked to worship here at St Giles.
I invite you to stand a moment, honouring Neil’s life, praying for God’s peace for Muriel and her family and for Ruth. ………………… June27reflection Luke 9.51-55 Hasn’t it been exciting seeing our ‘All Whites’ doing so well? Hasn’t it been impressive seeing their skill and their commitment? What did you think about the Italians falling down, making out they had been pushed, trying to get a penalty kick? We must admit, Andy Haden did it for the All Blacks, but only once. The Italians did it again and again, rolling on the grass as if they were in agony. It amounted to a tactic. Did you see someone ask one of the All Whites, ‘What do you feel about the Italians falling down performance?’ And what was his response? He said, ‘It’s the way they play. It’s their culture.’ He grinned, ‘It’s not our way.’ Don’t you like his graciousness? He could have said, ‘They’re slimey cheats.’ ‘It’s the way they play. It’s their culture.’ He accepted them. As Tony Smith wrote in ‘The Press,’ its for the officials to sort it out. It’s lovely to see graciousness. What do you think about Allan Hubbard’s situation? I imagine his organization has grown and he may not have got systems in place. Did you hear him say on ‘The News,’ ‘I was on my way to Dunedin to the Knox Church 150th anniversary celebrations when they phoned to say statutory managers are being sent in to my office.’ In recent years Knox Church has had substantial renovations. I think we know who contributed significantly to the cost. Allan Hubbard is a transparently honest, wonderfully generous, unwell, old man. If his affairs need some tidying up, surely it could have been handled in a way respectful of his dignity. It would have been nice to see some graciousness. What does our faith have for us? Jesus decided he would make his way to Jerusalem. Now there’s the long way, around Samaria. and there’s the short way, through. Jewish people took the long way, because Samaritans and Jews don’t like each other. They disagreed about whether the true temple is on Mount Gerizim or in Jerusalem. Samaritans didn’t like Jews going through their country on their way to Jerusalem. Isn’t it sad, over such matters peoples can be divided and hostile. Jesus decided to take the short way, through Samaria. Jesus had no issue with Samaritans. Jesus plainly liked Samaritans. He told a wonderful parable about a good Samaritan. He had a fascinating conversation with a Samaritan woman. For Jesus there was no problem about going through Samaria. Norman is interested in Jesus’ planning. Elements
of the story: Luke
tells us ‘He sent messengers ahead of him who went into a village in
Samaria to get everything ready for him.’ For
Jesus, going into Samaria was not a spur of the moment decision. There
was quite a group of them. Accommodation needed to be arranged. Like
a good leader, Jesus planned ahead; he
attended to practical needs. When
I was at Linton, I took a Maori platoon up the East Coast. While
there were some tensions between the different tribes, we
paid our respects at each marae and we were welcomed, we
visited schools and were welcomed. Luke tells us, ‘The people there would not receive him, because it was clear he was on his way to Jerusalem.’ The good-will Jesus felt for the Samaritans, was not reciprocated. Let’s have a look at this situation. I had an aunt Jean, my father’s sister, who lived in Wellington. She and my father had fallen out over their father’s estate. They had no contact with each-other. I went to a S.C.M. conference in Wellington. I thought I would like to visit my aunt. I had no quarrel with her. I liked her. Would she welcome me? Maybe you have been in a similar situation. Do we acknowledge old quarrels and prejudice? Or do we challenge them? Jesus challenged prejudice everywhere, every time! Jesus loved people and Jesus called people to love one another. How did Jesus handle being rejected? Luke tells us, ‘When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” This is the Elijah response. The Old Testament way to deal with enemies is to call on God to destroy them! There’s still a bit of that attitude about: we feel rejected and we lash out! What did Jesus say? ‘Jesus turned and rebuked them.’ What would Jesus have said? ‘Hey you fellows, that’s not our way! That’s not the way we handle things! We respect these people. We accept their decision. They don’t have to take us. There will be another place.’ When we feel secure in God’s love for us, we can handle rejection, we are not too worried, we don’t need to lash out. Jesus responded to the Samaritans graciously. The story concludes, ‘Then Jesus and his disciples went on to another village.’ Jesus was confident another village would give them accommodation. When some people are not welcoming, other people will be. When something doesn’t work out, something else will. The Celts were clear, we live in God’s care. Listen to this, written by Alistair MacLean, a minister of the Church of Scotland at the turn of the 20th century -the father of Alistair MacLean who wrote ‘The Guns of Navarone’. ‘I am serene because I know thou lovest me. Because thou lovest me, nought can move me from my peace. Because thou lovest me, I am as one to whom all good has come.’ |
|||
|
Luke 8.26-39 I visit my step-mother. She looks at me, puzzled, not knowing who I am. She talks to me, but none of her words make sense. She constantly rolls her track-suit pants up and down. Her eyes have a strange look about them. I remember her, intelligent and refined. In Jesus’ time, people would have said, ‘She has a demon.’ People might have been afraid of her. They might have driven her out of the house. Maybe she would have finished up living in the cemetery. Perhaps you have someone you love suffering from a psychiatric illness. Perhaps you have problems with your memory or your thinking. What does God have for us? Luke tells us, ‘As Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a man from the town who had demons in him. For a long time this man had gone without clothes and would not stay at home, but spent his time in burial caves.’ He had ‘gone without clothes’ People troubled mentally have a problem with clothes. What we wear says something about who we are. Businessmen are sometimes called ‘suits.’ People with a psychiatric illness may not know who they are. People with a memory or thinking problem can feel they are nobody. The man ‘spent his time in burial caves’ Maybe the burial caves were a safe place for him. Most people wouldn’t want to go there. There, no-one bothered him. I think of a woman who visited her parents’ grave two or three times each week. At her work and at home, she was being constantly criticized. She was worn down and struggling to keep going. At the cemetery her feelings were safe. She found comfort in her parents’ silent support. Now Luke tells us, ‘When he saw Jesus, he gave a loud cry, threw himself down at his feet, and shouted, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God! What do you want with me? I beg you, don’t punish me!”’ ‘Son of the Most High God’ People who are mentally ill can sometimes have amazing insights. This man knows Jesus is the Son of God. I think this unwell man is the first to declare Jesus is Son of God –even before Peter. We must value our unwell, struggling people. Our unwell people have much to teach us. The man calls out, ‘I beg you, don’t punish me!’ The poor man will have suffered a lot of punishment. People will have beaten him to drive out the demons. People will have teased him and tormented him for fun. I remember a boy in my class at primary school. He wouldn’t get on with his work, He never learned his spelling, He was disruptive. He got strapped almost every day. The teacher thought he was naughty. I can see now, the poor boy suffered from autism. The poor man in the cemetery was frightened Jesus would punish him. But no. ‘Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”’ Jesus is engaging in introductions. Jesus is treating him with respect and courtesy. Jesus is treating him as he would any other person. This is a very significant moment in the history of the care of troubled people. Jesus treated this troubled man humanely. It seems no-one had done that before. It is thanks to Jesus’ love for that troubled man that day, my step-mother is being cared for with respect and kindness today. ‘Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he answered, because many demons had gone into him.’ This man doesn’t know who he is. He’s full of tensions, pulling him this way and that. Maybe he was trying to meet everyone’s expectations. And he couldn’t. And it all got too much for him. Perhaps you have known the feeling. Now Luke tells us, ‘There was a large herd of pigs… The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs and he let them. They went out of the man into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the side of the cliff and into the lake and was drowned.’ What are we to make of that? For Jewish people, the pig is regarded as unclean. Jewish people today won’t eat ham, pork or bacon. The pigs would be a suitable repository for demons. Animal Rights people don’t like this story. It can be helpful dealing with something in our mind and heart to see it expressed in some physical way. I remember a couple asked me to exorcise their house. They had bought it from a very unhappy woman. They felt her unhappy presence. I said, ‘We will fill the house with love!’ We went through the house praying for love to fill each room. In the spare room, they said, ‘We bought those candle-wick bed-spreads from the woman. We don’t know why. We hate them.’ I said, ‘Let’s make a fire of them.’ They agreed. We carried them out to the garden. It took a while to get them to light. As we watched them burning away, it was a burning away of the unhappy presence.’ The news of the pigs got around. People came to see. They found the man ‘sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.’ Isn’t that a beautiful picture? Can you see the man sitting calmly, comfortably with Jesus? I think of when I was out running and took an epileptic seizure on Greers Road. When I regained consciousness, I was sitting with a man on his front porch steps. He smiled. We sat for a while, not speaking. He asked me, “Do you suffer from epilepsy?” I said, “No.” He said, “I think you do.” He said, “I found you lying on the pavement and brought you in.” He brought me a cup of tea. I was soon ‘in my right mind.’ We sat quietly a while. I saw in his face the face of Jesus. Norman is interested in the reaction of the people. Elements
of the story: The
people asked Jesus to go away, because they were afraid. Many
people don’t like change. Many
people like things to remain the same. People
don’t like challenges to their thinking. A
big part of my work is helping people see something new can be good! The
people couldn’t see, what Jesus had to offer them -was a wonderful
change! Luke tells us, ‘Jesus got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged him, “Let me go with you.” But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Go back home and tell what God has done for you.” The man went through the town telling what Jesus had done for him.’ The Celts on the passing of the shortest day, would light fires to welcome back the sun and to encourage the sun in its task of warming the land. On this passing of the shortest day, we can welcome the promise of a new beginning. We will welcome the days growing longer and warmer. We will welcome the opportunities and pleasures ahead. We will share the good news of God’s love for us we see in winter passing, in Jesus caring. |
|||
|
Luke 8.1-3 A woman quite concerned, told me, ‘My daughter wants to get a stud in her tongue.’ She asked her daughter, ‘Why do you want to do that dear?’ Her daughter said, ‘All my friends are having piercings and studs.’ Her daughter’s a sweet, rather shy young woman. Having your tongue pierced and a stud inserted must be pretty unpleasant and painful. We can see, being prepared to suffer that discomfort and pain, -how important it is for this young woman to be like her friends. Maybe being shy, she is very concerned to have a group of friends. I think having a stud in your tongue would be a nuisance. Wouldn’t it get in the way, eating? Wouldn’t it pick up infections? This young woman is prepared to go through quite a lot to feel she belongs with a group of friends. No-one wants to feel on the edge. No-one wants to be alone. There are young men who feel they are not part of the main stream culture, who want to belong to a gang. They will commit a serious crime in order to be accepted by the gang. Was it in Whangarei a little boy got attacked because he was wearing a red shirt? Evidently among the youths, there is a red shirt gang and a blue shirt gang. Young people need to know they are accepted, need to know they are important, –somewhere. Maybe you sometimes feel on the edge, not accepted, alone. What does our faith have for us? Luke gives us a glimpse of the people around Jesus. ‘Some
time later Jesus travelled through towns and villages preaching the good
news of the What would Jesus be saying? God loves everyone. God loves not only Jews, but everyone. What would Jesus be saying? God isn’t interested in people sacrificing animals: rich people a lamb and poor people a pair of pigeons! God is concerned for people to be fair and kind to one another. Can you see, hearing these beautiful words, people smiling, Luke tells us, ‘The twelve disciples went with him.’ What were the disciples like? There was Peter and Andrew. Peter was impetuous and temperamental. Andrew was thoughtful and steady. And they were both important to Jesus. There was a place for both as disciples. Then Luke adds ‘The twelve disciples went with Jesus, and so did some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases; Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had been driven out; Joanna, whose husband Chusa was an officer in Herod’s court; and Susanna, and many other women who used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples.’ Isn’t this interesting? In the other Gospels, these women appear only at the crucifixion and the tomb. Why did the other Gospel writers not record, -there were women with Jesus and the disciples?
Is it the men who are important and the women just tag along? 2. Was there some embarrassment about these women? Isn’t a woman’s place in the home? Jesus is clearly happy to have the women with them. The women are part of the Jesus group. Let’s have a look at these women. Luke tells us they had been ‘healed of evil spirits and diseases.’ There’s Mary Magdalene from whom seven demons had been driven out. Mary must have been a deeply troubled, unhappy woman. Jesus had cared for her. It is thought it was Mary who let her hair down, poured perfume over Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. Everyone was shocked. Mary was regarded as a not nice person. And here she is in the group of women with Jesus. There’s Joanna. We don’t know what had troubled her. We do know, she was the wife of a prominent officer in Herod’s court. Jesus had cared for her. She had left a comfortable, privileged life to be with Jesus and the disciples. It would be interesting to have some more information. There’s a story there. Joanna would be regarded as cultured and sophisticated. And here she is in the group of women with Jesus. Luke tells us the women ‘used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples.’ These women weren’t just tagging along! They had money and skills to offer. Around Jesus we have: Peter and Andrew, two very different men. Mary and Joanna, two very different women. To be accepted in the Jesus group: you don’t need a stud in your tongue, you don’t need to commit a crime, you don’t need to wear a shirt of a particular colour. One of the wonderful things about Jesus is the way he brought very different people alongside one another. Elements of thinking: In my work, setting up
a development project, I follow the Jesus model. I can’t do it on my
own. I draw on supporters,
some I’ve worked with before. I gather around me a
variety of people, a mixed group of men and women. Sometimes it’s hard
work to get them all heading down the same track. Sometimes I have to
cast out a few demons to get people working together. But having done that,
they can really make things happen! Last week I met with a
group at Dunsandel who want to set up an after school programme. There are
four key, keen people. They have a variety of gifts. Fund-raising is not
one of them. I will help them with that. And after school, the
children will be cared for. Today we come together: people of different back-grounds, people of different needs and dreams, people of different strengths and weaknesses, alongside one another at the Communion Table, alongside one another sharing and celebrating God’s love for us: and we will make good things happen. |
|||
|
Luke 7.11-17 I
may have told you, two years ago in the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity, following the Service here, I was getting myself a cup of tea when
I overheard two women talking. One said, ‘It’s him.’ The other said,
‘No it’s not, he only looks like him.’ When I got my tea they
beckoned me over. One asked, ‘Do you walk along As you know, a year or so back we moved house. A fortnight ago they were again here at the Service. At the cup of tea, they approached me. One of them said, ‘Oh John, we’re so glad you’re not dead! You haven’t been walking along Crofton Road. We thought you must have died.’ What do you say? I said, ‘I’m alive all right!’ –And this time I didn’t feel at all badly about correcting them! I think Churchill said, ‘Rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated.’ What are we looking at here? We are looking at a culture of imagining bad news. We are looking at a culture of assuming bad news. Jesus came upon a funeral procession. Luke tells us, the dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow. When Margaret and I looked at these words, Margaret felt for the poor woman who had suffered two awful sorrows. Margaret wondered if, furthermore, losing both her husband and her son would mean the woman was destitute. We can imagine the outpouring of grief and sympathy. Luke writes, ‘When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, “Don’t cry.”’ The Greek translated ‘pity’ or ‘compassion’ expresses the very deepest feelings. Now at this time, the thing that was admired was stoicism or apathy: not having or expressing any feelings. Having or expressing feelings was regarded as a sign of weakness. Many of us men were brought up not to express feelings. I remember when I was about fourteen, I was on holiday on the farm of a friend of my father’s. I received a letter from my first girl-friend. Uncle George asked me, ‘Do you love her?’ I was a bit embarrassed. I must have nodded. He said, ‘Never tell her.’ He said, ‘Don’t wear your heart on your sleeve.’ Isn’t that sad advice? I recall looking at my sleeve and being puzzled. I asked a bride, ‘What is your father feeling about your wedding?’ She said, ‘My father wouldn’t know a feeling if he fell over one!’ Jesus shows us men, it’s okay to have and to express deep feelings. It’s okay to be risk being hurt. Luke tells us ‘Jesus said to the woman, “Don’t cry.” Then he walked over and touched the coffin.’ It would not be a coffin as we know it. It would probably be wicker and more like a stretcher. ‘Jesus said, “Young man! Get up I tell you!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.’ Is this a rising from the dead? Some scholars question whether or not the young man was dead. Until recent times, it has not been straightforward to determine death. The custom of the wake, is a party around the body to make sure he or she is dead. The so-called ‘grave-yard watch’ from mid-night until four relates to a man placed in a cemetery to watch for signs of life from someone who might have been buried alive. Margaret has been reflecting on the story. Elements
of the thinking: I
am not sure, the question -was the young man dead or was he not? is
the important one. I
think the issue might be everyone assuming the worst. The
issue might be the culture of assuming bad news. It
is easy to live always expecting the worst. It’s
not a happy way to live. The
glory of the story might be: -Jesus
breaks into our assumption of bad news –with good news! The
wonder of the story might be: -We
who live in God’s love in Jesus –need
to be always ready for a wonderful surprise! Parents
expect our children to be always needing money! Even
when they are grown-up they need money! When
they are grown-up, they can need more! You
may remember last year I lost my dear brother, Robert. It was a hard, sad
time. Then
my son Michael presented me with tickets to
go to Canada to see my brother John. When
I phoned him to express my delight and to thank him, he said, ‘I
have another surprise for you –I’m coming with you!’ We
people of faith dwell in good news. We
are ready for a wonderful surprise. Luke tells us, ‘The young man sat up and began to talk.’ I guess a definite demonstration of not being dead –is talking! Jesus has transformed bad news into good news! Jesus breaks into our assumption of bad news –with wonderful news! We have our sorrows and troubles and worries and pain all-right. But God’s love will burst through with something wonderful. Now these beautiful words, ‘The dead man sat up and began to talk –and Jesus gave him back to his mother.’ ‘And Jesus gave him back to his mother.’ His mother had lost him –and now she had him back. His mother needed him –and now she had him again. Can you see the two of them going into each other’s arms? Can you see them holding on to each other and crying into each-other’s necks? It is a beautiful picture of good news. For a students of the Scripture, we have something fascinating. We have a very similar story concerning a widow whose son had died in 1 Kings. And we have the very same words ‘(Elijah) gave him back to his mother.’ Luke writes, ‘(The people) all were filled with fear and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!”’ For some people, the important thing in the story is Jesus being identified with the great prophet Elijah. It was thought Elijah would be a for-runner to the Messiah. What they didn’t appreciate, was that Jesus was not a prophet but the messiah. Maybe you are looking forward to a wonderful time ahead. Maybe you look forward to the day when all will be well. I remember Len Fox always bought his Lotto ticket at the beginning of the week. He liked the thought of carrying the winning ticket in his wallet for six days. Maybe the wonderful time has come. Maybe today all is well. I invite you to think about your life. I invite you to look around you. Dwell in the good news. I am glad I am not dead but alive. The good news has come. |
|||
|
Romans 5.1-5 The physiotherapist asked me, ‘Make a fist.’ I did my best. She said, ‘You have plenty of room for improvement!’ I have heard words like that before! I have recently come by this coffee table I made at primary school at Woodwork. I noticed one of the legs is a lot slimmer than the others. I remembered, I got a bit carried away with the plane. The teacher said, ‘Stop! Stop John! You will soon have no leg left!’ I think my report read, ‘Could do better.’ Has it been pointed out to you –you could do better? People constantly expect us to do better. People have expectations of us we struggle to meet. I remember in Te Kuiti an old Scottish lady, Mrs Smith. When I visited her she would come to the door, look at me and say, ‘I didna know the minister’s knock.’ She was giving me the message – If you visited me more often I would know your knock! Does someone constantly think you have room for improvement? Does someone constantly expect you to do better? Do you feel you constantly disappoint someone? Do you feel you constantly fail? It’s hard going. What are you like on your own expectations of yourself? Do you have impossible expectations of yourself? Are you driven, thinking ‘I should do this –I should do that’? Do you find, as hard as you try, you can’t manage all your ‘shoulds’? Where do our ‘shoulds’ come from? Perhaps from our parents whispering in our ear. Perhaps from our feeling we must earn approval. Do you tell yourself –you have room for improvement? For the Jewish people at the time of Jesus, being God’s people meant observing endless laws. The Ten Commandments had been expanded to about 400 laws. You shall not work on the Sabbath Day. Question: What is work? Answer: Work is carrying a load. Question: What is a load? Answer: Wearing sandals is carrying a load. You shall not wear sandals on the Sabbath Day. If you were guilty of offending, you would be declared ‘Unclean’. This meant you could not be out among people. Everyone lived in fear of offending, even unknowingly. Everyone felt they couldn’t meet the expectations. Everyone felt they had room for improvement. That is what faith meant. It was pretty joyless. It was pretty heavy. Now Paul writes, ‘Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ We have been ‘put right with God’. What is he saying? 1. We have been put right that God is not judging. God doesn’t want everyone struggling to live by laws! God doesn’t want everyone to constantly feel we can’t meet expectations. 2. We have been put right that God is loving. God wants us to live having faith that we are loved! God wants us to live feeling happy about ourselves! I remember a minister whose son became a policeman. He often spoke about his son’s compassion as he dealt with difficult people. He was full of admiration for his son’s work as a policeman. When he died, his son said, ‘I think I was a disappointment to Dad. I think he was disappointed I didn’t go to university. I think he was disappointed I didn’t study for the ministry.’ It was such a shame. His father was so proud of him. His father loved him dearly. It’s a pity the father didn’t tell him. His father wasn’t judging. His father was loving! -It’s just a shame his father didn’t tell him himself, ‘I’m proud of you.’ And our heavenly Father is the same, not critical but caring. Through Jesus we know, God is not judging. God is loving. Karen has been reflecting on Paul’s words. Elements of the story. I’m interested in
Paul writing, ‘We boast of our troubles because we know troubles produce
endurance, endurance brings God’s approval and God’s approval produces
hope.’ I tell my children,
troubles can be a seasoning to life! Troubles can bring out
the best in us. I like Paul’s words,
‘God has poured out
his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit.’ God is generous with
love! We have all the love we need to actively endure
difficult times. I believe, with the
love of the Holy Spirit, we are resilient! We all have troubles. We can be bitter and
resentful. Or with the Holy
Spirit, we can accept and handle troubles. When things are not going right for our children at school, as parents we can go
to the teacher or to the coach. I think as we love our
young ones they have the
confidence to handle things themselves. I think we are better
not to go to the teacher but to encourage our
young in their own effort. Then they will find they have all they need to handle their trouble
whatever it is. Someone said, ‘People are not
defined by the things that happen to them, but by the way they
handle those things.’
There’s a story of a man out in his boat when a storm blew up and his boat tipped over. He struck out to swim to the shore. Finally he stood on the beach and looked across the distance he had swum. He said to himself, ‘I handled that!’ He was pretty chuffed. He wasn’t quite happy that his boat had capsized, but he was happy to have had the experience of handling it. He had grown. God is not saying to us –you have room for improvement. We don’t need to feel we are not good enough. God is not judging us. God is saying to us –I am pouring my love into your heart. We don’t need to feel afraid of troubles. We can handle things. God is with us. |
|||
|
Acts 2.1-21 Do I see everyone smiling? Do I see everyone happy and care-free? Has ‘The Budget’ solved all your problems? Are all your worries over? Maybe not. We have had some cold, dismal days. And what do we know? We have more ahead -and colder and more dismal! In the winter months beginning, we will sometimes struggle to keep warm, we will probably get colds, coughs or flu. About now, as we move from autumn to winter, some people feel depressed. They might be suffering from ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ -S.A.D. Some people have problems moving from one season to another. Maybe you are feeling a bit out of sorts. Maybe you are feeling a bit dispirited. Maybe you are feeling a bit sad. I have good news for you! You have come to the right place! If you are feeling dispirited, today you will be re-spirited! Today we celebrate the coming of the Spirit. This is the Spirit that carried Jesus through crucifixion, still loving, still caring, still looking forward. And you and I can have that Spirit! On the Pentecost Day a strong wind filled the house where the believers were. The
Greek for wind is pneuma. Pneuma is the Greek also for spirit and for life! From pneuma we get pneumatic. What does pneumatic mean? What does a pneumatic tyre do? It handles the bumps and holes. With the Spirit, you and I handle the bumps and holes –the rough patches in our life. What is a pneumatic tyre like? It’s bouncy! With the Spirit, you and I bounce back. With the Spirit, you and I are bouncy people! Let’s do a bounce! Let’s celebrate our bouncy spirit! I invite you to bounce up and down on your pew a few times! And on the Pentecost Day what looked like tongues of fire touched each person. Remember it was in a fire, Moses heard God speaking to him. Do you like a fire? When I got home in the evening with my broken fingers, what did I feel like doing? I felt like lighting a fire. I wanted to sit by a cheering, comforting fire. We have a heat pump. The house is warm. But it’s a cheerless, comfortless warmth. Do you find a fire lifts up your spirit? Do you like a fire? The Scots have a prayer, Lang may your lum reek. –Long may your chimney smoke. If your chimney’s smoking, it means your fire’s going and you’re all right. Let’s engage with the Spirit in fire. Let’s light one or two fires! Let’s light some candles. ……………… Karen has been thinking about the people on the Pentecost Day, though they spoke different languages –everyone understood everyone else. Elements
of the story: I
think the Holy Spirit can bring everyone together: people
of different classes and races are all responding to God’s love for
them. People
are not talking about their differences but of what they have in common. On
Wednesday I was in My
relative, He
was a little slow. He
had his routine. Every morning he walked along to the supermarket. He
didn’t buy anything. He just walked up and down the aisles, smiling at
people. He
lived next door to the police station. The policemen and women were fond
of him. They
had a pet name for him, something like ‘Mr Mop’ because
they saw over the fence, only his hair. Last
week one of the policemen realised he hadn’t seen There
were a lot of people at people
from all walks of life. Many
people had loved him. The
Holy Spirit of love had brought us all together. Flying
to I
had appointments with the celebrant and the funeral director I couldn’t
keep. I
phoned them. The celebrant was a little uneasy that we hadn’t had time
to prepare. When
we finally met, I quickly found: her
name is Tricia, she’s a lovely person, she’s an Elder at Knox, she’s
a very old and dear friend of Andrew and Judith Souness, she’s knows
Ruth Churcher well. We
immediately clicked. She was no longer uneasy. The
Service flowed beautifully. The
Holy Spirit brings us together as one. Luke
tells us, ‘Peter stood up with the other eleven disciples and in a loud
voice began to speak to the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live
in Notice this:
This is the Peter who just before had denied he knew Jesus!
These are the people who just before had been hiding behind locked doors!
His words are not for Jews alone.
Why would they be thought drunk? Karen imagines they were happy, laughing, showing affection. We spirited people don’t need to be drunk to be happy and affectionate! |
|||
|
John 17.20-23 At presbytery on Tuesday night, Hamish Galloway, the chaplain at St Andrew’s college and Sandra Wright Taylor, a board member, spoke about the tragic deaths of their pupils, the Korean girls, Yeon sue Baek and Yeon jae Baek, who took the English names, Kelly and Holly, and their parents. The girls were happy, well-liked, successful pupils. The college is shaken and grieving. everyone is feeling distressed that such a thing could happen to two of their girls. On the morning after the tragedy, Hamish led the staff in prayer. Sandra invited several parishes to supply morning tea for the teachers: she was overwhelmed with muffins and scones. I wrote a letter to the rector on your behalf. It seems the mother and the girls, while appearing happy, were in fact desperately unhappy. It seems, while they were seeing people, no-one knew they were in such distress. It seems, while they had friends, in fact they felt alone. Maybe in Korean culture, people put on a bright front, keeping their unhappiness hidden. Maybe having come here, they were embarrassed about their unhappiness. Maybe they didn’t want to trouble anyone with their distress. I invite you to be silent a while, bringing before God the pain of this family in a foreign country, and the grief of those close to them. We bring before God our own young ones, maybe putting on a bright face. ………….. What does our faith have for us? Jesus
said, ‘I pray that they Does Jesus want everyone to ‘be one’ the same? Does Jesus want everyone to think the same, feel the same, look the same? I don’t think so. I think jesus wants us to ‘be one,’ Understanding one another, Accepting one another, Alongside one another. I think of a woman talking about her good friend saying, ‘We are like that’ (crossed fingers). They feel each other’s ups and downs, They are ‘as one.’ I think about growing up close to my grandparents, other relatives and family friends. They all loved me. I always had someone to talk to. As family and friends, we were ‘as one.’ The Korean mother, Sung Eun Cho, Kelly and Holly might have had no-one with whom they were ‘as one.’ I think Jesus is not wanting us to ‘be one,’ the same. I think Jesus is wanting us to ‘be one,’ alongside one another. Jesus is wanting us to be understanding, caring, supporting of one another.
Jesus
said, ‘I pray that they Charlie has some experience of this in his shop. Elements of the story: In my shop, each staff member has their own area of expertise. One specialises in pianos. The younger ones specialise in guitars and drum kits. I specialise in old-fashioned instruments, like banjos! At the moment, everyone is selling ukuleles! Beyond each staff member’s specialisation, we work together as one: providing good service, caring for customers, pursuing the common goal of maintaining a friendly atmosphere -and of course sending a customer away happy with an instrument. For me, the important thing is working together as a team, as Jesus said, ‘being one.’ Jesus
said, ‘I pray that they In 1961 the South Africa rugby board invited the all blacks to tour –but without Maori players. There was a strong protest. People marched in the cities –‘no Maoris –no tour.’ The protest was led by Very Rev. Jack Somerville, convener of the Presbyterian church public questions committee. There was no tour. We are one people. ‘I
pray that they This was the text of the church union movement. In the fifties and sixties. There were negotiations between Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian denominations, to come together in organic union. I think the plan came to an end by the vote of one bishop. I am sure Jesus doesn’t want us to come together and be the same. I think Jesus wants us to accept and delight in one another’s differences. The different denominations each have our traditions and we enrich one another. This week as we meet in one another’s churches, we don’t try to offer a blend, we each offer the gift of our own tradition. Someone asked the Dalai Lama, ‘what can we do for the world Faiths coming together?’ And what was his response? he said, ‘Be strong in your own Faith.’ In this church of St. Giles, we are very different people: We come from different backgrounds, we went to different schools, We think and feel differently about things; But we are alongside one another, We share our faith and life journey, Our sorrows and celebrations ‘as one.’ When our son James comes home from London, He looks forward to coming to St Giles where he feels he belongs, where he feels loved, where he feels ‘as one’ with everyone. Jesus prays, ‘father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you.’ The Celtic Christians loved the trinity. The Celts embraced relationship. They believed every thing on earth is related to every other thing. They believed, if one flower is trampled, the whole earth suffers. They believed, if one person is hurting, everybody is hurting: if one person is happy, then everyone is happier. They believed the well-being of the community depends upon the well-being of each person. The Celts loved the trinity. They could see, at the heart of god is relationship: Father, Son and Spirit together in loving relationship. And Jesus’ prayer is for us to be engaged in the loving relationship of the trinity. Jesus’ prayer is for us to be engaged in that intimate relationship. Jesus’ prayer is that: No-one will feel alone, No-one will feel not loved, No-one will feel not understood. Jesus’ prayer is that: People will talk and listen to one-another, People will share their troubles, People will share their joys, People will be alongside one another. People will ‘be one.’ And a mother and her two daughters, Would not feel desperate, Would not feel despair, One night in their home in Avonhead. |
|||
|
John 5.1-9 I am remembering when I fell in the airport car park, a man called out, ‘Are you all right?’ I called back, ‘I don’t think I am!’ He helped me up. He mopped up my blood. He picked up my bag. He took me by the arm and assisted me into the terminal. Ge talked to me, asking me questions, helping me avoid fainting. I thought, isn’t this amazing? Isn’t it wonderful to have this man’s care? Here I am being beautifully looked after by a complete stranger. it was almost worth having the injury to have the care! It is very important to everyone to have someone’s care. We each need to know someone will care for us. We need to know someone cares about us. We need to know god cares. It is mothers’ day. I think of a mother of teenagers. She had a full time job. She looked after the family. She got little help. She sometimes said, ‘I am very tired. Will someone please help me.’ No-one could be bothered. She became ill. The family got quite a shock. They looked after her. Have you come across a situation like that? Someone said, ‘Illness is the way to get care.’ I invite you to have a word to your neighbour about that. ……………………… What does our Faith have for us? It was believed this pool Bethzatha had healing qualities. Occasionally there was a surge in the water, thought to be the touch of an angel. People believed, the first one into the pool after the bubbles, would be healed. By the pool, Jesus came upon a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years! Someone brought him along every morning and took him home every night. Jesus asked him, ‘do you want to get well?’ It’s a strange question. Why wouldn’t he want to get well? How does he answer? “Sir, I have no-one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying to get in, somebody else gets there first.” He doesn’t answer Jesus’ question. He makes someone else responsible. ‘I have no-one to put me in the pool.’ Surely over the years, he could have got himself to the edge of the pool and when the water was stirred, tipped himself in! Maybe he chooses to place himself a little back from the pool. Maybe he likes having the care of someone bringing him each day. Maybe he’s afraid if he was well, he wouldn’t have someone’s care. Karen reflects on what illness can mean to us. Elements
of the story: People
can define themselves by their illness. Someone
might ask this man, “Who
are you?” He might reply, “I’m
the man who’s been ill for thirty-eight years.” Maybe
his long illness gives him a feeling of importance. Perhaps he adds, “A
friend brings me to the pool every day.” Maybe
his friend’s care gives him a feeling of pride. Without
his illness, who would he be? He
might fear he would be a nobody. Have you come across someone whose identity is in their illness? It’s such a shame. Recently we had old friends stay. At breakfast we had on the table our tray of medications and supplements. We talked about our various injuries, ailments, aches and pains. I had a certain prestige in my rare ‘entrapped femoral nerve.’ Our importance can be in our illness. Someone observed, “Listen to what we are talking about! we must be getting old!” How did Jesus respond to the man? John tells us, Jesus said to him, ‘“get up, pick up your mat and walk.” immediately the man got well: He picked up his mat and started walking.’ What happened that day? Jesus gave the man his love. Jesus affirmed him as a well person. Jesus called him to break out of his fear of having no-one’s care. Karen has been reflecting on becoming well. Elements
of the story: My
husband john injured his knee playing squash. He couldn’t run. It was
too painful. One
day the coach said to him, ‘Give
it a go. Run through the pain. Keep going.
You can do it.’ And
so he did. ‘Get walking. If the pain is no more than seven (ten being screaming), keep going!’ I
think it’s about faith. Jesus’
love for the man, Jesus’
belief that he could do it, -
helped the man believe he could get up and walk. On
mother’s day I think about my mother’s wise love for me. I
remember when I was a little girl, one morning feeling unwell. It
might have had something to do with a spelling test. I
said to my mother, ‘I’m too sick to go to school.’ My
mother said, ‘when
you get along to school, I’m sure you will feel a lot better!’ And
so I did. My
mother believed in me. at one level this is a story of Jesus healing a man who had been unable to walk. At another level, its about believing we are loved by god and those around us. Its about defining ourselves not by our illness or our dependence; Its about defining ourselves by a bigger vision of our life. I
think of Mary Roberts. Mary is very unwell. Wonderfully,
she doesn’t dwell in that aspect of her life. She
dwells in the pleasure her family is to her. She
dwells in their love for her. She dwells in the fun they bring. She
is always laughing. If
someone asked mary –who are you? would she answer, ’
I’m the woman who’s in and out of hospital all the time’? No. What
would she answer? ‘I’m
the woman who has a wonderful family.’ Now I am aware, at the beginning of the year, I injured my spine. After three months I had my last physio appointment on the Monday -and on the following Saturday I injured my fingers! I now have another month or two of impairment. A friend said, ‘It’s a bit extreme -to get out of drying the dishes!’ People are very thoughtful and kind. Are my injuries a way of getting care? If Jesus asked me, ‘Do you want to get well?’ would I say, ‘No thanks, I like the care’? No. We don’t have to be unwell to have the care. We always have the care. We are always loved. Thanks
be to God. |
|||
|
John 13.33-35 Last Saturday I was flying to Queenstown. The ‘plane was diverted to nvercargill. At the Invercargill airport, I saw one of the passengers abusing the Air NZ woman. She was apologising. He was angry. He went on and on. She was blushing. I could see she was becoming distressed. Finally he stormed off. You will have come across angry, aggressive, bullying people like him. I hope you haven’t been the victim of someone like him. There’s a bit of aggression about, What does our faith have for us? When I arrived at the church at Glenorchy to officiate at the wedding two and a half hours late, were Ken and Bee angry? No. Were they distressed? No. Bee and Ken, were not at all upset. Ken smiled and said, ‘Welcome John. glad you could make it.’ Ken and Bee have both known deep sorrow. They are surprised and delighted to love again. Their families and friends are very happy for them. There were eight people in the beautiful little church which seats about twenty. Ken and Bee’s quietly spoken words of love and of hope touched us all. They are both fond of music. they had compiled a c.d. for the wedding. Then they found they couldn’t operate their c.d. player in the church! Ken’s son-in-law parked his car close to a window. He put the c.d. in his car system and he turned it on and off, by leaning out the window, pressing the buttons with his umbrella! Were ken and bee at all fazed? No. What does our faith have for us? Ken and Bee are people of faith. There was no anger; There wasn’t even any disappointment. There was just a loving spirit, and a happy spirit. To God be the glory. Jesus tells the disciples, ‘My children, I shall not be with you very much longer.’ When karen and I looked at these words, Waren was taken with ‘my children.’ elements
of the story: I
think jesus has for us a parental love. and
something more than a parental love –we parents don’t always get it
right! Jesus’
love is a watchful, caring parent’s love for little children, and
it’s a sensitive, respectful parents love for adult sons and daughters. I
think calling the disciples ‘my children’ Jesus expresses his warm
affection for them. Last Saturday I was in Dunedin watching J As
adults, it is their game. they have to play it themselves. I
think having mum cheering from the side helps. As
adults we have to make our own way in life. I
think Jesus is a loving parent
cheering us from the side! Jesus tells them, ‘I shall not be with you much longer.’ It is a grief for the disciples. They will ask themselves: What will become of us? What will we do? Is it the end? The questions we ask facing losing someone we have loved. The questions we ask facing any loss. I think about the angry man at invercargill airport. He had lost what he had planned for the day. He lost control of his day. He was worried about what he would do. He was afraid it might be the end of something important to him So he lashed out at the poor Air NZ woman.
Karen wondered with Jesus departing, if the disciples might begin competing for position. Remember
once when Jesus and the disciples were walking along, Jesus was aware of
them murmuring and asked them what they were talking about. What
were they talking about? -Who
is the most important? Jesus’
departure would leave a vacuum of power. So jesus gave them a new commandment. ‘Love one another. as I have loved you, so you must love one another.’ This is a new way of living! It is a new way of handling situations! I think of the angry man at the airport. When we are loving and being loved, -if we lose control over the day we had planned, We won’t feel a need to lash out at some poor person. I think of the disciples losing jesus. When we are loving and being loved, -if there is a power vacuum, we won’t feel a need to compete to fill the gap. I am interested Jesus said, ‘As I have loved you –so you must love one another.’ Jesus is saying, the love begins with his love for us. I was fortunate to be loved by my parents and my grandparents. Even when I was a teenager, my grandmother called me affectionately ‘wee John.’ Because I was loved as a little boy, today I have love for the people around me. It a shame we put men who were not loved as little boys in gaol. Jesus is spelling out the kind of love he means. the love is like his love. I think I have told you, at the wedding of Jean Rich’s grandson malcolm and Brian and Judith Gray’s Rebecca, I said, ‘I loved Malcolm’s grandmother, Jean.’ later, the best man said to me, ‘I would have thought Malcolm’s grandmother would be a bit old for you.’ The lad knew only about romantic love –Eros. He didn’t know about christian love –agape. I was reading recently about ‘companion planting’. Plants have certain qualities to which other plants respond. Margaret had told me, carrots and tomatoes grow well together. I read, rhubarb and cabbages growing alongside each other, do well. Don’t you think we in St Giles, are companion planted -and we do well together? We have the qualities of acceptance, comfort, support and pleasure for one another. and so we grow and become the confident, happy, caring people we can be. Karen is impressed by the rector of St. Andrew’s college, Christine Leighton. Elements of the story: Christine offers a
quiet leadership. She doesn’t stand out
in a crowd. She is alongside pupils
and parents. She listens carefully
to everyone. When a pupil is
acknowledged for having achieved something, I see her beaming with
pride and pleasure for the young person. I see her hugging
pupils. As our children are
loved, they are ready to care for each-other. James and Laura are both at Otago. It is lovely to see the way they look out for each-other. Recently laura wasn’t feeling well. she was crossing a road, standing
on a traffic island. she spotted her Brother on the pavement. she called
out, ‘James! I need a hug!’ James ran to her on the
island, where he hugged her. Jesus said, ‘If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.’ Isn’t it interesting, jesus didn’t say, If you are good, everyone will know you are my disciples. Jesus didn’t say, If you are successful, everyone will know you are my disciples. Jesus didn’t say, If you keep to the rules, everyone will know you are my disciples. no. ‘If you have love for one another, then everyone will know you are my disciples.’ On Thursday afternoon I was at C[H orthopaedic department, having fitted this Southampton splint, or Southampton traction. The nurse warned me that setting it up would be very painful. she said, ‘If it gets too bad, tell me and I will stop. I will get the doctor to give you an injection.’ She called a colleague to hold me while she proceeded. As she manipulated my fingers, all the time she was checking my face asking, ‘are you all right?’ her colleague was quietly telling me, ‘keep breathing.’ they were very concerned for me. After it was all over, I said to them, ‘I am interested in your concern regarding pain.’ I said, ‘I was brought up to say, ‘Bring it on nurse. I can handle it!’ They smiled, ‘w We don’t like seeing our patients suffering pain.’ They had love for me. They have love for all their patients. To me, they were beautiful disciples of Jesus. |
|||
|
|
|||
