Reading: 2
Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41
We pray: Faithful and eternal God, we come from our
many different places, various threads of this community, this city seeking to
hear your word for us. Open and
encourage our hearts and minds to the possibilities you bring, if only we would
listen. Amen.
The storm was
fearsome, the waves close to swamping the boat, the seasoned fishermen, the
disciples, were helpless against the forces of nature – and yet Jesus
slept. This was it, the end, overturned
boat, bodies washed up on the shore.
Make no mistake the disciples were frightened, very aware of the dangers
of this untameable world and the frailty of their place in it. And when he finally woke, what was it that
Jesus said: Why are you afraid? On first glance, a rather unsympathetic
response from someone who we might expect more understanding from.
But when we look
and listen more closely we realise what it was that he did not say: he
did not say ‘there is nothing to be afraid of’.
When a child wakes in the middle of the night from a nightmare and we go
to comfort them do we say ‘there’s nothing to be afraid of’? (that is a bit
ingenuous because they are frightened of something) or do we say ‘don’t be
afraid – I’m here.’ Jesus said ‘Do not
be afraid’ ‘have faith in God before whom even nature is gentled.’
Do not be afraid,
for God is with us, not ever leaving us alone to walk this sometimes fearsome
journey of life. For there are certainly
things to be afraid of, things that overwhelm us and we wonder if there is ever
a way – but perhaps Jesus is telling us to not let that paralyze us, not to let
panic and fear frighten us, not give up for we are not alone.
The psalmist knew
this truth – some verses from today’s psalm - 9
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion. Declare his deeds among the peoples.
For he does not forget the cry of the
afflicted.
The needy shall not always be
forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish for ever.
We are to remember
that God is with us, that love is stronger than hatred - for it is indeed a
frightening world. When we look around
us, we weep. We only need to look at
what has happened in the world over the last week – shootings, extortions, greed
going its own sweet way in the property market, 12 year olds in the sex industry
– and it goes on.
This is the Sunday
in the year when we especially remember those who are refugees – from war, from
famine, from political, racial, cultural oppression. Was it only me whose insides churned at the
thought that people who had paid exorbitant fees for a place in an overcrowded,
unseaworthy boat watched as affluent nations paid the crew to turn them
around. I don’t think so! What about those rescued in the Mediterranean,
abandoned to the elements and the compassion of nations that might or might not
want to help. They come from horrific conditions most of them – putting all
there hope in others – the ones who take their money, the countries they might
get to. Yet they are invariably let
down. A transaction. Not wanted.
A nuisance.
Maybe it is
oversimplifying it but we have a huge influx of people to particularly Auckland
(and a big yes to the fantastic diversity we have in this country) but do not
offer the same generosity of welcome for those who are literally fleeing for
their lives. Something is wrong here.
I don’t know how
many of you have read the latest encyclical letter of Pope Francis on caring
for our common home. It is a powerful
document on the ways in which we are destroying this our planet through greed
and apathy and egocentric choices. He
targets our inability to care for creation, all of it, as intimately linked
with social, economic and religious selfishness and rigidity. And he challenges our ability and desire as
the people of God, whatever faith we might be, to respond in even the smallest
of ways. Remember the mustard seed?
I followed some of
the twitter response to the publication of this letter (I don’t think many who
criticised actually took the time to read it) and was appalled at the comments
made – they only proved his point really.
The selfishness and rigidity of too many of humankind. The time spent arguing over whether the
environment was more important than violence or morality – someone thankfully
said ‘actually, both/and’.
I think one of the
best was “why is the pope embracing
communist/progressive talking points/propaganda? U should listen to the Lord
not commies.”
And
perhaps much more serious and repeated often was something along the style of
“Christians all over the world are being slaughtered and #persecuted, and you're going on
about #climatechange? I'm out! “
Seriously – we only care about
Christians? Which Jesus did they know?
And so to our
response. We have heard the Psalm:
that God does not forget the cry of the
afflicted. The needy shall not
always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor perish for ever.
nor the hope of the poor perish for ever.
Are we panicking
in the boat, overwhelmed with what we see and experience, ineffective against
the enormity of a world that seems to want to devour itself on so many
fronts? Or are we a people of faith who
will continue to speak out, live caringly and compassionately, and trust to the
grace of God as we seek to make a difference to our world.
Our church has I
believe, got some issues to address before it can truly be a church of faith as
described above – and this would be nothing new nor isolated to the PCANZ.
There has been
another paper just published – and this is here in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Moderator of our Church Rev Andrew Norton
has released a White Paper that he asks all of us to seriously consider – and
he titles it ‘A Matter of Faith’. This
is a document that we will provide opportunity to discuss and I hope that you
can be part of that – it is, I believe, that important.
For it speaks to
how it is that we are church, how we respond to the ills of the world, how we
within the church can fall into the same rigidity, expend our energies on
issues and try to right the boat by battening down the hatches so to speak.
Within the context
of an increasingly secular society and falling numbers in mainstream churches,
Andrew outlines the issues for our Denomination as he sees them –
· Spiritual vitality of the church – our
health is not about numbers or buildings but about inspirational journey.
· Individualism and congregationalism – our
engagement with each other as a national movement has been severely compromised
by limited energy and division into each one’s small corner.
· Woundedness – right and wrong, passive
aggressive, power plays, distrust, suspicion – how powerful to live in not
agreement but reconciliation
· Loss of voice – we have largely become
silent on public issues – and when we do speak out it is usually an ‘against’
rather than ‘for’. Imagine a voice for
the poor, for peace, for victims.
· Raising the bar in Ministry – are the ways
in which we call, sustain, develop Ministry relevant in our changing
world? The conversations are needed and
the energies for Ministry released.
· The ethics of mission – is our motivation
to bring people to Christ or alternatively are they good works only? Andrew says:
When everything is mission, mission becomes nothing. Yet at the same
time everything we do must be grounded in mission…
· Busyness – are we busy to the point of
distractedness, becoming like the world – too busy and too noisy, so we don’t
have to face the loss of dream and deep organisational incoherence.
· And finally stewardship – decreasing people
numbers sit alongside increased stored wealth tagged for eg buildings. Where are we gifting from our surplus to our
communities.
Andrew invites us
to engage in discussion of these issues, and ultimately to choose to the
approach of Jesus in the face of the storms that surround us, to have faith in
a God that is creating and recreating, who is for us and not against us, to
embrace the adventure of faith in God alone.
Andrew leaves us with these words and I will too:
Before mission (works) comes intention
Before intention comes attention
Before attention comes love
Before love comes listening
Before listening comes grace
And before grace comes God alone.
Margaret Garland
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