Readings: 2
King 2: 1-2, 6-14 Luke 9:51-62
Today I want to
talk about extravagance: the extravagance of God, of language, of expectations,
and through all the extravagance of love. And flowing on from this, for us to
think about what is it that compelled Jesus to take this journey to the cross
and beyond and what is it that compels us to stay on the road with him?
I was tempted to
title today’s sermon as ‘Mission Impossible’.
Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem – he sets his face to the holy city, he
is on the move! And he is relentless in his singlemindedness, so focussed that
he seems to almost sweep aside the niceties of life – the place to call home,
the properly dignified farewell to one who has died, the desire to at least
tell family where you are going before you go.
All to go by the board, according to Jesus.
And then there is
the Elijah and Elisha narrative – spectacular, with whirlwinds and seas parting
and chariots of fire and Elijah rising to heaven, and Elisha, bereft, left with
the memory of the vision and hoping, praying that he has the mantle to carry on
the journey.
Extravagant
commitment from Jesus and from Elisha – sourced in the power and purpose of
God.
Let us talk a little
about Elisha first. Though he asked for
a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, there was no understanding that it would
be so – no guarantees that he would inherit the mantle of gifts that Elijah
received. Yet he follows God’s will,
unclear as to what that might mean, not at all sure what will happen but
prepared to step out anyway in faith.
And it is only as he enters the journey, strikes the water with his
staff, that he realises his call has been confirmed. He acts in expectation of the passing on of
the mantle, yet prepared that it might not be – but whatever the path given
him, God will be alongside as his guide and companion. Elisha, rather than waiting for a route map
to be worked out and presented, get up and goes anyway.
And Jesus too has
this clarity of purpose that compels him to set out on his journey to Jerusalem
with all the obstacles and struggles before him. He too is on the move for God, on a
compelling journey that makes other things seem peripheral, where the urgency
of the vision is not to be waylaid by things that can distract. Jesus has discerned the mind of God and is
willing, nay absolutely focussed on expressing God’s profound love for humanity
and all the world. And if that means
testing loyalties of those around him, then so be it – for discipleship
requires commitment!
And so we begin to
think about what it is that keeps us on this ‘Mission Impossible.’ For at times it seems so, does it not? What anchors us to this vision of a world
made whole and healthy, a people made loving and just, a difficult journey of
faith made ‘possible’ because a deep sense of God’s extravagant vision compels
us to discern God’s will for us and act upon it?
What is it that
nourishes this seemingly impossible journey?
What keeps our discipleship focussed and compelling?
We could blithely
say ‘our faith’ but I think that is a bit limited and needs some
expanding. Yes we are fed by scripture,
nurtured by the Spirit, encouraged in community, welcomed and sustained in the
sacraments, held in covenant with God through Christ but I am talking about the
extravagant God that delights in us, that expects much of us, that loves us
with a passion that surpasses all we might know, and, in Christ, is a light
that will shine with extraordinary power and purpose in this world if we would
be the vessel. How to keep that focus, to not be distracted from it, how to set
our face to Jerusalem in all trust and expectation that God will prevails.
I believe we need
to be constantly reminded of the glory of God – to have the Mission Impossible
fed by the pure delight in creation, the world around us, the sky above, the
ebb and flow of the ocean, the beauty of our land, our flora and fauna, the
rhythms of the seasons and the intricate and complex dance of relationship of
all living things on this planet.
Matariki reminds us of not just the beauty of the skies but the
intricate relationship of the stars with humankind and their cycle of
life.
And when we hold
that vision of God’s creation, it makes the hurt we have done to this planet so
much more painful, it makes our need to amend our ways so much more urgent, it
makes our voice for change so much more strident - for we are destroying God’s
vision for the world.
I believe we need
to be constantly reminded of the way we meet God in our actions and
interactions. That we make the light of
this ‘Mission Impossible’ shine so brightly in the world by who we are and what
we do and say and be.
Like Elisha –
there is no point waiting around for certainty and guarantees – let’s just step
out there command the waters to part so to speak, be prepared for God to be
active in our lives in extravagant and spectacular ways – or in ordinary and
little ways – all of which is the working of God’s purpose through us. Like the blankets we have just blessed, like
the Generation Zero work of people like Adam Currie, like the outpouring of
grief and love in the events of March 15, like the care this community has
given and gives to those who are in pain.
Like Jesus, deep
down knowing that what we do to show the love of God for and in this world is
the most important thing we can do and not to let things distract us from
that. And just a couple of points about
the journey to Jerusalem that Jesus set out on.
It was quite a circuitous route he took - much happened on the way, many
different roads were followed, the narrative was messy and all over the place,
but it was always pointing toward Jerusalem.
And his journey was all about his sense of call – that God had placed in
his heart the vision of a world healed and restored by his actions, and it was
a compelling mission that all else became less in its light.
And our actions
and interaction are grounded in our worship, our hearing the word, praying, our
singing and our sacraments of baptism and gathering around the table of our
Lord. If the extravagant generosity and
love of God through Christ is not shown in our worship, in the gifts of
forgiveness and teaching and caring for the world and each other, in the bread
and wine of the table where all are one in Christ, then I don’t know how we can
take it into the world.
And finally I
believe we are to be constantly reminded of the role of those who have taught
us and shaped us and guided us in faith.
Those of this place of worship who have impacted us, challenged us, held
us through the hard times and celebrated with us the milestones of our
lives. We think of the Rod Madills and
the Vetia Sheats and the Laurie Williams and all those named in our hearts who
have nurtured us and been the shining lights of faith for us.
We think of those
in our families, our friends, our faith guides in other church communities,
other places and times who have encouraged, taught, walked alongside us in our
spiritual journeys. We think of those we
have read, listened to, debated with, who have developed our theology, reminded
us of our purpose, shown us new ways and reminded us of old ways that hold
wisdom and truth. And we also give
thanks for those from different faiths with whom we find spiritual common
ground, those of our own faith with whom we disagree, those who challenge our
understandings and behaviours when they see the log in our eyes better than we
do.
May these three
things, be our reminders of the extravagance of a God who is Creator, Servant,
and Sustainer to each one of us and, through us to the world. And may our journey on this way be
compelling, full of action and commitment, may we see that in facing Jerusalem
we become part of a Mission made possible in the love of God for us and the
world. Amen.
Margaret Garland
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