Sunday 25th January, 2009 Third Sunday after Epiphany
Sentence
The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel
Mark 1:15
Collect
Bountiful God, through Your Son You have called us to repent of our sins to believe in the good news, and to celebrate the coming of Your Kingdom; teach us to hear the call to discipleship, and forsaking the old ways, to proclaim and live the gospel of new life to a broken world, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Jonah 3: 1- 10
A second time the word of the Lord came to Jonah: "Go to the great city of Nineveh; go and denounce it in the words I give you.' Jonah obeyed and went at once to Nineveh. It was a vast city, three days' journey across, and Jonah began by going a day's journey into it. Then he proclaimed: "In forty days Nineveh will be overthrown!'
The people of Nineveh took to heart this warning from God; they declared a public fast, and high and low alike put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh he rose from his throne, laid aside his robes of state, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. He had this proclamation made in Nineveh: "By decree of the king and his nobles, neither man nor beast is to touch any food; neither herd nor flock may eat or drink. Every person and every animal is to be covered with sackcloth. Let all pray with fervour to God, and let them abandon their wicked ways and the injustice they practise. It may be that God will relent and turn from his fierce anger: and so we shall not perish.'
When God saw what they did and how they gave up their wicked ways, he relented and did not inflict on them the punishment he had threatened.
PSALM 62: 5 – 12
Nevertheless, my soul, wait in silence for God: for from Him comes my hope
He only is my rock and my salvation: my strong tower so that I shall not be moved
In God is my deliverance and my glory: God is my strong rock and my shelter.
Trust in Him at all times, O my people: pour out your hearts before Him for God is our refuge
The children of Adam are but breath, the children of earth are a lie: place them in the scales and they fly upward, they are as light as air.
Put no trust in extortion, do not grow worthless by robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them
God has spoken once, twice I have heard Him say: that power belongs to God
That to the Lord belongs a constant goodness: for You reward each one of us according to our works
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31
What I mean, my friends, is this: the time we live in will not last long. While it lasts, married men should be as if they had no wives; mourners should be as if they had nothing to grieve them, the joyful as if they did not rejoice; those who buy should be as if they possessed nothing, and those who use the world's wealth as if they did not have full use of it. For the world as we know it is passing away.
GOSPEL Mark 1: 14 – 20
After John had been arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "The time has arrived; the kingdom of God is upon you. Repent, and believe the gospel.' Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee when he saw Simon and his brother Andrew at work with casting-nets in the lake; for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat mending their nets. At once he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. They came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he went to the synagogue and began to teach.
NOTES ON THE READINGS
Jonah
One of the ways many Christians seem to have of avoiding the real message of Jonah is to assume that this book is about miracles. That business about the fish, in fact the entire story, is not reality, but metaphor. It is about the rather too normal human reaction against evangelism, and in particular against rather too normal human hang-ups. The fish business is just a bit of embroidery on a tale to get the reader in.
Jews were, traditionally, very isolationist. They were God’s Chosen and nobody else really mattered in the Divine scheme of things – or so they thought. In order to shake them out of their lethargy, this (hypothetical) story was told to get the so-and-sos thinking. Jonah, deciding that his call to preach to Nineveh was all a bit too much, fled in the opposite direction to avoid being obedient. However, when Jonah’s hand was forced, and he did that preaching, and his preaching was effective, he spat the dummy big time, as young people would put it these days.
Anyhow. So the story goes, the Ninevites repented, - or to put it in general terms, saw the truth of what was being conveyed to them, and changed their ways. Once again, this epiphany thing came to Ninevites through the ministry of dear old grumpy Jonah. God always works through ordinary humans, sometimes even when they are disobedient!!!!!! And look who had to do a lot of growing up!
Psalm
The more I see and read of the Psalms, the more my understanding of the direction of these musings deepen, not in any esoteric, religious sense, but very much in terms of ordinary living and the best way to operate. On the surface, we seem to have the moanings of an inadequate person who can only survive by leaning on God. While there may be smidgin of truth in this, the force of the observations are rather more down-to-earth.
As the Psalmist looked at life, he was aware, clearly, of the inability or unwillingness of mere humans to operate with any sort of integrity. He has an interesting comment in verse 5 – in a play on words not evident in English. Adam is humanity, and adamah is the environment (the dust) from which adam comes and to which adam goes. And even adam’s breath is given, that spirit (pneuma, ruarch) given by God to humanity. In other words, there is a terrible brevity and impermanence about adam, but that is balanced by the permanency of God. It is that for which the Psalmist is most grateful, because that permanence of God is guarantee of the permanence of the eternal values of justice, integrity and ‘constant goodness.’ It is a gratitude that we of this current age need to recognize, value and uphold.
Epistle
When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he, like everyone else, thought that the Parousia, the Second Coming, was really quite imminent. Because of that, there was a sense of urgency in living the life of faith in a world that didn’t. It was a matter of witness to those around that there was a viable alternative to self-centred and self-obsessive living.
While modern Christians (or the greater number of them) understand the Parousia in less immediate terms, the need to live the life of faith is increasingly necessary, especially as the world of (Western culture at least) becomes increasingly self-focussed.
Gospel
There is something of a two-edged sword in this introduction to Mark’s Gospel. While he makes sure the emphasis is on repent, there is also the immediate focus on Jesus’ call to ordinary humans to be involved in this Gospel of changing life and living.
The Kingdom of God is not something mysterious or esoteric. It is simply the situation where the rule or reign of God becomes more visible and tangible where people live in obedience to the Divine will. This is not essentially a religious matter – it is a matter of justice, integrity, compassion and love. The Kingdom is present wherever such attributes are found and expressed, And if you dare to see it, this can be by those who profess unbelief, when they accept the eternal values mentioned above.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
I remember when I first arrived at a new parish many years ago, being in a situation where families had lived for generations, and had kept their little Church going for, then, over a hundred years. However, one of the things that surprised me was that the younger generation of young parents seemed to have no real idea of why they were part of the show. I was really quite surprised at what was really profound ignorance about the Faith, until it became clear that their parents were rather vague about things, too. That was at the time when Church and Faith were seen as quite intangible, and somehow dissociated from real and ordinary life. The Christian’s job was to believe, but no one had apparently told them what to believe. It was all so ephemeral. That is not what any Faith is about. However, that vague and amorphous perception remains. And it may take a long time for that to disappear.
Epiphany: it is reminding us of the need to be lights in a dark place, to be reaching out to those who are unaware of why Church and faith exist, and who are concerned increasingly at ‘the way things are going.’ It is in that direction that we need to be following the paths of the Magi, of getting the clear picture of the faith and of being able to share what we know – growing in understanding God-in-Christ, and growing in the capacity to share this significantly with people around about us. In other words, Epiphany is not just something that we celebrate because it happened ‘back there,’ but to continue the process in our own day and time.
For many, many decades, the Church has not seen the need to share the Faith. Both the Church, and people in it, saw the faith as something very personal and private, very intangible. So much was this so, that any talk about believing was regarded as quite outside the bounds of propriety. Perhaps this is why the Jonah story was reduced to the miraculous. All about the fish. And neither you nor I are capable of miracle. But Jonah was precisely what the Church needed – the challenging tale of a people of God who did all in their power to avoid the Divine challenge to share faith and experience. That old book and its tale must have got up the nose of contented and powerful men in Israel – they must have perceived that it was aimed against them. And no one likes snide attempts as getting them to look and think wider than their comfort zone.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Ron's Notes January 18, 2009
Sunday 18th January 2009 Second Sunday after Epiphany
Sentence
We have found the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, the king of Israel!
John 1:49
Collect
Eternal God, Whose Son Jesus Christ is now revealed as Lord of all, and pours out His gifts upon the Church; grant us that unity which only Your Spirit can give, keep us in the bond of peace, and bring all creation to worship before Your throne, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 1 Samuel 3: 1 – 20
The boy Samuel was in the Lord's service under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rarely heard, and there was no outpouring of vision. One night Eli, whose eyes were dim and his sight failing, was lying down in his usual place, while Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord where the Ark of God was. Before the lamp of God had gone out, the Lord called him, and Samuel answered, "Here I am!' and ran to Eli saying, "You called me: here I am.' "No, I did not call you,' said Eli; "lie down again.' So he went and lay down.
The Lord called Samuel again, and he got up and went to Eli. "Here I am!” he said. "Surely you called me.” "I did not call, my son,” he answered; "lie down again.' Samuel had not yet come to know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not been disclosed to him. When the Lord called him for the third time, he again went to Eli and said, "Here I am! You did call me.' Then Eli understood that it was the Lord calling the boy; he told Samuel to go and lie down and said, "If someone calls once more, say, "Speak, Lord; your servant is listening." ' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Then the Lord came, and standing there called, "Samuel, Samuel!' as before. Samuel answered, "Speak, your servant is listening.' The Lord said, "Soon I shall do something in Israel which will ring in the ears of all who hear it. When that day comes I shall make good every word from beginning to end that I have spoken against Eli and his family. You are to tell him that my judgement on his house will stand for ever because he knew of his sons' blasphemies against God and did not restrain them. Therefore I have sworn to the family of Eli that their abuse of sacrifices and offerings will never be expiated.'
Samuel lay down till morning, when he opened the doors of the house of the Lord; but he was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. Eli called Samuel: "Samuel, my son!' he said; and Samuel answered, "Here I am!' Eli asked, "What did the Lord say to you? Do not hide it from me. God's curse upon you if you conceal from me one word of all that he said to you.' Then Samuel told him everything, concealing nothing. Eli said, "The Lord must do what is good in his eyes.'
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and none of his words went unfulfilled. From Dan to Beersheba, all Israel recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. So the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because he had revealed himself there to Samuel.
PSALM 139: 1-5 & 12 – 18
O Lord, You have searched me out and known me: You know when I sit or when I stand, You comprehend my thoughts long before.
You discern my path and the places where I rest: You are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue: but You, O Lord, know it altogether.
You have encompassed me behind and before: and have laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: so high that I cannot endure it.
For You have created my inward parts: You knit me together in my mother’s womb
I will praise You, for You are to be feared: fearful are Your acts, and wonderful Your works
You know my soul, and my bones are not hidden from You: when I was formed in secret and woven in the depths of the earth
Your eyes saw my limbs when they were yet imperfect: and in Your book were all my members written.
Day by ay they were fashioned: and not one of them was late in growing
How deep are Your thoughts to me, O God: and how great is the sum of them
Were I to count them, they are more in number than the sand: were I to come to the end, I would still be with You
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 6: 12 – 20
"I am free to do anything,” you say. Yes, but not everything does good. No doubt I am free to do anything, but I for one will not let anything make free with me. "Food is for the belly and the belly for food,” you say. True; and one day God will put an end to both. But the body is not for fornication; it is for the Lord--and the Lord for the body. God not only raised our Lord from the dead; he will also raise us by his power.
Do you not know that your bodies are limbs and organs of Christ? Shall I then take parts of Christ's body and make them over to a prostitute? Never! You surely know that anyone who joins himself to a prostitute becomes physically one with her, for scripture says, "The two shall become one flesh”; but anyone who joins himself to the Lord is one with him spiritually. Have nothing to do with fornication. Every other sin that one may commit is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is God's gift to you? You do not belong to yourselves; you were bought at a price. Then honour God in your body.
GOSPEL John 1: 43 – 51
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He met Philip, who, like Andrew and Peter, came from Bethsaida, and said to him, "Follow me.” Philip went to find Nathanael and told him, "We have found the man of whom Moses wrote in the law, the man foretold by the prophets: it is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.' "Nazareth!' Nathanael exclaimed. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?' Philip said, "Come and see.' When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said, "Here is an Israelite worthy of the name; there is nothing false in him.' Nathanael asked him, "How is it you know me?' Jesus replied, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip spoke to you.' "Rabbi,' said Nathanael, "you are the Son of God; you are king of Israel.' Jesus answered, "Do you believe this because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.' Then he added, "In very truth I tell you all: you will see heaven wide open and God's angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'
NOTES ON THE READINGS
Old Testament Lesson
I am surprised, if I may say, at the extent to which so many of the old stories from Scripture are no longer known or remembered. So, if the comment that follows seems unnecessary for you, then I am most glad! The story of the prayer of Hannah, Samuel’s mother, (1 Sam 1) is remarkably parallel to the Song of Mary – and it is worth a look! Here is the tale of the very young Samuel with one huge task dropped in his lap. When I was young, the Sunday School story (and a hymn to match) focussed on little Samuel to whom God spoke. It is a touching story but we were never pointed to the purpose of the tale, which was that God may well require young and inexperienced people to lead older ones to truth.
Can you imagine the fear in little Samuel, having to unload all that baggage on the old priest? Can you imagine yourself in a situation where you need to convey maybe unpleasant realities on someone close to you? In our day and age, we tend to prevaricate and pussy-foot. And then we wonder why nothing ever changes!
Psalm
This is a remarkable Psalm in its perception of God and His relationship to us. It may be a little much to assume that God’s individual interest is so personal, but it seems to me that the point of this psalmist is ….. that God knows us inside out, and there is neither need nor excuse for either of us to hide from our own realities. I find that, when I realize that the Lord knows me inside out, and continues to care, that I ca come to terms with my own weaknesses and even demons if it comes to that. If HE can handle it, then I guess I can also. Mind you, I will find it more than sad if YOU are unable to handle my realities.
Epistle
We live in a strange world these days, it seems to me. So much of the population is trying to be what it is not, trying to avoid facing the realities of being human, and trying to do all the wrong (that is, damaging) things and then assuming that no consequences will ensue. Life is simply not like that.
It may well be that, in the past, people reading this passage limited their view of what Paul is saying to matters sexual and therefore naughty! I doubt very much if that is the case. What Paul is saying, seems to me, that there is a freedom in being human, but that freedom does not extend to anything --- shall I say super human ? I am human, certainly, but I am not superman. Nor am I God. I do not and cannot set either the rules or the limits, or even the consequences of going beyond the values of being human. If I act or behave in a sub-human or super-human way, then I am likely to encounter some problem. For instance, if I try to breathe underwater, then the water will win and not me! However, if I work within the parameters, then life can be rather beaut indeed.
Gospel
It is probably important for any reader of this passage to know something about the original story of ascending and descending angels. To miss that point is to miss the purpose of the tale. Go back to Genesis and the story of Jacob fleeing home and heading for Haran. (Genesis 28:10ff) It was a simple tale and yet hugely significant. Jacob was fleeing from expected retribution from his brother, having stolen the birth-right. He would have expected retribution from God as well. What he did know, from contemporary belief, that when he moved from God’s territory he also moved from God’s protection.
The dream of Jacob that night was what we may well call a transfiguration. What Jacob expected turned into something quite unexpected. Behold God is in this place and I knew it not was the startling discovery for that renegade. And that is the nature of the surprise all the time. God in the unexpected, in the unfamiliar or even the familiar.
Here, the epiphany is not FOR Jesus but of Jesus. It was Nathanael who was taken by surprise in this instance, taken aback by Jesus’ awareness of him. There is nothing miraculous in this for you will almost certainly have the experience of somehow knowing the credibility and depth in someone you may have just met. And please remember that the term ‘Israel’ means ‘the one who struggles with God.’ In other words, the answers about life may well come with some difficulty. And the struggle is the search.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It strikes me that Epiphany is somewhat like Advent – there is rather more in the Season than meets the eye. Epiphany, certainly, has to do with light coming into a dark place, as does Advent. And sometimes, that light surprises. Occasionally, it shocks!
I wonder if you can follow along with me! In today’s Readings, it strikes me that in just one of the passages there is the expression that growth or epiphany comes from Scripture. In the other readings, I wonder if you dare follow me in seeing that growth or epiphany comes from outside Scripture. Perhaps I should give you some time to get past the shock.
What Paul wrote about in the Epistle goes back to the Ten Commandments, basically. That business about adultery. I find it interesting that he takes the matter rather beyond the deed, so to speak, to the reality of what happens in such a situation. What he pointed to was the lie that is created. And lies damage people. In this sort of situation, the damage is bi-lateral. Mind you, in quite recent days, I recall a radio programme where an avowed atheist lady bemoaned the way modern kids seem to rely on other people’s views and theories about what is right and wrong. That lady made it quite clear that her own parents encouraged her and her siblings to look inside, and think and ponder before doing anything – for there, said her Mum – one finds their real answers. Now, if I shocked you a little while ago, be ready for another shock – or epiphany.
I would go along with what that atheist mother said to her daughter, although I would go on to see that in situations like that, it is the Holy Spirit at work, in believer or unbeliever, for anyone who searches for the truth will find it. Epiphany outside of Scripture, do you see?
In Jacob’s situation, his epiphany came with total unexpectedness, as he could not have imagined that the writ of God extended to where he was, in hostile and godless territory. In spite of Jacob being a rather less than pleasant fellow, supplanter and cheat, God still spoke to him in the same way God spoke to that atheist lady and her daughter. I am not being at all dogmatic about this – in fact I ask you to look way beyond the confines and control of dogma. I am asking you to look at life, at the reality that surrounds you, and to see, in fact, that God is right there in it, and in a rather bigger way that Jacob expected, and that we expect. We are talking about God after all!
And the same sort of revelation came to Nathanael. Like the rest of us, dear old Nathanael thought that our innermost self is not all that visible to other people, and that we can hide behind the self-erected screen. But this is rarely so: we may fool some of the people some of the time, but very rarely will be fool all of the people all of the time. And that has repercussions on how we should operate as humans beings. What I really am will become clearer to you the better you get to know me. That is not to be some sort of disadvantage to either of us – but it does mean I need to be fair dinkum with you and with others if you are ever going to begin to trust me.
So when Scripture talks about epiphanies, (and remember that the word simply means that light is being shown in a dark place) it is not talking about matters entirely spiritual. It is talking about life as it is lived. That is where the Faith is designed to operate, and we remove it from that sphere only at great damage and disadvantage to ourselves.
So this Epiphany works somewhat in reverse to what otherwise we may have thought.
Sentence
We have found the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, the king of Israel!
John 1:49
Collect
Eternal God, Whose Son Jesus Christ is now revealed as Lord of all, and pours out His gifts upon the Church; grant us that unity which only Your Spirit can give, keep us in the bond of peace, and bring all creation to worship before Your throne, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 1 Samuel 3: 1 – 20
The boy Samuel was in the Lord's service under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rarely heard, and there was no outpouring of vision. One night Eli, whose eyes were dim and his sight failing, was lying down in his usual place, while Samuel slept in the temple of the Lord where the Ark of God was. Before the lamp of God had gone out, the Lord called him, and Samuel answered, "Here I am!' and ran to Eli saying, "You called me: here I am.' "No, I did not call you,' said Eli; "lie down again.' So he went and lay down.
The Lord called Samuel again, and he got up and went to Eli. "Here I am!” he said. "Surely you called me.” "I did not call, my son,” he answered; "lie down again.' Samuel had not yet come to know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not been disclosed to him. When the Lord called him for the third time, he again went to Eli and said, "Here I am! You did call me.' Then Eli understood that it was the Lord calling the boy; he told Samuel to go and lie down and said, "If someone calls once more, say, "Speak, Lord; your servant is listening." ' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Then the Lord came, and standing there called, "Samuel, Samuel!' as before. Samuel answered, "Speak, your servant is listening.' The Lord said, "Soon I shall do something in Israel which will ring in the ears of all who hear it. When that day comes I shall make good every word from beginning to end that I have spoken against Eli and his family. You are to tell him that my judgement on his house will stand for ever because he knew of his sons' blasphemies against God and did not restrain them. Therefore I have sworn to the family of Eli that their abuse of sacrifices and offerings will never be expiated.'
Samuel lay down till morning, when he opened the doors of the house of the Lord; but he was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. Eli called Samuel: "Samuel, my son!' he said; and Samuel answered, "Here I am!' Eli asked, "What did the Lord say to you? Do not hide it from me. God's curse upon you if you conceal from me one word of all that he said to you.' Then Samuel told him everything, concealing nothing. Eli said, "The Lord must do what is good in his eyes.'
As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and none of his words went unfulfilled. From Dan to Beersheba, all Israel recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. So the Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because he had revealed himself there to Samuel.
PSALM 139: 1-5 & 12 – 18
O Lord, You have searched me out and known me: You know when I sit or when I stand, You comprehend my thoughts long before.
You discern my path and the places where I rest: You are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue: but You, O Lord, know it altogether.
You have encompassed me behind and before: and have laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: so high that I cannot endure it.
For You have created my inward parts: You knit me together in my mother’s womb
I will praise You, for You are to be feared: fearful are Your acts, and wonderful Your works
You know my soul, and my bones are not hidden from You: when I was formed in secret and woven in the depths of the earth
Your eyes saw my limbs when they were yet imperfect: and in Your book were all my members written.
Day by ay they were fashioned: and not one of them was late in growing
How deep are Your thoughts to me, O God: and how great is the sum of them
Were I to count them, they are more in number than the sand: were I to come to the end, I would still be with You
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 6: 12 – 20
"I am free to do anything,” you say. Yes, but not everything does good. No doubt I am free to do anything, but I for one will not let anything make free with me. "Food is for the belly and the belly for food,” you say. True; and one day God will put an end to both. But the body is not for fornication; it is for the Lord--and the Lord for the body. God not only raised our Lord from the dead; he will also raise us by his power.
Do you not know that your bodies are limbs and organs of Christ? Shall I then take parts of Christ's body and make them over to a prostitute? Never! You surely know that anyone who joins himself to a prostitute becomes physically one with her, for scripture says, "The two shall become one flesh”; but anyone who joins himself to the Lord is one with him spiritually. Have nothing to do with fornication. Every other sin that one may commit is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is God's gift to you? You do not belong to yourselves; you were bought at a price. Then honour God in your body.
GOSPEL John 1: 43 – 51
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He met Philip, who, like Andrew and Peter, came from Bethsaida, and said to him, "Follow me.” Philip went to find Nathanael and told him, "We have found the man of whom Moses wrote in the law, the man foretold by the prophets: it is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.' "Nazareth!' Nathanael exclaimed. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?' Philip said, "Come and see.' When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said, "Here is an Israelite worthy of the name; there is nothing false in him.' Nathanael asked him, "How is it you know me?' Jesus replied, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip spoke to you.' "Rabbi,' said Nathanael, "you are the Son of God; you are king of Israel.' Jesus answered, "Do you believe this because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.' Then he added, "In very truth I tell you all: you will see heaven wide open and God's angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.'
NOTES ON THE READINGS
Old Testament Lesson
I am surprised, if I may say, at the extent to which so many of the old stories from Scripture are no longer known or remembered. So, if the comment that follows seems unnecessary for you, then I am most glad! The story of the prayer of Hannah, Samuel’s mother, (1 Sam 1) is remarkably parallel to the Song of Mary – and it is worth a look! Here is the tale of the very young Samuel with one huge task dropped in his lap. When I was young, the Sunday School story (and a hymn to match) focussed on little Samuel to whom God spoke. It is a touching story but we were never pointed to the purpose of the tale, which was that God may well require young and inexperienced people to lead older ones to truth.
Can you imagine the fear in little Samuel, having to unload all that baggage on the old priest? Can you imagine yourself in a situation where you need to convey maybe unpleasant realities on someone close to you? In our day and age, we tend to prevaricate and pussy-foot. And then we wonder why nothing ever changes!
Psalm
This is a remarkable Psalm in its perception of God and His relationship to us. It may be a little much to assume that God’s individual interest is so personal, but it seems to me that the point of this psalmist is ….. that God knows us inside out, and there is neither need nor excuse for either of us to hide from our own realities. I find that, when I realize that the Lord knows me inside out, and continues to care, that I ca come to terms with my own weaknesses and even demons if it comes to that. If HE can handle it, then I guess I can also. Mind you, I will find it more than sad if YOU are unable to handle my realities.
Epistle
We live in a strange world these days, it seems to me. So much of the population is trying to be what it is not, trying to avoid facing the realities of being human, and trying to do all the wrong (that is, damaging) things and then assuming that no consequences will ensue. Life is simply not like that.
It may well be that, in the past, people reading this passage limited their view of what Paul is saying to matters sexual and therefore naughty! I doubt very much if that is the case. What Paul is saying, seems to me, that there is a freedom in being human, but that freedom does not extend to anything --- shall I say super human ? I am human, certainly, but I am not superman. Nor am I God. I do not and cannot set either the rules or the limits, or even the consequences of going beyond the values of being human. If I act or behave in a sub-human or super-human way, then I am likely to encounter some problem. For instance, if I try to breathe underwater, then the water will win and not me! However, if I work within the parameters, then life can be rather beaut indeed.
Gospel
It is probably important for any reader of this passage to know something about the original story of ascending and descending angels. To miss that point is to miss the purpose of the tale. Go back to Genesis and the story of Jacob fleeing home and heading for Haran. (Genesis 28:10ff) It was a simple tale and yet hugely significant. Jacob was fleeing from expected retribution from his brother, having stolen the birth-right. He would have expected retribution from God as well. What he did know, from contemporary belief, that when he moved from God’s territory he also moved from God’s protection.
The dream of Jacob that night was what we may well call a transfiguration. What Jacob expected turned into something quite unexpected. Behold God is in this place and I knew it not was the startling discovery for that renegade. And that is the nature of the surprise all the time. God in the unexpected, in the unfamiliar or even the familiar.
Here, the epiphany is not FOR Jesus but of Jesus. It was Nathanael who was taken by surprise in this instance, taken aback by Jesus’ awareness of him. There is nothing miraculous in this for you will almost certainly have the experience of somehow knowing the credibility and depth in someone you may have just met. And please remember that the term ‘Israel’ means ‘the one who struggles with God.’ In other words, the answers about life may well come with some difficulty. And the struggle is the search.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It strikes me that Epiphany is somewhat like Advent – there is rather more in the Season than meets the eye. Epiphany, certainly, has to do with light coming into a dark place, as does Advent. And sometimes, that light surprises. Occasionally, it shocks!
I wonder if you can follow along with me! In today’s Readings, it strikes me that in just one of the passages there is the expression that growth or epiphany comes from Scripture. In the other readings, I wonder if you dare follow me in seeing that growth or epiphany comes from outside Scripture. Perhaps I should give you some time to get past the shock.
What Paul wrote about in the Epistle goes back to the Ten Commandments, basically. That business about adultery. I find it interesting that he takes the matter rather beyond the deed, so to speak, to the reality of what happens in such a situation. What he pointed to was the lie that is created. And lies damage people. In this sort of situation, the damage is bi-lateral. Mind you, in quite recent days, I recall a radio programme where an avowed atheist lady bemoaned the way modern kids seem to rely on other people’s views and theories about what is right and wrong. That lady made it quite clear that her own parents encouraged her and her siblings to look inside, and think and ponder before doing anything – for there, said her Mum – one finds their real answers. Now, if I shocked you a little while ago, be ready for another shock – or epiphany.
I would go along with what that atheist mother said to her daughter, although I would go on to see that in situations like that, it is the Holy Spirit at work, in believer or unbeliever, for anyone who searches for the truth will find it. Epiphany outside of Scripture, do you see?
In Jacob’s situation, his epiphany came with total unexpectedness, as he could not have imagined that the writ of God extended to where he was, in hostile and godless territory. In spite of Jacob being a rather less than pleasant fellow, supplanter and cheat, God still spoke to him in the same way God spoke to that atheist lady and her daughter. I am not being at all dogmatic about this – in fact I ask you to look way beyond the confines and control of dogma. I am asking you to look at life, at the reality that surrounds you, and to see, in fact, that God is right there in it, and in a rather bigger way that Jacob expected, and that we expect. We are talking about God after all!
And the same sort of revelation came to Nathanael. Like the rest of us, dear old Nathanael thought that our innermost self is not all that visible to other people, and that we can hide behind the self-erected screen. But this is rarely so: we may fool some of the people some of the time, but very rarely will be fool all of the people all of the time. And that has repercussions on how we should operate as humans beings. What I really am will become clearer to you the better you get to know me. That is not to be some sort of disadvantage to either of us – but it does mean I need to be fair dinkum with you and with others if you are ever going to begin to trust me.
So when Scripture talks about epiphanies, (and remember that the word simply means that light is being shown in a dark place) it is not talking about matters entirely spiritual. It is talking about life as it is lived. That is where the Faith is designed to operate, and we remove it from that sphere only at great damage and disadvantage to ourselves.
So this Epiphany works somewhat in reverse to what otherwise we may have thought.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Pewsheet Sunday January 4, 2008
SUNDAY 4 JANUARY 2009
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
OUR CELEBRANT TODAY IS REV’D DR WARREN HUFFA
WELCOME Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am please find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY Almighty God, you have filled us with the light of the Word, who became flesh and lived among us: let the light of faith shine in all that we do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
TODAY’S READING Ephesians 1.3-14 by Caroline
GOSPEL John 1:10-18
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE by Wendy
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nick L for the 8th and Anthony K for the 9th.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Mary & Stuart Vr for Monday.
PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK The Baptism of our Lord Genesis 1:1-5 Psalm 29, Acts 19:1-7 by Neil GOSPEL Mark 1:4-11
INTERCESSIONS by Sue
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday
HOLY COMMUNION 9.30am every Thursday followed by morning tea in the hall.
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is supporting each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food when required, local transport, phone calls, visits and numerous other types of assistance. It is our way of helping one another quietly and confidentially.
Call Caroline or Christie
EVENTS
BRAD’S FIRST SERVICE is set for 8am & 10am on January 25 and will be followed by an AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ LUNCH. There will be a wedding in the Church later in the afternoon.
LAY PEOPLE’S MEETINGS
Lesson Readers and Lay Assistants: Sunday, February 8
Readers: Sunday, February 15
Intercessors: Sunday, February 22
All meetings at 11:30am for 45 minutes duration.
TREASURE MARKET Saturday 28th March
Please do all you can to preserve your fruit or make jam, collect goods for the white elephant stall, clothing, toys and pot those plants. All donations gratefully accepted. Enquiries Marilyn .
PICNIC IN THE NATIONAL PARK May 17 2009
PARISH CAMP October 16-18 2009
OUTREACH
INTER-CHURCH COUNCIL VACANCY 2009
Please consider being a representative on Inter-Church Council. Experienced Christians working together in the Mitcham Hills Council. Four meetings annually – its an outside role in our “inside-out Church”.
Enquiring to Yvonne M
ANGLICARE ENVELOPES on the table in foyer for donation toward their important work.
ITEMS FOR NEXT WEEK’S PEW SHEET
Forward to Wendy by 5pm Tuesdays
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Ron's Notes January 4, 2009
Sunday 4th January, 2009 Second Sunday after Christmas
The Epiphany of our Lord
Sentence
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1
Collect
Eternal God, Who by a star led the Magi to the worship of Your Son; guide the nations of the earth by Your light, that the whole world may see Your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 60: 1 – 6
Arise, shine, Jerusalem, for your light has come; and over you the glory of the Lord has dawned. Though darkness covers the earth and dark night the nations, on you the Lord shines and over you his glory will appear; nations will journey towards your light and kings to your radiance. Raise your eyes and look around: they are all assembling, flocking back to you; your sons are coming from afar, your daughters walking beside them. You will see it, and be radiant with joy, and your heart will thrill with gladness; sea-borne riches will be lavished on you and the wealth of nations will be yours. Camels in droves will cover the land, young camels from Midian and Ephah, all coming from Sheba laden with gold and frankincense, heralds of the Lord's praise.
Psalm 72: 1 – 7
Give the King Your judgement O God: and Your righteousness to the son of the king
That he may judge Your people rightly: and the poor of the land with equity
Let the mountains be laden with peace because of his righteousness: and the hills also with the prosperity for His people.
May he give justice to the poor among the people: and rescue the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor
May he live while the sun endures: and while the moon gives light, throughout all generations.
May he come down like rain upon the new-mown fields: and as showers that water the earth
In his time shall righteousness flourish: and abundance of peace, until the moon be no more.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring tribute: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts
All kings shall fall down before him: and all nations do him service
He will deliver the needy when they cry: and the poor that have no helper
He will pity the helpless and the needy: and save the lives of the poor
He will redeem them from oppression and violence: and their blood shall be precious in his sight
EPISTLE Ephesians 3: 1 – 12
With this in mind I pray for you, I, Paul, who for the sake of you Gentiles am now the prisoner of Christ Jesus--for surely you have heard how God's gift of grace to me was designed for your benefit. It was by a revelation that his secret purpose was made known to me. I have already written you a brief account of this, and by reading it you can see that I understand the secret purpose of Christ. In former generations that secret was not disclosed to mankind; but now by inspiration it has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets, that through the gospel the Gentiles are joint heirs with the Jews, part of the same body, sharers together in the promise made in Christ Jesus. Such is the gospel of which I was made a minister by God's unmerited gift, so powerfully at work in me. To me, who am less than the least of all God's people, he has granted the privilege of proclaiming to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ, and of bringing to light how this hidden purpose was to be put into effect. It lay concealed for long ages with God the Creator of the universe, in order that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in its infinite variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. This accords with his age-long purpose, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have freedom of access to God, with the confidence born of trust in him.
GOSPEL Matthew 2: 1 – 12
Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of Herod. After his birth astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the new-born king of the Jews? We observed the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage.” King Herod was greatly perturbed when he heard this, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together the chief priests and scribes of the Jews, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. "At Bethlehem in Judaea,” they replied, "for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a ruler to be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ ''
Then Herod summoned the astrologers to meet him secretly, and ascertained from them the exact time when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I may go myself and pay him homage.” After hearing what the king had to say they set out; there before them was the star they had seen rising, and it went ahead of them until it stopped above the place where the child lay. They were overjoyed at the sight of it and, entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother and bowed low in homage to him; they opened their treasure chests and presented gifts to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then they returned to their own country by another route, for they had been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod.
NOTES ON THE READINGS
I comment often on the rather sad fact that this short Season of the Church Year is celebrated when most people seem to be away on holidays. Holidays are not the sadness, but missing out on the significance of this season. Epiphany – the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles is how the BCP notes this season. Most religions tend to point in the direction of themselves, looking for loyalty and obedience inwardly, whereas this new direction is to look outwards. Here is a Faith that is designed for everyone- repeat everyone – which now leaves now room whatever for racial grounds – or any other – for turning backs on other humans. Here is a Faith for the whole world – universe, of you dare.
Add to that, this new faith is not really a religion at all, for they tend to be internal and insular. This New Way, as it was called initially in the New Testament, is a radically new and different way of living and relating, providing the grounds for all human life to be lived at a much more productive level, not so much for the adherents, as for the world of people around them. Here is the means par excellence of living together in peace and harmony. Our human capacity of turning this New Way into a divisive and exclusive religion has virtually destroyed its designed capacity and direction.
Epiphany is what happens to a person or people when the light comes on.
Old Testament
Don’t ever get lost in the thought that here is Isaiah foretelling the arrival of the Wise Men. The old prophet was far more sage than that.
Remember that the prophet was writing around 500 years before Christ, and at the time expecting the return of the exiles from Babylon. That was rather exciting stuff in one way – the restoration of Israel. But it presaged some very hard work as the Temple, the city of Jerusalem and indeed the whole nation required rebuilding. But there was another side to the restoration of the Faith. That would take rather more commitment if the faith was to grow and people were to mature.
The focus of the prophet here is not so much on either the excitement of return or the effort for rebuilding. He was focussing on the point and purpose of this restoration. And that was the answer to the question as to why God was bothering with Israel. And Isaiah’s answer is stunning: he saw clearly that, even then in Old Testament times, the faith of JHWH had another chance of being the redemption not only of the people of Israel, but also of the entire world. The darkness that covered the earth is the same as that which overshadows life these days: division, hatreds, wars, even recessions which arise from the greed of humans. And the light that the Faith brings was the same then as now. The move away from self-aggrandizement to self-giving, from division to reconciliation is always the focus of the Hebrew-Christian Faith. Then as now, however and sadly, that focus tends to be submerged and even forgotten. This Season is designed to bring us back to the realities, and unless and until we do move in that direction, the mission of the Church will fall on deaf ears. And a more deaf world.
Psalm
You may well have considered that the ancient psalmists were either out of touch with reality, or off with the fairies, or both!!! But take a closer look at these very old words. And look once again.
Here is a prayer of hope, based on the clear understanding of the nature of God and the direction that the Hebrew Faith was taking people. The experience of life for those ancient worthies was far more severe than we tend to face, but this person was clearly aware of where to look for a future. It was in following of God Whose nature and direction was ever towards justice and equity. Fairness if you like. And the reason that God has such emphases is because (a) that is His nature, and (b) these are the most basic needs of ALL humans. Many humans may not WANT justice and equity, love and reconciliation, but that is our need. Everyone’s need. Every single human’s need.
Please read through this psalm again
Epistle
Never lose sight of how explosive is this epistle – and its implications! While I wonder about Paul’s stress on ‘secret’ it is certainly the case that this New Way in Christ runs contrary to so many previous (and later) religious emphases as the reach out to all humanity is underscored. As mentioned earlier, in comment on the OT reading, the perception of the prophets that the Faith once delivered was designed to provide light and life to all people tends to lose currency rather too easily. Why is it that religion tends to revert to a tool to divide people when Christianity –Judaism, too come to that! - was designed to be a means of reconciliation and progress here and now?
Gospel
Recent comments I have heard about this embellishment of the Incarnation story wonders whether it all actually happened or not. Whatever the outcome of that debate, the point and purpose of its inclusion is most clear and obvious. However, there have been some who manage to reduce the tale to a pretty but not significant addition.
Wise Men we once called them, in spite of the original Greek making it clear that they were Magi, magicians, occultist if you dare. And the stunning point of the story is that whoever searches after truth will find it, for this truth is designed for them as well.
As an added shaft of truth in this tale, it underlines the fact that the Magi were rather more clearly aware of the significance of this Birth than were the people to whom the Saviour came. Gold, frankincense and myrrh. King and God and Sacrifice as the carol has it. One can understand Herod having fits, as he perceived a threat to his dynasty, for Herod was not Jewish. As Jesus matured, those of His own race and religion was as unforgiving of Jesus as was that unworthy King.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It has been an interesting life for this becoming aged priest and person, having lived through the period when Australia tended to belong to Australians (except the indigenous ones) to the dribble and then explosion of immigration since the War, and even more so rather more recently. It was one thing to cope with European immigration, for they were (largely anyhow) white and Christian, but nowadays it tends to be a matter of ‘spot the Aussie’ even in cities like Adelaide. For some people, this process has been a threat, and for others the process has actually provided real threat. But with the best will in the world, no one can turn back the clock nor return us to those rather more comfortable days …. Or were they?
Multiculturalism is a swear word for some, and an attainable and desirable goal for others. But one of the difficulties that raise its head is the fact of very different lifestyles and even more different religions.
There are those folk ever ready to pass rude and caustic comment about religion of whatever sort. And one of the sad facts of life is the extent to which adherents of all manner of religion see themselves as be called to denigrate the faith of anyone different to them, and even go to the extent of trying to wipe them off the face of the earth. Oddly enough, religions were not designed to be sources of division, but rather very much the opposite.
Sadly, Christians seem to be coming to terms with this reality quite recently. I am not all that old, but can recall the spite that existed between Catholic people and Protestants. Even in this fair State, I recall the story of a predecessor priest in the Riverton Parish recalling how Catholic folk would cross the street rather than encounter him or his wife! It is not too much to say that the sense of ‘I am right and you are wrong’ persists still in the encounters one has at the front door with itinerant preachers.
Epiphany. It is a strange word, from the Greek, having to do with something like an explosive revelation hitting a person, as something unexpected hits them as a new reality. It need have nothing to do with religion, but rather compares to eureka! I have found it! An unexpected discovery. Or the result of a long and difficult search.
I have to confess that, as the years have gone by, and my understanding of Scripture improved, that I am left wondering why St. Paul, in today’s Epistle, wrote about that secret. He underlines the fact that this was not disclosed to mankind, until Paul’s own day and age. But I suspect that the problem was that people did not really listen.
Can I take you back to the story of Abram and his call in Genesis 12. Here are the familiar words:
The Lord said to Abram, "Leave your own country, your kin, and your father's house, and go to a country that I will show you. I shall make you into a great nation; I shall bless you and make your name so great that it will be used in blessings: those who bless you, I shall bless; those who curse you, I shall curse. All the peoples on earth will wish to be blessed as you are blessed.' And now I ask you to wonder why the old bloke was told that his call ultimately would affect all humanity. It is obvious that here is no little self-contained secret for old Abe and his family. This is to have world-wide repercussions. And whilst it may be said that, in that day and age, people’s vision of life or even the world was not particularly broad, everyone knew that they were not alone as humans.
One cannot read the Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah or even Jonah, without being led clearly into the perception that Judaism was designed to be for all humanity and not just those of Hebrew extraction. That Jonah was called to preach to Ninevah (and was remarkably peeved off when the darlings responded positively,) it another reminder of that wider purpose. With all due respect, one need only do some long and strong reading of the prophets in particular to realize the extent to which they, in their own day and age, recognised the Divine call to the wider and general community of humans.
Having done so, then would you be so kind as to realize the extent to which Israel then, and the Church over the millennia retreated from that outgoing position to turn the vital faith into a religion. The difference between religion and faith is really quite dramatic.
With religion, one can turn the whole business into an ‘us and them’ competition. I know it all and you don’t; I am the cluey superior and you are the ignorant inferior. And war, however gentle, breaks out between us (and incidentally between me and any other religion). The game is a power thing, and a control mechanism, and we have all gone back to the shaman thing. It was precisely from that distortion of the Faith that Jesus came to underline. The fact that He refused the power option to reset the whole thing was because it would have been as destructive as what He was trying to correct.
May I reiterate something that should be as obvious as anything, but tends not to be seen as such? Any religion, faith, ism or philosophy that has ever or will ever exist is an attempt to understand what it means to be human and alive on planet earth. Search after truth. That needs to be understood and respected; and one of the outcomes of that view is to realize that we are all in this together. It is the same human search. And quite like the Sciences, this is no threat, but a search in terms that may well require a theory being put to the test and thus discarded or accepted. There ought to be no great division between any searcher after truth – and that includes the scientific search, of course.
And that brings us back to the focus of the Judaic-Christian Faith. Whilst some may wish to see it as the ultimate in that search, please recognize first of all, that these are the parameters of this Faith once delivered. To offer the world a positive and credible answer to what many call the human dilemma. And that is why the Magi became so involved, committed and aware of the reason for the Incarnation.
And that is very heavy stuff ……………
The Epiphany of our Lord
Sentence
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Isaiah 60:1
Collect
Eternal God, Who by a star led the Magi to the worship of Your Son; guide the nations of the earth by Your light, that the whole world may see Your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen
Old Testament Lesson Isaiah 60: 1 – 6
Arise, shine, Jerusalem, for your light has come; and over you the glory of the Lord has dawned. Though darkness covers the earth and dark night the nations, on you the Lord shines and over you his glory will appear; nations will journey towards your light and kings to your radiance. Raise your eyes and look around: they are all assembling, flocking back to you; your sons are coming from afar, your daughters walking beside them. You will see it, and be radiant with joy, and your heart will thrill with gladness; sea-borne riches will be lavished on you and the wealth of nations will be yours. Camels in droves will cover the land, young camels from Midian and Ephah, all coming from Sheba laden with gold and frankincense, heralds of the Lord's praise.
Psalm 72: 1 – 7
Give the King Your judgement O God: and Your righteousness to the son of the king
That he may judge Your people rightly: and the poor of the land with equity
Let the mountains be laden with peace because of his righteousness: and the hills also with the prosperity for His people.
May he give justice to the poor among the people: and rescue the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor
May he live while the sun endures: and while the moon gives light, throughout all generations.
May he come down like rain upon the new-mown fields: and as showers that water the earth
In his time shall righteousness flourish: and abundance of peace, until the moon be no more.
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring tribute: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts
All kings shall fall down before him: and all nations do him service
He will deliver the needy when they cry: and the poor that have no helper
He will pity the helpless and the needy: and save the lives of the poor
He will redeem them from oppression and violence: and their blood shall be precious in his sight
EPISTLE Ephesians 3: 1 – 12
With this in mind I pray for you, I, Paul, who for the sake of you Gentiles am now the prisoner of Christ Jesus--for surely you have heard how God's gift of grace to me was designed for your benefit. It was by a revelation that his secret purpose was made known to me. I have already written you a brief account of this, and by reading it you can see that I understand the secret purpose of Christ. In former generations that secret was not disclosed to mankind; but now by inspiration it has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets, that through the gospel the Gentiles are joint heirs with the Jews, part of the same body, sharers together in the promise made in Christ Jesus. Such is the gospel of which I was made a minister by God's unmerited gift, so powerfully at work in me. To me, who am less than the least of all God's people, he has granted the privilege of proclaiming to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ, and of bringing to light how this hidden purpose was to be put into effect. It lay concealed for long ages with God the Creator of the universe, in order that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in its infinite variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. This accords with his age-long purpose, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have freedom of access to God, with the confidence born of trust in him.
GOSPEL Matthew 2: 1 – 12
Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of Herod. After his birth astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the new-born king of the Jews? We observed the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage.” King Herod was greatly perturbed when he heard this, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together the chief priests and scribes of the Jews, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. "At Bethlehem in Judaea,” they replied, "for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a ruler to be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ ''
Then Herod summoned the astrologers to meet him secretly, and ascertained from them the exact time when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I may go myself and pay him homage.” After hearing what the king had to say they set out; there before them was the star they had seen rising, and it went ahead of them until it stopped above the place where the child lay. They were overjoyed at the sight of it and, entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother and bowed low in homage to him; they opened their treasure chests and presented gifts to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then they returned to their own country by another route, for they had been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod.
NOTES ON THE READINGS
I comment often on the rather sad fact that this short Season of the Church Year is celebrated when most people seem to be away on holidays. Holidays are not the sadness, but missing out on the significance of this season. Epiphany – the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles is how the BCP notes this season. Most religions tend to point in the direction of themselves, looking for loyalty and obedience inwardly, whereas this new direction is to look outwards. Here is a Faith that is designed for everyone- repeat everyone – which now leaves now room whatever for racial grounds – or any other – for turning backs on other humans. Here is a Faith for the whole world – universe, of you dare.
Add to that, this new faith is not really a religion at all, for they tend to be internal and insular. This New Way, as it was called initially in the New Testament, is a radically new and different way of living and relating, providing the grounds for all human life to be lived at a much more productive level, not so much for the adherents, as for the world of people around them. Here is the means par excellence of living together in peace and harmony. Our human capacity of turning this New Way into a divisive and exclusive religion has virtually destroyed its designed capacity and direction.
Epiphany is what happens to a person or people when the light comes on.
Old Testament
Don’t ever get lost in the thought that here is Isaiah foretelling the arrival of the Wise Men. The old prophet was far more sage than that.
Remember that the prophet was writing around 500 years before Christ, and at the time expecting the return of the exiles from Babylon. That was rather exciting stuff in one way – the restoration of Israel. But it presaged some very hard work as the Temple, the city of Jerusalem and indeed the whole nation required rebuilding. But there was another side to the restoration of the Faith. That would take rather more commitment if the faith was to grow and people were to mature.
The focus of the prophet here is not so much on either the excitement of return or the effort for rebuilding. He was focussing on the point and purpose of this restoration. And that was the answer to the question as to why God was bothering with Israel. And Isaiah’s answer is stunning: he saw clearly that, even then in Old Testament times, the faith of JHWH had another chance of being the redemption not only of the people of Israel, but also of the entire world. The darkness that covered the earth is the same as that which overshadows life these days: division, hatreds, wars, even recessions which arise from the greed of humans. And the light that the Faith brings was the same then as now. The move away from self-aggrandizement to self-giving, from division to reconciliation is always the focus of the Hebrew-Christian Faith. Then as now, however and sadly, that focus tends to be submerged and even forgotten. This Season is designed to bring us back to the realities, and unless and until we do move in that direction, the mission of the Church will fall on deaf ears. And a more deaf world.
Psalm
You may well have considered that the ancient psalmists were either out of touch with reality, or off with the fairies, or both!!! But take a closer look at these very old words. And look once again.
Here is a prayer of hope, based on the clear understanding of the nature of God and the direction that the Hebrew Faith was taking people. The experience of life for those ancient worthies was far more severe than we tend to face, but this person was clearly aware of where to look for a future. It was in following of God Whose nature and direction was ever towards justice and equity. Fairness if you like. And the reason that God has such emphases is because (a) that is His nature, and (b) these are the most basic needs of ALL humans. Many humans may not WANT justice and equity, love and reconciliation, but that is our need. Everyone’s need. Every single human’s need.
Please read through this psalm again
Epistle
Never lose sight of how explosive is this epistle – and its implications! While I wonder about Paul’s stress on ‘secret’ it is certainly the case that this New Way in Christ runs contrary to so many previous (and later) religious emphases as the reach out to all humanity is underscored. As mentioned earlier, in comment on the OT reading, the perception of the prophets that the Faith once delivered was designed to provide light and life to all people tends to lose currency rather too easily. Why is it that religion tends to revert to a tool to divide people when Christianity –Judaism, too come to that! - was designed to be a means of reconciliation and progress here and now?
Gospel
Recent comments I have heard about this embellishment of the Incarnation story wonders whether it all actually happened or not. Whatever the outcome of that debate, the point and purpose of its inclusion is most clear and obvious. However, there have been some who manage to reduce the tale to a pretty but not significant addition.
Wise Men we once called them, in spite of the original Greek making it clear that they were Magi, magicians, occultist if you dare. And the stunning point of the story is that whoever searches after truth will find it, for this truth is designed for them as well.
As an added shaft of truth in this tale, it underlines the fact that the Magi were rather more clearly aware of the significance of this Birth than were the people to whom the Saviour came. Gold, frankincense and myrrh. King and God and Sacrifice as the carol has it. One can understand Herod having fits, as he perceived a threat to his dynasty, for Herod was not Jewish. As Jesus matured, those of His own race and religion was as unforgiving of Jesus as was that unworthy King.
NOTES FOR A SERMON
It has been an interesting life for this becoming aged priest and person, having lived through the period when Australia tended to belong to Australians (except the indigenous ones) to the dribble and then explosion of immigration since the War, and even more so rather more recently. It was one thing to cope with European immigration, for they were (largely anyhow) white and Christian, but nowadays it tends to be a matter of ‘spot the Aussie’ even in cities like Adelaide. For some people, this process has been a threat, and for others the process has actually provided real threat. But with the best will in the world, no one can turn back the clock nor return us to those rather more comfortable days …. Or were they?
Multiculturalism is a swear word for some, and an attainable and desirable goal for others. But one of the difficulties that raise its head is the fact of very different lifestyles and even more different religions.
There are those folk ever ready to pass rude and caustic comment about religion of whatever sort. And one of the sad facts of life is the extent to which adherents of all manner of religion see themselves as be called to denigrate the faith of anyone different to them, and even go to the extent of trying to wipe them off the face of the earth. Oddly enough, religions were not designed to be sources of division, but rather very much the opposite.
Sadly, Christians seem to be coming to terms with this reality quite recently. I am not all that old, but can recall the spite that existed between Catholic people and Protestants. Even in this fair State, I recall the story of a predecessor priest in the Riverton Parish recalling how Catholic folk would cross the street rather than encounter him or his wife! It is not too much to say that the sense of ‘I am right and you are wrong’ persists still in the encounters one has at the front door with itinerant preachers.
Epiphany. It is a strange word, from the Greek, having to do with something like an explosive revelation hitting a person, as something unexpected hits them as a new reality. It need have nothing to do with religion, but rather compares to eureka! I have found it! An unexpected discovery. Or the result of a long and difficult search.
I have to confess that, as the years have gone by, and my understanding of Scripture improved, that I am left wondering why St. Paul, in today’s Epistle, wrote about that secret. He underlines the fact that this was not disclosed to mankind, until Paul’s own day and age. But I suspect that the problem was that people did not really listen.
Can I take you back to the story of Abram and his call in Genesis 12. Here are the familiar words:
The Lord said to Abram, "Leave your own country, your kin, and your father's house, and go to a country that I will show you. I shall make you into a great nation; I shall bless you and make your name so great that it will be used in blessings: those who bless you, I shall bless; those who curse you, I shall curse. All the peoples on earth will wish to be blessed as you are blessed.' And now I ask you to wonder why the old bloke was told that his call ultimately would affect all humanity. It is obvious that here is no little self-contained secret for old Abe and his family. This is to have world-wide repercussions. And whilst it may be said that, in that day and age, people’s vision of life or even the world was not particularly broad, everyone knew that they were not alone as humans.
One cannot read the Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah or even Jonah, without being led clearly into the perception that Judaism was designed to be for all humanity and not just those of Hebrew extraction. That Jonah was called to preach to Ninevah (and was remarkably peeved off when the darlings responded positively,) it another reminder of that wider purpose. With all due respect, one need only do some long and strong reading of the prophets in particular to realize the extent to which they, in their own day and age, recognised the Divine call to the wider and general community of humans.
Having done so, then would you be so kind as to realize the extent to which Israel then, and the Church over the millennia retreated from that outgoing position to turn the vital faith into a religion. The difference between religion and faith is really quite dramatic.
With religion, one can turn the whole business into an ‘us and them’ competition. I know it all and you don’t; I am the cluey superior and you are the ignorant inferior. And war, however gentle, breaks out between us (and incidentally between me and any other religion). The game is a power thing, and a control mechanism, and we have all gone back to the shaman thing. It was precisely from that distortion of the Faith that Jesus came to underline. The fact that He refused the power option to reset the whole thing was because it would have been as destructive as what He was trying to correct.
May I reiterate something that should be as obvious as anything, but tends not to be seen as such? Any religion, faith, ism or philosophy that has ever or will ever exist is an attempt to understand what it means to be human and alive on planet earth. Search after truth. That needs to be understood and respected; and one of the outcomes of that view is to realize that we are all in this together. It is the same human search. And quite like the Sciences, this is no threat, but a search in terms that may well require a theory being put to the test and thus discarded or accepted. There ought to be no great division between any searcher after truth – and that includes the scientific search, of course.
And that brings us back to the focus of the Judaic-Christian Faith. Whilst some may wish to see it as the ultimate in that search, please recognize first of all, that these are the parameters of this Faith once delivered. To offer the world a positive and credible answer to what many call the human dilemma. And that is why the Magi became so involved, committed and aware of the reason for the Incarnation.
And that is very heavy stuff ……………
Friday, December 26, 2008
Pewsheet Sunday December 28, 2008
SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER 2008
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
OUR CELEBRANT TODAY IS REV’D DR WARREN HUFFA
WELCOME Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am please find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY Saving God, whose Son Jesus was presented in the temple and acclaimed the glory of Israel and the light of the nations: grant that in him we may be presented to you, and in the world, may reflect his glory; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
TODAY’S READING Galatians 4.4-7 by Valerie T
GOSPEL Luke 2.22-40
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE by Sue
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Andrew G for today, Danny H for Monday.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Joyce & Bob for New Year’s Day.
PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK Ephesians 1.3-14 by Caroline
GOSPEL John 1:10-18 INTERCESSIONS by Wendy
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday
HOLY COMMUNION 9.30am every Thursday followed by morning tea in the hall.
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is supporting each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food when required, local transport, phone calls, visits and numerous other types of assistance. It is our way of helping one another quietly and confidentially. Call Caroline or Christie .
EVENTS
BRAD’S FIRST SERVICE is set for 8am & 10am on January 25 and will be followed by an AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ LUNCH. There will be a wedding in the Church later in the afternoon.
LAY PEOPLE’S MEETINGS
Lesson Readers and Lay Assistants: Sunday, February 8
Readers: Sunday, February 15
Intercessors: Sunday, February 22
All meetings at 11:30am for 45 minutes duration.
TREASURE MARKET Saturday 28th March
Please do all you can to preserve your fruit or make jam, collect goods for the white elephant stall, clothing, toys and pot those plants. All donations gratefully accepted. Enquiries Marilyn.
Picnic in the National Park May 17 2009
PARISH CAMP October 16-18 2009
OUTREACH
INTER-CHURCH COUNCIL VACANCY 2009
Please consider being a representative on Inter-Church Council. Experienced Christians working together in the Mitcham Hills Council. Four meetings annually – its an outside role in our “inside-out Church”.
Enquiring to Yvonne M
ANGLICARE ENVELOPES on the table in foyer for donation toward their important work.
ITEMS FOR NEXT WEEK’S PEW SHEET
Monday, December 22, 2008
Warren's sermon December 21, 2008
Here is the link to the material that Warren used as the basis for his sermon last Sunday.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Pewsheet Sunday December 21, 2008
Sunday 21st December 2008 – 4th Sunday of Advent
Today’s Officiant is Rev’d Dr Warren Huffa
WELCOME Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am please find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY Gracious God, whose eternal Word took flesh among us when Mary placed her life at the service of your will: prepare our hearts for his coming again and keep us steadfast in hope, that we may be ready for the coming of his kingdom; for his sake, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16 Psalm 89:1-4,19-27 Romans 16:25-27 to be read by Evelyn GOSPEL Luke 1:26-38
NOTES ON WARREN’S SERMON
It is only in the light of faith in Christ that the continuity between Jesus and what went before him in the Old Testament can be glimpsed. And it is not a nice, neat, simple, linear progression from one to the other. Jesus was a surprise. Those who like the linear approach seem to think that this 'proves' that Jesus is the messiah. (And provides a handy ground for condemning those who have missed what should be obvious.) But it is the surprise that Jesus is the messiah that strikes me. And it is this surprise, the way in which Jesus does not fit the expectations of his day (or the Old Testament), that lends credibility to the claims of faith. Where did the strange claims come from? Were they just made up? (Because, without the claims themselves, it is difficult to see how Jesus is the fulfilment of the expectations of the Old Testament.) And if a non-believer were to assert that the claims about Jesus (e.g. his resurrection) are made up, where did they come from? There were plenty of other claims to fabricate that would have met the expectations of the day, been more believable, and therefore more attractive to a Jewish audience. The lack of fit between Jesus and the expectations of the Jews demands explanation.
In all of this there is an excess in the Old Testament that allows for the strange twist that leads from the Old Testament to Jesus, but the excess is only accessed through a prior faith that sees Jesus, the crucified, risen Lord, as the true messiah. With the light of this faith, the Old Testament and its expectations can be read in a new and surprising way.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE by Margaret .
PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK Isa 61.10-62.3 Ps 148, Gal 4.4-7
SAFER MINISTRY The details of courses and dates for 2009 are now available. Those needing to complete courses should check the sheets on the table or notice board, plan your year, and book as soon as possible as the courses fill up very quickly.
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday
HOLY COMMUNION 9.30am every Thursday followed by morning tea in the hall.
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is supporting each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food when required, local transport, phone calls, visits and numerous other types of assistance. It is our way of helping one another quietly and confidentially.
Call Caroline or Christie
EVENTS
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Christmas Eve 11.00pm Holy Communion
Christmas Day 8.00am Traditional Holy Communion 10.00am Contemporary Holy Communion
QUIRE ST NICOLAS CAROL SERVICE (O Nata Lux de lumine). will be held at St. Peter's Cathedral Sunday 21st December at 3pm. Three members of Holy Innocent's congregation (Max, Lois and David) sing in this choir.
BRAD’S FIRST SERVICE is set for 8am & 10am on January 25 and will be followed by an AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ LUNCH. There will be a wedding in the Church later in the afternoon.
LAY PEOPLE’S MEETINGS
Lesson Readers and Lay Assistants: Sunday, February 8
Readers: Sunday, February 15
Intercessors: Sunday, February 22
All meeting at 11:30am for 45 minutes duration.
SPRING CLEANING.......remember our 2009 Church Treasure Market is only months away!
Yes..... when cleaning and tidying up around your home or out in the shed, remember
to put aside those items you think would be suitable for our next Treasure Market Planned for
March 2009. For more details please speak to Marilyn
PICNIC IN THE NATIONAL PARK May 17 2009
PARISH CAMP October 16-18 2009
OUTREACH
ANGLICARE CHRISTMAS CARDS
There is a chart pinned up in the foyer on which you can write your name if you wish to order any of Anglicare's cards, which come in packs of ten. Prices $5, $6, $7, $8 and $10 per pack. Pay when you collect. Any queries phone Barbara Corbett 8278 1851.
ABM Joan Durdin still has a few packets of Christmas cards (10 per pack) for sale. They will be available at church after the 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. services.
DONATIONS TO THE INTER-CHURCH COUNCIL TRANSITION BAGS
A total of $170.00 was received and has been forwarded to the Inter-Church Council ($165 received on the Sunday and forwarded by cheque and a later cash donation of $5). Our thanks to everyone who helped raise this wonderful contribution.
SPONSORSHIP OF WALKERS FOR THE ADDIS ABABA FISTULA HOSPITAL
Thank you everyone including friends, workmates and relations for your marvellous support of the important work of this special hospital in Ethiopia. A total of $674 was raised by the following sponsored walkers from our Parish - Robyn Keynes $165.00 Cynthia MacIntosh $100.00 Jean Fordham $226.00 Yvonne Caddy $183.00
We all enjoyed our Walk in National Park on a beautiful summer afternoon. The money has been forwarded to Church Office to be handed direct to the hospital when the contingent of youth from our Diocese visit early in January 2009.
ANGLICARE ENVELOPES on the table in foyer for donation toward their important work.
ITEMS FOR NEXT WEEK’S PEW SHEET
Forward to Wendy by 5pm Tuesdays
Today’s Officiant is Rev’d Dr Warren Huffa
WELCOME Please join us for breakfast in the hall after the 8am service or for morning tea after the 10am service. At 10am please find all prayers and hymns projected onto the sanctuary walls.
THE PRAYER FOR TODAY Gracious God, whose eternal Word took flesh among us when Mary placed her life at the service of your will: prepare our hearts for his coming again and keep us steadfast in hope, that we may be ready for the coming of his kingdom; for his sake, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
TODAY’S READINGS 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16 Psalm 89:1-4,19-27 Romans 16:25-27 to be read by Evelyn GOSPEL Luke 1:26-38
NOTES ON WARREN’S SERMON
It is only in the light of faith in Christ that the continuity between Jesus and what went before him in the Old Testament can be glimpsed. And it is not a nice, neat, simple, linear progression from one to the other. Jesus was a surprise. Those who like the linear approach seem to think that this 'proves' that Jesus is the messiah. (And provides a handy ground for condemning those who have missed what should be obvious.) But it is the surprise that Jesus is the messiah that strikes me. And it is this surprise, the way in which Jesus does not fit the expectations of his day (or the Old Testament), that lends credibility to the claims of faith. Where did the strange claims come from? Were they just made up? (Because, without the claims themselves, it is difficult to see how Jesus is the fulfilment of the expectations of the Old Testament.) And if a non-believer were to assert that the claims about Jesus (e.g. his resurrection) are made up, where did they come from? There were plenty of other claims to fabricate that would have met the expectations of the day, been more believable, and therefore more attractive to a Jewish audience. The lack of fit between Jesus and the expectations of the Jews demands explanation.
In all of this there is an excess in the Old Testament that allows for the strange twist that leads from the Old Testament to Jesus, but the excess is only accessed through a prior faith that sees Jesus, the crucified, risen Lord, as the true messiah. With the light of this faith, the Old Testament and its expectations can be read in a new and surprising way.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE by Margaret .
PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK Isa 61.10-62.3 Ps 148, Gal 4.4-7
SAFER MINISTRY The details of courses and dates for 2009 are now available. Those needing to complete courses should check the sheets on the table or notice board, plan your year, and book as soon as possible as the courses fill up very quickly.
PRAYER CIRCLE meets noon on the 2nd Tuesday each month
BIBLE STUDY 10am every Wednesday
HOLY COMMUNION 9.30am every Thursday followed by morning tea in the hall.
HELPLINE
Part of being a Christian community is supporting each other in times of need. We offer short-term delivery of food when required, local transport, phone calls, visits and numerous other types of assistance. It is our way of helping one another quietly and confidentially.
Call Caroline or Christie
EVENTS
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Christmas Eve 11.00pm Holy Communion
Christmas Day 8.00am Traditional Holy Communion 10.00am Contemporary Holy Communion
QUIRE ST NICOLAS CAROL SERVICE (O Nata Lux de lumine). will be held at St. Peter's Cathedral Sunday 21st December at 3pm. Three members of Holy Innocent's congregation (Max, Lois and David) sing in this choir.
BRAD’S FIRST SERVICE is set for 8am & 10am on January 25 and will be followed by an AUSTRALIA DAY BBQ LUNCH. There will be a wedding in the Church later in the afternoon.
LAY PEOPLE’S MEETINGS
Lesson Readers and Lay Assistants: Sunday, February 8
Readers: Sunday, February 15
Intercessors: Sunday, February 22
All meeting at 11:30am for 45 minutes duration.
SPRING CLEANING.......remember our 2009 Church Treasure Market is only months away!
Yes..... when cleaning and tidying up around your home or out in the shed, remember
to put aside those items you think would be suitable for our next Treasure Market Planned for
March 2009. For more details please speak to Marilyn
PICNIC IN THE NATIONAL PARK May 17 2009
PARISH CAMP October 16-18 2009
OUTREACH
ANGLICARE CHRISTMAS CARDS
There is a chart pinned up in the foyer on which you can write your name if you wish to order any of Anglicare's cards, which come in packs of ten. Prices $5, $6, $7, $8 and $10 per pack. Pay when you collect. Any queries phone Barbara Corbett 8278 1851.
ABM Joan Durdin still has a few packets of Christmas cards (10 per pack) for sale. They will be available at church after the 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m. services.
DONATIONS TO THE INTER-CHURCH COUNCIL TRANSITION BAGS
A total of $170.00 was received and has been forwarded to the Inter-Church Council ($165 received on the Sunday and forwarded by cheque and a later cash donation of $5). Our thanks to everyone who helped raise this wonderful contribution.
SPONSORSHIP OF WALKERS FOR THE ADDIS ABABA FISTULA HOSPITAL
Thank you everyone including friends, workmates and relations for your marvellous support of the important work of this special hospital in Ethiopia. A total of $674 was raised by the following sponsored walkers from our Parish - Robyn Keynes $165.00 Cynthia MacIntosh $100.00 Jean Fordham $226.00 Yvonne Caddy $183.00
We all enjoyed our Walk in National Park on a beautiful summer afternoon. The money has been forwarded to Church Office to be handed direct to the hospital when the contingent of youth from our Diocese visit early in January 2009.
ANGLICARE ENVELOPES on the table in foyer for donation toward their important work.
ITEMS FOR NEXT WEEK’S PEW SHEET
Forward to Wendy by 5pm Tuesdays
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)