Sermon, Pente +25 (B)

 Throughout the readings today, we are hearing about the sanctuary: the sacred space.

Our Gospel passage today starts right when the disciples are highlighting that space. I like that we don’t know which disciple it was: one of the followers of Jesus. Any of the followers of Jesus. Which is what we aspire to be.

And so, this disciple starts oooh-ing and aaaahhhh-ing at the temple. The big stones! The clean lines! If only cameras ere invented then, they would have been taking a lot of pictures. Clearly, this disciple is distracted by the amazing architecture.

And we know what it takes to make a strong building: firm foundation, solid materials, straight lines, careful planning: lots of engineering and expertise from a variety of tradespeople.

And this is when Jesus throws a curve ball to the disciple – yeah, they’re stones. But they’ll all fall down.

Ooof! What a downer! (If you’ll pardon the pun)

And that’s all we hear about that. No argument, no clever repartee, no dialogue.

Until later, privately (for questions and conversations have appropriate times and places), when a few of his apostles want some earthly clarification about these great changes that Jesus was referencing.

And Jesus answers with such beautiful boldness that to be too caught up in the ways of the world will mean to be too distracted from the ways of God. Jesus doesn’t discredit the distractions; in fact he says they’re going to happen no matter what. Even to the point of wars and rumours – well, we know that conflict remains a part of our world. We know that rumours remain a sad reality of our day-to-day life. But Jesus reminds us that these are not of God; and they are not of the Kingdom.

And in doing so, Jesus encourages his friends, his followers, to keep their focus. To maintain a strong faith and practice, because they are to become foundational to the building of the kingdom. (Peter is there, remember – Peter, the rock, the foundation of the church).

It’s a helpful message for the apostles; and for the disciples; and for all of us.

Do not be led astray: though the world is full of distractions! And whether they mean to or not, these distractions can lead us astray from God. Our minds wander, our actions follow our minds. We get caught up in the gossip and reality TV and salaciousness of ‘juicy tidbits’ that we move away from the truth.

We get distracted: and then we move away from genuine Christian love.

We move away from the teachings of Jesus.

And THIS is what Jesus is warning his followers about:

Do NOT be led astray! He says. It will be easy to be led astray, but check in with yourself on a regular basis. Do not forget the teachings.

And of course, he was not just talking about the teachings of that day, but of every day.

For the teachings of Christ are the strength of the kingdom of God:

Teachings on effective and intentional communications, to avoid gossip and hearsay, which only lead to problems and pain.

Teachings on conflict resolution, to go speak to the person directly, and to be open to hearing anothers’ perspectives.

Teachings on generosity, being cheerful givers of our time, talent, and treasure; especially to help in the building up of the Kingdom of God and for All God’s people – and we are ALL God’s chosen people, TBTG!

Teachings on compassion, on treating those with less resources that ourselves with as much respect as we would want to be given. For the word ‘compassion’ itself means to feel with.

Teachings on outreach, to consider how we show the world that we are Christ followers, in word AND in deed, with joyful hearts and no expectation of return.

Teachings on prayer: to be honest with ourselves when we come to God, to come to God with everything, and to genuinely listen to God’s response.

Teachings on worship: that it is a state of heart, rather than a location and time (recognising, of course, that these can – and at times DO - overlap!) – and that we worship together to keep our collective focus on GOD.

Teachings on money and material goods: how they can trap us into earthly thinking if we’re not careful, and how they can help us to support the spiritual journey of ourselves and others when we share of our abundance.

Teachings on hospitality – to welcome, to invite, to support, to nourish. In these actions we are healing; and we are healed.

Teachings on repentance, to keep us humble and honest and focused on living every day as a day that we are proud of.

Teachings on forgiveness – 7x7, and 70x7, and beyond; knowing what damage we do to ourselves, our relationships, and our communities when we choose to hold a grudge.

Teachings on the KINGDOM. The kingdom of God. The holy of holies where we know that we are welcomed – we are wanted – we are INVITED – and where we are home. The kingdom where the teachings of Jesus are lived and upheld, with joy.

For the Kingdom of God should be our focus at all times, and in all circumstances. In all our decisions, we can challenge ourselves if this will help build the kingdom of God: and if not, then we need to ask ourselves if we really want to be doing it.

For we are the folks that Jesus wants.

Jesus wants us in the kingdom.

Jesus wants us in the family and household of God.

Jesus wants us to be the builders of the sanctuary – the holy place.

Because this, beloved of God, is where we all belong. In the company of Jesus; in the inspired ministry of God’s holy mission of love, in the active engagement with each other and the world.

God wants us in the sanctuary –

It’s why Hannah felt so comfortable entering the Temple, alone, fervent in prayer.

It’s why she had the comfort to correct Eli in his mis-perceptions.

It’s why she could overcome her personal grief and grievances and focus on praising God.

It is the sanctuary that is highlighted throughout the letter to the Hebrews.

It’s why in today’s passage the writer speaks with such authority on the sanctuary as the Kingdom of God, not as a physical space.

It’s why we are assured that we can enter that sanctuary “with confidence” for the building of the church, of the community, of the people.

It’s why we trust that the “new and living way” has been opened to us by Jesus himself. We couldn’t do it for ourselves or by ourselves.

And so this is the sanctuary, this holy ground of glorious mystery, that we are invited into by our Saviour and Lord!

This is the sanctuary of truth, and honesty, and integrity.

This is the sanctuary where people are committed to caring for each other in the midst of, and resulting from, worshiping God.

This is the sanctuary that can be built, when the people of God come together. Not with shoddy construction of secret meetings or gossip or foolishness; but with the strength of faithful, faith-fuelled actions that “provoke one another with love and good deeds.”

This is the sanctuary – the sacred space – that we are being invited to build and maintain now. Today! As we move into a post-lockdown world, as we move toward the season of lights, as we move towards new ways of living with and loving our communities, as we move towards new expressions of ministry for this place and this time, evermore focused on the call to BE the church.

So let’s be intentional, then, to NOT be led astray: by the noise of the world, the scandalous headlines and attention-seeking gossips and haters.

Let’s “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for God, who has promised us everything, is faithful.”

Let’s commit to keeping our focus on the kingdom: the kingdom that is being built; the kingdom that we are engaged in building, the kingdom that beckons all of us to come home: the kingdom of God.

And in doing so, we will enter into the sanctuary: focused on God, acting in love, living in faith.

Amen.

Sermon, Pente+24 (B)

  This morning, as we are facing Remembrance Day, I invite us to ponder briefly on a life of service: what it means to serve, what it means to be served, what it means to offer our service to others, to the world, and most importantly: to God.

Service is knowing what you have to offer, and then offering it freely. It is not about parades and fancy attire, it is not about social status or recognition.

Service is taking all that you have, and all that you are, even when - especially when - you don't want to or feel you can't - and giving it for the benefit of others.

Service is not a demonstration of giving a portion of what we have, service is living a radical generosity whereby everything we do speaks to what is living within us.

Service is throughout today's texts; from Ruth giving her child to her mother-in-law to raise as her own; to the labourers who toil for the sake of the Lord’s house – and household- in the Psalm; to Paul reminding the Hebrews that Christ offered himself to bear our sins; to Jesus' teaching of the poor widow giving all she had.

Service is not something to be remembered just one day, but to be lived all the time. It is not something that only happens in a uniform, it is something that we are called to wear in our hearts. it is not something that we do, it is a full expression of who we are: as we strive for peace and justice, as we remember all who serve to bring about the kingdom, and as we commit to be the ones who serve for the love of God.

In Remembering, we are invited to re-member. To bring back into one all who are divided: all who have distanced, all who have departed.

This is the understanding that Jesus is bringing in his teaching: that the household of God is open for all. That God wants us all as members of the household. That God is inviting – summoning – engaging! Each and every one of us to come and serve: to offer freely, to rejoice in the giving.

Because in the giving, we receive:

• We receive the benefits of community.

• We receive the joy of shared experiences.

• We receive the support of knowing that we belong: we are wanted and welcomed.

• We increase our resilience to the weariness of the world.

• We increase our sense of safety and security – and thus increase our desire to contribute.

• We increase our expressions of love and loving: a love really lived – which is, as I heard in a sermon yesterday, “our vocation in such a time as this.”

• Knowing that in giving love, we are continuing to share the love that God has already gifted to us.

And this is what Jesus wants to teach.

And he teaches! Bless us; he teaches.

Jesus teaches about service to the folks who are gathered in the Temple, who are living a good and comfortable life. They are the religious dignitaries, and the disciples and the scribes. They are the money-changers, the money-lenders, the authorities.

And he teaches them that not everyone who holds a position of authority and power is really acting in the best context of service. Some of them were more interested in self-promotion than community service: and we hear specifically how some of them “devour widow’s houses” – possibly by over taxation, mismanagement of funds, possibly even as far as fraudulent behaviour. And this – the plight of the widows – is addressed by repeated expressions of concern for them throughout the biblical texts. The use of the strong “Beware” as Prof. Amanda Brobst-Renaud says, “would not be a surprise to Jesus’ auditors.”

And so Jesus’ teachings continue.

Yet the venue has changed. Part-way through the passage today, the context of Jesus’ teaching shifts. Jesus himself leaves the confines of the Temple, and sits down outside, in the crowd, where the folks gather to make their offering. The treasury was a very public place, where everyone could witness what folks were placing into it.

And so: with this venue change, we also have a contextual change. Because Jesus is still teaching, but his audience is now the broader public: the ones who want to see and be seen in what they are giving – and the ones who want to contribute but do so privately.

And the giver now is a poor widow – the very expression of Jesus’ indoor teaching. And though she is unknown to the crowds, she is well-known to Jesus. He knows her heart; he knows her financial situation. He sees her sacrifice and service as she engages in offering all she can: not just her finances, meagre as they are; but her whole life. All she has. Given to God.

It’s a lot. It’s a large lesson: the lesson of giving that weaves its way throughout our scriptures today. The widow Ruth who gave up her kin and kith to be with a mother-in-law who would then request her child; the priest who would give up personal practices to offer sacrifices of himself and of his people; the Christ who made the ultimate offering and oblation.

It is a profound spirituality that we are hearing of today, in the call to service. And it is a counter-cultural one; it is not the way of the world to give all that we have: but it is the way of Jesus.

So I invite us to consider how we serve: our families, our friends, our communities.

I invite us to consider how we serve: God’s people, God’s church, and God’s world.

I invite us to consider this deep spirituality of service: because this spirituality is not new, rather it takes us deeper into a very old, very traditional, very faithful expression of living in loving service to God. It takes us into discernment of service, of love, of the divine.

So my prayer as we engage in this discernment:

May the wisdom of Jesus be heard;

may the teachings of Jesus be learned;

may the love of Jesus influence us to empower our life of service. Amen.

Sermon, All Saints (B)

This is a full day for us, as we have a combination of several things happening around us.

It is, of course, Halloween, which means we will (hopefully) see lots of friendly little ghosts and goblins and such coming round this evening to help us divest of our candy supplies.

We are also, this evening, as the sun set, entering into All Hallow’s Eve – the evening before the day when we remember all those who have been hallowed – or honoured as holy. Namely, the saints – those folks through the ages with an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God - who have gone before from this life and entered into the next.

And All Saint’s Day is, of course, immediately before All Soul’s Day: a day when we honour, remember, and commemorate all the faithful departed; all those whom we love but see no more, those who are equally loved and cherished in the household of God, and are less likely to have statues made of them here on earth.

That’s a LOT for us to honour and dwell in, in a short time period.

Add in there some significant memories – it’s 20 years ago tonight that the building of St. John’s was harmed by fire – and this is a significant weekend indeed.

And through it all: we are invited to keep seeking God.

To see God in our company – even when we’re feeling separated.

To hear God in the joyful noise - even when we’re feeling too much silence.

To feel God in our hearts – even when we’re feeling the blahs.

To know God in our midst – even when we’re feeling alone.

Because as soon as we stop actively seeking God: we bind ourselves to the world – and to worldliness.

And that is easy to do: our lives are busy, our calendars are full.

We have tasks we want to do, and conveniences we want to take advantage of.

We have priorities and privileges and preferences.

We can be bound.

We forget to invite God into our midst, into our families and our conversations and our lives:

And we forget that we’ve forgotten to invite God in.

And we carry on, in the world; bound.

Limited.

Limited by our anger; our preferences; our sadness; our schedules; our addictions; our consumerism; our excuses.

We are bound: by the past, by ourselves, by our choices.

We are overwhelmed by the burden of everything, and we lose sight of our focus on God.

Yet Jesus says clearly to us all, as he did to those around Lazarus:

UNBIND HIM! LET HIM GO.

Unbind US, we hope. Let US go.

So we ponder: What is preventing us from the fullness of life – in this world at this time – and

What is preventing us from seeing the hope of eternal life that is promised!

Unbind us, Lord, that we may seek you.

Because this past year, 19 months, we know: we have all suffered a loss. We are all grieving. COVID has taken a toll on us, individually and collectively. We have all lost something during COVID.

And today: as we pray for the saints and souls, and we try to abide in that holy hope, we name and honour all that has been lost this year:

People

Connections

Sense of security and safety (real or perceived)

Travel

Medical access

Established routines and expectations

Hugs

Casual gatherings

Social Norms and Niceties

Communication Skills

Perspectives.

The list goes on: we have lost much.

And this is not the time when I will tell us to smile harder, ignore the pain, forget the sadness:

Instead, this is a time when we honour it.

Because we know, as people of hope, as people of God – that the pain doesn’t last forever.

The feasts of All Saints and All Souls are important: because they help us to acknowledge our losses, and to articulate our sense of lament (a long-lost skill in our society) – and they help us to – every year – continue our journey towards hope.

And hope:

Our hope keeps us going – on the great days, and the not-so-great- days.

Our hope keeps us seeking God – where we expect God to be, and where we are delightfully astonished.

Our hope keeps us in the world but not bound by the world.

For our hope is the hope of Solomon, who can declare with confidence that the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. That those who are faithful are faithfully held and cherished, abiding with God in love: this is indeed a hope full of immortality.

And our hope is the hope of the psalmist, who declares the entirety of the world as the Lord’s – knowing that this includes us, and our ancestors, and generations yet to come. No wonder they continue in glorifying God as they seek the face of God!

And our hope is the hope of John, as he shares what was revealed to him, that the home of God is ever among mortals, removing all grief and sadness from us, assuring us of the impermanent nature of death, of the renewal of all beings in the presence of the Triune God!

And our hope is the hope of Martha and Mary – who confess their faith even in the midst of their grief, who do not ask for a miracle but is open to seeing the full and unbounded glory of God, revealed in an utterly unbelievable action by her friend Jesus.

Our hope is the hope that has been shared with us: the hope of generations past, the hope of our world today, the hope of the future.

A hope that does not speak of a far-away heaven as a destination, but rather as the kingdom of God being an on-going journey made accessible to everyone in the here and now.

A kingdom that we are meant to seek out, meant to delight in, meant to invite others towards.

A kin-dom of hope where we, as Christians, are invited to be humble.

The kingdom of God is a place where we do not have all the answers, nor can we understand how God expresses his love to all of his family. A place where we do our best to live out our faith in the world around us, respecting God’s authority in all the world.

The kingdom of God is a place of hope:

So let us pray for those who have departed, thanking God for the privilege of having known them, and for the wondrous faith and hope that they taught us.

And let us live in hope.

Let us pray:

O God, the king of saints, we praise and glorify your holy name for all your servants who have finished their course in your faith: for the blessed Virgin Mary; for the holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs; and for all your other righteous servants, known to us and unknown; and we pray that, encouraged by their examples, aided by their prayers, and strengthened by their fellowship, we also may be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.