Sunday 28th August 2022 (Year C)
St Anne’s, Wrenthorpe (Eucharist)
Jeremiah 2:4-13 / Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 / Luke 14:1, 7-14
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Some of you may be familiar with the Monty Python film, “Life of Brian”, and the scene in which members of the People’s Front of Judea are discussing what the Romans have done for them….
I can imagine that film has fuelled many sermons, so I won’t dwell on it.
Yet it is one of those cinematic moments that stick around… presenting a case for what the Romans have not done… for they are the oppressors, against the obvious litany of technological and organisational developments that the Romans brought to wherever they went!
I make no apologies for connecting such a scene with the narrative styles – often poetic – with which scripture is often presented… especially when it comes to all the ways in which Israel has fallen short of God’s hope for them.
The prophesies of Jeremiah, approximately dated some 600 years before Jesus, bear witness to God’s unhappiness with the nation of Judah. No surprises there!
Most of the prophetic passages in the Old Testament were aimed at a nation of wayward people who strayed away from God when things seemed to be going OK, but were incapable of anticipating the disaster that would befall them later!
Jeremiah was, like others prophets, highly unpopular with the ruling classes and was considered a traitor and a heretic.
He railed against the political and religious policies of the day. He warned that Jerusalem would fall.
And it did fall, to the Babylonians… and then the people went into Exile.
Yet Jeremiah, proved right in his warning of disaster and destruction, prophesied that from the ashes something better would rise. And eventually it did so.
His words – the voice of God – are very clear: not only have the rulers, priests, the law and the people turned away, they have essentially ‘replaced’ God with rubbish – stuff that looks shiny but does not enrich their souls!
This all sounds rather familiar doesn’t it!
How often might we hope for such a prophet….oh wait, we have heard many, many voices of doom these past few years. And still we might think all is well…..
And then, what do you make of the passage from Luke’s Gospel of Dinner? Apparently, Luke’s Gospel has more scenes and images of meal times than any of the others! Who knew!?
There’s certainly plenty to get your teeth into… eh?
Sorry! I couldn’t resist it!
I suppose we could be forgiven for imagining that Jesus is the definitive teacher of ‘good manners’.
That we are being reminded to behave properly when we are invited to dinner. Surely that’s what polite society is founded upon?
Hmm maybe not.
Imagine a possible scenario:
Here is Jesus, under close scrutiny by those who don’t like Him, still pushing against the closed door of hope!
He is still healing people on the Sabath and basically kicking against the establishment, with the power of love…
And who is He dining with? He is at the home of a powerful Pharisaic leader – no doubt surrounded by others of similar power and standing, of like mind and outlook… and Jesus is amongst them – not like them…. Not ‘one of us’.
No, let’s bring this itinerant preacher into our midst, show Him how things are done around here – we might listen to what He has to say, although He will probably not be as outspoken as He has been out there – in the city crowds. I think we can convince Him that there won’t be any changes, that we look after the people…. Remind them of God’s displeasure and all of that…
And, if He doesn’t like it… well, we shall have to see about that, won’t we….
And then what does Jesus do? What does he say?
As they all manoeuvre themselves to get the best seat – assessing their own power against that of their fellow guests, Jesus sees them – He knows them…
These are the ones who go out of their way to demonstrate just how pious they are – observant of the Law and of a purity beyond judgment!
Yes, He knows them well but He doesn’t despise them.
Jesus sees that great, overcasting cloud of Pride that hangs over such people – preventing them from acknowledging God and all that is offered – they probably believe that they don’t need it!
And if they don’t need it, they certainly didn’t want the “undeserving” to have any of it!
Some years ago, whilst at Wakefield Cathedral, I took part in an interfaith event.
Although I can’t quite remember what it was about, I know that it was a “good thing”, and many people, of many faith communities, in and around Wakefield, came together to celebrate it.
What I do remember clearly is what happened at the end….
There were photo opportunities with the Bishop of Wakefield who had instigated this event, and I found myself in the frame, next to Bishop Tony. We’ve known each other for ages, this was OK.
Gradually, as other faith leaders were drawn into the line…. I moved sideways. I kept moving sideways.
By the time the picture was taken, I was on the end, and barely in-shot!
It made me smile. There was nothing bad or malicious about the actions of others, in this moment. It’s just how it played out.
People who wanted to be remembered, in that moment, in something good.
I think sometimes our motivations are invisible even to ourselves – good and bad.
God sees into our hearts and knows us.
And often the situation is quite different….
You and I know the places and circumstances where we get caught out – where we offer something in the anticipation of getting something else in return. A payment….
When we get involved for the praise of reward or prestige, or quietly calculate where we need to be to remain in the warming glow of the spotlight.
We believe we have a right, that we deserve…. That no matter what our motives are, we approach many situations as a transaction, something for something…
Because to do otherwise, well… what would people think of me?
And we know that none of this is of God!
As ever, we might ask what this means for us, and how we might receive these words of Jeremiah and Jesus, and reflect upon them in the days to come.
Well I am fairly sure that we won’t use the words of Jesus solely as guide to banqueting etiquette… hopefully!
During last week, I had the opportunity to join with over three thousand other Christians in a virtual conference about the Future of Christianity. One of the speakers was Richard Rohr, the Franciscan theologian who I find to be most profound in having reignited contemplative Christian spirituality.
Obviously such a vast area of consideration, as The Future of Christianity, is not to be resolved in a couple of hours on Zoom.
There is also nothing new in the concept of revival or renewal of faith and Christian discipleship, and different approaches have come to the fore over the decades – to consider spirituality and scripture, the structures of religions, and relevance of it all in the modern world etc.
The conversations will continue and, like the warnings of Jeremiah, there may be a need for religion to change in ways we can’t imagine – as if it went away to begin again…. As the seed from a dying plant will start something new.
The session I joined was inspired by, and began with, a quote from the German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Writing during his imprisonment by the Nazis, in 1944, Bonhoeffer never lost hope.
He said:
“Our church has been fighting during these years only for its self-preservation, as if that were an end in itself. It has become incapable of bringing the word of reconciliation and redemption to humankind and to the world. . .. [We] can be Christians today in only two ways, through prayer and in doing justice among human beings. All Christian thinking, talking and organizing must be born anew, out of that prayer and action…”
It might sound a bit grim in its outlook, but considering where it came from…
We know this to be true, don’t we?
That prayer and action for justice is our hope – it’s what Jesus did – and it must always be the foundation of our beliefs and of our church.
If the Church of England was disestablished tomorrow – became separated from the crown and the government…. What would we do?
Well, we would still be Christian Disciples, trying to make sense of the lives we are blessed with…
Part of a witnessing and faithful “church” …. Maybe looking at how to start again… who knows!
We still have the work to do, that Jesus told us about… to love one another…..
Jesus told His host to broaden his horizons, and in particular to widen his guest list, in future.
For the Kingdom of God is for everyone.
No doubt this must have seemed like utter madness – even for Jesus amongst the Pharisees!
All are welcome at the table…. At the feast… at the banquet…!
Never mind doing stuff that has no risk, that pleases your friends, and obviously must look good to God….
Instead, receive the treasure without price, that comes from God – and always has done…
For everything is a GIFT – nothing is a RIGHT, not even the air we breathe!
We have to MAKE certain conditions into rights – through laws etc – to ensure a degree of equality or justice – especially for those without a voice in this challenging world.
Jesus tells us….
With God everything is different!
God offers a Gift Economy – where nothing is deserved but everything is freely given as a gift.
I
f you have ever given or received love then you will know this…
For love is the gift that we can receive, that we can give, that we can share, that we must not presume or discard.
In the days to come, why not trade in this Gift Economy… giving freely of yourself, your blessings and your love.
It may seem to be just one way… way may never know….
Yet, anything that comes back to you, is a gift. A joyous, generous blessing and gift.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
References
Bonhoeffer, D. (2015) Letters and Papers from Prison, Fortress Press
Wright, N.T. (2004) Luke for Everyone – Second Edition, SPCK
Image: (Scene) “What have the Romans ever done for us?” (sic)
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)