Sermon: Trinity II (A)
Sunday, 18th June 2023
St Anne’s, Wrenthorpe
We are doing something new here, today.
David is leading us in our service of Extended Communion.
There is much that is familiar, and yet there are some aspects that look a bit different.
The people that devise liturgies and worship, in the Church of England, have taken some words out, and put quite a few more in.
The reason I am telling you this – or stating the obvious! – Is that I don’t wish to preach for too long, when we are not too sure how long the service will be.
There, I have used up a few precious minutes, and you are none the wiser! My apologies…!
So…
I’m going to be bold now, and say:
You are the Labourers….
You are the Twelve….
We are The Good News.
I don’t know about you, but when I am presented with a person – real or fictional – who has helped to transform society, change lives, reduce suffering and generally be amazing… I often feel intimated! I am sorry to say that, but it is true.
And then this person speaks… and you realise that this isn’t one person doing it all, but they have inspired and encouraged others to play their part too – drawing on strengths maybe they didn’t know they had – to come together and be the change they seek.
Throughout history, good leaders have brought humanity together in times of need, or to work slowly and steadily towards common goals and a hopeful future.
When this is done for the good of all, with a genuine understanding of the needs of the world- perhaps even through love…. Then it cannot fail.
And we know this, because it is what Jesus does…
He had compassion for the crowds, and wanted to reach out to them….
Not because they were rubbish, or weak and feeble, or lazy and arrogant….
Or even because HE wanted to do something good TO them…
Jesus knew they needed a Good Shepherd.
He knew that they had been weighed down by laws that were often too difficult to live by, and that they wanted to respond to God but didn’t know how to do it from where they were in life…. From within their souls….
So he showed them.
His followers – His friends – The Twelve – they knew what Jesus was all about, although maybe they didn’t quite know where it was all leading to!
They were assembled, instructed and then sent out into the world…
Matthew is revealing what looks like a blue-print – an instruction manual – for Christian Mission.
Go out…
Cast out…
Cleanse and heal…
Raise the dead..
And how….?
Do it for free, ‘cos you are given it for free…
Oh, and make this mission only about Israel…
Wait… what?
I thought Jesus came to bring everyone into the Kingdom….?
Matthew writes for an intended audience that was pro-Jewish – with an apparent bias against The Gentiles and Samaritans – in fact anyone other than the children of Israel.
However, Matthew doesn’t make out that Jewish leaders, society and Laws are all good – quite the opposite.
For Jesus, the Law will prevail, and so it seems right that the first Mission, on which the Twelve are sent, should be for Israel alone.
And so the Mission is revealed as the Salvation of God that is present in Christ:
God loves.
God calls, and talks, and hopes and tries….
And humans turn away….
Jesus comes…
And points humankind in the right direction, a signpost to God…yet again….
Back to the Mission.
I don’t imagine The Twelve being confident about healing and raising and casting out…. They had seen it done…. They had a good teacher….
But really, sometimes it seems like a big ask – for you and me? Doesn’t it?
What can I do? What am I being asked to do? What difference will I make….?
And that could be said for what we do here.
Although we are praying that someone will want to come and be an associate priest in our benefice, bringing the much needed skills and offices that we are short of, for now, we are doing what we can, and responding to the call for more labourers!
I imagine though, that your personal response – your calling – may come upon you unawares, often quietly or even through careful choice – but always through prayer.
Recently, reflecting on the Holy Spirit – and probably my age – I have asked myself what it is I really want in life….
I imagine, like most people, that I just want to be known, be seen, be heard, and understood, valued for existing, remembered, and loved…
When we find that these basic yearnings are at least partially met, then change can happen – transformation is possible, and we might hope to be at one with ourselves, one another and ultimately with God.
I believe that is what Jesus sent His disciples out to do: assist with the transformation of Israel by cleansing and healing – yes, the physical – but mostly the spiritual – those who tried to live by the Law, but just couldn’t; those that lived on the margins, because they were too different; those that appeared to be at peace with Jewish society but were really slaves to the temptations of the world….
The lost sheep….. those in need of a Good Shepherd.
Surely though we are justified by faith, and have obtained access to God’s grace – the Kingdom is accomplished, and there is nothing left to do…
Ah yes, Paul’s encouragement to the Romans….
Often mis-used…
Try again – Paul speaks about boasting of grace and sharing glory from within our sufferings and our labours!
The progression through endurance, to character and ultimately hope!
In this world that insists on immediate gratification, offering false prophets and impossible goals, Paul reminds us that the journey to, and with, God takes time – often alongside failure and pain….
And why? For Christ died for us whilst we were still sinners….
Gods love and grace are a free gift – to us – given whether we ‘deserved’ it or not!
How often have you encountered the observation:
– if only they had believed more,
– had a greater faith,
– prayed harder,
- lived a healthier life,
- or basically been less of a wrongun….
- Then a life cared about wouldn’t have gone so wrong, or been cut short….
I just don’t think that’s how it works…
Grace is a free gift…..
So…
Join the mission to the lost sheep out of choice…. Because you want to….
We are not called to perform miracles – if you do, then well done!
We are not going out on Monday morning to cure all the illness in the world.
Don’t be surprised that when we offer prayer for others, that they tell us where to go….
That when we speak about church, and faith and what it all means to us, that we are not immediately welcomed…
And yes – we do want people to believe in Jesus as a salvation …..
And no – we don’t like it when the world can’t seem to the bothered…
Discouragement…. Is all around….
But hope does prevail.
I believe that we still have a message that others need to hear – and i think you do too!
During this last week I spent time with some people for whom good mental health us but a dream.
It is always a blessing and an honour to bring the presence of Christ alongside poorly people, just by being there.
I listen to people railing and ranting. For them, this world is terrifying and filled with falsehoods and nothing of substance.
Just listen. Don’t judge. Don’t run away.
They are not punished, or isolated or medicated – not this time, anyway.
Just for a little while – they might be heard, or seen, or known…. Maybe even loved.
They are remembered them, in prayer.
So….
Have I cleansed, or healed or cast out or…. Raised up?
You tell me. For such are they questions from within my own prayers.
And such encounters are there with us all, most days, aren’t they?
We follow Jesus Christ and seek His way of building The Kingdom, because it is our response to the call for more labourers…. Not because it will make God love us more.
This Mission – here with us always – will be filled with uncertainty and challenges… and joy!
So, remember…
We are The Good News – let others here it and see it!
We will be the Labourers…. Needed urgently for the Harvest…
We are the Twelve…. Each one of us named – and Sent out Today!
….and tomorrow…. And the next day, and for as long as we can…
Thanks be to God.
Amen.