[Hymn: God Has Spoken by his Prophets]
We have
just sung a hymn of how God speaks. The first verse of the hymn talks about God
speaking by and through the prophets, and the first reading today while it is a
story about a vineyard and the king, about greed and power; it's a story about
a prophet, the prophet Elijah. Elijah challenged Ahab about his behaviour, his
actions in taking the land that belonged to Naboth, not owned in the way that
we think of owning land today, the land was seen as a gift from God and each
person held it in care , lived off it and nurtured it for the next generation. As
far as Naboth is concerned it wasn't really his to sell or to give away.
The second
verse is God speaking through Jesus, and in our gospel reading we hear something of the
words of Jesus. Here in this reading there are people judging a woman for
showing love. In the story Jesus tells a story to the assembled guests in the
presence of the woman, which ends with
those who have been forgiven most love most. The word that we hear in this
reading from Luke’s gospel is about forgiveness and love and I would add
inclusion, because this woman named appears to have some kind of past. A
Pharisee challenges Jesus that he should know that this woman who is touching
him is the centre in Jesus tells the story, and the rest of the lectionary seen
set for the weak tells of the women who were part of the group that travel with
Jesus.
The third
verse of the hymn is God is speaking by his spirit, God is speaking by the
spirit.
One of the
roles of the church is to be a prophet, to be a prophetic voice. What might the
church speak out about, where might we be a prophetic voice today. Maybe the
readings set this week give us a hint. In the old testament reading the prophet
Elijah challenges greed, oppression, acquisitiveness, and unlawful killing; and
in the gospel Jesus challenges judging and superiority. Where today do we see and hear judgement, and condemnation; where today do we
see and hear of oppression, of greed that leads to oppression, of people
wanting more and more, often at the expense of someone else.
I wondered
who are the people today we might think of as prophets? Here are some images:
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Image
1: Desmond Tutu, Mahatma Ghandi
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Image
2: Aung San Suu Kyi
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Image
3: Martin Luther King
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4: Malala Yousufzai - The 15-year-old Pakistani student was shot in the head at
point-blank range by Taliban gunman for taking a bold and public stance in
support of girls' education.
In what
ways might we be prophets, where are we being called and challenged to speak
into the world with God's concern. Where do we speak for the poor, those who
feel they have no hope, the oppressed, the excluded. And how might we be
prophets? Not just with our voice but in our actions. A little later Sue will
be introducing the Micah challenge to us, and with that comes a series of
prayer sheets.
One way
that we can be prophets is by joining with other people, in challenging
stereotypes. An example at the moment is the image that is often portrayed of
people who come seeking asylum by boat. It is not illegal to seek asylum and it's
not a legal to arrive by boat. Over 90% of people who seek asylum after
arriving by boat are found to be refugees and granted protection visas, yet the
government and the opposition are seeking ways of detaining people and locking
them up for longer and longer periods of time. This is financially costly, but
more than that it is dehumanising.
Church
leaders speak out against such long periods of detention, we can join the
leaders of our church in this prophetic work by finding out what the situation
is for asylum seekers, we can show God's grace by being a visitor to a
detention centre, offering to assist people when they are released from
detention. One Minister I know is a guardian for an unaccompanied teenager, a
young Muslim man from the middle east is living with a Christian Minister while
he finishes his schooling.
This week
is refugee week and as part of refugee week there are walks in each capital city and a
number of other major centres next Saturday, one is in Parramatta and one in
Wollongong. If you're interested in joining either of those marches I can pass
the information on to you.
Later this
year there is a Federal election, just in case you hadn't heard about it yet. This
week a pack of information came from a group called Uniting Justice, which is
part of the Uniting Church. The information sheets are titled - just society:
your faith your voice your vote.
Being a prophet
is not necessarily being in a comfortable place. I doubt that Elijah was
looking forward to challenging Ahab about the death of Naboth. One reason being
a prophet can be uncomfortable is that often it means speaking against the
powerful, that might be people with money or influence sometimes it's just
people with a loud voice. In many ways being a prophet is standing up to the
bully in the playground. Except as adults the bullies often wear suits and
ties, the bullies try and tell us it is for our own good, or get us on side by
saying that the poor are lazy, or people seeking asylum are a threat.
Being a
Christian to me often seems to be swimming against the flow. Not judging
people, being inclusive, offering forgiveness, recognising love and faith in
the unexpected.
In Martin
Luther King's famous speech I have a dream this is part of what he says:
“ I say to you today, my
friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I
still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day
this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We
hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on
the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave
owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day
even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of
injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and
justice.
I have a dream that my four
children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour
of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the
state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words
of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where
little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white
boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day
every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the
rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight,
and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it
together.”
I too have
a dream, I have a dream that one day we will recognise all of humanity is part
of God's great creation. I have a dream that one day it won't count as
newsworthy that the Prime Minister is female, or even that the minister is
female. I have a dream that one day our aboriginal brothers and sisters will
have life expectancy, health outcomes, educational and employment opportunities
that reflect the rest of the Australian Society. I have a dream that one day
discussions in public about the future of this country will rest on what makes
for a good society, how resources can go to those most in need. I have a
dream...
What is
your dream?
Where is
God challenging you to be a prophetic voice?
What will
you do about it?
