a pearl downunder: psalm 104

Saturday, 26 May 2018

Pentecost part 2

Psalm 104:24-35

Philippians 4:4-9

Traditionally today is the day we try and get our heads around what it means to worship a triune God: God the creator, redeemer and sanctifier, or God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or many other wordings.

This year I am not even going to attempt to explain the Trinity to you, today we are celebrating Pentecost again. We celebrated Pentecost last Sunday, as we heard about the spirit being made real in the lives of those gathered with the apostles in Jerusalem. We pondered where the fire of the Holy Spirit was active in our lives, and where we might need to allow the spirit to blow life into the embers.

This morning we are again thinking about the action of the Holy Spirit. It can be easy for us to think of the dramatic events in Acts 2, with the Spirit coming in tongues of fire and roaring winds and thunder as the first time the Spirit was given to people or was active in the world, but that is not the case.

Back in the beginning of Genesis, we read:

In the beginning God
created the heavens
    and the earth.
The earth was barren,
    with no form of life;
it was under a roaring ocean
    covered with darkness.
But the Spirit of God
    was moving over the water.[i]

In 1 Samuel:

Samuel poured the oil on David’s head while his brothers watched. At that moment, the Spirit of the Lord took control of David and stayed with him from then on.[ii]

And in Ezekiel

The Lord said, “Ezekiel, son of man, I want you to stand up and listen.” After he said this, his Spirit took control of me and lifted me to my feet.^{^[iii]}

So, what has all this to do with us?

Would you walk up to the Queen of England and start talking with her? It is unlikely you would get past the security detail, and what would you talk with her about?

As the people of God, we get to speak to God, without going through a metal detector, or having to make an appointment.

I like the book of Psalms:
it is very real and gritty in places,
it contains songs and poems
it covers a wide range of emotions and life situations.

The part of the Psalm we heard this morning, is full of images about creation. There is a sense of awe and wonder.

Notice that the Psalmist is addressing God, not talking about God. The Psalmist continually refers to God as you, here are a few examples:

· Our Lord, by your wisdom

· You created all of them by your Spirit,
and you give new life to the earth.

· As long as I live, I will sing and praise you, the Lord God.

The Psalmist is not giving a lesson on the creation, the Psalmist is speaking to God, to the creator, about the wonder and beauty of the world, recognising God’s care for all the creatures of the earth.

Talking to God, rather than about God, takes courage and faith. The Psalm section this morning isn’t all nice and sweet:

“I hope my thoughts will please you,
because you are the one who makes me glad.
Destroy all wicked sinners from the earth once and for all.
With all my heart I praise you, LORD! I praise you!”

Psalms,

· Earthy
· Real
· Honest
· There is no pretending or being careful
· It is an outpouring of joy and an acknowledgement of the imperfection of the world.[iv]

In the section of the letter of Paul to the Philippians that we heard this morning, we are encouraged to live in the reality of the kingdom of God.

Paul is in prison when he writes this letter, yet he reminds the people in the church at Philippi, to rejoice, to pray, to give thanks. This might sound ridiculous; how can we always be joyful?

“Paul is holding two realities in view at the same time.”[v] We live in a world where despair and anxiety, pain and prison are real, and at times overwhelming. We also live in God’s world, a world of beauty, a world of promise and peace.

I know for myself, at times it can be difficult to live into the kingdom of God. It is not always easy to focus on ‘whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper.’ To keep ‘thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.’

I can look in the garden at home and focus on the weeds, or I can focus on the beauty of the plants and flowers and see homes for birds and insects.

We can look at the community and focus on domestic violence, homelessness, drug abuse, and ….; or we can focus on the good work done by so many groups, such as Mary Macs and Coast Shelter.

In the creation story, the Spirit was moving over the water.

In our lives, the Spirit is also moving,

· transforming,
· welcoming and
· naming is as children of God.

Focusing on the Kingdom of God, thinking about what is true and pure and holy, does not always come naturally. But, living into the Kingdom of God is not some pipe dream, you don’t need rose tinted glasses.

We live into the Kingdom of God when we allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, to transform us.

We live into the Kingdom of God when we

· look for the good in any situation,
· when we focus on God
· when we allow ourselves to be honest about ourselves and about life
· when we rejoice in the Lord whatever our circumstances
· when we give thanks to God
· when we pray, that is speak to God, openly and honestly

“because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.”

Just as Paul lived in two realities so do we. Which reality determines our outlook on life?

[iv] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3654

[v] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1011

Saturday, 17 October 2015

Glory and Service

God is great.

God is wonderful.

Creation is amazing.

This Psalm that we read together earlier, is one where the people are remembering the greatness of God. It’s a beautiful psalm.

These words are easy for us to say and to hear.

Phrases of praise, words proclaiming God’s greatness.

After the hard readings of Mark the last few weeks, the Psalm takes us to a completely different place.

There are times in our lives when all we want to do

is sing God’s praises,

remember God’s faithfulness and

rest in the glory of God.

Some places that we have lived, I had a special place where I would go when I wanted to do deep thinking, when I had something that I needed to mull over with God.

Those of you who have done any kind of meditation will probably have a special place you can go to without having to physically be there.

We all need those places,

we all need times

when we can be aware of the glory and majesty of God;

when we can be aware of the beauty of creation;

when we remember God’s presence throughout the ages.

But just as Moses came down from the mountain top, his face aglow;

just as Jesus and the disciples came down from the mountain top after the Transfiguration;

we cannot stay in those places where we bask in the glory and presence of God.

We come back to life

life in its gritty fullness

the ups and downs of daily living

the decisions

the hard places

the people we find difficult

the pain

the emptiness

The world is a beautiful place,

but just as there is beauty in the world,

there is also pain and violence.

And so we come back to the gospel of Mark,

and another of those difficult questions.

This one might not be quite so difficult to answer.

James and John wanted the best seats in the house.

Jesus has once again told the disciples,

for the third time,

that in Jerusalem he will be killed.

And James and John want to know if they can be on the left and right of Jesus in glory.

James and John still don’t get it.

The kingdom that Jesus is talking about is very different to the Roman kingdom.

Notice who gets to sit near the Prime Minister, or the leader of the opposition, in parliament.

Who gets to sit at the main table at a work function?

James and John wanted to be those closest to Jesus when he was in power, they want to be the deputies.

Jesus tells them that they don’t know what they are really asking.

The disciples are again reminded that the kingdom of God is not like the earthly kingdoms. Again we hear that the one who is greatest is the one who serves.

James and John ask if they can be at the right and left when Jesus is in glory.

I wonder when we see glory of Jesus.

Is it when he is on the cross, with two thieves - one either side?

Is it in the empty tomb?

Is it in the healing of the blind and the lame?

Or the acceptance of the woman at the well?

When the Gospels talk about the kingdom of God,

they are talking about the kingdom where love reigns,

the kingdom where all are welcomed,

a kingdom of peace and harmony,

the kingdom where all are respected.

A kingdom where service is a sign of greatness.

Being Christian, being people of God,

there are times when we are aware of the glory of God.

There are times when we look at the world around us and see the beauty of creation.

Yet what we hear from Jesus, is that the kingdom of God is not a magical place where light floods through us.

The kingdom of God is not an endless summer holiday.

The kingdom of God is a place of service.

Yesterday at a meeting I heard about an amazing ministry that the Uniting Church offers. I am guessing that many of you have heard of some of the traditional schools that come under the uniting church umbrella. Schools such as Knox, MLC, Newington and Ravenswood. There is a school in Newcastle that works with the most disadvantaged young people in our society. Many come from families that are dysfunctional.

To be considered for enrolment, the young person must be unable to continue mainstream schooling based on challenging behaviours and or educational disadvantage due to life circumstance.

The majority of students enrolled have mental health diagnosis.

Each child has a caseworker as well as teachers, breakfast and lunch are provided. These young people are treated as wonderful human beings, where most people see them as difficult, uncontrollable, a waste of space.

Yet we heard some amazing stories of transformation in the lives of young people when they are treated as individuals, called by name, given the support and resourcing that they need. Stories of people going back to mainstream schooling to complete their higher School certificate. Stories of young people who have been through the program, who are now in employment, married, raising children.

The glory of God, I believe, is seen in the transformation that comes when people glimpse the kingdom of God through
the hospitality
the love
the service
of faithful people.

God is great.God is wonderful.Creation is amazing.

The glory of God is seen in all the earth.

The glory of God is seen in lives transformed.

As much to rest in the light and awe of God

we also need to be following in the example of Jesus

in offering healing, hope, grace and love

to a broken and hurting world.

Where are you aware of the glory of God?

Where are you being an agent of hope and healing?