What’s in a name?

 

My name is Patricia, because my grandmother wanted to call my mother Patricia, but my grandfather was worried it would be shortened to Pat, and people would think she was a boy, so I ended up with the name. Some families have names that are passed down through the generations.

In the local Engadine Pictorial, there is a series on how streets in the area got the name they have.

In exodus we hear that Moses called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord.

Even today places get named after events, such as Bicentennial Park.

I wonder what we would name this area, if it didn’t already have a name?

What would we name this church, we are Engadine Uniting Church, but if we wanted to give it a different name, what would that be?

Comfortable? Hope? Blessing? Apathy?

This past week has been designated by the Uniting Church as a week of prayer and fasting in solidarity with our indigenous brothers and sisters who are part of the Uniting Church. It is called Destiny together – a name which speaks of our interconnectedness. There was a gathering in Canberra with people from all over Australia, but only about 300 people in all. Maybe that is good for a Tuesday?

Tuesday evening there was a prayer meeting here and Wednesday evening at Carlton Ramsgate Church. Last night a celebration was planned at Sylvania. In the midst of the storm last night I was rung from Sylvania asking where people were – no one had come from around the Presbytery. Aboriginal people had come to tell stories and share music, and no one turned up.

I wonder what this says about our commitment to justice for indigenous people?

 

Moses could have named the area after anything, water, drought, rock, thirst, but he named it after the quarrelling people. We also have situations named after events we wish we could wipe out of our communal memories. Events like dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the name of the city is now synonymous with that event in history.

There is the stolen generation, which refers to a group of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders people removed from their families and communities because of government policies. We can try and rationalise why this happened, and how some of the people involved had the best of intentions; but by naming it as the stolen generation, we acknowledge the pain and hurt that occurred as a result.

 

Here is a creative version of the woman at the well.

http://vimeo.com/22823852

 

this woman, whose name is not recorded, is known by innuendo and gossip. She is isolated by fear and pain, it is too hard to be around people who look at her sideways and make comments under their breath.

I wonder how many of us here this morning are imprisoned by the pain of hurtful words and behaviours; of being told continually that we are stupid or dumb or clumsy – what does that do to a child, and the adult they become?

As we hear more about the Royal Commission into child abuse within institutions, we hear about the impact on people’s lives, not for a short period of time, but their whole life.

What pain do we carry that imprisons us, that haunts our lives?

I wonder what pain we have caused with our words and actions? Individually and communally? Who do we brush aside, treat as unimportant?

Which groups in our community are neglected, put down, treated with suspicion?

How do we name the people who attempt to get to Australia looking for a place of safety?

How do we name people who live with mental illness?

How do we name …..

 

I remember growing up we were taught:

sticks and stones may break my bones,

but names will never hurt me;

 

but we know differently now,

we know that names can hurt, wound, kill.

We know now about bullying, both in person and using social media; we know about abuse, neglect and violence that occurs within families and communities and churches.

We know that life isn’t always easy or fair.

How do we name injustice, poverty, domestic violence, child abuse.

And how do we name these issues in ways that offers inclusion, rather than  exclusion and isolation.

How do we name injustice and bring hope

How do we name, and help others to name the pain that imprisons them, and in the process offer liberation.

 

We cannot do these things on our won, but in recognising the presence of Jesus, by drinking deeply from the well of grace ourselves, we are able to be a healing presence, and people who show others the way to life giving water.

 

What do you need to rename?

Hymn/song : TiS 692 sometimes a healing word

which tune do we move to?

Did your Mum say you had to be home 10pm?

Is it really wrong to go over the speed limit?
I know it says no littering, but it is just an apple core.
"Did God say, you would die  …?"

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus is out in the wilderness, and he is tested.   This passage is read at times as showing the importance of knowing some verses of scripture to keep temptation at bay, but notice the first 2 tests are also quotes of scripture.

Temptation doesn’t come with flashing lights saying danger, beware, turn back. Temptation comes disguised as opportunity, as realism.

Look at the temptations of Jesus –

• turn stones into bread,  go on, you’re hungry, why not?
• test God, go on, you are God’s son, surely God will protect you?
• you want to rule the world, I can help you with that, just worship me, and I will sort it all out for you…

a sermon I heard years ago, was about how we are tempted in areas of our strength. Me running a marathon, that is not a temptation, that is an impossibility. Me saying I will cook dinner for all of you tomorrow is a temptation, it is possible I could pull it off – but why would I? to show how clever I am? To show what a good cook I am?

These passages both ask – who or what do we listen to? 

Do we listen to the voice of grace and forgiveness in our lives?

Or do we listen to the voice of shame and guilt?

One of the questions I am frequently asked is: will God forgive me?

 The messages we get in our life are so often messages of failure, guilt and unworthiness, that we doubt that God will treat us any differently. Even though we hear the gospel each week, sometimes it seems it does not reside within us. What are the messages that you listen to, what messages do you allow to shape your life?, what are the words that stick!

 A quote I have put on my wall:

“It is the God we know, not the God we know about, that is ultimately of the most importance”

 The God I know, the God who I have felt in my life when I have been open to listening; the God I see in the gospel narratives about Jesus; the God I hear in the words of the prophets – this God speaks a message of good news. A message that reminds me of who I am – a loved child of God.

The challenge with being a loved child of God is that so many of the game rules for living are different.  No longer do we need to prove ourselves worthwhile, lovable, good looking or clever; no longer do we need to defend ourselves against insults; no longer do we need to show off our house or family or car.

 Being a disciple, being part of the body of Christ, is living to a different tune.  The tune we sing - the tune that our life moves to -  is one of service, mercy, forgiveness,  a tune of grace and love. No longer does our life move to the tune of greed, guilt or glamour.

 We choose which tune is the melody of our life.  It can be hard when we moving to a different tune to those around us.

Each day we are being challenged to leave behind the identity that God gives each one of us, and take on the identity of pride, guilt and failure.

Jesus chooses to live into his identity, he chooses not to play the game of self-fulfilment and short cuts to world power. Jesus chooses to march to God’s beat, to the kingdoms tune.

Which identity do we live into, which tune does our life move to?

T-fig mountain

A mountain top experience.

 Mountains figure in both of today’s readings. Moses goes up a mountain, Jesus takes the 3 disciples up a  mountain.

There are other stories in the Bible that include mountains – Elijah defeating the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel [1 Kings 18:13]; Elijah and the still small voice ; Jesus and the woman at the well discuss which mountain to worship God on; the sermon on the mount that we have been reading the past few weeks; and many more. Mountains mean something important is happening.

We still talk about a mountain top experience, meaning something wonderful or amazing has happened; something life changing; something remarkable and out of the ordinary.

That the transfiguration happened on a mountain is not surprising.

The lectionary has this reading here, on the last Sunday before the beginning of Lent. So we hear this after the sermon on the mount and before the temptations in the wilderness. But in Matthew this scene is much later in the story.

There have been healings and feeding the multitude, Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Messiah, then Jesus foretells his death and resurrection, then ‘ six days later, …’; after coming down from the mountain, the next thing we hear about is another healing  and Jesus again tells the disciples he will be put to death and rise 3 days later. Only a few chapters over and we have the entry into Jerusalem that we call palm Sunday.

This is a thick, rich, dense reading. There is a lot in here we could explore.  So a few points to ponder:

·    What happened in the 6 days before this event? Are the 6 days symbolically related to the 6 days of creation? Does it relate to the 6 days Moses waited for Gods instruction?

·    Moses is then on the mountain for 40 days and nights – where else do we hear that number? 40 years in the wilderness after the exodus, and Jesus spends 40 days in the wilderness before the temptations.  I doubt that calendars were that common :  40 refers to a long time.

·    Jesus took 3 disciples – I wonder how he chose which ones to take. Often we think they were the cream of the crop, but maybe they were the ones who needed to experience this to better know who Jesus was.

·    Jesus took 3 disciples, so on the mountain top there are 3 disciples and Moses, Elijah and Jesus – another 3.

·    The voice from the cloud said: “this is my son, my beloved; with whom I am well pleased” ; where have we heard this before? Baptism of Jesus by John [Matthew 3: 17]

·    The disciples were overcome with fear after the voice – not seeing Moses and Elijah, but after the voice – and Jesus touches them and told them not to be afraid. 

o  When we are full of fear,  are we aware of God’s presence with us? do we trust God is present even when we can’t feel that presence?

o  The importance of the power of touch – comforting another

For many people this is a Jesus they can relate to, a Jesus whose face shines, whose clothes are dazzling white. Jesus in his glory. Yet most of the time Jesus did not have dazzling clothes or a shining face; most of what we hear of Jesus is about travelling with disciples, healing people, including outcasts, teaching, feeding people. The other image people have of Jesus is on the cross, or resurrected. Each of these aspects of the life of Jesus add something to our understanding of Jesus.

Like our own mountain top experiences, we don’t live there, they are fleeting; and we need to get on with the everyday tasks of living.  Jesus tells the disciples both here and after the resurrection, to get on with living.

This morning we will share in the bread and juice during communion; a time where we become aware of the glory of Jesus, but also the life and death and resurrection of Jesus; a life full of love and grace; a life that healed and nurtured, comforted and challenged.  In communion, we too are aware of the touch of Jesus in our lives.

“This is where Jesus meets us--touches us--calms our fears--strengthens us--and takes us off the mountain back to the world with all its messes and problems to be signs of hope.” [i]

Which image of Jesus do we hold onto, the dazzling bright Jesus in all his glory?

Or the Jesus who changes lives – healing, feeding and loving?

What is the image of Jesus that people see in your life?

 

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[i] Working preacher podcast, comment by John Anderson.

another way.

This week it was tempting to choose a different reading J

We have been reading through chapter 5 of Matthew’s gospel for a few weeks, Jesus is teaching the disciples, and we have heard and thought about: the beatitudes, the exhortation to be salt and light, then a series of “You have heard that it was said, … But I say to you …”

And this week,

If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other; if anyone sues you for your coat, give them your shirt; if a soldier orders you to carry his pack one mile, take it two miles.

This seems crazy.

Let’s take a closer look at this.

If someone hits you on the right cheek, with their right hand, they are trying to put you down, humiliate you. it is very difficult for them to hit your left cheek with their right hand, without it being a fist, and a fist would make you an equal.

The only people who would be sued for a coat were the very poor. Here again, this saying of Jesus is about showing up society for what it is. If you are suing someone for their coat, they don’t have anything else to give. The idea of giving them all your clothes, is that then you would be naked; and in this culture it was the one who caused you to be naked who was shamed.

The people of Israel were under foreign occupation. A soldier could demand that you carry his pack for one mile, this allowed for heavy packs to be carried, but it was only one mile, so the people would do it, rather than arguing with the soldiers. But what would happen if you did more than was asked?

Jesus is “ starting a revolution by calling the rules of this world into question and, at the very same time, redeeming this world that will put him to death.” [i]

Jesus was talking to the victims of oppression, the ones who were humiliated daily, the ones who were forced to carry a soldiers pack, the one being sued for the clothes on his back. Jesus is talking to the victims, the ones who cannot retaliate, because that would be suicidal.[ii]

People usually respond to threats in one of two ways: retaliate or submission. In these examples where the power relationship was so unequal, retaliation is not an option, so people were submissive.

But here Jesus is saying, there is another way. Not repaying violence with violence, not cowering in submission, but  responding without violence.

 How do we respond to people?

The second part of the reading is again about not retaliating – you have probably seen this with children:  A hits B, B hits A back, A Hits B  back, and on and on – it also happens in wars and family feuds, often long after the initial event has been forgotten.

The idea of an eye for an eye, was that you could not exact more from a person than the crime they committed. It was to limit punishment to what was ‘reasonable’. Of course it didn’t work that way, and here Jesus is saying: what does taking another’s sight, or teeth, or life get you?

Martin Luther King, Jr., a student of both Jesus and Ghandi, once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”[iii]

 Hate cannot drive out hate; fear cannot drive out fear; evil cannot drive out evil. 

Anyone watching the nightly news will know that death, injury, violence and oppression still happen.  A little over a week ago a boy was killed by his father while at cricket practice, a terrible thing to happen. But notice how the mother of that child spoke? She spoke of love, and how the father loved the boy, and how he was going through a difficult time. Not once has she blamed the man who killed their child, or the police. She has chosen not to retaliate and condemn, when it would be easy to do so.  

Then we get to the final sentence of the reading “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Not only do we turn the other cheek, not retaliate when provoked, but we need to be perfect???

No, the word translated as perfect is telos, which can also be translated as mature or complete. ^[iv]

“Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” ^[v]

 “Jesus lays before us the plans for the kingdom he proclaims and the revolution he starts. And so before joining either, we should probably know just what it is we’re getting ourselves in for!” ^[vi]

 Are we committed to living as radical disciples of Jesus, part of the revolution of love?

 

 

Revolution

(inspired by Matthew 5: 48-58, Luke 6:27-38)

 

The enemy:
love them
The oppressor:
walk the mile with them
The Master:
turn the other cheek to them

 

This doormat faith
seems too much to bear
in a world where those who bully
always seem to win

 The enemy:
imbalance them with love
The oppressor:
shame the law that oppresses
The Master:
turn the cheek as an equal

This rebellious faith
seems too much to bear
in a world where those who bully
are loved back to justice by the bullied

But this is heaven’s revolution
and we are called into it
come let us worship
 [by] love’s rebel, Jesus

 

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

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[i] David Lose Working Preacher 18 February 2014

[ii] Walter Wink, 4 May 2009

[iii] David Lose, In the Meantime, 13 February 2014

[iv] David Lose, working preacher, 18 February 2014

[v] The Message

[vi] David Lose, In the Meantime, 13 February 2014

compassion, healing and discipleship

It is a privilege to be here today, to celebrate with this congregation and with Annette, a new beginning in ministry together.  

On Friday afternoon and evening I was at a meeting that was asking the questions, what is the church like now? And what would we like it to be like in 5 years? We didn’t look at the overall picture, but at some particular areas,  like leadership, discipleship and worship.

One comment was that as a church we don’t have a clear definition of discipleship.  I am not sure if that is the case or not, but I am aware that there are some aspects of our faith and Christian life that are difficult to put into succinct definitions. A disciple is a follower, an admirer, a learner; but that doesn’t say much about what our discipleship does or could look like.

What is the life of this congregation like? Are you learning from Jesus, following his example of compassion? Are you working together to offer healing?

I wonder what it would look like if we as Christians, and this Christian community in particular, had the same compassion for people, for the ‘crowds’, that Jesus did? It says Jesus had compassion on the crowds because they were harassed and helpless.   Looking at the sheep and shepherd metaphor that Matthew is using here,  shepherds are quite concerned about sheep that are harassed, usually by a predator,.. it is still used by farmers out west, in the sense of wild dogs ‘worrying’ the sheep.  

Where do we see people hopeless, harassed and helpless?

Where do we see people in need of a shepherd for protection and guidance?

What kind of healing might this community be able to offer?  To people without hope, people who are ‘worried’ by life, people who don’t know where to get the help they need.

Jesus didn’t invite the crowds to go to church, Jesus sent the disciples out to the crowds, to offer healing, life and inclusion.

I suspect some of you will tell me that you can’t do this because of…. You are too young, too old, not got enough time, …..  fill in your own blank.  And some will say they are not capable, that they don’t have any gifts for ministry at all.

Here is some news for you! take a look at the disciples, really take a look at them – a motley crew, a diverse bunch, and one who would end up betraying Jesus.

While we are disciples, we are also the body of Christ. That means while we are in need of healing, Christian community can be the place where healing occurs. While we are learning, Christian community is a place where we teach by example as well as learn from others.

Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs, with a task to do. We are strongest when we speak one message, when we all pull in the same direction.

Now to turn to Annette for a few moments. The reading from the letter to Timothy is a letter of instruction to a young leader, who is looking after a group of Christians. These days we would call him a minister – verse 14 suggests recognition by the church of his gifts for ministry. The Uniting Church has recognised and acknowledged Annette’s gifts for ministry, and you have recognised these gifts in calling her to be in ministry with you. that is with you, not for you!

But Annette is called to be a servant, not of the congregation or even the church, but of Christ Jesus.  Annette is here to serve Christ, and part of that serving Christ is offering leadership in this congregation and the wider church and community.  “ Do not neglect the gift that is in you,”  give time and attention  to your own spiritual life, so you can be the leader Christ calls you to be.

I encourage the people of this congregation to nurture your won spiritual life, and also to support Annette in nurturing her spiritual life.

I don’t know much about this congregation, though I have worshipped here occasionally when I have had a weekend off. And each time I have been here, I have been welcomed by people form this congregation. So my experience is that it is a friendly congregation.  At times I notice information about fair trade and even a fair trade stall – so that tells me you are people who are prepared to consider your everyday activities and how they impact on other people. There is much more to the story of who you are now.

And hopefully you have an idea of what God is calling this community to be like in 5 years’ time.

 Where are we now and where do we want to be in five years? And then the really hard question comes – are we prepared to do the work to make this happen?

As you and Annette move into a covenant, an agreement to work together as group of God’s people, who are part of the Uniting Church, I pray you will be a blessing to the people Jesus had compassion for, the hopeless, helpless and harassed.

Blessed?

I wonder, what does it mean to be blessed?

 

Happy, fortunate, satisfied, …..

Holy, welcome, fortunate, sanctified, approved, supported, unburdened

Dictionary – holy; beatified [declaring people holy]; bestowing joy.

It is also used to indicate special favour, unique standing, permission, empowerment, endowment, and more. It is difficult to find another word in English that fits.

So maybe the question isn’t what it means, but rather what it feels like. What does it feel like when you’re blessed?^[i]

Being blessed feels like you are not alone.

Being blessed feels like being accepted for who you are.

Being blessed feels like you have worth.

Being blessed feels like you can get through the difficult times.

Blessing is something that can’t be pursued, but can only be received as a gift.^[ii]

 

Another question – who does Jesus say is blessed?

The rich?

The mighty?

The well fed?

Jesus says it is the weak, powerless and vulnerable.

“The poor in spirit : referring either to humble people or to those who are broken and have lost hope.

Those who mourn : those who suffer loss and the feeling of emptiness that follows.

The meek : those who are gentle and unobtrusive, who refuse to use power over others as a tool to make things happen.

The merciful : people who willingly surrender their privileges or otherwise go out of their way to improve others’ well-being.

Those who are persecuted : people whose refusal to give up their quest for truth or virtuousness results in the taking away of their rights, wholeness, or dignity.” ^[iii]

 

not really a group of people we would choose to be in.

who wants to be feel the emptiness of grief?

 who wants to go out of their way to help others? 

These are people who tend to stay, or be kept, out of public view.^[iv]

 

Yet, Jesus names them all as Blessed. It is another way in the which the gospel turns our world view upside down.[v]

These people, considered by our society as people who need to get their act together, Jesus calls Blessed.

Maybe - Blessed because it is in our brokenness and weakness that we are open to Jesus in our life.

We are open to being  comforted,

we are open to others needs,

we are open to the Spirit moving in our lives,

changing, shaping and renewing us. 

It is when we accept our brokenness, and the brokenness of others, that we can see the promises of God?: comfort, mercy, intimacy with God, and so on.^[vi]

 

This morning we recognised the beginning of the school year, for some it will be a new experience, for others another year in a  familiar place with the same group of friends. We prayed for each group, that God would bless them.

Shortly we will celebrate communion together, offer thanks, hear again the story of the last supper, and we will share bread and grape juice. This is another way God comes and offers us peace, hope and life.

At the end of worship each week, you are offered a blessing, a reminder that God is and will be with you. also in Baptism, we sing, or speak, a blessing from the Old testament:

 

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face to shine upon you,

and be gracious unto you;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,

and give you peace.

…….

To be blessed is to know our need, to acknowledge our brokenness, to respond to the needs of others; because in doing these things, we recognise our humanity and the humanity of other people. And we recognise the dignity of each person.

And in the midst of life,

in the midst of despair,

in the midst of pain,

in the midst of fear

God shows up, offering comfort, hope and peace.

Thinking about those who are peacemakers, and those who thirst and hunger for righteousness, we may think that these groups are different to the other people represented here,

but Matthew records that those who work for peace, and try to live that out, are children of God

Matthew records that those who speak up on behalf of the poor, the oppressed and the abused, will see the kingdom of heaven.

This passage isn’t about giving people hope of a better life after death, it is about the way that “God regularly and relentlessly shows up just where we least expect God to be in order to give to us freely what we can neither earn nor achieve: blessedness.” ^[vii]

 

I wonder in what ways are you blessed?

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[i] David Lose,  Working Preacher , 26 January 2014.

[ii] David Lose,  Working Preacher , 26 January 2014.

[iii] Matthew L. Skinner, On Scripture: Enjoy the Super Bowl; Be Suspicious of Its Values

[iv] Matthew L. Skinner, On Scripture: Enjoy the Super Bowl; Be Suspicious of Its Values

[v]  Anne Howard, Beatitudes society, January 28th, 2014

[vi] Matthew L. Skinner, On Scripture: Enjoy the Super Bowl; Be Suspicious of Its Values

[vii] David Lose,  Working Preacher , 26 January 2014.