Do we want the world to change???

Luke paints a much larger picture of Mary than Matthew does.  Luke, tells us about the conversation between Gabriel and Mary, the journey to Elizabeth in the hill country and the wonderful song of praise that Mary sings. Luke also includes the Shepherds. Luke’s nativity story is much more focussed on the poor, the lowly, the female and the powerless.

I’ll come back to the song, but to touch on a few other points,

©       This passage resonates with female solidarity, these two women who are pregnant, one older than usual and one younger. At a time when Elizabeth’s husband was unable to speak, she had someone to share her excitement with, and Mary had someone to confide in.

©       The place of extended family, and the support that family can offer in times when we need breathing and thinking space.

©       God communicated with Mary. I wonder how we hear God speak to us today. While Mary was perplexed and shocked at what the angel told her, we have nothing to suggest she doubted that this was a messenger from God. How do we hear God speaking to us today?

©       And when we do sense God speaking to us, in whatever form that is, how do we respond? Do we respond as Mary did, trusting in God as she embraced the message of the angel?

Back to Mary’s song

Mary sings of a world changed,

• a world where people are not poor,
• a world where people are not oppressed,
• a world where God’s mercy is evident.

Mary’s song is a protest song.

a song that speaks of Gods faithfulness

a song that speaks of a new future

and the new future is spoken of as if it already exists.

I wondered about other protest songs, growing up in the seventies there were lots of them.

Songs like:  “Little boxes on the hillside” about the rise of suburbia

“Blowin’ in the wind” about peace and war and freedom

“And the band played Waltzing Matilda” about war

Songs of protest against war, police brutality, environmental destruction

Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Yothu Yindi’s Treaty (1991)

Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody’s From Little Things Big Things Grow (1991)

Redgum I Was Only Nineteen - Vietnam

Here is an African American song:

Ella’s Song

Composed by Bernice Johnson Reagon, copyright: Songtalk Publishing Co.

Refrain:

We who believe in freedom cannot rest

We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes

http://www.bernicejohnsonreagon.com/ella.shtml

There is a saying that seeing is believing, a very western, rational saying. Seeing is believing. There are people who ask me how I can believe in a God I can’t see. It is easy to believe that this is a piano, we can see it, touch it and make a sound with it.

Seeing is believing.

Well I think Mary’s song reminds us that in matters of faith,
believing is seeing.

Mary didn’t wait for the world to change before she sang.
She sang about how blessed she is, blessed to be an unmarried pregnant girl, at a time when she could be stoned to death – Yeah!?
she sang of the way that God was making the world a more just place: “ he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” Had that happened before Mary sang – I don’t think so; has it happened yet, no!

Mary sang a song of faith.

Believing is seeing.

Mary sang from the depths of her being, sang about the world as God dreamed it to be, sang about a new world where justice and righteousness and mercy reign, not power and wealth.

Believing is seeing, -- we see what we look for.

At times we talk about God transforming the world, and Mary sang of that transformation.

When we look at our families,
when we look at the local community,
when we look at the nation and the world,
and it can be easy to see places where things are not the way God intended.  

Self-interest, broken relationships, pushing and shoving at national borders, a reliance on shame to control people, oppression, slavery, addictions.

But I wonder:

Do we really want a new world?

Do we really want the kingdom of God to reign?

What would it mean to us, who are by world standards privileged?

What would it mean if workers in clothing factories in Bangladesh and other places were paid fairly and had safe working conditions? Would we be prepared to pay extra for our clothes?

There are countries where children are not in school because they are working – are we prepared to pay more for coffee, chocolate and tea, so that workers are paid fairly and their children can get an education?

Mary’s sings of a world where people matter,
a world where a young pregnant woman can sing of being blessed,
a world where all are fed,
all are treated with dignity and no-one is left out,
a world of justice and mercy.

......

What does it mean to sing Mary’s song today?

Mary’s song is about the world being turned right-side-up. What in your life needs to be turned right-side-up?

If you have some space in your life this week: rewrite Mary’s song for modern times. I would love to see what you write.

Where is the Good news?

“With many other encouraging words, he told the Good News to the people.” Luke 3: 18

The good news?

being called a snake,
threatened with unquenchable fire
judgement

Where is the good news in this?

When people were coming to John, to listen, to be baptised, the country was close to a crisis situation.

The people of Israel had been in slavery to Rome for many years. They remembered the stories of the exodus, the liberation from slavery to Egypt. But this time there was not to be an exodus, they were slaves in their own land.

The people were looking for one who would lead them to freedom, freedom to worship God, freedom from oppression and poverty.

When we look at what is happening in many places around the world at the moment, including on Australia, there is still poverty, oppression and fear. With the advances in communication and social media, we know a lot more about what is happening in other parts of the world.

While statistics reported on websites vary, and the number varies each year, something like 50 - 80 woman are killed in Australia each year by a current or former partner.

At a meeting on Friday we heard about some of the consequences for people who had been victims of sexual abuse while attending church schools. Another session we heard about some of the consequences for indigenous people who were in children’s homes. They were not pretty stories.   

Where is the Good news?
Where is good news in times of violence, war and addiction?
Where is good news for the lonely, the grieving and those living with chronic pain?
What is the good news we are looking for?

I doubt it is being called a snake!

John is reminding people that you can’t just say that you worship God, belong to God or believe in God – whichever way you want to express being in relationship with God. Faith isn’t just about words, faith is about action.

The good news is that the judgement separates the chaff from the grain – both from the one stalk. Judgement in this sense is not that a person is good or bad – both reside within each of us. The grain, the fruit is kept, the chaff, the refuse is destroyed.

The judgement here isn’t about your status as baptised or member or born again. The judgement is how you live.

“Do those things that prove that you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act.” [Luke 3:8 GNB]

And of course the crowd asked: how do we do that?

Basically share what you have. If you have more than you need, share.

Tax collectors and soldiers are two groups who were outcasts in Jewish society. They were collaborators with Rome, and so despised. Tax collectors and soldiers also had the opportunity to charge extra, to ask for bribes or favours.

John doesn’t tell them to quit their jobs, but tax collectors should only take collect is required; and soldiers be content with their wages, which meant no more extortion.

I can remember when I was much younger, and very new Christian, it seemed that all that mattered was saying the ‘right’ prayer to commit my life to Jesus, and then getting other people to pray that prayer. If I could manage that, everything would be great.

The gospel however tells us that being a follower of Jesus is more than saying the ‘right’ prayer. Being true to our name of Christian is about living in a way that shows the fruit of the spirit in our lives.

I came across this quote this week:

“Religion says God will love us if we change
The Gospel says: God’s love changes us”

Are you trying to change so that you will be acceptable to God? That is a waste of time and energy. Allow God’s love to seep into your life, to wash through you, to shine in your life. Then your life will change.

Still looking for the good news in this passage?

If you have no coat and someone gives you one; that might be good news. Remembering that in this time this was written, a coat meant warmth at night as well as protection during the day.

If you have no food and someone shares their food with you; that would be good news. And there were no freezers for long term storage.

This part of the reading, about sharing our excess, reminds me of the judgement at the end of Matthews’s gospel, the story of the sheep and the goats. Jesus comes to us in other people. Would you give Jesus your spare coat if he was cold?
Give it to someone without a coat.

Just as in the time when John was preaching and Baptising, our world needs to be turned right-side-up.

Advent, the time of anticipation and expectation, a time of waiting, is also a time of renewal. A time to reconsider what is important in our lives. A time to think about where peace and joy and hope come from in our lives.

The third Sunday of advent we think about joy. Joy is no happiness quick fix; joy comes from deep within us. Paul is writing from prison when he tells the people of Philippi to rejoice.

In the midst of a world that seems bent on destruction,
where people vie for power,
where violence is the first response to every problem
where home is not a safe place for many people
where life is devalued
we have a different story to tell.

We have a story about God who decided to come in human form
to usher in a new kingdom:
where life is valued
where everyone can feel safe
where power is shared
where peace reigns

During Advent we re-hear the stories of John the Baptist,
the speech of Zechariah,
the song of Mary,
the words of the prophets.
We re-imagine a world turned right-side-up
where no-one is hungry
or cold
or living in fear.

REFLECTION:

Where do you find joy in life?

What is the good news you are longing to hear? 

are we ready?

Malachi, a short book at the end of our Old Testament, is thought to have been written about 430 BC. It is one long speech, full of warnings for the people of Israel. Malachi, as with the other prophets, calls the people of Israel to account for their sinfulness,

for despising God,
for offering less than their best,
for marrying foreign wives.

And then the section we heard read this morning:

“… my messenger is coming
to prepare the way before me
The Lord who you seek will come to his temple.”

We are in the season of Advent, a time of preparation and waiting.

In the media there is lots of help in preparing for Christmas,

the number of shopping days left,
how to cook a wonderful turkey,
or what the latest trends in festive food and clothes are.

But we are not preparing for, or waiting for, Christmas Day. We are waiting for the coming of the Lord. During Advent, we prepare for the coming of Jesus – the first coming, over 2,000 years ago; and what is usually referred to as the second coming – the time when the kingdom of God will be fulfilled.

When I talk with couples preparing for marriage, I try to move beyond the wedding day. So much attention goes on dresses and cars and flowers and photos and food. But the wedding day is one day, yes it is an important day, but a wedding day does not make a marriage.

We can prepare for Christmas Day with gifts and food and family and friends and cards and decorations; there is nothing wrong with any of that. But it isn’t preparing for Christmas, for the coming of Jesus. It isn’t preparing us to make space in our lives for the Baby Jesus. It isn’t encouraging us to reflect on the place of Jesus in our lives.

Just as with a wedding, Christmas celebrations are wonderful. But it is only the start.

Christmas is when God says to us, I am searching for you. Like a cosmic game of hide and seek, where people say they can’t see God or know God. God replies, Here I am!

Prophets spoke warnings and promises. It isn’t the way we use the word prophecy in our day, when it can refer to people trying to predict the future. Biblical prophets warned people about the consequences of their action, or inaction. Prophets also reminded people of the promises of God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God who led you out of Egypt; the God who led you through the wilderness; are all common phrases, reminding the people of the faithfulness and presence of God throughout their history.

Prophets also reminded the people about the covenant of God, the promise of the rainbow, the desire for God to offer salvation for all people.

Prophets spoke warnings and promises.

The role of the messenger, which we hear about in Malachi, and in the words of Isaiah quoted by Luke, is about preparing the way.

Preparing the way for the Lord
Calling people to repentance
Cleaning and cleansing
Making the paths straight
             And smooth
                       And even
And all flesh will see the salvation of God.

Luke’s gospel from beginning to end, takes salvation for all the world – not just a few - seriously. It is a thread running through the whole gospel. “And all flesh will see the salvation of God.”

How do we prepare?

Are we ready?

Many years ago I worked for a mining company. Many of the metals we have are refined by heat and or fire. That is what smelters do, they melt metal so the impurities can be removed. If you watch a silversmith making jewellery, you may notice them burning the metal, removing any contamination.

Sin is what we call contamination in our lives. The judgement of God is about preparation, not punishment. [Anne Stewart, https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2699]

What is it that contaminates our life with God?

Being too busy to build relationships with God and Gods people?
ignoring our neighbours in need?
being self-focussed?
offering God less than our best
          selves
           time
            attitudes

What is it that contaminates our life with God?

What needs to change for us to be ready?

When we know a visitor is coming, we might clean the house, make up the bed in the spare room, set the table.

But this isn’t someone coming for a visit. God incarnate, God in the person of Jesus is moving in forever. We can’t just hide our rubbish for an hour or a few days.

Are we ready?

What do we need to do to prepare for the coming of the Lord?

I know we think of Lent as a time to think about where we need to pull our socks up and follow the example of Jesus in living sacrificially, in being better disciples.

But Advent is also a time to slow a bit, to stop and look at our lives.

Is there space for Jesus, have we crowded Jesus out of our lives with a lot of being busy? Even with church activities?

Have we become complacent, or arrogant?

Are we so used to the warnings and promises that the words wash over us?

In Malachi we hear about the one who will come as a messenger, calling people to repentance, he talks of cleaning and cleansing.

What needs to be cleaned in our lives, purges, refined?

John the Baptist is saying to us:

Get ready,
the world is about to change
the Lord is coming!

Don’t just sit there!
Be prepared to meet the one who can see through you

The one who will transform you.

Are you ready for that kind of change?

Are you ready for the cleansing?

The transformation?

Newsletter question: In what ways are you preparing for Jesus to be born anew in your life this Christmas?

The Illusion of Peace

Reading the paper and watching the news on TV can lead to despair and anxiety.

What is the world coming to?

How can people be so cruel?

The events in Paris over the past week, then yesterday in Mali, and terror type attacks that are regular events in Nigeria and Syria and other places. We think it will never happen to us, yet we also fear that it will.

What if the wrong kind of person is allowed into the country?

Well, Jesus was the wrong kind of person.

Jesus,

the country hick from Galilee

The pain in the neck of the religious leaders

The one who was followed by unpredictable crowds

Jesus was a threat to national security

Unauthorised groups gathered to listen to him

And a week before the gospel reading we heard read this morning, a parade. How dare he!

Jesus was a threat to Jerusalem and Rome – not because he might bomb them, or destroy the buildings, or kill people.  

Jesus was threat to Jerusalem because he was a threat to the religious elite. The leaders of the Temple were collaborators with the Roman leaders. The Jewish people were allowed to follow their religion, as long as it did not interfere with the Roman law. It was in the interest of the Temple leaders for the people of Israel to stay calm, peaceful and law abiding citizens.

The Roman Empire has been described at times as a peaceful period in world history – Pax Romana. This isn’t Shalom, peace that comes from harmony, this was peace in the midst of fear. Peace by dictatorship.

 And I think it is the Pax Romana that we try and turn to in our current time. Peace that is surface, peace that seems secure, peace founded on power.

But deep down we know that isn’t peace or security.

Having more complex screening at airports, more surveillance, tighter controls on the movement of people, doesn’t make for peace.

This is a false peace, peace founded on fear and power. The people with power do more and more to maintain their position and power.   

And often fear is used as the motivator for people to be obedient to increase in the use of force.

So much of what we see on TV, feeds into our insecurities –

Is our house up to the standard of Better Homes and Gardens?

Are our meals as well presented as on Master Chef?

Are we failing our children by not buying a house for them when they finish school?

We see the latest trends in fashion, house decoration and food

We see people living perfect ‘adverting world’ lives, and we wonder when did we get left behind.

We see images of death and destruction and we are fed the lie that this could be prevented by more police power

We live in an illusion.

We live in a world that sells us a lie

A lie that peace comes from fear and force

A lie that more stuff will make us happy

A lie that we are not good enough

Jesus is dangerous because he comes to break that illusion.

Jesus is dangerous because he says peace comes from love not from fear

Jesus is dangerous because he is willing to die rather than live the lie.

Christ the King Sunday has always seemed ridiculous to me – partly because we don’t have Kings in the way people did in previous eras, but also because Jesus doesn’t look like the fairy tale king many of us grew up with.

Jesus doesn’t have a throne with velvet cushions,

There is no crown of Gold or fur lined robe

He didn’t have servants waiting on him hand and foot.

The disciples questioned his activities – you didn’t do that to the Roman Emperor or you didn’t last long.

“The truth of his kingship is that he rules not with political power, but with humility, not with physical might, but with mercy, not with violence, but surrender, even surrender unto death.” Michaela Bruzzese

Do we hear the voice of Jesus calling us to a new way of living; or is his voice drowned out by the noise of fear and insecurity?

Story: You are Special by Max Lucado

What would your life look life if we no longer lived the illusion we are being sold?

How different would our lives be?

if instead of the lie that we are not enough, we accepted Gods word that we are precious

if instead of the lie that peace comes from fear, we lived in the peace of the presence of God?

A Quote by Martin Luther King Jr.

"There is a little tree planted on a little hill, and on that tree hangs the most influential character that ever came into this world.  Never feel that that tree is a meaningless drama that took place on the stages of history, oh no it is a telescope through which we look out into the long vista of eternity, to see the love of God breaking forth into time.

It is an eternal reminder to this power drunk generation that love is the only way.  It is an eternal reminder to a generation depending on nuclear and atomic energy, to those who depend on physical violence that love is the only creative, redemptive and transforming power!"  ~ MLK

Martin Luther King Jr. http://blog.gaiam.com/quotes/authors/martin-luther-king-jr-1/55806

Time for reflection:

What would be different in your life:

if instead of the lie that you are not enough, you accepted Gods word that you are precious?

if instead of the lie that peace comes from fear, you lived in the peace of the presence of God?

Difficult Places and New Possibilities

Proclamation of the Word #1

WARNING: Some of what I talk about this morning may be upsetting for some people. Please don’t leave early, there are 2 parts to the sermon, each with a hymn.  Also please don’t leave if you are sad without speaking to me or one of the elders.

The big picture:

In the book of Genesis we read about creation, and amongst other stories, we hear about four people – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Biblical history then tells us about the move to Egypt, slavery, Moses, exodus, the covenant. After the death of Moses, Joshua leads the people into the promised land, and the nation of Israel is established.

A few more generations, and God raised up leaders – judges – people who called the people of Israel to return to God.

At the end of the book of Judges:

 “There was no king in Israel at that time. Everyone did whatever they pleased.” Judges 21:25 (GNT)

Then comes the book of Ruth. At the end of the story, Ruth has a son Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David – David who becomes the king of Israel.

And this week we heard the passage from 1 Samuel, the birth of Samuel to Hannah. Samuel who becomes a priest and is the one who anoints David the shepherd boy, knowing he will become King of Israel.

While the Bible has a big story, of the presence of God with people throughout history, of how people related to God and each other; there are also stories that make up that bigger story. Today we look at the story of Hannah.

Hannah is married to Elkanah, but she doesn’t have any children. This was a cause of sadness for Hannah, even though Elkanah loved her. But as well as sadness, there were practical issues to contend with. Without a son, Hannah could be destitute when Elkanah died. Then there was the idea that women without children had done something wrong, it was Gods punishment for sinfulness. [Jo Anne Taylor, http://pastorsings.com/?s=hannah%27s+song]

And Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah taunts Hannah, because she has children and Hannah does not.

For Hannah, not having a child was a practical, spiritual and emotional problem.

I can tell you that things have not changed much.

Ian and I had been married for a few years, and we were at that stage of thinking about starting a family – all very normal stuff. But I didn’t get pregnant, a few months and a friend tells me she is pregnant, six months later and her daughter is born, and I’m still not pregnant. A few months later we moved to another part of the state with Ian’s work, and found a new GP, who started with tests.  Even though there are plenty of options for women today in terms of being in the workforce, there is still a standard expectation that if you are married, or in long term relationship you will have children. One of the hardest things I remember doing is telling our parents that we looked like we might not have children. Ian and I each have one brother, and at that time neither was married. My brother is now married but they have decided not to have children, given they were forty when they married.  So for both sets of parents, there are no grandchildren.

We had treatment, I got pregnant, ended up in hospital, went on IVF, got pregnant, ended up in hospital again. Each pregnancy damaged my reproductive system further. But worse than that was what happened to me as a person. I have been told that I come across as confident, efficient, capable, all those kind of things, but I don’t always feel that way. As a teenager and young adult, I was unsure of myself, as I think most people are at that age. But as we went through the trauma of losing pregnancies, I became depressed. We lived in a small country town, and girls dropped out of high school at fifteen and had children, and I couldn’t manage to get pregnant – how dumb and useless was I that I couldn’t even have a child.

Some well meaning friends, Christians, told me to pray – as if I hadn’t thought of that! I got told that God was trying to teach me something – I already thought I was stupid because I couldn’t get past 6 weeks pregnant, and now I was told I wasn’t learning whatever it was God expected me to  learn. I was told that it was God’s way of letting me know I wouldn’t make a good mother, what with how tired I get and all – something else for me to be bad at, but why get pregnant and lose the pregnancies. What kind of a harsh, judgemental, sadistic God was this? For me God felt distant, and anyway I wasn’t sure I wanted much to do with this God who was tormenting me in the name of education, or was it judgement. Was I really that bad or that dumb?

So I can feel for Hannah, and the way she is treated by Penninah, by the tribe, even by Eli the priest. But Hannah, as countless people have in their lives before and after this, turned to God, not because it is the right thing to do, or because it guarantees a reward, but because there are so few people around who you can tell your heartache to. Here we hear of Hannah’s prayer,  a heartfelt cry to God, lips moving, but no sound, It reminds me of one of my favourite verse from Romans, where the Spirit intercede for us when we can’t pray ourselves. (8:26) This is prayer, when we are open and vulnerable with the God of the universe. Prayer isn’t flashy, prayer isn’t long winded with big fancy words, prayer isn’t about trying to impress God with our theological understanding, our ability to pray for long periods of time or our great faith.

Prayer is saying to God, this is what I feel my life is like,

prayer is sitting with God watching the sunset, 

prayer is being aware of God as you hold a dying friend’s hand.

Prayer is being open to the life that God offers every moment of the day.

Hannah’s prayer was answered, one of the commentaries notes that Samuel is a gift of God’s grace, not a reward for prayer – it isn’t like a graduation present because she got it right. God is gracious and merciful and wants us to live full lives. This story is about more than Hannah having a child from her barrenness, it is about the new life that comes to Israel as a result of this child. God enters into hopeless, barren, desolate situations and brings about a future, newness, fresh possibilities and liberation. We will soon be looking forward to the birth of Jesus, another child whose conception is unconventional, who ushers in newness and possibilities and future hope for the world. 

So where did I find newness of life, fresh possibilities in my situation, it isn’t as obvious as with Hannah, we never did have children, not through IVF or adoption even though we were in both systems for many years.

A big change occurred for me when I finally spoke with my minister – telling her I didn’t think I could go to church. I was an elder, God felt distant, and uninvolved in my life, I found that image of God easier to cope with than the image that friends were drawing for me. My minister gave me another image. Not distant, but close; not judging, but crying; not sadistic but comforting. Here was an image I could relate to, in the midst of my pain, an image of God holding me as I cried, crying with me, much as a parent or partner might do.

The newness that came was a new relationship with God, I’ve learned along the way life isn’t about what might have been, life is about what is. God is present in the celebrations and in our tears. With God there are new possibilities that come from the difficult places in our lives.

Where are the empty or barren places in your life?

Are you willing to invite God, to beg God, to enter into your lives and bring transformation?

     

[reflection time]

Hymn/song  Faith will not grow from words alone

Proclamation of the Word #2

Hannah has a son, Samuel. After he has been weaned, she takes him to the temple.

Then another prayer from Hannah, this one is often called Hannah’s song.

“This time, she lifts her voice in song, and sings of God’s victory, not only for herself, but for the whole nation of Israel, for all the people of God. The Lord God Almighty is about to do a new thing among his people, and Hannah’s song gives us a glimpse of what that new thing is to be. [Jo Anne Taylor, http://pastorsings.com/?s=hannah%27s+song]

Hannah’s Prayer/praise

All:       The Lord has filled my heart with joy;

            how happy I am because of what he has done!

1:         I laugh at my enemies;

            how joyful I am because God has helped me!

2:         No one is holy like the Lord;

            there is none like him,

            no protector like our God.

3:         Stop your loud boasting;

            silence your proud words.

            For the Lord is a God who knows,

            and he judges all that people do.

4:         The bows of strong soldiers are broken,

            but the weak grow strong.

5:         The people who once were well fed

            now hire themselves out to get food,

            but the hungry are hungry no more.

6:         The childless wife has borne seven children,

            but the mother of many is left with none.

7:         The Lord kills and restores to life;

            he sends people to the world of the dead

            and brings them back again.

8:         The Lord makes some poor and others rich;

            he humbles some and makes others great.

9:         The Lord lifts the poor from the dust

            and raises the needy from their misery.

10:       The Lord makes them companions of princes

            and puts them in places of honour.

11:       The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord;

            on them he has built the world.

12:       The Lord protects the lives of his faithful people,

            but the wicked disappear in darkness;

13:       People do not triumph by their own strength.

14:       The Lord’s enemies will be destroyed;

            he will thunder against them from heaven.

15:       The Lord will judge the whole world;

            he will give power to his king,

            he will make his chosen king victorious.

~ from Carolyn Brown’s Worshipping with Children website. http://www.worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.ca/

Along with Miriam, Mary and Hannah we too can recognise the new possibilities that come from the difficult places in our lives. We can also sing of the wonderful things God is doing,

Hymn/song Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord

Serving or exploiting?

If I asked each of you for a Bible verse that sums up your thinking about God or Jesus, you might choose:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [NIV]

Or maybe Romans 3: 23 - 24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

 8: 1-2 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Or Matthew 28: 19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [NIV]

For me, I think John 10:10 sums it up:

“The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” [GNB]

This morning I want us to think about life, abundant life, fullness of life, eternal life.

When we know that we are loved by God,

when we recognise the love inherent in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,

when we are transformed and freed by the spirit,

our life takes on a new quality or characteristic.

In the past 7 weeks we have looked at Mark’s gospel, all this time Jesus is walking towards Jerusalem. Walking to the cross. Along the way we have heard about

 - the least being the greatest,
 - various questions, some set to trick, some genuine
 - Jesus blessing the children
 - the healing of Bartimeaus
 - the disciples not understanding
 - the man looking for eternal life not being prepared to give up his wealth
 - the greatest commandments – loving God, loving self and loving others.

Mark includes this story in the week between the entry to Jerusalem and the crucifixion. Jesus has already cleansed the Temple, driving out the money changers and traders.

“He then taught the people: “It is written in the Scriptures that God said, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations.’ But you have turned it into a hideout for thieves!”” [Mark 11:17 GNB]

The Temple was an important place in the community. It was the centre of the sacrificial system. In Judaism at this time, there were sacrifices for a variety of reasons, celebration, penitence and festivals.

All religions have rituals, ways to help us relate to God. The problem occurs when the rituals become hollow. For example, each week we pray together the Lord’s Prayer – do we really mean what we say, or do we recite it because that is what we are expected to do?  Something that was meant to bring us closer to God, an example of how to pray, becomes empty when the Lord’s Prayer becomes a set of words rather than a prayer, a hollow ritual.

In the first part of the Gospel reading, Jesus is teaching in the Temple. He warns the crowd about the Scribes, or at least some of the Scribes. Those who make a show of being pious, who expect special treatment.

A bit about widows – in the culture at that time women needed a father or husband or son to own property on their behalf. A woman could not own property. It isn’t that long ago it was very difficult for a women to get a bank loan to buy a house without a male guarantor.  Therefore a widow without a son needed someone to conduct business on her behalf.
The Scribes would do this.
For a fee.  

Widows were generally poor, and a house may be all they have, but the scribes would “take advantage of widows and rob them of their homes”.

The scribes have an important role, they are the ones who copy the Scriptures. The scribes are part of the educated class. The work they do is important. BUT for many it moved into a way of gaining favours, getting preferential treatment, and ‘helping’ the widows out of their property.

Still in the temple and Jesus is watching what is happening. Rich people put in large amounts of money, a widow a very small amount.  This passage has often been interpreted as an example of giving all we have to God, and trusting in God to look after us.

However given the paragraph just before; about the Scribes robbing widows of their homes, and the next paragraph where Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple, I wonder if this is another example of the way in the Temple system was being abused. The Temple had become abusive and exploited the poor.

The system that was to help people to connect with God, has become a structure of exploitation.  

In the Royal Commission over the past year or more, we have heard stories of people’s lives being destroyed by people in positions of power, in both churches and community groups. I have seen people in the church bullying other church members. What does such behaviour say about us as people of faith?

I admit it is hard to see the good news in a passage like this week’s gospel reading.

We see all too clearly the self-interest and arrogance of those who are benefiting from the system.  But we also see the faithfulness of the widow, the one who is being exploited. Even though the Temple system is taking food out of her mouth, she gives all she has, trusting that those in need will be fed.

Being religious, going to church, being on church committees, talking on a leadership role, saying long prayers and leading worship, do not a Christian make.

What in our lives marks us out as people of faith?

Our long prayers?
Our welcome?
Our generosity?

In what ways do we contribute to structural inequality?

What in our lives marks us out as people of faith?