Easter 4: Good Shepherd Sunday

 Acts 2 42-end

1 Peter 2 19-end

John 10 1-10

The description of the early church we had in our reading from acts, sounds wonderful at first, but maybe I am getting cynical in my old age I just don't see it working. I mean it sounds nice sharing everything and giving to everyone what they need, but how do you define need? I mean I would argue that I need books and teddy bears but others in the community may disagree and argue that say, having a train set is more important. 

There are and always have been some people who are called to live in community to a much greater extent than most people and these people became monks and nuns. However, I think for most people, being the varied and individual people that we are this type of close community living is too hard.

However, as the church of St Mary Magdalen, Chapel Fields, we are a community. We are not a community that has chosen each other, one where people are checked out when they walk through the door to see if they will fit in. Instead we are an odd assortment of all types of people, with all types of views, all with different things going on in our lives. Yet Sunday by Sunday we choose to come and spend time with each other. Whilst the main reason we come, I hope, is to worship together. We also share in drinks and biscuits after the service, choosing to continue spending time with each other. Talking, possibly arguing, but also sharing our lives and supporting each other. In a world which seems to be becoming ever more polarised, where some people seem to think they can't like or have anything to do with someone they disagree with, the church can be a radical community showing that a different way is possible.

The early church in Acts, was in a very different time and place to us, but some of how they lived out their faith can still provide an example for us today. The early church spent time together in the temple. So we should spend time together, in worship, but also in learning about the bible and about our faith with and from each other. 

They also had glad and generous hearts, now I know we are in England and English people love to moan and grumble about things. However, maybe we should try finding things to be happy about instead. Finding things that bring us happiness, and that can be anything from enjoying the sunshine on a warm day, spotting a rainbow on a wet day or spending time with people we like, or achieving something that we have been working for. We can be grateful for these things and that can lead on to us being thankful. Thankful both to people who have helped us and to God who is the source of all help. 

The early church is also recorded as being generous. Being generous doesn't just mean in terms of giving to charity, or giving money to the church, although that is very helpful, as am sure our treasurer will agree. We can be generous in our time, many of us are generous in giving of our time and skills to the church or other charitable organisations. However, we also be generous to each other, giving our time to help or even just to listen. We may have skills that can be used to help each other and we should be happy to offer and receive help. That is how we can grow as a community, in our relationships with each other and with God. 

In our gospel today Jesus tells us that he comes that we may have life and have it abundantly. A life that is abundant does not only mean a life rich in material wealth and physical things. An abundant life is one that is filled with relationship, with each other here, with friends and family and with God. An abundant life is also one that will bear fruit. By living a generous and thankful life, even in the midst of life’s storms, we can show others the hope of abundant life that can be found in Christ.

To gain and keep this abundant life isn’t always easy. Building relationships and a grateful mindset requires work and effort. In our gospel the sheep are at risk of bandits and thieves, but what are the bandits and thieves that may impact our abundant life? 

What takes our time and attention from the important things, how many hours are spent scrolling on social media, playing addictive mobile phone games, watching repeats of old TV shows or whatever our particular vice may be. 

Now, I am not saying that any of these things can be bad in themselves. Relationships can develop on social media as much as in the “real world”, games and TV show can be ways to relax. The problem comes when these things take over time that could be better spent. When we ignore relationships in the here and now for the internet or fictional worlds. I must admit I am very guilty of replying to Andrew asking me something with, just let me finish this chapter, I am putting the fictional world of whatever I am reading before the real relationships that I need to nurture. I am going astray like many sheep do. So who is the shepherd that can stop me going astray? Well, of course, the obvious and one of the correct answers is Jesus. Reminding myself that I am trying to follow him can help, but there are others. 

A priest is called to shepherd his flock, but soon, sadly, we will be a flock without a shepherd of our own for a while. In that gap we all may need to be shepherds as well as sheep. To support each other, in the task we have of being God’s visible presence in Chapelfields, to show his love and care to those around us, to provide opportunities for worshipping and learning about God and his relationship with us.

We need to keep following the example of the early church to live generously, thankfully and as a radical community that can attract others to come and join us and find relationship with God and with us.

Palm Sunday

 

 

 Imagine Jerusalem that first palm Sunday. The city is busy, full of people there for the festival.
People who may not be so keen on the occupying Romans. From the west a cloud indicates a
great procession approaching the city. Horses, carriages, soldiers, pomp and splendour. It is the
governor coming to the city from his summer home, ready to impose his law and order, with
force if necessary. After all he can't let a Jewish uprising take place. That could destroy his
political ambitions.

From the east another group approaches. A rag taggle band led by a wandering messianic
preacher. No horses or smart carriages here, no guards for protection. Someone has found a
donkey for the leader to ride. People are cheering, there is something in the air, an expectation
that change is coming. The people have had enough of their imperial Roman overlord, maybe
this is the chance to stand up and fight back, to take back control of their lives and land.

Two leaders riding from opposite directions into Jerusalem and in the next few days they will
meet and the world will be changed, but not in the way anyone on the streets of Jerusalem that
day is expecting.

Two leaders with different views on leadership, for Pilate it is about control and power. He wants
to keep the people obedient to him, through force if necessary. He sees this as the only way to
keep his position, his status and his wealth, and possibly even his life, in the turbulent world of
Roman politics, and to Pilate it is Pilate that is important.

Jesus of Nazareth, seeks to love people, he wants people to follow him through choice not
force. He wants to bring people closer to God, through showing them God’s love and care. He
doesn’t seek wealth and status, in fact the opposite, he acts as a servant to his friends. He looks
to ensure their needs are met, providing food when needed.

Pilate, as he rides into Jerusalem, has the possibility that he might die if he loses control at the
back of his mind. He fears death, he thinks, maybe rightly, that an uprising in Jerusalem will lead
either to his death at the hands of the Jews or to his death as punishment from the emperor.

Jesus rides into Jerusalem knowing that he is riding to his death. Knowing that the next few
days are going to be unimaginably hard for him, betrayal, pain and suffering. Yet he comes
willingly, willingly to pay the ultimate price for the fate of the world.

Two leaders, two very different ways of thinking. We are called to follow Jesus, but how often do
we think more like Pilate? How often do we allow what we think other people will think of us to
impact our actions, putting our social status first. When we are out shopping how often do we
buy something as an extra little treat for ourselves, but don’t buy something to donate to the
food bank? We are loving ourselves, putting our selfish wants before the needs of others. We
are being more Pilate than Jesus.

The world around us these days seems to be moving ever closer to world war three, yet here in
the UK we are, so far, relatively safe. How easy is it to say it’s not our problem, we shouldn’t get
involved, even as our Christian brothers and sisters are being killed for their faith, or for standing
up against an oppressive regime.

I admit, it can be very difficult at times, to judge what is the right thing to do, what actions will
lead ultimately to more peace and less war. Yet if we fail to engage with these issues, we as
Christians, risk be seen as washing our hands of the worlds evils and doing nothing about it. It
may take time and hard work, double checking with other sources rather than just blindly
re-posting something, but if we don’t engage, if we don’t stand up for those being persecuted,
then we are being more Pilate than Jesus.

Even as he heard the cheering crowds, Jesus knew the cost of what was to come for him.
Although they didn’t know it yet, the disciples and other followers of Jesus would also face a
high cost for their belief in him in the years to come. This Holy week through our services we will
follow that journey, to the cross and beyond. This journey may in some ways reflect our life
journeys. There may be times when life seems hard, to choose the way of Jesus rather than the
way of Pilate seems hard, but to quote Sam in Lord of the rings

“But in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass.”

Because of the events of Holy Week, we know there is hope for a better future and that can give
us the strength, to do our part, in helping create a better world, by being more Jesus than Pilate.

Sunday before lent

 

Readings: Exodus 24. 12- end

       2 Peter 1. 16-end

                 Matt. 17 1-9

The last remains of Christmas are gone, the decorations down, the last mince pie eaten and this week on Wednesday in our ash Wednesday services we will enter into the barrenness and darkness of lent. But today we are given one last blast of brightness to carry us through the darkness to come.

The liturgical year can be like the patterns of human life, periods of joy and light and periods of darkness and despair and everything in between. In the dark times of life we can often reach for things that we think will help or give us temporary comfort, a bar of chocolate, a bottle of wine, a cuddle with a teddy bear. Some of these things are better for us than others, but they all only provide temporary comfort. 

In the story of the transfiguration that we heard today, Jesus is for a few moments transfigured into the glory that will become his for eternity at Easter. It is a glory that points to a better future for all mankind. Yet right now that better future feels almost like a lost hope. The days feel dark and damp and cold. Somebody said to me the other day, I would rather it snowed, there might be a bit more light then, but all we seem to have is dark, damp, greyness. Looking beyond our own immediate concerns, the news from the world around us just seems to be an unending stream of conflict and hatred of one group to another. Sometimes, the thought of grabbing alcohol, chocolate , a teddy bear and hiding under my duvet seems very tempting.  

The transfiguration however, means that that is not an option for us. The light of Jesus’ transfiguration shines on us as it did on Peter, James and John and tells us that there is hope, there is a brighter future. The transfiguration appears a very strange event to 21st century western minds. It would be easy and to some people tempting perhaps to dismiss it as a vision or a hallucination, these things don’t really happen. Yet Peter is quite clear in his letter, written to some of the early churches when he became concerned about the spreading of false teaching. He says “for we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” 

The transfiguration is no cunningly devised fable or vision or hallucination. It was a real event, but then what are we to make of it? The story of the transfiguration in Matthews gospel is preceded by a conversation where Jesus asks the disciples who they think that he is. Peter says that Jesus is the messiah and the son of God but then the conversation moves on and Jesus tries to explain about what must happen to him and Peter denies it. At the transfiguration Jesus’s identity is confirmed as it was at his baptism with a voice from heaven, this is my son. The disciples are, not surprisingly, somewhat afraid, but then Jesus comes and touches them and tells them “get up, do not be afraid.”

 There is a contrast here, you have the dazzling, holy, figure, the son of God the almighty, surely someone to be worshipped and in awe of. Then you have the simple, human touch, the acknowledgment of what the disciples must be feeling and the gentle encouragement, do not be afraid. Words that am sure would help the disciples in the weeks to come. Words that can give us strength today when we face the problems of the world.

When Moses came down from the mountain the people saw that he had been changed, transfigured, by his encounter with God. Taking time during lent to deepen our encounter with God and our understanding of our reliance on God in times of struggle and temptation can change us. It can lead to our own transfiguration, to us growing more like the people God wants us to be.

Fr Edward, in some of his sermons, has introduced us to the concept of theosis. How we can grow to become like God and share in his divine nature. The first stage of this process is to learn to trust God when we feel despairing or tested. The spiritual disciplines associated with lent such as fasting and self examination or confession can help us with this. Fasting helps strengthen our resisting temptation muscles, and give us strength to make more God focused, rather than me focused choices. Self examination and confession can help us face up to the truth about ourselves, not always an easy thing to do, but only when we do this can we change for the better. People often look at taking up a new prayer practice in lent and this can lead us into a deeper relationship with God. A relationship that can sustain us not just through lent but through whatever else may be to come.

This process can lead to our own transfiguration. Whilst I don’t expect us all to be shining like Jesus and Moses were, maybe this lent our spiritual discipline can lead to changes in how we are, in how we act. Changes that others may notice and start to question. Like Jesus we can say to people do not be afraid but come and know God, come and let the light reach you. Others may then be transfigured and light spread against the darkness. In one of our post communion prayers we pray that we whom the spirit lights will give light to the world. This lent do not be afraid, allow yourself to be transfigured and to be light to the world.