SERMON 5 FEBRUARY 2017: THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE AND CANDLEMASS

Collect

Almighty and ever-living God, your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple: grant that through Him we may be presented to you and made worthy to reflect His glory in the world; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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Readings

First Reading:  Malachi 3:1- 4

3 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

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For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

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Psalm 24

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Second Reading:  Hebrews 2:14-18 

14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

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Gospel

Luke 2:22-40 (NRSVA)

22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’

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25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

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29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’

33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

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36 There was also a prophet, Annathe daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

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Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Presentation, among the most ancient feasts of the Church – did you know, there are sermons on the Feast by bishops from as early as 312AD?

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Originally, the feast was a minor celebration. But then in 541, a terrible plague broke out in Constantinople, killing thousands. The Emperor, in consultation with the Patriarch of Constantinople, ordered a period of fasting and prayer throughout the entire Empire. And, on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, arranged great processions throughout the towns and villages and a solemn prayer service to ask for deliverance from evils, and the plague ceased. In thanksgiving, in 542 the feast was elevated to a more solemn celebration and established throughout the Eastern Empire by the Emperor.

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Late in time though it may be, Candlemas is still the most ancient of all the festivals in honor of the Virgin Mary. The celebration of the feast spread slowly in the West – only by the tenth-century was it important enough to find its way into the secular calendar.

The Feast of the Presentation is based on our Gospel reading, which would have been 40 days after Jesus’ birth, so we celebrate it 40 days after Christmas. The blessing of candles on this day recalls Simeon's reference to the infant Jesus as the "light for revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32).

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In my talk with the children, my theme was God has always and still comes to us in unexpected ways…

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What amazes me is how young Jesus was – a mere 40 days old, when he was presented in the temple, and how (as I’ve preached before) so many people in a bustling, busy temple did not even notice God right in front of them, because he was not in the form they expected, and I know God is omnipresent today too, especially in “the least of us”….

Two things from our context struck me, when praying about this, and about which of “the least of us” God wants us to consider as examples…

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1. First is that today is also Education Sunday, and I’d like us to reflect on some extracts from a letter from Archbishop Thabo wrote he entitled “Call to focus on universities”.

I agree that today’s feast reminds us of the manifestation of God and the liberation, the enlightening, the empowering and the “making able” of God’s children (all God’s creation) in order to engage with God in this world and with one another so that none is dominated nor demeaned.

I don’t have time to go into the situation at universities and schools, as the arch does, but feel it is important to mention his pointing out 

So Education Sunday is thus a time to listen and to be close to people not only in the tertiary sector but as the crisis extends, as it will, to high schools and across society -

1. There are so many potential examples of this ‘over-looking’, but perhaps God wants us to consider the implications of the news of least 94 patients with mental health issues dying after South African authorities moved them from hospitals to unlicensed health facilities that were likened to concentration camps, a government investigation has revealed. Appalling – at least it has been made public and, as a start, the relevant Gauteng minister has resigned.

BUT there is a trap that we need to avoid at any cost, and that is the trap of blaming the other, as if WE are innocent, and THEY are guilty, because WE ARE ALL TO BLAME, whenever we buy into the lie that we are only worth what we can contribute, be it aesthetically, spiritually or (at the most base level), materially…

We are all to blame whenever we put up walls to keep the ‘worthless other’ out WITHOUT ANY KIND OF ENGAGEMENT rather than seeking to SEE and ENGAGE with them, with the Christ in them, the way only Simeon and Anna engaged with the baby Christ in the busy temple…

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Let’s not EXCLUDE or IGNORE the Christ that is in each of THEM as surely as Christ is in any of US, let’s not put up unnecessary walls, be they emotional ones, 6 foot ones, or as big as Donald Trump’s Mexico wall…

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Amen!

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Rev Gavin Smith

SERMON 15 JANUARY 2017

SERMON 15 JANUARY 2017 - THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

Collect:

Heavenly Father, by your grace alone you accepted us and called us to your service:       strengthen us by your Spirit and make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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Readings

First Reading:  Isaiah 49:1-7  - The Servant’s Mission

49 Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. 3 And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’ 4 But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.’

5 And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength — 6 he says, ‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’

7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, ‘Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’

Psalm 40:1-14 - Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. 4 Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods. 5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.

6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

11 Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever. 12 For evils have encompassed me without number; my iniquities have overtaken me, until I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me. 14 Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who desire my hurt.

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 1:1-9 -  Salutation

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord[a] and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.’

Gospel

John 1:29-42 - The Lamb of God and The First Disciples of Jesus

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ 32 And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ 39 He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).

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Who is Jesus to you?

How do you know about Jesus?

What is your earliest or most profound memory about someone TELLING you about God or Jesus?

What is your earliest or most profound memory of someone SHOWING you God or Jesus?

Our Gospel reading describes a man called Andrew meeting Jesus and then going and looking for his brother, Simon and saying to him, ‘We have found the Saviour’.

Andrew is famous because he brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Peter.’ In their language, the word ‘Peter’ sounds similar to their word for ‘Rock’ – Jesus said He would build His Church on Simon Peter, the rock, and Simon Peter became one of the early leaders of the church.

So Andrew TOLD someone about Jesus, and then (more importantly, I believe) SHOWED him Jesus…

Someone has TOLD each of us about God – and we also all know someone who has SHOWED us God…

This last week, two people have told me moving stories about Christians they know who did something the Christian probably thought was small, but which meant a lot to them, and maybe even showed them God’s very real and very alive love.

The first story was about a Christian who visited a lady’s friend in hospital, who told her friend how special that Christian’s visit was, and what a special person the Christian is – and the most beautiful part is that the visitor could tell her friend how the Christian had been there for her too. She even wrote to the Christian, saying “yup, I told her how you had been there for me too...

You are a true example of what religion should be, you live it, it defines you. Thanks for being there for my pal” …

So, like Andrew, this Christian not only TOLD people about Jesus, but actually SHOWED them Jesus, by being there…

The second person told about one simple instance of someone simply taking the time to forward an email to try and help them get business, and how this was encouraging for them, and as importantly, helped them remember and realise, and I quote “I am very grateful, and it just struck me that each and every one of us can make such a difference in people’s lives, simply by being aware, and using whatever we may have.”

This second person (also a Christian) was reminded how they too had helped someone find a job - they remarked that people had thought it was a great event, but (from their perspective), all it was really was their hearing what the person wanted, remembering that they know someone in that field, and getting them to meet…

She said “We all know someone or something that can be beneficial to others” -  and here I suggest she is getting to understand that even though her actions seemed insignificant, THEY ARE NOT, because each act of Christ-like love is VERY SIGNIFICANT, whether the results are visible and publicized or not, because this is exactly how we ALL, like Andrew, SHOW God to others, like Andrew did…

And like us, Andrew was an ordinary person – even Isaiah describes himself as inadequate, saying ‘I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.’

Paul also reminds us that “the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind… so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift… He will also strengthen you… God is faithful”.

The second Christian continued, describing someone as “not your usual idea of a good Christian” who helped an unemployed neighbor as much as they could “by buying groceries, kids’ clothes etc., and mostly, being friends and being there to listen to them and hold their hands” and then, after listening to the man’s woes, inviting him to work with her, vouching for his character, and facilitating his getting a job, not any job, but a job that the man can’t stop talking about, that he loves….

She closed by writing something important, something our readings emphasize: “It doesn’t always mean that we have to be incredibly connected, or have lots of influence or anything, it simply means being aware and connecting up the dots.  We all can do something!”

It’s so true!

I’m sure we all have stories of how we and people we know, who, like Isaiah, like Paul, like Andrew, PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME who have TOLD people about God, and even SHOWED them God…

Think about it, pray about it, remember your earliest or most profound memory about someone TELLING you OR YOU TELLING SOMEONE about God or Jesus, remember your earliest or most profound memory of someone SHOWING you OR YOU SHOWING SOMEONE God or Jesus….

I encourage you to take the time to complete a leaf that you can add to our thanksgiving tree…

In closing, I pray we are all encouraged and filled by the Holy Spirit to go out, showing people that CHRIST IS ALIVE, in us, as we LOVE and CARE for others, in Jesus’ name…

AMEN!

Rev Gavin Smith