Sunday 19 July 2015

I am the Good Shepherd - transcript of sermon 19th July 2015 St Peter's Forsbroook

St Peter’s Forsbrook 19th July 2015


Jeremiah 23.1-6 & Mark 6.3-34, 53-56

Last Sunday I was at Ilam Park, I was there to take part in the big Mothers’ Union ‘Summerfest.’

We stayed in the Ilam Caravan Park that has flocks of sheep in the adjoining fields. It is surprising just how much noise sheep make even into the depths of the night.

Today’s readings would be perfect in that setting, speaking as they do of sheep and shepherds.

For some reason those who put the Lectionary together have omitted the Feeding of the 5,000 and the episode of Jesus walking on the water leaving us to focus on the ‘outside bits’ of these two stories.



So our Gospel reading begins with the twelve disciples returning from their mission where they were to travel light and be in earnest about the message.

(Have you ever considered what that message might have been – remember this is pre-crucifixion and resurrection?)

During this time in our narrative Herod has had John the Baptist executed.

So on hearing the disciple’s news and stories Jesus says it is time for some well-earned R&R.

However this plan was thwarted as people see them getting into a boat and setting off.

As they landed a huge crowd had gathered, a huge demanding crowd with desperate needs of body, soul and spirit.

Jesus has compassion for them. This was more than feeling sorry, but a deep earnest compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
Herod was down South getting drunk, throwing parties and killing prophets. The Scribes, the Pharisees and the Elders had so tied up the Law that is had become a heavy burden laid on people backs. And on top of all this they were under the yoke of Roman authority.

Where was this Righteous Branch Jeremiah spoke of so many thousands of years ago?

Where was this Shepherd born of the House of David who would lead God’s people into good pasture?

So they sit and listen and are fed first with the Word of God then with food from heaven.

Jesus dismisses the crowd and of heads of into the hills to pray after telling the disciples to go on ahead of him.

And the pressure doesn’t ease. The time frame Mark sets would have made their landing very early in the morning.

So they have been out ministering, they have witnessed the feeding of the 5,000, then struggled to row back across the lake until Jesus came toward them sometime around midnight.   

As they land they are once more greeted by yet another crowd, hungry for help, hungry for healing and hungry to be made whole.

My daughter works as Cabin Crew and knows very well the pre-flight safety-instructions and why they are there.

One of those instructions is to put on an oxygen mask should the cabin pressure drop.

The instructions state very clearly that you are to put yours on before offering to help anyone else.

Should this ever happen however, and you had a child with you, wouldn’t everything within you want to see they were okay first.

However the logic is of course that if you are comatose through lack of oxygen you are not going to be able to help anyone, including yourself.

If we are going to minister as one of Jesus’ disciples we need to ensure that we are breathing in the Holy Spirit.

Despite the pressure of ministry and work and the dozen and one other things that often crowd into our days we need to take time out to be with Jesus , time in prayer and time in quiet contemplation.

Yesterday I spent some time with Chris Polhill, who lives on Cannock Chase just outside Rugely.  Christine is Spiritual Companion Coordinator for the Diocese. She has the most amazing Reflective Garden plus The Hermitage which is available for use by individuals, couples or small groups of up to a dozen. 


You good people are shortly to welcome Jonathan among you as your new Shepherd. I don’t know if he will come to you walking on the water as you struggle in the boat!

I do know that you have continued the mission here with passion and energy.

But maybe it is time before he comes to make some plans not just to be busy with mission and ministry but also for prayer and contemplation.

Maybe you could get in touch with Chris and arrange for a small group to go to The Hermitage, perhaps including Jonathan.

Spending some time in prayer before the busyness of ministry takes hold, before the demands and responding to people’s many needs… 

 ‘…and he (Jesus) had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.’

Do you have you a heart of compassion for those who are like sheep without a shepherd trying to find meaning and purpose in life.

Jesus said I have come that they may have life and life in abundance.

Do you know that for yourself this morning?

Do you personally know the Great Shepherd of the Sheep? 

Should you not know that then please do not go away from there this morning without finding out more.

However if you do know Jesus the Good Shepherd, if you do know that He came so that we might have life in all its fullness, if you do know he came to usher in the Kingdom of God, His will being done upon earth as it is in heaven – if you know all of this then you will also know that we are called to share this Good News in both word and deed.

However to speak about Jesus we need to spend time with Jesus...

‘Come away to a deserted place and rest awhile.’

So in closing let me ask four related questions…

How is your worship to Jesus?

How is your working for Jesus?

How is your witnessing of Jesus?

How is your waiting upon Jesus?


Let us pray…

O Saviour Christ, in whose way of love lays the secret of all life, and the hope of all people, we pray for quiet courage to match this hour. We did not choose to be born or to live in such an age; but let its problems challenge us, its discoveries exhilarate us, its injustices anger us, it possibilities inspire us, and its vigour renew us. Pour out upon us a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit; make us bold and courage’s in sharing faith in both word and deed for your Kingdom’s sake we ask.

Amen



Monday 13 July 2015

'Don't Shoot The Messenger' - transcript of sermon St Peter's, Alstonefield July 12th 2015

Sermon – St Peter’s Alstonfield 12th July 2015

Ephesians 1.3-14 and Mark 6.14-29   

This story of John the Baptist could be entitled ‘don’t shoot the messenger.’

For that was what John was, a voice crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord. A herald of the soon and coming King – ‘behold the Lamb of God.’

And John delivered his message without fear or favour to kings and commoners, to soldiers and to servants, to scribe and slaves.

It was this uncompromising message highlighting the illegitimacy of Herod’s marriage to Herodias, his bother Philip’s wife, which had landed him in prison.

The story in our Gospel is one that has been told in a hundreds of different ways for thousands of years. Of someone in power who believes they can act with impunity, with a cocktail of sex and a weak man and a manipulative woman with a grudge.

It is the Jewish historian Josephus who gives us the name of Salome for Herodias’ daughter.    

The Biblical text leaves us to guess at what type of dance Herodias’ daughter performed.

The idea of it being an erotic belly dance, known as the ‘The Dance of the Seven Veils’ originates largely with an Oscar Wilde play and also incorporated in a musical piece by Strauss.

Whatever the dance was it pleased King Herod who then shouts his mouth off before putting his brain into gear. Herodias now has her perfect opportunity to be rid of that stinking prophet languishing in the dungeons.



I love the story of some children being told this story and then being asked what they might have done had they been Herod and made a stupid promise like that in front of everyone. One young girl replied, I would have said that I promised you up to half my kingdom, I am afraid that John the Baptist is part of the half I didn’t promise you. 

Unfortunately for John, King Herod didn’t have that wisdom, or perhaps he was to wine soaked to think straight.  You can easily fill in the gaps!

Making public promises is of course not a bad thing in and of itself. For example like marriage is a public declaration of a two people entering into a covenanted relationship.  And we all know the value of announcing we are going to do something, like give up drinking or chocolate, so that people can call us to account.

However there are other lessons we can learn from this sorry story. John the Baptist spoke out against injustice and he pointed people to Jesus. He was a herald for the coming King and the Kingdom that this King would usher in.

Just how good are we at speaking out against injustice, about immorality and how good are we at pointing people to Jesus?

How good are we at clearing the way for Jesus to enter into people hearts and lives.

Have we cluttered the place up, albeit unintentionally with the ways we are as the People of God?

Do our Worship Gatherings mystify, befuddle and bemuse those who are non-adherents?   

John the Baptist spoke out his message not in the Temple courtyards or even in the synagogue, but out and about in the highways and the byways.

Have we locked Jesus up in our buildings and said that is the only place you can approach Him at a time of our choosing and in a way we will dictate.

Do we demonstrate the scandalous grace of God that refuses to recognize status, money, colour or creed – but says to one and all, ‘come and see and taste that the Lord is good.’  

And when was the last time you offered that invitation to someone and pointed them to Jesus?

For isn’t that our core business - to speak out without fear or favour about injustice and immorality and to point people to Jesus.

Isn’t that what all these buildings are about, our worship, our committees and the whole life of the Church upon earth?

To seek make real the Kingdom of God come upon earth.

Sad to say that the Lord’s Prayer is often on our lips but not often enough in our hearts, or demonstrated through our hands and feet.

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in my country…

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in my community…

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done among my friends…

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in my in my family…

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in my life!

Let us pray…

God our strength and our hope,
 grant us the courage of John the Baptist,
 constantly to speak the truth,
 boldly to rebuke vice
 and patiently to suffer for the truth's sake;


Assist us to clear pathways so that Jesus may enter hearts and lives and that  many will come to experience the scandalous grace of God.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord 
 who lives and reigns with you
 and the Holy Spirit
 one God now and for ever.

Amen.