Second Sunday after Trinity – Fathers’ Day
Sunday 21st June 2020
As public worship has been suspended in a bid to limit the spread of the Coronavirus the service was recorded and made available online. That can be found here.
Trinity 2
Jeremiah 20.7-13
Matthew 10. 24-39
Revd Preb Maureen Hobbs
“How Deep the Father’s love”
Thanks Philip for that reading, and thanks also to the compilers of our lectionary for giving us a gospel reading that – at first glance – looks pretty unpromising as a starting point for Fathers’ Day!
But of course, Fathers’ Day, – although much beloved by the sellers of greeting cards and small presents, is not – strictly speaking – a religious festival.
But, given that the secular world has taken over Mothering Sunday to such a large extent, I feel a bit justified in trying to do the reverse! Take a secular feast and Christianise it! And of course the image of the Father is very important to both Jews and Christians. The Father is the creative force of God, and perhaps also the image of judgment?
And although our readings seem a bit unpromising, I think we can still find a link to our current world and our daily concerns – and even to Fathers’ Day!
So let’s begin by considering the image that Jesus conjures up for us of a caring and all seeing God who knows us intimately, even down to counting the hairs of our head. I will admit that there is an element of potential menace in the picture he draws of a Father from whom it is impossible to hide. I am reminded of the saying that I am sure some of you will recall … “Just wait till your Father gets home!” usually said by a frustrated and despairing Mother when confronted with the latest bit of mischief that we may have committed!
Nothing is covered up… nothing is secret that will not become known!
But we are reassured: do not be afraid – for you are worth infinitely more than a mere sparrow! We may have to face the disappointment of our Parent that we fail to live up to our potential for good – but God’s judgment is always tempered with mercy… and somehow that may be harder to bear than a few blows!
Two weeks or so ago we were rejoicing in the gift of the Holy Spirit, the great comforter and advocate. But there are two sides to the Holy Spirit – which is sent, so it has been said to bring comfort to the disturbed, but also to disturb the comfortable!
And it must be said that this Gospel reading is more likely to leave us disturbed than comfortable – but maybe that is what is intended?
Matthew was writing for a community of Jewish Christians who were facing considerable persecution for their faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the embodiment of the long-awaited Messiah, the Christ. They would have understood only too well what the cost could be of acknowledging Jesus before others. They also probably had direct experience of the pain of families being divided and in conflict because of their decision to follow Jesus. For us, in our western world which is at least nominally founded on Judeo-Christian principles, this is difficult to understand. But words that may sound disquieting and uncomfortable to us – were probably words of comfort and affirmation to those who were suffering in a very real way for following their hearts and minds.
It is all about commitment – which brings me back (eventually!) to Fatherhood.
Good Fathers are worth celebrating, because they offer commitment, security and above all love to their partners and families. Not every Father lives up to this ideal of course – and the recent lockdown has – so we are told – caused a considerable rise in the incidence of domestic violence. Not that this is always the Father’s fault of course, but statistically, it is more likely.
And the stresses and strains for all parents of trying to work from home, while home-schooling young children are exhausting – so I can understand that levels of frustration rise. No more waiting till Father gets home! We are all cooped up under the one roof – all the time (or have been until recently).
And being a disciple of Christ is also about commitment.
I heard it said recently that Christianity is not a private faith… and that is true. Every baptised Christian receives the commission to tell others the Good News of God’s saving power in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Much of the time we may conveniently try to forget that… it sounds a bit confrontational doesn’t it? But that is the reality.
So maybe – while the gift of the Holy Spirit is still fairly fresh in our minds, as it were, it is good to be reminded that we are expected to be witnesses for Christ to the end of the earth – even if that causes a bit of friction amongst our nearest and dearest? But when someone does not understand the value and importance of our faith to us – maybe we should do more to explain to them and win them over?
Fathers can be tender and compassionate – just as nurturing as mothers. But they also are often the ones who teach us how to stand up to life’s problems, how to handle ourselves in an argument, how to stand our corner. And maybe that is how best to understand these words of Jesus this morning?
This is tough love on one level…. but there is never any question that it is deep and committed love. The love of a Father as of his only Son. Amen.