Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity – morning
Sunday 26th August 2018
Proper 16 – 13th Sunday after Trinity – morning
Ephesians 6. 10-20
John 6. 56-69
Revd Preb Maureen Hobbs
Both of this Sunday’s readings involves some kind of ending, and both of them invite us to commit in the face of some kind of obstacle or spiritual struggle.
The final chapter of Ephesians is a summons or invitation to faithfulness in this spiritual battle. Does anyone doubt that the forces of evil are alive and active in this beautiful but broken world in which we live?
We are told that our enemies are not physical – they are not bodies of flesh and blood, but “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. Now without doubt the church in Ephesus faced very real persecution and problems; they would need all their courage and perseverance to counter them, but it was the spiritual battle that requires the spiritual armour that Paul speaks of. With that they can actively love their opponents, even in the midst of struggle.
And that is a message that should mean as much to us today too. The message of Christ is a gospel of reconciliation, transforming “strangers and aliens” into “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” For the Ephesians, as for the disciples in John 6, the temptation is to seek security in something other than the love made flesh and the sacrificial gift of Jesus.
What are the things in which we seek for security? Is it in our possessions? Our lifestyle? Even for some our family perhaps?
Anything may become a false idol if we allow it to. For only Christ can be the True Sign. The whole of God’s love contained in a human heart, in a man’s face.
And in our Gospel reading for today we have finally reached the end of John 6; Jesus again teaches that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood in order that we abide in him – that we commit ourselves to him and he will commit himself to us. This invitation demands a decisive response – summoning disciples in every generation to live Eucharistic lives – lives shaped and sustained by his sacrifice on the Cross and our response of thanksgiving.
But it was just too much for many of his hearers – “many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.”
Then he turns to the 12 – his closest companions and disciples. And offering them a free choice, he asks them too “Do you wish also to go away?” True godliness it seems never involves force or compulsion – rather persuasion. The choice whether or not to accept and follow is always ours…
This week this church has resounded to the sound of happy excited children as they took part in our Holiday Club. This year’s theme was “Team building” and they were told a number of stories – from both the Old and New Testament that demonstrated different aspects of team work. So we learned how Joseph thought he was too good for his brothers and how his boasting got him into trouble and led to slavery in Egypt. Then we learned how Moses tried to do too much himself and had to learn how to delegate (a valuable lesson that for every Vicar!). We learned how Esther used her talent (her beauty) to rescue her whole people from the threat of genocide; and we thought about how Jesus went about picking the team of people who were to work with him. And we heard a lesson in forgiveness with the story of Paul and Barnabas and John Mark. Even when people don’t behave well, we can still choose to forgive them and see if they can turn things around…
And in between the bible stories, the children made crafts, played games outside and watched a drama unfold in the dressing room of the fictitious football club, Pattingham Rovers!
There are those in this community who perhaps think that by offering a Bible-based Holiday Club to youngsters we are forcing our ideas of religion and conformity onto them. In fact of course, nothing could be further from the truth.
Yes we try to show them that the stories contained in the Bible hold truths that are as valuable to us today in working out how to live our complicated lives in a world that often demands we compromise our moral values. But nothing is forced on them…. it is an open invitation to engage with and question those self-same stories. To see for themselves that there is value to be had in the teachings of Jesus. To understand that God loves them, and us, and only wants their happiness and greater good. But that good cannot be dependent on the unhappiness and detriment of others. That would be a false kind of god – truly a false idol.
Jesus sets out the choice for us very graphically. Either we accept his invitation to follow in his way – a way that may not always be easy or without pain and sorrow, but which ultimately leads to eternal life.
Or we can choose to opt for the easy way out. The way that requires no spiritual armour, but will ultimately lead to death and unhappiness.
Which will you choose? Which challenge will you accept or turn back from (we know the Youth Service will be challenging us when they next meet in September.) And next week you will see some of the children who were at Holiday Club as they come to lead our Family Service and share some of their experiences with you. And you will all be learning a new song (one that I now cannot get out of my head!)
The invitation that lies on the table, waiting for us to respond…
“Hey, you, come and be on God’s team – it’s the best place you can be, you can be, you can be… It’s great to be on God’s Team!”