SERMON 112 - SUNDAY 25 MARCH 2018

Sermon delivered at Roman Catholic Chapel, Whaddon, Wiltshire on Sunday 25 March 2018

Isaiah 5:1-20; Mark 12:1-12 – Homily on Vineyards

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

I expect many of us are very familiar with the Parable of The Wicked Tenants in our second reading from Mark’s Gospel but I wonder how many of us recall that Jesus is actually parodying Isaiah’s own example of the vineyard in our first reading.

Now I have to confess that anything to do with vineyards and wine immediately gets my attention!   It is also a great bone of contention in our house – should we drink red wine or white?  Liz only likes Sauvignon Blanc from the best vineyards in New Zealand or, by contrast, Vinho Verde from Portugal whereas I much prefer a red claret – so we usually end up opening two bottles – one of each! 

Wine seems to feature a lot in Jesus’s ministry – the first miracle at the wedding in Cana, the last supper, the supper at Emmaus, this parable and he certainly appears to have loved attending dinner parties where I am sure much wine was consumed. He talks about being the vine and his disciples being the branches – needing pruning. One could almost imagine that in those unknown years between his childhood and ministry he was an enthusiastic viticulturist – try saying that after a few glasses of cabernet sauvignon!

But what is Jesus really trying to say in this parable? 

For many years I thought it was his original work but as we’ve seen this evening, the parable is actually a parody on the earlier writings of Isaiah – which would have been known to his disciples. Time and time again we find Jesus either quoting the Old Testament or using its stories to get his message across about the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Isaiah is talking about the people of Israel in our first reading.  It is headed “The Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard” in my bible.  My beloved in this context, the vineyard owner is the God of Israel who planted his chosen people, the Jews, in His promised land which had been well prepared – the vineyard; but instead of the good cultured grapes he had expected, wild grapes were yielded, as the passage puts it. The point was that God had done everything, as a viticulturist, to produce a good and fruitful nation yet it had all gone wrong.

What does the vineyard owner do in such circumstances – he tears down the wall, uproots the vines and starts again.  Indeed, this is precisely what happened in France in the late 19^th Century when the great French Wine Blight struck – the dreaded diseased phylloxera - and all because of a tiny aphid.  In the same way, Isaiah reminds his readers of how the great nations of Israel and Judah have been swept away by the sins of the people.  But they were later rebuilt as we read in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. France rebuilt its vineyards by taking cuttings from vines in California which themselves had originally come from plants in France. Jerusalem and the Temple were likewise rebuilt from the ruins of their predecessor.

Jesus takes up this theme in his parable in Mark’s Gospel with reference to himself and his role as God’s Son and as we saw it angered those in control – because they would have known and recalled Isaiah’s prophecy.

In Jesus’s version there are lessees or tenants of God’s vineyard, and here is an important point, we are all mere tenants of God’s world and therefore are obliged to look after it for future tenants, generations, to come.  Again, as in Isaiah’s version, the owner (the beloved in Isaiah’s illustration) has gone to great lengths to produce a vineyard which will bear the very best of wine. However, part of the deal in letting the vineyard was that the owner should receive rent in the form of a portion of the wine produced; a very fair and honourable arrangement.  In the same way we are expected to give back to God something of ourselves, our heart and love, in return for all he gives us – in the words of that famous Harvest Hymn –

“All good gifts around us are sent from Heaven above, so thank the Lord …etc.”

We would all do well to constantly remember that. In our prayers before our supplications we should give our grateful thanks to Him.

Jesus describes how the owner sends first his slave (meaning his prophet) to collect the rent but the tenants decide rather than give it to him they will keep it for themselves and so beat up the slave.  Then the owner sends a second slave (or prophet) and likewise beat him up more severely and so on and so on killing them.  Finally, the owner decides to send his beloved – his only son – and see how that word “beloved” is the same as is used in Isaiah’s story for the owner himself.  The owner believes that the son will be respected unlike the slaves.  He will have more gravitas, more authority; but instead the tenants realising that the son is the heir to the vineyard, in killing him there will be no family inheritance and they can seize the vineyard for themselves.

Jesus explains to the scribes and elders of the Temple that this outcome will not happen because, as with the beloved owner in Isaiah’s story, the owner in his will destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.

Applying this parable, what Jesus is prophesying is that the Temple will be destroyed, not only the building itself but the whole institution which the elders have tried to protect for so long without regard for the true commandments of God. He is the son who has been sent by God to his vineyard world and like the beloved son in the story he will also be killed but from his death and the destruction of the Temple will rise a new and greater understanding of God’s love and covenants.  A new covenant which will be for all – Jews and Gentiles alike.

We live with that wonderful legacy – God’s only son being sent to us for us to understand and respect God’s love for us. 

Today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week leading up to Good Friday and the Resurrection on Easter Day.  This is the week when we remember that God, the vintner, sacrificed his son for us – the tenants of this world. 

It has a wonderful ending but an horrific beginning.  Isaiah prophesised it, Jesus foretold it in a similar parable, we live with it and remember it this week.

As this next week unfolds let us think and reflect on how we can show and tell the story in our daily lives – how we can explain to others how our Faith is based on the truth revealed in the Easter story; above all how we can make the message meaningful to those around us.  Perhaps over a glass of wine?

Amen

MFB/23032018/112

SERMON 111 - SUNDAY 11 MARCH 2018

Sermon delivered at All Saint’s Parish Church, Whiteparish, Wiltshire at their BCP Evensong on Sunday 11 March 2018

Romans 5:1–11 – You Won’t Be Disappointed!

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

When he was only 7 years old, his family was forced out of their home. He actually had to go to work to help support his family. At age 9, his mother died. At age 22, he lost his job as a store clerk. He wanted to go to law school but his education wasn’t good enough. At age 23, he went into debt to become a partner in a small store. Three years later, his business partner died, leaving him with a debt that took years to repay. At age 28, he asked his girlfriend of four years to marry him. She said no. He eventually did get married. At age 41, his four year old son died. Only one of their four children lived to adulthood. At age 45, he ran for the senate and lost. At age 47, he ran for vice-president and lost. At age 51, he became the 16th President of the United States of America. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

Many consider him to be one of the greatest presidents the United States, indeed the world, has ever known. Life has its ups and downs, its challenges and opportunities. At times it can be exciting and it can also be disappointing. Jobs and promotions that never come through. House sales and purchases that fall through. Big matches lost by our favourite football teams. Holidays ruined by bad weather or illness. Even when things are going well, we often hesitate to get our hopes up feeling that even the other shoe is eventually going to fall off. Are there any sure things in life? Anything that won’t disappoint?

In our text for this evening, Paul tells us there is, not only for this life, but also for the life to come. He says when it comes to the many promises God makes to you in His Word, You Won’t Be Disappointed!  His suffering gives us life and our suffering gives us hope. We know that our sins can make us deserve suffering Ungodly, powerless, sinners, enemies of God. These are just some of the words Paul uses in our text to describe our sinful condition by nature. “Lost and condemned creatures” are the words Martin Luther uses in his explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed. At the beginning of our Liturgy this evening we declared that we are “miserable offenders” and that “there is no health in us”. We might try to convince ourselves otherwise, that we’re really not that bad,  maybe not in our own eyes or indeed in the eyes of others, but spiritually speaking, we certainly are in the eyes of God.

Paul writes, “the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” How often doesn’t the hostility of our sinful nature show itself in our daily lives? Jesus once said, “you are my friends if you do what I command… if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”

One might say, “Halt! Who goes there? Friend or foe?” Friends speak well of others and take their words and actions in the kindest possible way. Foes gossip about others and put the worst construction on the words and actions of others. Friends seek to be kind and compassionate, forgiving others as they have been forgiven. Foes seek to take advantage of others in order to serve themselves. Towards the end of Lent, on Maundy Thursday, we remember that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. After this Jesus said, “now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you”

Friends seek to love and serve their Lord by the way they love and serve their neighbour. So once again we need to ask, “Halt! Who goes there? Friend or Foe?” For the many times we’ve played the part of the foe, we can rejoice that Jesus calls us friends. Not because of anything in us, but rather because of everything in Him! Paul tells us, “very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.”

In the movie, “Saving Private Ryan,” it describes how eight soldiers went behind enemy lines to save a man known as Private Ryan. Why so much time and effort for one man? Because three of his brothers had already died in combat. To spare his mother the grief of possibly losing her final son, eight men were sent on a rescue mission. Would his rescued life be worth the sacrifice? Would ours? God thought so! So much so that he sent his one and only Son on a rescue mission to save us! Would we be willing to lay down our life for someone else? I suppose it might depend on who that someone is. Would you lay down your life for your spouse? Would you lay down your life for your child? Would you lay down your life for a friend? Would you lay down your life for an enemy? Probably not, but that’s exactly what God did for us! Paul says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus willingly endured the pain and suffering, the punishment for sin and the agony of hell so that we would never have to. Jesus, the innocent one was declared guilty to declare the guilty innocent. That’s what it means to be justified! In the eyes of God, it’s “just as if I’d never sinned,” and, “since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”

Paul uses the word reconciled a couple of times in our text. The Greek word is “katallage” which has the idea of replacing enmity with friendship. By nature, we were God’s enemies. By grace, we are God’s friends. God did everything when it came to bringing about this reconciliation, this peace, this faith in which we now stand. This faith came through hearing the message and “the message is heard through the Word of Christ; [the Good News].”  Faith that realizes that if God did this when we were his enemies, imagine what he’s going to do now that we’re his friends! That’s the point Paul makes when he writes, “if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

That’s the reason why we can rejoice even in our sufferings because we know the purpose they serve for this life and the next. Paul knew suffering.” On one occasion, we’re told that Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. We’re not told exactly what it was. Three times Paul pleaded for God to take it away. God didn’t take it away, rather he told him, “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Are there any thorns in the flesh that you’re dealing with right now? Physical, mental, emotional? God might not take it away, but he gives you the same promise he gave Paul. His grace is sufficient for you. It’s all that you need for this life and the next. God’s grace enabled Paul to, “delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We don’t find our ultimate strength in ourselves. We find our ultimate strength in Christ! No matter what life might throw at us, no matter what suffering we might endure, no matter what hardships we might endure, no matter what storms we might endure, no matter what might threaten to shake our body and soul. Jesus died and rose again to give us the gift of heaven! In our text Paul tells us the purpose of suffering when he writes, “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope doesn’t disappoint us.”  

When it comes to the many promises God makes to us in His Word, we will not be disappointed! His suffering gives us life. Our suffering gives you hope.

Abraham Lincoln was a great president but far greater is the King we have in Jesus.

Amen.

SERMON 110 - SUNDAY 4 MARCH 2018

Sermon delivered at All Saints’ Parish Church, Whiteparish, Wiltshire – Sunday 4^th March 2018 (A reworking of Sermons 46 and 55)

Exodus 20:1-17; 1  Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and may these words be a blessing to all who hear them.  Amen

There is an immense richness about each and every one of our readings this morning which I think can all be linked together with the one word “love” – just as Jesus left us the two greatest Commandments of all – Love God with all your heart and strength and love others as you would have them love you.  We’ll unpick that further in a moment.

In the first of our readings we are reminded of the Torah, the book of law handed down to the Hebrews by Moses and upon which the Jewish faith is so heavily founded – laws or a code of conduct given by God directly to his people for the proper governance and guidance of his chosen people – laws which were frequently broken but which, by a strict adherence the Jews thought they would ensure that Yahweh or Jehovah, the unspeakable God would look down favourably upon them.

Let us just recall those Ten Commandments and here is a very easy way to remember them in the order they appear in our reading from the book of Exodus:

1.         The is only one God – no others

2.         Don’t two time God by falsely worshipping other idols

3.         There are three names for God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – don’t use them wrongly.

4.         Remember the Sabbath – the letter “4” looks a bit like a deckchair to rest in

5.         Honour your father and mother – How often do children take their parents for granted and think of them as simply a cash machine – No. 5 “lend us a fiver Dad”,

6.         Do not murder – the letter “6” resembles a hangman’s noose

7.         Do not commit adultery – think of the “seven year itch” we are sometime told about

8.         Do not steal – the letter eight looks like a pair of handcuffs if turned on its side

9.         Do not bear false witness – No 9 is not 10 – it is not the last of the commandments

10.       Do not covet etc. Think of thin “1” and fat “0”. Have and have not.

That was just a bit of fun but I bet you will remember the order of the Commandments after this. We’ll see later! 

The Old Testament is full of examples of where those commandments were broken – time and time again and we only have to look at David as a really good (or should I say bad) example of somebody who broke nearly every one of them – especially murder, coveting, adultery and theft.  We read how, during the course of the history connected with the Jewish people an attempt to keep to the law still brought about trials and tribulations and eventually, God sent down his only son, Jesus, to redeem his people – and us today.

Today we still live in a world of great hardship and poverty.  A world which more than ever needs to remember those Commandments and especially the two great ones left to us by Jesus. We read in our daily newspapers of such terrible examples of greed and selfishness – and I guess we have all, at some time or other, been victims of those two vices.  We read statistics about the fact that such a small handful of extremely wealthy people own more than the entire gross national product of the world’s 80 poorest countries.  My son said to me only the other day that he wishes he had been born thirty or so years earlier when it was possible to buy a property fairly easily, or walk into a job from university or have a decent pension scheme.  Now all these things are not easy because money is not being re-circulated into society – there are only so many cars or boats that a Premier League footballer on £140,000 per week wants or needs.  The world’s answer is print more money – quantitative easing as it’s called.  The fact of the matter is that the money printed is not backed by gold reserves but on debt which has been created in the first place by lending to people who couldn’t afford the repayments! To me it seems mere folly, in fact immoral.

As the Chaplain here in Salisbury to some of the homeless and Veterans, I get really angry when I read of many injustices which have created the homeless person’s problems in the first place. Many are not entirely of their own making - but victims of dubious war or crime. The unfairness of the Sanction system for example, food poverty - one child in every nine in “prosperous” Britain going to bed hungry at night.  It’s wrong, it shouldn’t be and it certainly shouldn’t happen if we followed Jesus’s two great commandments – Love God and Love each other as you yourself would wish to be loved. You only have to watch the film “I Daniel Blake” to have a better understanding of the unfairness and inequalities of life – especially for the poor, disabled and ill-educated. 

Many people think that religion and politics shouldn’t mix; that church ministers should stay away from politicians – but it is my belief that we, as practising Christians, should become involved.  More and more the Government is relying upon charities and particularly Christian organisations to work towards alleviating poverty both in this country and abroad,  That’s fine but I believe that we should also tackle the root cause of many of the those problems. Pope Francis recently said

 “If I say I am Catholic and go to mass, but then don’t speak with my parents, help my grandparents or the poor, go and see those who are sick, this does not prove my faith, there’s no point,”

In our gospel reading we have the finest example we could possibly have of a Christian getting angry at injustice – Jesus himself.  But we have to be angry in a righteous, not self-righteous way.  We need and should get angry when we see the world turning its back on our Christian principles.

As a bit of background to Jesus’s “tantrum” in the Temple it is necessary to understand something of the Temple system.  The Temple was made up of a series of boxes – courtyards – with the Holy of Holys at its centre and spreading out in a number of courtyards restricted to people of different class or hierarchy.  On the outer part was the courtyard where small animals could be bought for sacrifice.  However, to purchase your sacrificial dove or chicken or whatever you needed to use Temple money which you exchanged for your Roman coinage.  These were the money lenders or money changers who would take a massive commission both for converting the Roman money into Temple shekels and then converting back before the individual returned to the outside Roman world.   They probably also loaned money at exorbitant rates to those who didn’t quite have enough – in league with the livestock vendors, no doubt.  Does it remind you of anything today?  Cash Converters, Wonga and the like?  How many times do we read of extortionate rates being used against the poor – those with poor credit ratings - indeed, it is quite clear that the ones in this country who are being exploited the most are those who can least afford it!

I am a great admirer of Bishop Desmond Tutu.  Here is a man who has successfully embraced politics from his religious seat. A man who once was labelled by White politicians as a “communist” until he pointed out that the principles he preached were not from some tome by Karl Marx but from within the 66 books which make up the Holy Bible – the same book on which those same white politicians swore their oaths of allegiance when taking their seats in the South African Parliament.

It is right and proper that we should get angry as Christians.  We are first of all human beings and experience human emotions and secondly the Holy Spirit has put into our hearts compassion and feelings of sympathy and empathy for the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves together with an understanding of what Jesus felt as he preached to sinners and those who found life difficult.  However it is also important that our anger should be directed for the right reasons and with a positive aim in mind.  Jesus was angry because the money changers were cheating the ordinary folk and making money out of their reliance on an antiquated system of worship.  By dying on the cross he ended all that by giving us direct access to the Trinitarian God.  Likewise, we should become angry at those things which make God angry.  Vicky Beeching, the now controversial theologian and songwriter wrote (addressing God) “Break my heart with the things that break yours”.

How often do we – you and me – seek to put things “right” without bringing God, through Jesus, into the equation?  Howe often do we stand on the solemnity and sometimes inflexibility of the law or systems without looking at things from a deeper and wider perspective? How often do we build a fortress which, whilst seeking to protect what we have, also shuts out the Holy Spirit which should be allowed to freely enter us – especially in times of trial – when we need him most – to actually do something to stop the injustices we see around us and which we frequently bemoan.

Now before we end, let’s see how many of you can remember the order of the ten commandments ...

I would like to end with a prayer using the words of Vicky Beeching’s song

Father God,

Break our hearts
With the things that break Yours
Wake us up to see through Your eyes

Break our hearts
With the things that break Yours
And send us out to shine in the darkness

It's time to move outside our comfort zone
To see beyond our churches and our homes
To change the way we think and how we spend
Until we look like Jesus again

Amen                                                                                                    MFB/110/02032018