Informal Sermon - 23/09/07 – Trinity 16 (Proper 20) – Year C
Preached at St Alphege, Solihull 9.15am Eucharist
Readings: Amos 8:4-7 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13
(Approximate text – notes not used)
Now I wonder if you can work out who this character is? [Image 1 – Grumpy Scrooge]
This is Scrooge from the Charles Dickens Novel, A Christmas Carol. And what do we know about Scrooge? [What does he say – Bar Humbug!] We know that he is a bitter and twisted old man who only cares about money. All he thinks about is his accounts; he even does his accounts late on Christmas Eve. He also thinks about how to save a few pence here and there by not putting any fuel on the fire. Now Scrooge is an example of someone who lives his life for money. Let’s remember that, and we’ll come back to Scrooge in a few moments.
Now, I would like to thank the young people of Club 1 for reading our gospel for us today. They have been studying this particular gospel story this month, and now we are going to reflect on it together…so that’s good isn’t it.
But there’s a bit of a problem. And the problem is that today’s gospel reading is a very difficult gospel reading.
So I wonder if Club 1 found it difficult?
[hands up club 1 if you found it a difficult gospel reading]
[why did you think it was difficult ?]
Personally, I find it a difficult parable because when you first read it, it looks as though Jesus is telling us to be dishonest. Hummm! Let’s have a think about that.
First of all let’s just remind ourselves of the story. A rich man has a manager who he employs to look after his business affairs. But then people start telling the rich man that the manager is squandering the rich man’s money – he is being very wasteful with it. So the rich man decides to sack the manager. He says bring me all the accounts and hand them back over to me, because you are to be sacked.
And the manager is very worried because he is about to lose his job, and he does not know how he will get by without it. Then he has a brain wave. The last few hours that he his in charge of his master’s money he spends giving away his masters money, and in this way he makes some friends for himself, who will look after him when he has no job. And then the strange bit. The rich master commends, that is he praises, the dishonest manager. If I was the rich man I would be very cross with the manager, who is being blatently dishonest, but instead what does the rich man do?
[He praises the dishonest steward – for being shrewd]
So is Jesus telling us to shrewd? Is he telling us to be good at looking after ourselves?
I think Jesus does want us to look after ourselves and he recognises that in this earthly life we sometimes need to be shrewd in the way that we do that. In Matthew’s gospel (10:16) Jesus tells us to be cunning as serpents and innocent as doves. So we have to be innocent, but when we are dealing in the affairs of this world we also have to be shrewd.
So is Jesus is telling us to be shrewd, so that’s aright then, isn’t it?
But is it alright? What about the bit where he says, “Make friends for yourself by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.”
Is Jesus telling us to be dishonest? Does he want us to be like Robin Hood, steeling from some people and giving to others?
Well it is pretty clear that Jesus does not want us to be dishonest. In this very passage he says that people who are faithful in small things are also faithful in large, and people dishonest in small things also being dishonest in large. So Jesus does not want us to be dishonest.
What, then, does Jesus mean by “Make use of dishonest wealth”?
Well I think he means ordinary money, worldly wealth that you and I understand as nice houses, smart cars and big bank balances. In fact many bible translations translate this as worldly wealth, not dishonest wealth. In the eyes of Jesus, worldly wealth is not really ours; it s just lent to by God. All things come from God, and we give him what is his. (c.f. 1 Chronicles 29:14)
We arrive on this earth as little babies, with absolutely nothing; not even clothes. Our parents look after us and give us stuff and we learn how to make things and how to earn money and how to get the things we need. But then when we die we leave the earth with absolutely nothing. Even our bodies turn to dust and ashes. In the eyes of Jesus, all worldly wealth is just something lent to us. It has no lasting value. It will pass away, or even if it does not pass away we will lose it when we die.
Jesus is always pointing out the contrast been worldly wealth and wealth in heaven. He says do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth where it can be destroyed by moths and rust and where thieves break in and steel it; rather store up treasure in heaven where there are no moths or rust or thieves, so that where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6:19-21)
By contrast what Jesus really values he calls treasure in heaven. Treasure in heaven is the acts of generosity we have done, the times we have stood patiently by with those who suffer, it’s the efforts that we have made with the people we find difficult, it is all acts of love we have done great and small. And this treasure in heaven has eternal value and it is much more truly ours then anything we might own on earth.
And so this is what Jesus is saying – use your earthly wealth to build heavenly wealth, by serving other people on earth, by building up friendship and community on earth. [It didn’t cost the dishonest manager anything when he gave away his masters money, but it did buy him friends. So Jesus invites us to use our earthly wealth that is leant to us, to buy friends in heaven. We loose our earthly wealth anyway when we die, so it is a much better idea to use it to buy wealth in heaven.]
And this brings us back to Scrooge. [Image 2 - Happy Scrooge] Now in the story of the Christmas carol Scrooge goes through a conversion experience. It is a difficult and frightening experience involving three ghosts, but Scrooge has a complete change of heart. He starts to care about other people. He starts to give away his money. He starts to be generous. He starts to build up treasure in heaven. And as he does all this, he starts to find his happiness again.
So let’s be happy, like the converted Scrooge. Let’s think of our money and our wealth as something that is lent to us by God. Let’s use it while we are on this earth, to build up treasure in heaven.
23 September 2007
16 September 2007
Mercy and repentance
Sermon - 16/09/07 – Trinity 15 (Proper 19) – Year C
Preached at St Michael’s, Sharman Cross School, Solihull 10.30am Eucharist, 16/09/07
Readings: Exodus 32:7-14 (1 Timothy 1:12-17) Luke 15:1-10
When I was a boy, about 9 years old, it was very clear to me that my parents wanted me to be good at school. And by and large I was good at school, but not all the time. There was one occasion when a group of us had got into trouble for messing around and we had to spend our break inside writing out lines. Well, things like this happened from time to time and as I sat down with the others at the start of break to do the lines I was not unduly concerned. But then a terrible thing happened. I heard, very clearly, my father’s voice in the hallway. I realised that my father was visiting the school, as he often did (he was the local rector). I realised that he was about to walk through the classroom and he would find me, writing my lines for having been naughty. For me, it was one thing to be punished at school, it was quite another to have it known about at home. I was thrown into a terrible panic.
When my father finally entered the classroom I fell of my chair, in my panic, and tried to hide under the table. Of course it was hopeless. The teacher fished me out from under the table, and I hung my head while it was explained that I was writing lines for messing about earlier that morning. My Dad said something like, “Oh dear! So you’re in trouble for messing around are you?” He picked me up and hugged me, and while still hugging me he carried on discussing a completely different matter with the teacher. Eventually he put me down, and went on to the next classroom. I went back to writing my lines. The incident was never mentioned again, but I was changed person.
I had an overwhelming sense of relief that my crime was not going to cause problems at home. I also had a huge sense of gratitude to my Dad who continued to love me and support me even though I had done something wrong. I had learnt something about mercy and I had experienced repentance.
The readings that we read this morning make us think about mercy and repentance. Mercy is love and compassion expressed towards those who are in difficult situations. There are works of mercy that seek to help those with bodily needs, so we try to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and shelter the homeless. There are also works of mercy that seek to help those with spiritual needs, so we try to console those who mourn, we try to patiently put up with the faults we perceive in other people and we try to forgive the sins of others. It is especially this mercy towards those who sin, that we think about in today’s readings.
In our OT lesson we hear about God who is angry with the Israelites because they have made a calf of gold and started to worship it, rather than worshiping the one true God. God says that his wrath will burn hot against them and he will destroy them all. but Moses, who scriptures tell us was the most humble of men, courageously pleaded with God and he managed to persuaded God not to wipe out the Israelites totally. Now had we read on a bit we would have discover that that was not the end of the matter. Moses returned to the Israelites very angry; he ground their golden calf into a fine power, mixed it with water and made the people drink it. Later 3000 Israelites died by the sword, and many more through a plague on account of the golden calf, but after that it seems that there was real repentance. Certainly God was able to continue to help the Israelites on their journey to the promised land.
Repentance. That is the other key word from our scripture readings today. In the gospel reading Jesus told the story of the lost sheep. When the sheep is finally found there is great joy. Jesus says that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over 99 righteous people who need no repentance. Similarly he tells the story of the woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. She searches high and low, and when she eventually finds it there is great rejoicing. Similarly, says Jesus, there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents.
Repentance means saying that we are sorry, and starting again in obedience to God. It means putting God in the first place in our lives, and letting everything else (houses, families, jobs, holidays) letting all these things find their right place under God.
So as we leave this church today, let us try to put into practice mercy and repentance. First of all let’s have an attitude of repentance ourselves. Let’s make sure that God has first place in our lives and that everything else is done in obedience to him. And after that, let’s have an attitude of mercy. Especially when we encounter faults in other people, let’s have an attitude of mercy. In fact it is the love and compassion of our mercy that is the most helpful thing in bringing them to repentance.
Preached at St Michael’s, Sharman Cross School, Solihull 10.30am Eucharist, 16/09/07
Readings: Exodus 32:7-14 (1 Timothy 1:12-17) Luke 15:1-10
When I was a boy, about 9 years old, it was very clear to me that my parents wanted me to be good at school. And by and large I was good at school, but not all the time. There was one occasion when a group of us had got into trouble for messing around and we had to spend our break inside writing out lines. Well, things like this happened from time to time and as I sat down with the others at the start of break to do the lines I was not unduly concerned. But then a terrible thing happened. I heard, very clearly, my father’s voice in the hallway. I realised that my father was visiting the school, as he often did (he was the local rector). I realised that he was about to walk through the classroom and he would find me, writing my lines for having been naughty. For me, it was one thing to be punished at school, it was quite another to have it known about at home. I was thrown into a terrible panic.
When my father finally entered the classroom I fell of my chair, in my panic, and tried to hide under the table. Of course it was hopeless. The teacher fished me out from under the table, and I hung my head while it was explained that I was writing lines for messing about earlier that morning. My Dad said something like, “Oh dear! So you’re in trouble for messing around are you?” He picked me up and hugged me, and while still hugging me he carried on discussing a completely different matter with the teacher. Eventually he put me down, and went on to the next classroom. I went back to writing my lines. The incident was never mentioned again, but I was changed person.
I had an overwhelming sense of relief that my crime was not going to cause problems at home. I also had a huge sense of gratitude to my Dad who continued to love me and support me even though I had done something wrong. I had learnt something about mercy and I had experienced repentance.
The readings that we read this morning make us think about mercy and repentance. Mercy is love and compassion expressed towards those who are in difficult situations. There are works of mercy that seek to help those with bodily needs, so we try to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and shelter the homeless. There are also works of mercy that seek to help those with spiritual needs, so we try to console those who mourn, we try to patiently put up with the faults we perceive in other people and we try to forgive the sins of others. It is especially this mercy towards those who sin, that we think about in today’s readings.
In our OT lesson we hear about God who is angry with the Israelites because they have made a calf of gold and started to worship it, rather than worshiping the one true God. God says that his wrath will burn hot against them and he will destroy them all. but Moses, who scriptures tell us was the most humble of men, courageously pleaded with God and he managed to persuaded God not to wipe out the Israelites totally. Now had we read on a bit we would have discover that that was not the end of the matter. Moses returned to the Israelites very angry; he ground their golden calf into a fine power, mixed it with water and made the people drink it. Later 3000 Israelites died by the sword, and many more through a plague on account of the golden calf, but after that it seems that there was real repentance. Certainly God was able to continue to help the Israelites on their journey to the promised land.
Repentance. That is the other key word from our scripture readings today. In the gospel reading Jesus told the story of the lost sheep. When the sheep is finally found there is great joy. Jesus says that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over 99 righteous people who need no repentance. Similarly he tells the story of the woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. She searches high and low, and when she eventually finds it there is great rejoicing. Similarly, says Jesus, there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents.
Repentance means saying that we are sorry, and starting again in obedience to God. It means putting God in the first place in our lives, and letting everything else (houses, families, jobs, holidays) letting all these things find their right place under God.
So as we leave this church today, let us try to put into practice mercy and repentance. First of all let’s have an attitude of repentance ourselves. Let’s make sure that God has first place in our lives and that everything else is done in obedience to him. And after that, let’s have an attitude of mercy. Especially when we encounter faults in other people, let’s have an attitude of mercy. In fact it is the love and compassion of our mercy that is the most helpful thing in bringing them to repentance.
10 September 2007
Funeral Homily - Joseph Foote - Hope
Funeral Homily - 10th September 2007
Funeral of Joseph Foote - 1.45pm St Alphege Church
Background: Joseph Foote was an inspiring 9 year old who died on 1st September after seven years with a brain cancer. More about Joeseph can be found on his website at http://www.josephfoote.co.uk/ including the funeral order of service and Joeseph's father's tribute.
Reading: Matthew 18:1-5,10
Today we have heard a wonderful tribute to Joe from Andy his father. We have heard a piano piece and a very moving poem from Nancy, Joe’s sister. We have also heard a poignant tribute from Ash, who is Joe’s Godfather and who was present at Joe’s baptism.
In his words, Andy described Joe’s story as one of Love, Laughter, Courage and Hope. Today Andy has spoken particularly of the Love the Laughter and the Courage, but when I went to visit Andy and Judy in their home, it was particularly the Hope that we spoke of. And that might, at first sight, seem strange. Someone might ask, “Where is the hope in the story of a child who dies?”
Right from the time of Joe’s first diagnosis back in 2000 Andy and Judy always believed that Joe would get better. They worked hard, and Judy in particular worked hard, to make sure that Joe too believed he would get better; that things would be alright. And this hope gave the family great energy. They did everything possible. They made sure that Joe got the very best medical treatment. They established the Joe Foote Trust to fund research in the treatment of brain cancer. Andy told me how empowering he found this hope. “If you have got hope you can do anything. You can walk through walls if you have got hope,” he said.
And this hope was also very helpful to Joe. According to Andy it was this belief that he would get better that gave Joe his courage and his strength of character. This was the reason that he never moaned and never complained.
Then there was a critical moment, about two years ago. Joe’s condition developed to such a point that the hospitals refused to perform any further operations. And with news came the terrible realisation that the hospitals were not going to make Joe better. And this point all hope seemed to disappear. Andy told me about a terrible two hours, during which he and Judy languished in complete despair. The loss of hope was completely debilitating. They could do nothing. They could barely even stand up. It was a terrible, terrible moment.
But then, as emptiness and despair sank deeper and deeper into their hearts, something strange happened. They realised that at a deeper level there was something solid within them, something that had not drained away in the despair. Something that was still there, that could be counted upon. Despite the terrible news from the hospitals hope was still present in their hearts. They could carry on. They could still do things for Joe. They did not know quite what, but they could find things. They could move forward.
And so hope returned; a deeper and more profound hope. And with this, energy returned. They were able to take Joe to the States for further treatments. They redoubled all their efforts in looking after Joe. The belief that Joe would be alright sustained them and kept them going these last two years.
When I heard this I was quite concerned. I asked Andy, “And what happens to this hope two years later, when the child finally dies.” He told me, “Hope is still there. It is still there. We still have each other. We still have Nancy. We still have the grandparents and wider family. There are still things we can do, people we can work for. And we can still have hope for Joe.”
[Pause]
This extraordinary and inexplicable resilience of hope goes right to the heart of the Christian story.
When Jesus of Nazareth was teaching in Judah and Galilee many people started to place their hope in him. Jesus was a great prophet, who worked great miracles. People thought he would do great things; restore the fortunes of Israel, kick out the Roman occupation and rule as a great and just king.
And then it all went terribly wrong. Jesus was put on trial by his own people. He was scourged, mocked and crucified. He died a most terrible death, hanging on a cross. The friends of Jesus ran away and hid. For two days they suffered the most terrible despair. Was all that teaching for nothing? Could the one who healed others simply be killed himself? Then, on the third day, the strange news of the resurrection started to filter through. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and to some of the apostles, not as a ghost, but as a complete and real human being, still bearing his scares from the crucifixion. There were more and more appearances, and slowly the realisation set in that Jesus had conquered death. Jesus truly was the resurrection and the life. Hope was born again. Not the futile hope that we can somehow escape death, but rather the deep and profound realisation that death is not the end. We can come to share in the new life of Christ. We can share in his resurrection.
Ash and the other godparents present hear today remind us of Joe’s baptism. When we are baptised we are baptised into the death and resurrection of Christ. Through the darkness and despair of the cross, Christ came to the hope and new life of the resurrection. By baptism we too can pass through the loss and emptiness of our own death, as we come to share in the new life of Christ. And this is our hope for Joe. And this is the hope for each one of us. In particular this is the hope for Joe’s family. I have no doubt that there will be some difficult days and months ahead as the loss of Joe’s earthly presence really sinks in, but through our baptism we have a hope that is deeper and more profound. And with hope we can do anything!
Funeral of Joseph Foote - 1.45pm St Alphege Church
Background: Joseph Foote was an inspiring 9 year old who died on 1st September after seven years with a brain cancer. More about Joeseph can be found on his website at http://www.josephfoote.co.uk/ including the funeral order of service and Joeseph's father's tribute.
Reading: Matthew 18:1-5,10
Today we have heard a wonderful tribute to Joe from Andy his father. We have heard a piano piece and a very moving poem from Nancy, Joe’s sister. We have also heard a poignant tribute from Ash, who is Joe’s Godfather and who was present at Joe’s baptism.
In his words, Andy described Joe’s story as one of Love, Laughter, Courage and Hope. Today Andy has spoken particularly of the Love the Laughter and the Courage, but when I went to visit Andy and Judy in their home, it was particularly the Hope that we spoke of. And that might, at first sight, seem strange. Someone might ask, “Where is the hope in the story of a child who dies?”
Right from the time of Joe’s first diagnosis back in 2000 Andy and Judy always believed that Joe would get better. They worked hard, and Judy in particular worked hard, to make sure that Joe too believed he would get better; that things would be alright. And this hope gave the family great energy. They did everything possible. They made sure that Joe got the very best medical treatment. They established the Joe Foote Trust to fund research in the treatment of brain cancer. Andy told me how empowering he found this hope. “If you have got hope you can do anything. You can walk through walls if you have got hope,” he said.
And this hope was also very helpful to Joe. According to Andy it was this belief that he would get better that gave Joe his courage and his strength of character. This was the reason that he never moaned and never complained.
Then there was a critical moment, about two years ago. Joe’s condition developed to such a point that the hospitals refused to perform any further operations. And with news came the terrible realisation that the hospitals were not going to make Joe better. And this point all hope seemed to disappear. Andy told me about a terrible two hours, during which he and Judy languished in complete despair. The loss of hope was completely debilitating. They could do nothing. They could barely even stand up. It was a terrible, terrible moment.
But then, as emptiness and despair sank deeper and deeper into their hearts, something strange happened. They realised that at a deeper level there was something solid within them, something that had not drained away in the despair. Something that was still there, that could be counted upon. Despite the terrible news from the hospitals hope was still present in their hearts. They could carry on. They could still do things for Joe. They did not know quite what, but they could find things. They could move forward.
And so hope returned; a deeper and more profound hope. And with this, energy returned. They were able to take Joe to the States for further treatments. They redoubled all their efforts in looking after Joe. The belief that Joe would be alright sustained them and kept them going these last two years.
When I heard this I was quite concerned. I asked Andy, “And what happens to this hope two years later, when the child finally dies.” He told me, “Hope is still there. It is still there. We still have each other. We still have Nancy. We still have the grandparents and wider family. There are still things we can do, people we can work for. And we can still have hope for Joe.”
[Pause]
This extraordinary and inexplicable resilience of hope goes right to the heart of the Christian story.
When Jesus of Nazareth was teaching in Judah and Galilee many people started to place their hope in him. Jesus was a great prophet, who worked great miracles. People thought he would do great things; restore the fortunes of Israel, kick out the Roman occupation and rule as a great and just king.
And then it all went terribly wrong. Jesus was put on trial by his own people. He was scourged, mocked and crucified. He died a most terrible death, hanging on a cross. The friends of Jesus ran away and hid. For two days they suffered the most terrible despair. Was all that teaching for nothing? Could the one who healed others simply be killed himself? Then, on the third day, the strange news of the resurrection started to filter through. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and to some of the apostles, not as a ghost, but as a complete and real human being, still bearing his scares from the crucifixion. There were more and more appearances, and slowly the realisation set in that Jesus had conquered death. Jesus truly was the resurrection and the life. Hope was born again. Not the futile hope that we can somehow escape death, but rather the deep and profound realisation that death is not the end. We can come to share in the new life of Christ. We can share in his resurrection.
Ash and the other godparents present hear today remind us of Joe’s baptism. When we are baptised we are baptised into the death and resurrection of Christ. Through the darkness and despair of the cross, Christ came to the hope and new life of the resurrection. By baptism we too can pass through the loss and emptiness of our own death, as we come to share in the new life of Christ. And this is our hope for Joe. And this is the hope for each one of us. In particular this is the hope for Joe’s family. I have no doubt that there will be some difficult days and months ahead as the loss of Joe’s earthly presence really sinks in, but through our baptism we have a hope that is deeper and more profound. And with hope we can do anything!
09 September 2007
The choice of God; putting God first!
Sermon - 09/09/07 – Trinity 14 (Proper 18) – Year C
Preached at St Alphege, Solihull 8.00am Eucharist on 09/09/07
Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33
Our readings today make us to think about the choice of God. Choosing God! What does this mean, choosing God! It means putting God in the first place in our lives and then allowing all the other things in our lives to find their right place in accordance with what God requires.
In our Old Testament lesson the Israelites are just about to enter the Promised Land. For years God has been promising them this land, if they live according to his commandments. At long last God is delivering on his promise. Forty years of wondering around in the desert are over and the good times are at hand. And God chooses this moment to remind the Israelites that they face a clear choice. They can continue to walk in the Lord’s ways, obeying his commandments, in which case God will bless them, and they will be prosperous in their new land and their descendents too will prosper. God describes this as choosing life and blessings. Or they can choose to stray from God’s ways and serve other Gods. If they choose to stray from God then they will not live long in their new land, rather they will perish. God describes this as the choice of death and curses.
And we too all of us face this choice at the personal level. We can put God in the first place in our lives and seek to walk in his ways, obeying his commandments. God is our creator and the source of our life, so to make this choice is to choose life and to choose blessings. Alternatively we can give first priority in our lives to something that is not God, but which feels important to us. We might give top priority to our job, or our home, or our financial security, or to our children, or to our sense of being in control, or to money, or to shopping, or to holidays. It is not that there is anything wrong with these things; if fact they are all very good things when they are put in their rightful place under God. The problem comes if we prioritise these things over God. If we do this then we deprive God of his rightful place, we cease to be open to the things he asks of us. We fail to notice or fail to value the good things that he gives us. To do this is to choose death and curses. Eternal life does not come from shopping. It does not come from financial security, or even from our children. Eternal life comes from God, the giver of all life, the one who created us and who wants our good, and who has a wonderful destiny planned for us in heaven. In fact to choose God, and to put God in the first place in our lives is the only logical and sensible way to live our lives. And the beautiful thing is that if we seek first the kingdom of heaven, then all these other things will be added to us as well. God will give us the things we need. Generally he does allow us to shop, he gives us financial security, he looks after our children, but we have to give first priority to God.
In our gospel reading Jesus tells us very forcibly about the cost of that choice. Jesus is God. There is no conflict between choosing God and following Jesus. These are in fact the same thing. To put God first means to follow Christ. We must not let anything stop us from following Christ. We must put Christ above father, mother, wife and children, above brother, sisters and even above life itself. We have to carry our cross and follow Christ. We have to be ready to give up all our processions.
This might make it seem very hard to follow Christ, undesirable even. But we have to trust God who made us and wants our good. He knows the things that we need and he will provide. We receive these things as gifts, not as things we snatch for ourselves. As we follow Christ we may pass through all kinds of difficulties but over time our lives become simpler and more harmonious. Certainly there are sufferings and certainly we have to be ready to lose things that we value in order to put God first, but everything we ever had comes from God, and he gives us far more back than we ever lose. In the long term Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden light.
Preached at St Alphege, Solihull 8.00am Eucharist on 09/09/07
Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33
Our readings today make us to think about the choice of God. Choosing God! What does this mean, choosing God! It means putting God in the first place in our lives and then allowing all the other things in our lives to find their right place in accordance with what God requires.
In our Old Testament lesson the Israelites are just about to enter the Promised Land. For years God has been promising them this land, if they live according to his commandments. At long last God is delivering on his promise. Forty years of wondering around in the desert are over and the good times are at hand. And God chooses this moment to remind the Israelites that they face a clear choice. They can continue to walk in the Lord’s ways, obeying his commandments, in which case God will bless them, and they will be prosperous in their new land and their descendents too will prosper. God describes this as choosing life and blessings. Or they can choose to stray from God’s ways and serve other Gods. If they choose to stray from God then they will not live long in their new land, rather they will perish. God describes this as the choice of death and curses.
And we too all of us face this choice at the personal level. We can put God in the first place in our lives and seek to walk in his ways, obeying his commandments. God is our creator and the source of our life, so to make this choice is to choose life and to choose blessings. Alternatively we can give first priority in our lives to something that is not God, but which feels important to us. We might give top priority to our job, or our home, or our financial security, or to our children, or to our sense of being in control, or to money, or to shopping, or to holidays. It is not that there is anything wrong with these things; if fact they are all very good things when they are put in their rightful place under God. The problem comes if we prioritise these things over God. If we do this then we deprive God of his rightful place, we cease to be open to the things he asks of us. We fail to notice or fail to value the good things that he gives us. To do this is to choose death and curses. Eternal life does not come from shopping. It does not come from financial security, or even from our children. Eternal life comes from God, the giver of all life, the one who created us and who wants our good, and who has a wonderful destiny planned for us in heaven. In fact to choose God, and to put God in the first place in our lives is the only logical and sensible way to live our lives. And the beautiful thing is that if we seek first the kingdom of heaven, then all these other things will be added to us as well. God will give us the things we need. Generally he does allow us to shop, he gives us financial security, he looks after our children, but we have to give first priority to God.
In our gospel reading Jesus tells us very forcibly about the cost of that choice. Jesus is God. There is no conflict between choosing God and following Jesus. These are in fact the same thing. To put God first means to follow Christ. We must not let anything stop us from following Christ. We must put Christ above father, mother, wife and children, above brother, sisters and even above life itself. We have to carry our cross and follow Christ. We have to be ready to give up all our processions.
This might make it seem very hard to follow Christ, undesirable even. But we have to trust God who made us and wants our good. He knows the things that we need and he will provide. We receive these things as gifts, not as things we snatch for ourselves. As we follow Christ we may pass through all kinds of difficulties but over time our lives become simpler and more harmonious. Certainly there are sufferings and certainly we have to be ready to lose things that we value in order to put God first, but everything we ever had comes from God, and he gives us far more back than we ever lose. In the long term Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden light.
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