Sermon preached at St Alphege, Solihull at 9.15am Eucharist
Sunday 25th January 2009 – The Conversion of St Paul.
(A shortened version of this sermon was preached at the 8am Eucharist at St Alphege.)
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10 Acts 9: 1-22 Matthew 19: 27-30
In our second reading today we heard the story of the conversion of St Paul. It is about as dramatic as a conversion story could be. Jesus himself intervenes directly, with a flashing light and a voice from heaven. Paul goes blind, and then his blindness is healed. Jesus speaks directly with Paul, and Paul later (1 Corinthians 9: 1) affirms that he has seen Jesus. And the turn around in Paul’s behaviour is also extremely dramatic. He goes, in the space of a few short days, from being the worst enemy of the Church to being its most committed supporter. He goes from organising the persecution of the Church to proclaiming in the synagogues that Jesus is both Son of God and Messiah.
Paul’s is surely the most dramatic conversion possible, but there have always been dramatic conversions in the life of the Church. Three years ago, in South Africa, I came across a Free Church minister who had himself had a most extraordinary conversion experience. Overnight he abandoned the mainstay props of his old life; drink, tobacco, drugs and violence and he turned instead to a new life and a charismatic church ministry centred around repentance. He led many other people to repentance. He would baptise them with a full immersion baptism in a local river, a bit like John the Baptist. His church had a big following.
For most of us however our conversion is rather less dramatic, and rather more drawn out. Perhaps we get to know someone and the relationship slowly changes us. Perhaps we have an experience of being loved, and this brings us a new freedom. Perhaps, seemingly by chance, we attend a particular mission event, or church service or prayer meeting and we find ourselves strangely moved by the presence of God. Perhaps we start praying, and then come to realise that our prayer are important. Perhaps we come to a point of crisis and we painfully realise that we need to build our life on firmer foundations. Perhaps several of these things happen, and there is a series of milestones before we arrive at a point of conversion.
But at some point or other, for all of us this moment of conversion must come. It is a very important step, which sooner or later we must all take. We must turn to God acknowledge his love and our own sinfulness and commit ourselves to walk with him on the path that he sets before us. This turning to walk with God is an essential step. It is the beginning of a journey towards God, in which our relationship with God grows and deepens. It is a journey in which God’s creation in us is gradually brought to perfection. It is a journey through which we grow in love and become a blessing to the people around us. It is a journey that slowly forms us to make us ready to share in the life of God with all his people in heaven.
And I think it is important so avoid the mistake of thinking of conversion as something we do once and for all time. The fact is that as we progress along the journey of our Christian life we are continually called to a conversion that is ever deeper and ever more complete. This is about learning to accept and trust ever more deeply in the love of God. Even though I have this terrible fault, God truly loves me. Even though I have committed these terrible sins, God still loves me. Even though this dreadful thing has happened, God still loves me. Fr Sean, a priest of 58 years standing at St Augustine’s RC church, has a habit of asking people to pray for his conversion. There is something a bit comic about this, because Fr Sean is already deeply and profoundly converted. And yet there is a serious point to it. He, just like the rest of us, still needs to make progress on his journey towards God. He recognises his need for ever greater conversion.
So the Christian life is a journey towards God. But the first and most vital step is that we choose to be on that journey. We need to turn to face God, to trust in his love for us and start to walk with him. And it may well be that there are people here today who have never made that step, never made that choice. And if this is you, then I commend this step to you with all my heart. God is calling. Say “yes” to God; turn and follow his call. Say to him in prayer, “Lord, I want to follow you, help me to follow you.” And don’t try to do this all on your own. You will need the help of others. Talk to someone from the church about it. Talk to the priests at coffee squash.
But there are many here today, I am sure, who have long since made that choice and have long since set out on that journey. And if this is you then I urge you to make proper progress on your Christian journey. Let’s make the most of every opportunity that God sends. Let’s seek to love every person that God puts in front of us. Let’s establish a pattern to our prayer life and keep to it. Let’s humbly follow God’s will for our lives, trusting always in his love for us, and believing that he wants our good.
And maybe there are some people here today who have already made good progress on their journey and who are wondering what comes next. Well, that is for God to know and for you to find out! But as our journey progresses we should expect it to become more and more tied up with the journeys of the people around us. It becomes harder for us to make progress by ourselves. More and more we can only make progress by helping the people around us. The Lord told Ananias that Paul would be an instrument to bring Christ to many people and the Lord hinted that much suffering would be required on Paul’s part. Suffering for the sake of others might well play a part in our journeys.
An if that sounds a bit heavy, or if making the journey with Christ feels to costly because of the things we might have to leave behind, or let go of, then let’s remember what Jesus said to those who follow him in our gospel today. He said, “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my names sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” May that be true for each one of us. Amen.
25 January 2009
11 January 2009
The Holy Spirit at the Baptism of Christ
Sermon preached at St Alphege, Solihull, 11am Eucharist on Sunday 11th January 2009
Epiphany 1 - The Baptism of Christ, Year B.
Readings: Genesis 1: 1-5 Acts 19: 1-7 Mark 1: 4-11
Our readings today make us reflect on the Holy Spirit. They remind us how incredibly important the Holy Spirit is, and how significant his role is in so many crucial moments.
In our reading from Genesis we heard the first five verses of the bible; the beginning of the creation story. And this included, in the second verse of the bible, a reference to the Holy Spirit. You may have missed it because we read from the NRSV of the bible, which translates the Hebrew as, “A wind from God swept over the face of the waters.” But the Authorised Version of the Bible translates this as “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” The NIV translates it as “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”. However it is translated, the point remains the same; the Holy Spirit was present and participating at the very beginning of creation.
In our gospel reading we heard Mark’s very brief account of the ministry of John the Baptist. We heard how people went see John in the wilderness. They confessed their sins and were baptised with a baptism of repentance. And John proclaimed that the one coming after him, was much greater than he was, because John baptised only with water, whereas the one who was coming would baptise with the Holy Spirit.
And is seems that there is some very profound link between Jesus, baptism and the Holy Spirit. This first comes to light when Jesus is baptised by John, and we heard this story at the end of our gospel reading. Jesus came up out of the water and he saw heaven torn open and the spirit descending like a dove upon him. Then there was the voice from heaven. “You are my Son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased.”
This incident is recorded in all four gospels. In Mark’s gospel, which we heard today, it is not very clear that anyone else other that Jesus actually saw the spirit descend or heard the voice. Luke’s account suggests that the incident might have been clearly visible to the many people who were present. In John’s account John the Baptist testifies that he saw the Spirit alight on Jesus and remain there, and that this for him was a clear sign that Jesus was the one to baptise with the Holy Spirit; the Son of God. In the Church we always think of the baptism of Christ as a key “epiphany moment”; a moment when Jesus is revealed to the world as someone very important. In fact this is a particularly significant epiphany moment because the descending Spirit shows Jesus to be the anointed one, the Messiah, and the voice from heaven goes further telling us that he is God’s own son, the beloved.
But the links between Jesus, the Holy Spirit and baptism go well beyond the decent of the Holy Spirit onto Jesus at his own baptism. As John the Baptist explained, the baptism of Jesus is a baptism with the Holy Spirit, whereas John’s baptism with water is a much simpler symbol of repentance. This distinction between the baptism of John and the baptism of Jesus became even more important in the life of the early church, after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. This is because of incidents like the one we heard about in our reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Paul arrived in Ephesus and found some followers of Jesus there. However they had been baptised only with the baptism of John, and their baptism was in some way incomplete. But when Paul baptised them in the name of the Lord Jesus they received the Holy Spirit, and suddenly they started to speak in tongues and to prophesise.
Because of incidents like this the early Church quickly resolved to baptise, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. This formulation used in Baptism emerged very early on in the life of the infant Church, several centuries before the doctrine of the Holy Trinity was formulated.
So those of us who have been baptised have received the Holy Spirit in our baptism. Those of us who have been Confirmed have been further strengthened in the Holy Spirit as we give our own ascent to our baptismal promises, and as the bishop lays hands on us.
So what difference does it make for us, that we have received the Holy Spirit in our baptism? Well these are deep mysteries that mystics and theologians continue to dwell upon. But John’s gospel gives us some pointers in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. As Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3: 5-6). Somehow, in our baptism, the Holy Spirit brings to birth within us a new life in the Spirit, which is also a new life in Christ. With the correct care and nurture this new life in the spirit can grow and develop within us, until we become mature, to the measure of the full stature of Christ (c.f. Eph 4: 13). And this maturity is deeply tied up with our unity with the other people who have been baptized into Christ, with unity in the life of the Church (e.g. Eph 4: 13, Gal 3: 26-28).
So the challenge for us is to nurture ourselves well so that we can grow in the Spirit and grow in Christ. And this is a great challenge because so many things about our contemporary society are very unhelpful to this growth. However there are things we can do. Coming to Mass regularly is a very helpful thing. Confessing our sins is very helpful. Prayer is very helpful. Studying the bible and reflecting on it is very helpful. Seeking to see Jesus in the people around us, and to love Jesus in them is also very, very helpful. It is very helpful if we can share something of our spiritual lives with others, so it becomes not just an individual things that I do on my own, but something I do together with other people, together with the others in the Church.
So today let’s give thanks for the Holy Spirit, let’s praise God for the new life that he gives us through baptism, and let’s pray that the Spirit will help us to grow in that life and to bring it to maturity.
Epiphany 1 - The Baptism of Christ, Year B.
Readings: Genesis 1: 1-5 Acts 19: 1-7 Mark 1: 4-11
Our readings today make us reflect on the Holy Spirit. They remind us how incredibly important the Holy Spirit is, and how significant his role is in so many crucial moments.
In our reading from Genesis we heard the first five verses of the bible; the beginning of the creation story. And this included, in the second verse of the bible, a reference to the Holy Spirit. You may have missed it because we read from the NRSV of the bible, which translates the Hebrew as, “A wind from God swept over the face of the waters.” But the Authorised Version of the Bible translates this as “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” The NIV translates it as “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”. However it is translated, the point remains the same; the Holy Spirit was present and participating at the very beginning of creation.
In our gospel reading we heard Mark’s very brief account of the ministry of John the Baptist. We heard how people went see John in the wilderness. They confessed their sins and were baptised with a baptism of repentance. And John proclaimed that the one coming after him, was much greater than he was, because John baptised only with water, whereas the one who was coming would baptise with the Holy Spirit.
And is seems that there is some very profound link between Jesus, baptism and the Holy Spirit. This first comes to light when Jesus is baptised by John, and we heard this story at the end of our gospel reading. Jesus came up out of the water and he saw heaven torn open and the spirit descending like a dove upon him. Then there was the voice from heaven. “You are my Son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased.”
This incident is recorded in all four gospels. In Mark’s gospel, which we heard today, it is not very clear that anyone else other that Jesus actually saw the spirit descend or heard the voice. Luke’s account suggests that the incident might have been clearly visible to the many people who were present. In John’s account John the Baptist testifies that he saw the Spirit alight on Jesus and remain there, and that this for him was a clear sign that Jesus was the one to baptise with the Holy Spirit; the Son of God. In the Church we always think of the baptism of Christ as a key “epiphany moment”; a moment when Jesus is revealed to the world as someone very important. In fact this is a particularly significant epiphany moment because the descending Spirit shows Jesus to be the anointed one, the Messiah, and the voice from heaven goes further telling us that he is God’s own son, the beloved.
But the links between Jesus, the Holy Spirit and baptism go well beyond the decent of the Holy Spirit onto Jesus at his own baptism. As John the Baptist explained, the baptism of Jesus is a baptism with the Holy Spirit, whereas John’s baptism with water is a much simpler symbol of repentance. This distinction between the baptism of John and the baptism of Jesus became even more important in the life of the early church, after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. This is because of incidents like the one we heard about in our reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Paul arrived in Ephesus and found some followers of Jesus there. However they had been baptised only with the baptism of John, and their baptism was in some way incomplete. But when Paul baptised them in the name of the Lord Jesus they received the Holy Spirit, and suddenly they started to speak in tongues and to prophesise.
Because of incidents like this the early Church quickly resolved to baptise, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”. This formulation used in Baptism emerged very early on in the life of the infant Church, several centuries before the doctrine of the Holy Trinity was formulated.
So those of us who have been baptised have received the Holy Spirit in our baptism. Those of us who have been Confirmed have been further strengthened in the Holy Spirit as we give our own ascent to our baptismal promises, and as the bishop lays hands on us.
So what difference does it make for us, that we have received the Holy Spirit in our baptism? Well these are deep mysteries that mystics and theologians continue to dwell upon. But John’s gospel gives us some pointers in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. As Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3: 5-6). Somehow, in our baptism, the Holy Spirit brings to birth within us a new life in the Spirit, which is also a new life in Christ. With the correct care and nurture this new life in the spirit can grow and develop within us, until we become mature, to the measure of the full stature of Christ (c.f. Eph 4: 13). And this maturity is deeply tied up with our unity with the other people who have been baptized into Christ, with unity in the life of the Church (e.g. Eph 4: 13, Gal 3: 26-28).
So the challenge for us is to nurture ourselves well so that we can grow in the Spirit and grow in Christ. And this is a great challenge because so many things about our contemporary society are very unhelpful to this growth. However there are things we can do. Coming to Mass regularly is a very helpful thing. Confessing our sins is very helpful. Prayer is very helpful. Studying the bible and reflecting on it is very helpful. Seeking to see Jesus in the people around us, and to love Jesus in them is also very, very helpful. It is very helpful if we can share something of our spiritual lives with others, so it becomes not just an individual things that I do on my own, but something I do together with other people, together with the others in the Church.
So today let’s give thanks for the Holy Spirit, let’s praise God for the new life that he gives us through baptism, and let’s pray that the Spirit will help us to grow in that life and to bring it to maturity.
04 January 2009
Sharing in the journey and gifts of the wise men
Short sermon preached at the 8am Eucharist, St Alphege, Solihull.
Sunday 4th January 2009 (Epiphany celebrated).
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6 [Ephesians 3: 1-12] Mathew 2: 1-12
On the Holy Day of the Epiphany our gospel reading tells us the story of the wise men from the East who come to see the child Jesus.
It is a remarkable story, not least because there are so many aspects of it that seem unlikely or surprising. Would God really mark the birth of his Son with a new star in the night sky? It is certainly surprising that the wise men, who seem to have nothing to do with the Jews or the Jewish religion, interpret the star in the way they do. It is even more surprising that they understand this far away event as so significant that they must respond to it by making a long and uncertain journey. But somehow this far away event takes a powerful hold on the wise men. Against all odds they embark on the journey. Against all odds they are eventually successful. When they finally reach Jesus they are overwhelmed with joy. They pay homage and give most precious gifts to the child when they find him.
It seems to me that there are similarities between the journey made by the wise men and the journey of faith, the spiritual journey, that we each make with our Christian lives. First of all, it all seems so unlikely. It seems so implausible that a baby born in a far away time, in a far away land, could be the cause of such a great journey, a journey that ultimately reorders our whole lives. Then the guides for the journey seem so frail. The wise men were guided by a star, a very faint light in the sky, only visible at night and only on a clear night at that, and how could they read such great meaning into this star? Similarly we are guided and drawn by our faith, which can seem very frail and faint and week, and scarcely seem enough basis for a great spiritual journey.
But despite all this the journey goes ahead. No doubt there are dark moments and difficult periods, and times when we almost lose heart. But in the end we do come to Jesus. We do find Jesus, present in our hearts, in our neighbours, in the scriptures and in the sacrament. And when we find Jesus there is overwhelming joy. Our purpose is complete. Then, there is the opportunity to bring gifts to Jesus. Let’s think for a minute about the gifts we can give to Jesus. Gold makes us think of our money, our talents and our time that we can use in the service of the church and of other people. Frankincense makes us think of incense, our worship, and all the prayers that we can bring to Jesus. Myrrh reminds us of the tomb and of death. It reminds us of our sufferings that we can offer to Christ, of the “letting go”, the “losing” and the “dieing” which we often experience as we follow God’s path for us. All of these are valuable gifts that we can bring to Jesus. They are all contributions, which he can use, better than we could ever imagine, in the building of his kingdom.
So as mediate on the wise men, let’s think about our own journey of faith towards Jesus. Despite the frailty of our faith let’s follow where God leads. Let’s be ready to offer Jesus gifts, even costly gifts. Above all let’s be confident that in the end, even though it all seems so unlikely, we will reach Jesus. We will be overwhelmed with joy.
Sunday 4th January 2009 (Epiphany celebrated).
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6 [Ephesians 3: 1-12] Mathew 2: 1-12
On the Holy Day of the Epiphany our gospel reading tells us the story of the wise men from the East who come to see the child Jesus.
It is a remarkable story, not least because there are so many aspects of it that seem unlikely or surprising. Would God really mark the birth of his Son with a new star in the night sky? It is certainly surprising that the wise men, who seem to have nothing to do with the Jews or the Jewish religion, interpret the star in the way they do. It is even more surprising that they understand this far away event as so significant that they must respond to it by making a long and uncertain journey. But somehow this far away event takes a powerful hold on the wise men. Against all odds they embark on the journey. Against all odds they are eventually successful. When they finally reach Jesus they are overwhelmed with joy. They pay homage and give most precious gifts to the child when they find him.
It seems to me that there are similarities between the journey made by the wise men and the journey of faith, the spiritual journey, that we each make with our Christian lives. First of all, it all seems so unlikely. It seems so implausible that a baby born in a far away time, in a far away land, could be the cause of such a great journey, a journey that ultimately reorders our whole lives. Then the guides for the journey seem so frail. The wise men were guided by a star, a very faint light in the sky, only visible at night and only on a clear night at that, and how could they read such great meaning into this star? Similarly we are guided and drawn by our faith, which can seem very frail and faint and week, and scarcely seem enough basis for a great spiritual journey.
But despite all this the journey goes ahead. No doubt there are dark moments and difficult periods, and times when we almost lose heart. But in the end we do come to Jesus. We do find Jesus, present in our hearts, in our neighbours, in the scriptures and in the sacrament. And when we find Jesus there is overwhelming joy. Our purpose is complete. Then, there is the opportunity to bring gifts to Jesus. Let’s think for a minute about the gifts we can give to Jesus. Gold makes us think of our money, our talents and our time that we can use in the service of the church and of other people. Frankincense makes us think of incense, our worship, and all the prayers that we can bring to Jesus. Myrrh reminds us of the tomb and of death. It reminds us of our sufferings that we can offer to Christ, of the “letting go”, the “losing” and the “dieing” which we often experience as we follow God’s path for us. All of these are valuable gifts that we can bring to Jesus. They are all contributions, which he can use, better than we could ever imagine, in the building of his kingdom.
So as mediate on the wise men, let’s think about our own journey of faith towards Jesus. Despite the frailty of our faith let’s follow where God leads. Let’s be ready to offer Jesus gifts, even costly gifts. Above all let’s be confident that in the end, even though it all seems so unlikely, we will reach Jesus. We will be overwhelmed with joy.
Sharers in the promise
Thought for the parish pew slip - Sunday 4th January 2009
Epipany (transfered from 6th January)
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6 Ephesians 3: 1-12 Mathew 2: 1-12
God’s plan for the salvation of humanity started with God’s chosen people, the Jews. Throughout the Old Testament God maintains a strong distinction between the Jews and the other nations, the Gentiles. But then, as Paul explains in our reading from Ephesians, the coming of Christ reveals a new world order; “the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Jesus Christ through the gospel.”
This was a revolutionary change for the Jews who followed Christ, and many of them struggled to believe it. But the story of the wise men visiting the baby Jesus shows us clearly that the baby Jesus was recognised as a blessing not just for the Jews, but for all people, even those who live far away in the East.
In a strange way all this was foreseen by in our reading from Isaiah. This part of the book of Isaiah was written in the sixth century BC. The prophet tells of a great light that will emerge within Israel such that all kings and nations are drawn to the light, and they will come with great wealth and offer valuable gifts, while proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
Epipany (transfered from 6th January)
Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6 Ephesians 3: 1-12 Mathew 2: 1-12
God’s plan for the salvation of humanity started with God’s chosen people, the Jews. Throughout the Old Testament God maintains a strong distinction between the Jews and the other nations, the Gentiles. But then, as Paul explains in our reading from Ephesians, the coming of Christ reveals a new world order; “the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Jesus Christ through the gospel.”
This was a revolutionary change for the Jews who followed Christ, and many of them struggled to believe it. But the story of the wise men visiting the baby Jesus shows us clearly that the baby Jesus was recognised as a blessing not just for the Jews, but for all people, even those who live far away in the East.
In a strange way all this was foreseen by in our reading from Isaiah. This part of the book of Isaiah was written in the sixth century BC. The prophet tells of a great light that will emerge within Israel such that all kings and nations are drawn to the light, and they will come with great wealth and offer valuable gifts, while proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
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