Avoiding the broadcast message

Sermon preached at 9.45am Holy Communion at St Michael’s Baddesley Clinton on Sunday 6th March 2011. A shorter version was preached at the 8.30am Said Eucharist at St Mary’s Lapworth.
Sunday Next Before Lent – Epiphany 9 - Year A
Readings: 2 Peter 1: 16-21 Matthew 17: 1-9

Mainly notes

Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury has many gifts and talents, especially as an academic theologian. However, it would seem that Public Relations, or particularly handling the media (newspapers and TV) is not one of his strengths. He has a message to proclaim, but most of what is attributed to him in the newspapers appears to have been carefully selected and edited to make him look stupid, to annoy people and to cause them to despair.
Most of the “blame” for this must fall on the media, who are always under financial pressures, and see it as their job to find racy stories that sell newspapers. Truth, fairness and developing the discernment of their readership are much lower down their list of priorities.
But perhaps there is something intrinsic to the gospel which makes it resistant to the mass media broadcast message. Certainly Jesus often seems reluctant to publicity about his significance. I am always amazed by his instructions in today’s gospel reading, when he tells Peter, James and John not to tell anyone about the transfiguration until after he has been raised from the dead.
Why would Jesus do this? Why, if he wants his gospel to spread to the ends of the earth, would he not publicise the evidence of its greatness?
Jesus “has form” on this telling people not publicising greatness (especially in Mark’s gospel)
e.g. Devils driven out (Mk 1: 34)
Man healed of leprosy (Mk 1: 44)
Two blind men healed (Mt 9:30)
Also when Devil suggest “shock and awe” strategy of throwing himself off the temple (Matt 4: 5-7) Jesus rejects this as a specific temptation from Satan.
Why does Jesus take this approach?
Perhaps “shock and awe” is a rather domineering approach, not sufficiently respectful of people freedom????
Perhaps if people everyone knew clearly that Jesus was the messiah then his message would get completely lost behind Jewish people’s expectations about what the Messiah could and should be doing??? Perhaps he would not be tolerated by Herod (c.f. Herod’s father’s massacre of the innocents in Matt 2) or the Romans???
After the resurrection it seems OK to publicise Jesus’ greatness.
e.g. Peter’s testimony as an eyewitness in 2 Peter , read today.
John’s testament “we have beheld his glory” John 1: 14
Very significant the Jesus’ glory is seen in the transfiguration
- Points to his glory at the end of time
- Points to the second coming of Christ, which apparently will not lack publicity – the trumpet will sound, the angels gather, the son of man will ride on the clouds and all eyes will see him.
- Points to Jesus’ divinity
Tranfiguration suggests Jesus is the fulfilment of the law (represented by Moses who brought the Ten Commandments down from Mount Sinai) and the prophets (represented by Elijah).

But Jesus’ reluctance to engage in a broadcast message highlights the importance of passing the gospel on through personal relationships, from one person to the next. More like Chinese whispers, than like a big announcement. By and large the gospel spreads in this way, rather than through TV shows or newspaper articles. Makes us think of how we pass on the gospel through our personal relationships.
- Witness must be through our lives before it is words
- Perhaps we don’t need to articulate the gospel itself, just invite people to come to church with us or offer to pray for them
- Back to church Sunday in September
Let’s be mindful of our responsibility in passing on the gospel through our personal relationships, through family and friends, by always seeking their good, loving them as Christ does. Amen.