Letting go to find peace

 In a year that is coming to an end that has been filled with hate, war and violence in all it's forms we wonder, what is peace? Is this concept ever going to be achievable within our lifetimes let alone the lifetime of the world? Our conceptions of a peace that effects all people in a grandiose idea of harmony amongst the peoples of the world is a dream beyond our abilities to attain. In saying this I realise I may be destroying a dream but in reality I am destroying an illusion that we have generated for ourselves in place of the reality that is beyond our understanding. It is only beyond our understanding because we over complicate things rather than simplifying our lives. If we are to understand we need to look at 2 Samuel and Luke linking them in our hearts and acting them out in our lives (2 Sam 7b.11; Luke 1.38).

The first realisation is that it is God's dream and God's will that brings the peace that we desire and that God seeks. In placing it within the realm of humanity's striving we denigrate God's presence and dream. It becomes all about us rather than all about God, no matter how we conceive of God. In doing this we will never achieve peace as we will always have separate views of who/what God is and who/what God wants etc. We cannot decide for ourselves how to worship God in our own denomination / faith let alone accept the other's view of God. How then can we achieve peace, if all our dreams of peace are fantasies dreamt up by ourselves that devolve into our own in-fighting as to how we actually go about starting to achieve that peace? Peace the concept is difficult to get our heads around in the first place as each person has a different notion of what peace is and here we are trying to reach out for God's peace. Who knows what that is? This is not for us to achieve, promote yes, achieve no as it requires God or at least Christ's presence in our midst. Not something that we have cultivated in our lives with great relish.

Only when we let go of ourselves do we begin the process of peace

So what is the realisation that we need to take on board at this crucial time of the year (one sleep to go).  Can we achieve God's peace the one that passes all understanding? Unlikely, as it passes all our understanding. We limit ourselves to our conceptions. Can we at least begin to comprehend or start the process that leads to God's peace; a peace that perhaps we yearn for but do not achieve as it is not possible through our own efforts. How hard is this beginning for us? It is both easy and hard a celebration and a sadness. Mary (Lk 1.38) gets it right, perhaps in her naivety or rather in her honesty before God, Mary lets go of her life. She lets go of control and she lets go of her wants, needs and desires. Simple. Straightforward. Easy. However in doing so she gave up everything that we hold dear, which is where the sorrow comes in for us. The unimaginable sadness of letting what we perceive to be right go without any doubts recriminations or hesitancy. Once again the ugly head of our own reticence and selfishness rears up as we determine what it is that God asks of us to achieve a peace beyond understanding. We want control; we want our peace; we want that which eases our souls not what eases the burden on others.

This is not the lesson to be learnt in these passages. God's peace comes with God, for us to be participants in that peace is to be like Mary. Mary accepts. Even in her youthful state she is more aware of the response that is required to attain God's peace. Even in the heartbreak of the death of her son she knows God's peace. Even in the knowledge that life is not going to be easy she finds peace by accepting the call of God. This is where we need to look for God's peace for it is only God who can give such peace it cannot be achieved by our own efforts, however much we strive for it. In letting go we find God, in letting go we find God's peace beyond all our understanding.

Fleeting or permanent Joy

 It may seem somewhat repetitive to hear about John the Baptist again when we have already done and dusted John last Sunday. Everything about this Sunday has its arising in the preparation that John takes to prepare for God. Bearing this in mind and the words from last Sunday there is nothing strange in hearing of John once more as a reminder of our preparation. Joy comes when we begin to do what God asks of us in the world. The passage from Isaiah (61.1-4) is quoted by Christ at the beginning of his ministry and is the start of our ministry in the world for this is what it means to bring joy into the world, for joy is not a fleeting feeling but a long lasting change in our outlook and lives.

At the depth of human depression we have no feeling for those around us and only look to our own needs and requirements. There is no joy in our outlook or in our needs for we are desperate for life and only life at the present time. Everything else when we are in the midst of despair is naught and not something to be sought after. It is only that which will get us to the end of the day that is foremost in our thoughts and anything beyond that is peripheral to that. It therefore does not matter as much as our own needs. In order to lift those who are in this situation out of their circumstances one has to bring joy into their lives. Not the ephemeral feeling but a deep rooted joy that changes their lives. In Isaiah mourning turns around into a very different scenario which suggests a total change in heart and lifestyle. The ruins of a previous life are repaired (Is. 61.4) to give way to something new that brings joy. It is this fundamental change that John calls for us to prepare for; a change that moves us beyond the ruins of our own lives into a new beginning and a new way of doing.

The Thessalonians passage directs us to the way in which this is achieved (1 Thess. 5.13-15). It is a way that is at present totally at odds with our day to day lives. There are many "instant karma" videos available on Facebook and other sites, whilst funny and sometimes hilarious, we need to ponder what is the point in the instant karma. It teaches nothing other than the fact that it is appropriate to do something nasty for what nastiness has been done to you or a fellow citizen. The more difficult thing to do is to attempt to change the attitude of those around us towards peace and harmony. It is more difficult because the modern world has not been brought up to respond to this type and style of admonishment. We are taught that it is appropriate to payback rather than to teach. We have become lazy in our response to those that look to do harm or abuse their authority. We are also guilty of doing that which the writer of 2 Thessalonians encourages us not to do (5:19). The normal translation of "do not quench the spirit" does not perhaps capture the tone as well as "Do not stifle inspiration".

Joy is not fleeting it is permanent

These are the things that are harbingers of joy. If we stifle people's aspirations we stifle their joy in the world but this is what we tend to do. We very rarely encourage others to express their spirit and their aspirations. There are too many stories of people being put down because this is the way we do not do it or else it is too much of a threat to my position, my power, etc. Joy comes with the expression of the Spirit that is deep within us and comes with Christ. Only when we follow the path that Christ opens for us do we fully understand the joy that is present in allowing others to succeed. To often we retain that we have been taught over time by the society around us. We allow ourselves to abuse others because what we see in social media tells us that this is the way to act. We stifle those around us because we are told what is classed as beauty, or intelligence or in fashion. We do not allow the bright sparks of God's presence to burgeon forth and be as they have been formed by God. To often we down play others because they do not conform to what the "pub test" tells us. But what if the "pub test" is incorrect what if we need to actually test to God's standards not ours? Are we able to prepare to change so much that we no longer judge by others standards and put down the Spirit that is contained in God's creation? In accepting the incarnation in our lives we also accept the fact that others are created in God's image not ours and celebrate their joy and their achievements. Allowing that joy to echo around the world and fill us with joy and love.

Preparing the way

 I will always remember the opening of Godspell and John the Baptist's cry from below the balcony seats at Bournemouth theatre.  A magnificent tenor voice resounded through the auditorium as if coming from no particular place "Prepare ye the way of the Lord".  The soul wrenching sound came out of nowhere and extended an invitation that was hard to deny.  It is a call that echos throughout the world at this time of year a constant and repeated reminder of our call extending through life from the moment of baptism to our mortal final hours on this planet.  A call that is reiterated in every injustice and war that we initiate, participate or allow through our inaction in response to Gods call.  Mark repeats the call of Isaiah "prepare the way of the Lord; clear a straight path for him" (Mk. 1.3; Isaiah 40.3) and the question in our hearts must be "How are we to respond?".

At baptism for anyone young or old, we re-affirm our response to the call that God places on us.  Parents and Godparents do this for the child and as older adults we undertake the response for ourselves.  A response that places the other in front of our own wants and desires.  A response that brings to the forefront of our lives the elusive concepts of justice, peace and love.  We straighten the paths of our lives by living to the truest form of God's call.  We place behind us the concerns that beset our everyday lives to which we surrender on a daily basis. We place to the fore a concern for the person least likely to draw our attention in the work place and the social havens we inhabit.  The social outcast the one who is alone at the bar.  It is our barriers that the baptist's call breaks so that we can respond with compassion and understanding.

Can we answer God's baptismal call and walk in an other's shoes?

The breaking into our lives of the baptist call reminds us to try to grapple with the elusive concepts that we label justice, peace and love.  The call is an irritant on our lives that is expecting something from us but we are not sure what. We strive for the elusiveness of the concepts when we see things that are abhorrent to what we find acceptable for our society.  The malfeasance of incarceration of those seeking peace and refuge.  The aberrant behaviour of a few in terms of their use of power over the innocent and how we are to grapple with the consequences.  It is at the time of failure that we see hear the insistent call of God but are unprepared to answer in truth.  We find it difficult not to dissemble and squirm our way out of blame.  The insistence of God's call from baptism onwards disarms are rational minds as everything we think of favours someone and disfavours another.  We want our lives to reflect the good but we want those who are less fortunate to obtain the privileges and rights of justice and peace.  Yet, we privilege ourselves in the battle for justice and not those who are different.

Baptism calls us to break the cycle of privilege and reiterate the call for justice.  A quiet insistent voice that calls us into acts of defiance to highlight the plight of the disadvantaged.  It is quaint to champion our own doubts and terrors but it is powerful when we fully engage in / with the plight of those caught in a cycle of deprivation and poverty. What is it in this community that calls to us from our baptism?  What is it in the world community that calls to us from our baptism?  As young people it should be the concerns expressed in the conversations of our parents and godparents that turn us to address the reality of life and find an answer to God's call on us.  It is when the future breaks in upon the older generation through the love and wonder expressed by the younger that we begin to create that which God calls us to do.  It is not generated by the old for the young but by the young for the experience of the old to craft.  So let us listen to the young who are closer to God's call as they have not privileged themselves by their prejudices and fears. In doing so we respond to the future that comes to us in Christ, incarnated and as judge.

King - a sacrificial leader or one who serves justice

 Christ as King. Perhaps an archaic form of celebration that brings forth all sorts of images that reveal our obsession in our own worth. If we look back through time we have images of a person who is willing and not so willing to die for "his" people. Prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, even to death and no I am not speaking about the Christ bit of the statement. Or at least that is what we would hope to see in a "King". Yet, the very term "King" is in itself archaic, as a ruler, being that we really have gone beyond kingship as a quality in this sense to aspire to. What other images could we go with in terms of a "King"? Perhaps, as Ezekiel (34.11-16, 20-24) thinks in terms of a shepherd who secures those that are in need with specific reference to David as king. In thinking about kingship and imagery it should lead us towards paths of formal authority perhaps a figure of justice to be the centre piece of what we are actually attempting to celebrate. Thus, our celebration should be around the call of God to undertake righteous judgement for justice and not the sacrifice that is made to achieve these. In Matthew's gospel we find the reading about the judgement of the sheep and the goats (Mtt. 25.31-46). A separation and judgement of each person's attitude rather than each person's actions.

This story is displayed in the Kellock window at All Saints, Kempsey. This triptych displays a central Christ on a throne with two sets of people on either side. It is the attitudes of the people in the two side windows that we need to focus on when we hear this story from the Gospel. From the description in the Guidebook:

Do we belong on the right or the left?

the southern panel represents the sheep, those on the Son of Man’s right. The figures robes and colouring are suggestive of a more humble approach to the truth of the judgement and an ability to point to the truth of Christ’s presence in their lives. As pointed out in the descriptions above the figures in the northern panel appear to have an attitude of “Who me!” and disbelieve. The colours are also mirrored but are subtly darker in hue suggestive that these figures are ones that perhaps paid lip service to God’s word but did not live their lives in light of Christ.

When we think about attitudes in our lives we are often unable to accurately assess our own. It requires an independent judge to see into our own hearts and minds. In assessing our corporate attitudes it becomes increasingly difficult as we are attempting to judge not only ourselves but those around us. We would all like to assess our attitudes as being on Christ's right. A humble  ability not to point to ourselves but to point to Christ. However, the moment we start making such a call we place ourselves on the left. The corporate body of Christ's church have pointed to themselves as the path to righteousness. At the end of our liturgical year it is perhaps a reasonable time to reflect on ourselves not as individuals but as the body of Christ, not only in our places of worship but also in our Dioceses and denominations as a whole. Are we getting it wrong by expecting people to follow us when we are not demonstrating that ability to point to Christ in our midst and say "Who me?".

In our own conceit we think others should follow but we ourselves are in need of salvation and instead of saying how good we are, we should be acknowledging our corporate faults and striving to do better in the coming year. Advent, which begins next week, reminds us that we need to prepare, not only for Christ's coming but for our judgement by Christ the King. A King not of power and sacrifice but a King of justice and judgement. If we think that we are on the right hand we are probably wrong and need to place ourselves on the left not knowing and not anticipating what God has in store for us.  Only when we begin to humble ourselves as the body of Christ both institutionally and corporately will we begin the transformation Christ requires of us. Only when we acknowledge that we do not know God's will and refuse to bow to our own wills do we begin to undertake the required penance.

Connecting organically to grow

In the space that is today, in the time that is now, it is true to say that the universe will end not in a blaze of glory but more likely in a wimp of darkness but it will end. The world will likely end in a blaze of glory as we are eaten by the sun. The heaven of the past is no longer up there as the astronauts can probably attest but our super dooper telescopes do so much better. If this is the case then what does this mean for readings that we have today speaking of a day of the Lord and preparedness for the coming of God (Zeph. 1:12-18; 1 Thess. 5:1-11; Matt. 25:14-30)? Perhaps we need to turn our thoughts to the very prosaic inhabitant of Judaea who in his insights proclaimed that the Reign (Basilea) of God was present to us in the here and now. Using this insight we may be able to disentangle the entanglement in our theology of Neoplatonism and a foreign world view. We need to understand that just as islands are not independent of the bedrock upon which they sit but in reality are connected to other landmasses around them, we too are not independent but are immutably connected to each other in community.

All good plans take time to mature and plenty of planning. Changing the world does take a bit of doing but as Christians that is our purpose to re-make the world to conform with God and live in love and peace and yes at the end of the day, when this eventually comes into being, there will be a lot of gnashing of teeth. The Gospel story has severe political overtones for the society in which the parable was told. It is all about political manoeuvring on a grand scale in Roman times but has much to say that is beyond the overt political message for us today. Quite honestly we are probably, 90% at least, in the category of the failed servant. Shock, horror and claims of "No we are not". Well I suppose that has to be an expected response to such an announcement and of course we would all put ourselves within the 10% that are not. Of course of those 10%  only 9% fall into category 2 and in reality only 1% are anywhere near category 1. All those statistics what does it mean in real life. 

We invest in relationships of love, organic connections that continue to grow

The reality of the current day is that most of us are lazy when it comes to our spiritual and faith responsibilities. We would much rather put things to the side and go on about our business and not about God's business or the business of faith. Don't get me wrong, those in religious institutions fall just as equally within the percentages as anyone else. It takes effort to do the work of God and prepare for the coming Kingdom but it is in the work that we see the beginnings of that kingdom here on Earth in the present. Our wandering Aramean was not putting philosophical spin into his words nor was he tangled up in the question of who is God / What is God / Why is God? and so forth. His stories and preaching were about the present, the end was now as we moved into a new understanding of how to relate to each other as we moved into the reign of God's presence reflected in our own interactions in the present. For Christ the time was now to move into the reign of God, which meant that the time was now to change how we relate to each other. In other words the time was now for the present day understandings of how we live to end. It is our investment in our community that God is looking for. For us to realise the coming of God's reign we must invest ourselves in our relationships to show the love which God represents to us.

It is our lives that are at stake. It is our communities lives that are at stake. It is our planet that is at stake. We cannot afford to park the investment of our lives and not do anything. If we do that we are literally banking on others whose interest may not be ours and quite honestly is usually for their own benefit rather than looking towards their neighbours. The stakes are high but we can visibly see the returns on our investments in love within the community. Unlike burying ourselves behind closed doors or watching the stock market investment fall when we invest in love it is always on the way up. The reign of God is just around the corner and it comes when we begin to invest in our communities with the love that God has given us. The longer we leave that love buried in our hearts while we wait for better times and God appearing at the end of creation the longer it will be before the reign of God comes. Christ said that the reign of God was here, now. It was at the end of this present age and until we understand that we are harbingers of the end of the present day when we allow God's love to enter into our communities we will not see God's reign. We will continue to be caught up in metaphysics and Greek philosophical views compounded by an out moded world view.

A commitment to our own promises

 We know that the essential part of living as a community of God is to live in love. Fundamentally, we are called to show love to those who are around us as friends and neighbours whilst at the same time glorifying and loving the Lord our God. In the final chapter of the book of Joshua the Israelites make a promise about their dedication to God (Josh. 24:19-24). This promise is made with them as witnesses against themselves. The prophet Amos in a round about manner reminds them of this promise by stating that God wants above all else justice, not worship services, not being in a temple or church but being in the community ensuring that justice flows (Amos 5:24). In these readings there is a message to us, not necessarily as a parish or a diocese but to us as the body of Christ joined across the world. A call to us and a reminder of the promises made before God just as the Israelites did at the end of Joshua.

Many may take this to mean that they do not have to come to church but can participate in the world showing the Christian attributes. Yes, but.. The significance here is not about God not wanting worship service the significance here is in showing the works of love. This is hard to undertake when you are on your own and participation in worship at a communal level allows us to become part of a significant whole rather than an insignificant cog doing nothing but turning in circles. God may not require incessant and unproductive worship but we do require it so that we can form around God's presence as a community that is engaged in love of God and love of neighbour. The Thessalonians are praised for their practice of love (1 Thess. 4:9-10) towards their fellow Christians and others throughout the province. In this respect the parable that Jesus tells in Matthew (Matt. 25:1-13) is an extremely good example of this community aspect of our lives centred as it is on God.

Let's not squander the lives that we have but show love to our neighbours

The group of young girls is perhaps typical of such a group in such a setting. Five are drawn out into a party frame of mind, it is after all a celebration of marriage and all the good things in life to come for them. The other five are more circumspect and have perhaps been drilled into sensibility by their parents. They acknowledge the festive occasion but are ever mindful of their responsibilities and the covenant that they have entered into with the community to fulfil the role of the welcomers at the bridegroom's house. In going of and doing things on our own we waste our energy, even if we are caught up in the fun and frivolity of society. In this we are like the foolish girls, we are wasting our time and when we are summoned to fulfil the requirements for what we are engaged in by God we find ourselves standing on the outside looking in. We have lost touch with God's presence because we have been caught up doing things our way. Due to the unexpected/expected delay in undertaking our responsibilities we have to go and seek a means to undertake that which we said we would do. We have lost our contact with the community and with God and so can no longer express that love which God has asked us to give to those around us. We spent that all on our own self indulgences.

Our covenant from baptism is to live as Christ and ensure that we are proponents of that love in the world. We have a limited life span and during that time we are asked to ensure that we live as Christ and live in the love of God. If we spend our lives away from God it is no wonder that we have issues in our lives at a later stage, when in our twilight years we complain about all the things that are missing. The grumpiness that we often see is a disruption of our living well in Christ. Only when we spend our lives in the presence of God will we know the presence of God throughout our lives. In age it is often when we find that we are missing something not only because our children have allowed others to take the burden of care but also because we have neglected our spiritual and faith lives during our life. We need to be constantly reminded that it is the presence of God in our lives that allows for our sustainable comfort into the future.

Outward persona as opposed to inward grace

In today's world we rely overly much on the perceptions of others to ensure that our status in life is good. We rely on our own perceptions of who people are and react accordingly. If they have a good rap on social media or in the popularity stakes then we acknowledge them as being models for our culture to emulate. Our public facing persona is often how we present to the world and as such is manipulated to demonstrate our best features as it were whilst secretly being somebody else internally. A Jekyll and Hyde situation in the reality of our own lives. We very rarely stop to consider a persons outward persona and compare it with their, to us, hidden persona so that when at some future time point a scandal arises we are shocked and horrified. I do not think that we have to delve far into the archives of any newspaper to find the truth in that. For us as Christians on our journey this is most appropriate for us to consider as we form ourselves into the image of Christ. Our outward persona should of course conform to that of Christ. However, the reality is that hypocrisy is not the purview of the outward facing persona but is in reality the inward persona of our hearts, which as Christians MUST, not should or any other modal verb or adverb display Christ to the world. If our inner persona does not conform to Christ we can easily manipulate the outer in a manner that it appears as if we are displaying Christ to the world. Once our inner persona is correct it is unlikely, though not impossible, for us to display Christ in our outward facing persona.

Our issue is clearly outlined in the gospel passage, (Matt 23.1-12), where the crowds are told to obey the scribes and Pharisees but do not do what they do. There is a clear referencing to the fact that whilst the scribes and the Pharisees are telling the people the correct behaviours it is their inward behaviours that are suspect as they apply those laws to the detriment of the public and to the benefit of themselves. They are seen and lauded for their own piousness but in reality act inappropriately. There are many stories of such hypocrisy from simple callousness to an integrated attitude where the person cannot see that their behaviour is innately wrong. In the modern context it is perhaps obvious, if we actually think about it, that the situation in the Middle East is a portrayal of hypocrisy on a grand scale as much to a certain extent was the recent results of the referendum. If we look at the prophet Micah this becomes abundantly clear that the behaviours being exhibited in the ME is precise to this passage. As Christians our understanding as Christ is to be peacemakers not warmongers. Irrespective of where we stand on a purely political basis our goal is to seek justice and demand peace rather than encourage this side or that.

Is your inner face that of Christ or only your outer persona?

We do not have to dig deep into the scriptures to understand that it is a humbleness of heart that is required as we seek justice and peace in our lives (Matt. 23.11-12). Our common societal outlook today is in line with those that surround the scribes and the Pharisees, we make big of those whose outward face is turned towards the apparent following of Christ but who ignore the greater understanding within their own lives. Our society is all about the outward persona the hype around personality and popularity abounds. For us as Christians we need to ensure that we can see their motivations and not what they portray. Is it to divide or to bring peace? Is it to demand righteousness or sit back and allow injustice? In answering these questions we answer where we stand in terms of Christ's presence in our hearts for if we only display outward presence we do not move towards Christ's heart or God's presence.