Sermon: All Saints Sunday at All Saints Fulham

Preacher:

Date:

Sunday 3rd November 2013

Venue:

All Saints, Fulham

Service:

Evensong

Readings:

Isaiah 65: 17-end

Hebrews 11: 32-12:2

It is good to be here this evening, amongst friends sharing your patronal festival. Today is about people and a vision: a celebration of all that has been, is and will be.   I summarised this morning’s sermon in a Tweet, saying: All Saints: called to lead distinctive lives rooted in God and response to the world; people of praise and prophetic action. 

I could leave it at that, but tonight's readings refresh our vision and remind us of the company we keep on our journey of faith. 

Last week it seemed as if Russell Brand had stolen our thunder in his call for radical reversal, which has echoes of God’s Kingdom.  Those of you who saw his interview with Jeremy Paxman will have heard him vent his frustrations with the ruling elite and his revulsion at huge profits.  Rather than engaging with the existing democratic system he called for protest; he wants a spiritual revolution.

Brand’s editorial in the New Statesman ten days ago was more nuanced.  The by-line ran, in order to change the world, we need to change the way we think. He sees in atheism and materialism systems which atomise us or inhibit necessary co-operation.  Instead he believes that we need ‘a unifying and inclusive spiritual ideology’.  He understands the urgency of our predicament; he sees the cost of our way of living: ‘the price of privilege is poverty… we have become prisoners of comfort in the absence of meaning.’

Some applauded his radical vision; others derided him as a wealthy celebrity who couldn’t offer a realistic alternative.  Archbishop Rowan was also criticised, when, like Brand, he agreed to edit the New Statesman; clergy and comedians are given short-shrift when commenting on political and economic affairs.  Like Brand, Archbishop Justin has taken the risk of speaking out against the monetary systems which entrap and oppress the most more and vulnerable.  There seems to be some common ground; there seems to be an opportunity for us to give substance to calls for an alternative.

Brand challenges us to articulate that hope and to be confident in our call.  He writes ‘what does it matter if 2,000 years ago Christ died on the cross and was resurrected if we are not constantly resurrected to the truth, anew, moment to moment?’  What does it matter, if Christ lived, died and rose again – if that power isn’t living an active in us, his body, day by day; decision by decision?  If we live as people rooted in God; we have to be attentive to the needs of the world.  That is a spiritual revolution with practical consequences. Here in prayer and praise our vision is renewed and our lives are reshaped; here we are equipped to fulfil God’s purposes in the world.

In the letter to the Hebrews we hear a roll call of the heroes of faith: judges, kings, and prophets.  Gideon and Barak were plagued by doubts. Samson’s flaws included reliance on his immense strength. Jephthah and David made mistakes which had disastrous consequences for others.  Yet, like Samuel, they endeavoured to serve God as best they could – demonstrating courage and strategic leadership, humility and wisdom, trust and faithfulness.  Alongside them are the men and women who are unnamed and unknown to us, but who walk with us as God’s pilgrim people.  

In them we find encouragement; for God works through us despite our flaws.  They are commended for their faith; they are with us, awaiting the fulfilment of God’s promises.  They are a great company of witnesses who inspire us to persevere in faith.  We stand in continuity with them; looking forward to that day when God will be all in all. 

We are to look to Jesus: A pioneer because in him, death is defeated; a perfector of faith, for in him is our hope.  In his life, death and resurrection God’s Kingdom breaks in.  Through the Spirit, that same power is at work in us as we run the race set before us. We who participate in the divine life are called back to that resurrection truth anew; we are called to live that promise moment by moment.

That call to persevere is challenging. The film Philomena reflects with tremendous compassion and honesty the complexity of running that race within the life of an institution which can be brutal, exclusive and judgmental. Yet it is an institution rooted in God – open to the dynamic life of his generous love.  As with the cloud of witnesses, so in our own lives, the smouldering wick of faith and hope isn’t quenched.  Amidst the pain and the flaws there is a glimpse of the kingdom breaking in.  It is and will be difficult – to build trust, to seek justice, to cultivate patience, to learn to say “I forgive you”.  And as Philomena says after 50 years of hurt, grief and hope: “For me that was hard.”

We are called to persevere in faith; we are called to run the race; we are called to be resurrected to the truth.  We cannot sustain that in our own strength; but we can be that pilgrim people by virtue of our attentiveness to God in worship. For here, by God’s grace and holiness our humanity is transformed.  Our vulnerabilities and our self-reliance are not the end point; God works through all that we are, that we might become a prophetic people.

Today, we are not just drawing encouragement from a diverse cloud of witnesses, known and unknown. We are also restoring our vision, which gives substance to Brand’s spiritual revolution.  Isaiah speaks of the promise of new heavens and a new earth. Jerusalem is to be a joy and its people a delight.  Hopes will be realised and blessings will be poured out on all people.

How much we long for an end to weeping, distress, suffering and death; how we long for a time when the labourers are not exploited; where men and women can find stability and refreshment.   Our world cries out for equity, justice and peace; for a time when hurt and destruction are no more; for a time when the created order expresses its essence apart from violence; when our humanity flourishes.

And in response to those cries it is right that we should protest and mourn; it is right that we should engage with the world – responding to its needs by using whatever skills and resources that we have.  The race that we are called to run involves us deeply in the complexity and contingencies of life in a global city.  It is hard because all of us are caught up in social, economic and political systems; but it is our very involvement that gives us a voice and an opportunity to change things.  We might find ourselves working alongside surprising partners as we fulfil God’s purposes for all creation.  And when we glimpse those moments of transformation and hope, we are to be glad and rejoice in what is being created. 

The vision that Isaiah sets before us of a peaceable kingdom is inspirational; but for it to become a reality we have to make space for it.  We have to change patterns of engaging; we have to resource ourselves spiritually and be prepared to get involved practically.  At Guildford we have been reflecting on our vision and the range of connections that we sustain; we have been considering how the truth and power of the resurrection might be made manifest now.

Last month, two hundred sixth form RS and Politics students took part I'm a "Question Time" event organised by our Schools' Department. Not only did they ask difficult questions but they faced challenging answers. They wanted to look beyond self-interest to shared responsibility. They weren't preoccupied with the needs of their generation, but sought an equitable sharing of resources for old and young, privileged and lonely, for those yet to be born and those born in despair. Those students are the generation attuned to Brand’s persona and rhetoric; but we too can engage with them, supporting their concern for intergenerational responsibility; being inspired and challenged by them, and unlike Brand, encouraging them to vote.

The challenges facing us in health and social care, in the publics, private and voluntary sectors are urgent and acute; yet we have an opportunity to shape decision and priorities.  When can engage in debate and action. We so because we believe that our trust in God makes a difference to how we view the world; because our hope isn't wishful thinking but awareness that creation is being drawn together in Christ; because love, justice and compassion are marks of the peaceable Kingdom.

Like you in Fulham we are endeavouring to make space. We have to make space for relationships – to engage in conversation with those of Brand’s generation who are seeking a revolution; how can we tell the Christian story afresh to them? We have to make space to prepare the ground for mission – which is our participation in God’s ways with the world.  That means attending to the voices of the most marginalised, as well as seizing opportunities to challenge those who make decisions.  We are to make space that is hospitable – imagery of feasts and banquets permeate our biblical narrative. It is part of Isaiah’s vision too, and of ours.  Whenever we eat and drink we have the opportunity to share the abundance of God’s love – with the stranger, the seeker, the joyful and the broken.

The work of proclaiming and building the Kingdom is something that needs space. You know that because if what I have just said sounds familiar, it is your vision and plan for this parish.  You are exploring discipleship and seeking to deploy your resources effectively.  May today be a celebration of what is and an encouragement to persevere.

Be who God is calling you to be as his saints: generous, welcoming and encouraging.  Be confident and passionate.  Attend to God in the beauty of holiness; be reshaped by him in prayer. Serve your community in a way that inspires and challenges and draws the unexpected people into partnership with you.  Be rooted, responsive and prophetic.