Sermon: Evensong at Loxwood and Alford

Preacher:

Date:

Sunday 7th July 2013

Venue:

Loxwood and Alford

Service:

Evensong

Readings:

Galatians 6: 7-16

Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20

I tend to operate quite close to the wire in many things, including packing. I end up throwing at the last minute without recourse to a list or the weather forecast. Consequently, I arrived in a rain swept Derbyshire for a clergy conference with 4 pairs of shoes but no umbrella. Add to that my propensity to take a pile of books and a laptop, and I track around laden with baggage like the proverbial pack horse.

Baggage is more than the shoes, the clothes, the physical “stuff” we haul around with us in the hope of reading time or concern about work. We might say that until this evening Andy Murray carried the weight of 77 years of baggage and expectation. Such invisible metaphorical baggage weighs us down. The guilt, the expectations, the broken relationships and mistrust; the fears, the longings, the responsibilities and the list goes on. We bear those things as individuals, as a church and as a society.

Yet as disciples of Christ we are called to travel light.

Archbishop Justin opened his address to Synod on Friday saying, You don’t want a lot of baggage in a revolution. And we live in a time of revolutions.

At a time of social and economic change, in the midst of political and intergenerational concerns, we are called to be agents of peace. It's a risky and transforming pattern of life; you don't want to be weighed down by baggage.

What is it that burdens us or distracts us from the good news we are called to share? What are the challenges and opportunites? We need to work these things out in our own daily contexts. For it is as we walk in a fragile yet amazing world that we proclaim the Kingdom – in prophetic challenge, in celebration and in lament, in brokering peace.

The gospels often draw our attention to the twelve disciples and those individuals who met Jesus face to face: and in those encounters we hear of healing, challenge, renewal and calling. In today’s text, Luke draws our attention to the immense potential of a large group of people to fulfil God's purpose. Each one of the 70 had had their lives had in some sense disrupted by their encounter with Jesus; they'd been transformed by all they’d seen and learnt about the love of God in and through him. The change he had wrought in them meant that they found themselves being entrusted with a particular task.

They are to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God. They are sent in pairs to go ahead of Jesus. They are to travel light; yet with serious purpose. They are to be attentive to God; yet open to deep engagement with the world. They are not to be burdened – literally or metaphorically.

They are to go; concentrating on the task in hand. They are not to be distracted by meetings en route; they aren’t to linger on ad hoc conversations on the way. Serendipity can be marvellous; but here there is an urgency to the task ahead.

They are to go; reliant on the hospitality and generosity of others. They are to accept the welcome they receive from those who want to listen; they are to move on if they are rejected, without being burdened by the impact of negative responses to their message.

They are to go; accepting the gifts that people are able to share in paucity and abundance. They are to stay; to be content. They aren’t to seek out better lodgings or curry favour with the influential. They aren’t to seek their own advantage.

They are to go; taking no purse, no bag, no sandals, no money. They are vulnerable to response of others, like lambs in the midst of wolves. They are open to the needs of others, bringing healing, good news and peace.

Peace is the pulse of Luke’s gospel: in angelic tidings to shepherds; in words of praise on the lips of Zechariah and Simeon; Jesus himself speaks of peace to those seeking healing; and reveals himself as the risen Lord by bringing peace to the disciples in the upper room:

Peace be with you; go in peace.

In world of turbulence, revolution, uncertainty, suspicion and division, how we long for peace. It is a gift that is rooted in the love of God for the world; it is a gift that re-shapes our engagement with each other. It assures us that we are loved and needed, yet makes us vulnerable to others; opening up a capacity to share the material resources that we have; enabling us to receive graciously from others. It is a source of joy and delight.

Paradoxically, our reserves are not depleted in the sharing of peace; we do not exchange it for hospitality, or something else; rather this gift is multiplied when it is received by others, and passed on.

I know you have been reflecting deeply on the nature of the church and on the vision that God has given you for ministry and mission in this place. What today’s gospel reminds us of is that this work is entrusted to each one of us; by virtue of our baptism we are called to walk as the people of God in the world.

You will each find your own way of fulfilling the task of bringing love and peace into the lives of others. Some of you will go about this quietly and unobtrusively in care and support; some of you will find yourselves in positions of responsibility, with particular opportunities to enable the kingdom to take root in this place as church wardens, school governors, as leaders in community. Some of you will be directly involved in working with Wendy and the PCC in setting out your priorities for engagement in the world. As Archbishop Justin said on Friday, We are custodians of the gospel that transforms individuals, nations and societies. We are called by God to respond radically and imaginatively to new contexts.

We have a presence across every inch of this land – not just in synods, cathedrals and the physicality of our buildings; but in every place you will find yourselves this week. In the shops, cafes, schools, sports clubs, pubs and garden centres. Take a moment to think about what lies ahead of us this week; opportunities and challenges; time spent with people of all ages; being attentive to the particular pressures they face; praying that we might discern in each other gifts and talents.

How can we speak of peace? When do we need to relieve burdens? Where are the calls to celebration, lament or prophetic justice?

Our Archbishop has not only spelt out to us something of the revolutionary pressures we face (austerity, social need, income differentials, pressure on state provision); but also something of the purpose of the church as God’s response. We are members of the church; the body of Christ. And bodies walk, they engage in the world, step by step – just as Jesus sent the 70 ahead of him to walk the land. We are to be people of good news: reflecting the hospitality, grace, love, forgiveness, and yes peace of God. Being their alongside people as they look for answers; being alongside them in their humanity, revealing something of God’s ways.

Paul also offers encouragement to the church on how we do this: we have to be consistent in our actions and character, for we reap what we so. We aren’t to boast in our own achievements, but to acknowledge our reliance on God. Like Jesus in his strange saying about Satan falling from heaven, Paul is acutely aware of the corrosive effect of pride and overconfidence. Our assurance is rooted in being known by name, as we are, by God.

Paul reminds the church to work for the good of all. Not just now and then; when we’re in the mood or when we don’t feel self-conscious, but whenever we have an opportunity. We are also to demonstrate in the relationships within the church family the same markers of kindness, attentiveness, hospitality; so that we might be known as a people of consistent character, rooted in God’s love.

May we rise to the challenge of the vision that Archbishop Justin has set for us: we are to be confident in the gospel and imaginative in our ministry; we are contribute to the common good and to be rooted in prayer. We are to be people of peace – in Justin’s words reconcilers in the world.

The Kingdom of God has come near. Go with a message of love and peace wherever you live and work. Take time to build up trust; delight in your diversity. We are sent as lambs among wolves; we are called to reflect the faithfulness of God's love in joy and rejection. Be impatient for justice and patiently work out God's peace.

Celebrate all that is good; lament alongside the heartbroken. Attend to the good news of the kingdom in prayer, praise and one another. For we are being transformed by God's forgiveness and peace. Therefore you can travel light and relieve one another's burdens. Attend to the needs of the world in all its complexity; for we are called to walk through it, step by step; for the sake of the Kingdom.

The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers in this harvest. Go on your way.