Sermon: Cathedral Eucharist - 1 June 2014

Preacher:

Date:

Sunday 1st June 2014

Service:

Cathedral Eucharist

Readings:

Acts 1:6-14

John 17:1-9

Listen:

Download Recording (MP3, 12.7M)

'Why should the Church want to get anywhere?' said Rocky. 'I think it's much more comforting to think of it as staying just where it is.'

This question is posed by the charming, attractive Rocky Napier in Barbara Pym's 1950's novel Excellent Women; but it remains just as challenging today.

A cursory look through the Church Times job adverts gives you an impression of various dioceses in the CofE clearly wants to get somewhere. Tag lines include: 'Generous churches making and nurturing disciples'; 'Committed to Growth'; 'Shaped by God'; and the ubiquitous 'Going for Growth'. In our own Diocese, the vision underlying our Common Purpose is to grow in spiritual maturity, numbers and community engagement.

Is that what Rocky's wife, Helena meant, when she challenged Mildred about the life of the church saying all those old women swooning over good-looking curates won't get it anywhere? As an anthropologist she has no qualms about making harsh observations. The tribes she studies were very virtuous... Much better than many so-called good people who go to Church.  Yet for for all her overt criticism, she and her husband both encounter the support of the church the midst of their disorder and strain of their marriage.

Are we getting anywhere? Perhaps it is more comforting to stay where we are?  The writers of Rev like Pym are under no illusions about the humanity of clergy; they parody the jargon we use about growth, success, presence and engagement.  And yet, there is faithful worship and compassionate concern; there is a rhythm of private prayer as Alex, Rob, Nigel and Adam struggle to become better people.  Without giving away any spoilers to those who've not seen series three, they walk a path of suffering and apparent failure; their lives become a witness to God's love.

That's the heart of it.  To be a Christian is be be called to be a witness.  In the power of the Spirit, we are called to witness to the generous love of God revealed in Christ Jesus.

Today's we are  challenged to think about where we are and where we are going: we are called both to be here in prayer and to go into the world in witness. That's a compelling vision - of flourishing & abundance, rooted in God.

Following the decisive moment when Jesus returns to his Father in glory, which we celebrated on Ascension Day, the disciples are told to not speculate idly about how and when he'll return; nor are they to seek out kingdom conceived in political terms. Instead they receive an extraordinary promise and a challenging commission.  You will receive power from on high when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my chosen witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth.

In response to those words they watch and stand and gaze; then they hear words that root them in earthly reality; then they walk back to the city; there, in a familiar safe place, they wait.  Men and women, disciples and family devoted themselves to prayer.

To be united in such attentiveness to God is where we find ourselves in these days between Ascension and Pentecost.  Our prayers are rooted in Jesus' prayer for us. 

John records this extended farewell prayer: it confronts us with the reality that Jesus will be glorified through suffering and death; it assures us as the Word became flesh, so his glory will be revealed to all flesh.  It roots the promise of eternal life in knowing God: a relationship that is profoundly intimate; a knowledge that affects our hearts, minds and bodies.

Jesus has brought the light and glory of God into the world; that work is complete. As he returns to the glory of his Father's presence he prayers for those left behind. He prays for the small frightened group who so often fail to understand; he prays for us in our fear and vulnerability.

Just as the Father sent the Son into the world, so we are sent. We are sent in the power of the Spirit.  The world is the object of God's love; and Jesus prays in particular for those called to witness to that love, to make it known even in the face of opposition and despair. Jesus prays that God will watch over us and protect us: we are kept in his name; we are his.

Maya Angelou spoke last year of discovering that she was a child of God saying: when I comprehended that... when I internalised that, ingested that, I became courageous. I dared to do anything that was a good thing. Courage was a recurrent theme of our confirmation classes: courage to make peace, to exercise self-control, to be patient or generous.  Angelou inspired and encouraged others, saying: Courage is the most important of all virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.

To be a Christian is be be called to be such courageous witness.  In the power of the Spirit, we are called to witness to the generous love of God revealed in Christ Jesus.

That is something extraordinary and humbling and wonderful. In our feeble attempts to witness to God's love; in our struggles to understand; in the glimpses of delight and in the grief of what we fear losing... somehow God is glorified. 

Our witness is no just something we do; it is something we are.  Our common life together is our witness. 

Our witness is shaped as we wait and pray together: in our worship we hear words of Scripture, which bear witness to God's love; as we share in the gifts of the Eucharist, we are called to practice Christ-like love. Our witness is embodied - in all that we are and all we're called to be a members of Christ's body.

Our witness involves learning together - talking about God; asking questions; listening to each other; growing in trust. Our witness demands not just prayerful attentiveness to God in the present; it also means engaging with our culture; it means understanding our history.  Thereby we discern what is new in God's ways with the world; we rediscover riches that we have lost.

Our witness is embodied in different contexts where ever we find ourselves this time tomorrow and the day after that; moment by moment.  Our faithful witness is Spirit led: a life of faithful improvisation.  It demands imagination, reflection and practice.  Like a jazz musician we learn the themes; we take risks and innovate. That theme for us is embodied in bread and wine; body and blood.  United in communion with God and each other; we remember the gracious generosity of God's love; we find forgiveness and know peace; our vision of God's future is restored.

At Pentecost, our Feast of Title, Bishop Christopher will be inviting us to consider images of the Holy Spirit: we have already begun to think imaginatively about the implications of our dedication.  We have named the challenges in fostering inclusivity in worship and hospitality; we're enacting the aspiration to ignite generous and transformative conversations.  We do all this to contribute to the common good; to make known God's Kingdom.  Such growth is mysterious, unquantifiable yet tangible.

In this work, we will inevitably find unexpected partners. I hope that the work of our HLF consultants will help us share and interpret the Gospel afresh in our own generation.  Their work encourages us in affirming that in this place people are welcomed and captivated by the beauty of holiness. We are here. A place of comfort.  Their work also challenges us to deepen our engagement in conversation and to share the music, art, creativity and worship that inspires.  We are getting somewhere; a pilgrim people, growing in maturity; drawing others to walk with us.

We are sent  into the world  in the power of the Spirit to witness to the generous love of God, revealed in Christ. Today we wait and pray: that we will not be left comfortless; that the church will be filled with power and compassion.  We pray that we will be confirmed in this mission - along with Tom, Charles, James, Philip and Richard being confirmed tonight. Help us, good Lord, to live courageously the good news we proclaim. Amen.