Text: Revelation 7.9–end, Matthew 5.1–12 Now take a moment to notice the person next to you – Saint or no Saint? Before we answer that lets for a moment remember how St Paul addressed the members of the churches who he wrote to. He called them all saints! Were the members of his churches particularly holy? We know from what he goes on to say in his letters they were not. In fact these early church congregations sound very like us. I think Paul was not looking at them through his eyes, but through God’s eyes of mercy. And God looks at us not as we are, but as we can become. We are saints in process… The Beatitudes are traditionally read at All Saints, to remind us what sort of people saints are. With an invitation for us to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before – to tread where the saints have trod. 'Blessed' means those who've received God's blessing. Being rich and famous doesn't make us happy — living life God's way does. The Beatitudes are very shocking; they say exactly the opposite of what most people are trained to believe. The upside-down kingdom. They show us a radically different way of living in the here and now, while Revelation gives us a glimpse of the reward in heaven. So if St Paul claims we are saints – how do we live up to that? Can the Beatitudes help us? Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The poor are the people who realise that they're completely dependent on God. Even if you've got money, if you use it for the benefit of others, and have the trusting spirit that the poor have, there's a place for you in heaven. So let's retranslate the first Beatitude as: Happy are the people who know they need God; they will go to heaven. Blessed are those who mourn: for they will be comforted. No doubt God comforts the bereaved with the hope of the eternity, but you could hardly call them happy. No, this is about people who grieve over the state of the world, and the sinfulness of the people in it. So let's try: Happy are those who worry about the state of the world; God will cheer them up. Blessed are the meek: for they will inherit the earth. Jesus commends the way of meekness — not milk-and-water 'Gentle Jesus, meek and mild', but humbly serving others without demanding your own rights. Happy are those who are humble; God will give them what he promised. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Righteousness is living the way God wants us to. Hungering after it means desperately wanting to live that way. Their reward's not to be filled with food, but with the power to live the way they wish. So: Happy are those who want to please God; God will give them all they need. Blessed are the merciful: for they will be shown mercy. This is for those who bear a grudge: Happy are those who forgive others; God will forgive them. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. For the Jews, the liver was the seat of the emotions, and the heart was the location of your will. It means singleness of purpose: Happy are those who go all-out to do good; they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. This means what it says, and down the centuries, the teaching of Jesus has rebuked those who resort to violent solutions to their problems: Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy? Those who are persecuted? This is the very reverse of how the world sees things: but this is standing up for God’s way of living Happy are those who are attacked for doing good; they too will go to heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. With this, most of those who were listening will have written Jesus off as a lunatic. But the way to happiness is not to avoid trouble, but standing up for your beliefs. Happy are you, when folk make fun of you and tell lies about you because you try to live like me; be very, very happy when this happens, you will be richly rewarded in heaven. It goes against everything that the world teaches. That is what saints tend to do – cut across other people’s expectations. But at its heart lies true contentment and happiness. And because we know this that is why we set out after the example of the saints. For therein lies your and my calling as well.
All are welcome As I was preparing for a sermon a couple of weeks ago, based on the parable of the wedding feast, in which the master, having had his invitation to the feast rejected by his guests, sends his servants out to gather anyone he can find to join him so that the banqueting hall was full, a free gift for all, I was reminded of a sign at Coventry Cathedral someone had uploaded to social media several years ago. The image was soon hailed as lovely and brilliant, you may have seen or heard it before, the sign read. We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay, confused, filthy rich, comfortable or dirt poor. We extend a special welcome to wailing babies and excited toddlers. We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or just growl quietly to yourself. You’re welcome here if you’re ‘just browsing’, just woken up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury, or haven’t been to church since Christmas ten years ago. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome you if you’re having problems, are down in the dumps or don’t like ‘organised religion.’ (We’re not that keen on it either!) We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell or are here because granny is visiting and wanted to come to the Cathedral. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, both or neither. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throats as kids or got lost in the city centre and wound up here by mistake. We welcome pilgrims, tourists, seekers, doubters … and you! Over the next few months, as we journey through November with its All Souls Services, Remembrance Sunday parade services before entering Advent and approaching Christmas, our church doors will, as they always are, be open to all, all are very welcome to come and worship with us, as we celebrate and mark these special occasions. Because the gift of Jesus, born at Christmas and celebrated throughout the year in our churches, is a gift for all people all of the time … all are welcome. All are very welcome! May God bless you Heather
Bible Sunday Year A – Nehemiah 8:1-4a; 8-12 & Matt 24:30-35 Many of us have Bibles, that carry stories. When we open them up, we may find underlined verses, notes in the margins, old prayer cards, funeral service sheets or reminders of seasons of both joy and of sorrow. The pages remind us that God has been faithful before. That matters, because all of us walk through seasons when we need to be reminded of that truth. Some of us may have arrived at church today full of hope and joy. Others may be carrying disappointment. Some may have seemingly unanswered prayers that weigh heavily on your heart. Others may be worried about the future. Some may not be sure what they believe, or even why they believe it. It strikes me that the people we find in Nehemiah chapter 8 were not so different. They were a people who needed to hear from God. The story begins with a people group who have been through a great deal. They have known exile, loss and disappointment. They have returned to Jerusalem, and the city walls have by this time been rebuilt. But rebuilding walls, though a difficult task, is far easier than rebuilding hearts. The people need more than physical security. They need to hear the voice of God. So they gather together and ask Ezra to bring out the book of the law. Notice that nobody has to persuade them. Nobody has to manufacture enthusiasm. They are hungry to hear God speak once more. Ezra reads the scriptures aloud. The people listen carefully. The Levites help them understand what is being read. And the people respond. Their example, gives us a simple but helpful pattern for engaging with the Bible: they listened, they understood, they responded. So, when was the last time you came to scripture genuinely expecting God to speak and meet with you? What if we opened our bible and simply prayed, ‘God, I want to hear from you.’? In our Gospel reading, Jesus makes a remarkable claim. ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’ Those words sit right at the heart of Bible Sunday. In days of destruction and disruption, as concern weighs in even in the end of times, Jesus’ words remain. An anchor of hope for the soul, firm and secure. In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks in a setting of uncertainty, upheaval and change. the disciples are anxious about the future. Jesus does not promise them an easy of predictable path. Instead, he points them towards something utterly dependable … his word. Everything around us changes. Empires rise and fall. Cultures change. languages change. technology changes. Our own lives change. but the words of Christ remain. Faithful from generation to generation. The things surrounding us may be changing, but the word on which we build our lives does not. The same truth is illustrated beautifully in Nehemiah. Jerusalem has been rebuilt, but the people need more than walls. They need Gods voice. And when they hear Gods word, something happens. Gods word brings life, strength and joy. As Ezra reads, the people are deeply moved. They begin to weep as they recognise God’s holiness and their own need of him. But the story does not end in tears. Nehemiah tells them: ‘Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (verse 10) God’s word does not simply expose them. It restores them. Hearing the scripture leads them not into despair, but into renewed joy, hope and strength. What happened in Nehemiah still happens today. When people encounter God’s word, lives are changed. That is why the Bible matters. It is not merely a historical document or a collection of ancient writings. Through these words, God continues to reveal himself, draw people to him and shape his people. Across the world, Christians know the reality of Jesus’ promise that his word will never pass away. The bible continues to be read, translated, shared and treasured. People continue to encounter Jesus through its pages. And on Bible Sunday, it is right to give thanks for the Bible. But Bible Sunday is not simply about celebrating the Bibles survival. It is also about asking what place Gods word has in our own lives. The people in Nehemiah listened, understood and responded. The Bible society across England and Wales is focusing on the theme of Bible confidence. The pattern we find in Nehemiah of Listening, understanding and responding, can help us think about bible confidence with our heads, our hearts and our hands. Firstly, our head confidence. This is when we grow in our understanding of scripture. We learn its story. We ask questions. We allow others to help us understand. Bible confidence does not mean having every answer. It means becoming increasingly confident in exploring the bible and discovering what God is saying through it. Understanding the context of the stories that we read and the narrative from Genesis through to Revelation. Secondly, heart confidence. The bible is not simply information to master. Through scripture, we encounter the character, promises and purposes of God. We can ask, ‘What is God showing me about Godself?’ and ‘What is God shaping in me?’ I wonder, do we expect God to shape our hearts as we read his word? Thirdly, hand confidence. The bible invites a response. What needs to change? whom might we need to forgive? Where is God calling us to act with courage, generosity or compassion? Who needs our encouragement? What would it look like to put what we have heard into practice? A bible confidence that informs our heads, transforms our hearts and moves our hands. So as I conclude, a couple of questions to ponder What place does God’s word actually have in my life? Am I making space to hear Gods word? Am I allowing it to shape my heart, my thinking, my priorities? Am I putting what I read into practice? The people in Nehemiah gathered around scripture. They listened, they understood, they responded and they found joy. On Thursday, in my Morning prayer, I was encouraged to focus on the life of Eugene Peterson, who amongst other things, was the writer of ‘The Message’ bible. This paraphrase, took the great story of the bible and made it accessible to ordinary people in contemporary language. ‘Stories invite us into a world larger than ourselves,’ Eugene Peterson said in one interview, ‘and the bible is our greatest story. If we just live within ourselves, or if our needs are determined by our own needs, our wants and our desires, it’s a very small world.’ So, on this bible Sunday, let us give thanks for the gift of scripture. Let us recommit ourselves to reading it, listening to it and living it. And let us pray that many more people in this nation and across the world will encounter the life-giving message of Jesus through the Bible. For heaven and earth may pass away, but the words of Christ will never pass away. Amen
Trinity 20 – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Faith, hope and love As he begins his letters to the Thessalonians, Paul, praises the people in Thessalonica with these words. We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by Faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance prompted by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Elsewhere, Paul writes, to the people in Corinth, ‘And now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’ Faith, hope and love. This evening I thought we would just spend a couple of moments thinking about these three words, Faith, hope, love, as examples of our how we live out our Christian faith, vital ingredients on our journey of faith. So let us begin with faith. At every service, we affirm our believe, our faith in God, and in a nutshell, we affirm that we believe in God the Father, source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist, in God the Son who took our human nature, died for us and rose again, and in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world. This is our faith, we believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But it may come as a bit of a surprise, when we hear the Christian faith summarised like this, there is little emphasis on rules and regulations, conditions of membership, do this, do that, do the other, don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t do the other. After all, there is a lot in the bible about rules and regulations, the first 5 books of the Old Testament are referred to as the law, the law is a key player in the bible and yet even in the baptism service there is no signing allegiance to it. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said he came to fulfil the law and the prophets, Jesus makes it clear that we are to live by the law, but it is not so much out of a sense of duty or religiosity that we keep the law, we keep the law because we have been transformed through becoming aware of God’s amazing love for us. We keep the law, because of our faith, keeping the law is the outworking of our faith. In our bible reading today, Paul writes ‘We continually remember before our God and father, your work produced by faith …’ In Hebrews we are given the following description of faith, which I think many of us might be able to relate to ‘Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see.’ There is certainty in this statement, but there is also that element of uncertainty. Faith is about accepting, that we don’t always have all the answers, after all, God is the creator of the whole universe and everything in it, for us to understand everything about God, would be to put us on a parallel with God, and I for one, certainly wouldn’t want that level of responsibility. And so we live by faith – being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see. And so what about Hope, what is it that we hope for. To quote from Paul – ‘…. And your endurance prompted by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who as we will say as we affirm our faith, took on our human nature, died for us and rose again. Sometimes when we use the word ‘hope’, we mean that we would simply like for something to happen, I hope my football team will win next week …. for example. What we are really saying is that it would be good if happened, but at the end of the day it’s not that important. At other times our ‘hoping’ something will happen is more of a strong desire … we could go on living if it didn’t happen, but life would be much better for us if it did. And at other times, our ‘hope’ is life-critical – or after-life critical in the context of life everlasting. Whilst these would all be appropriate uses for the term hope. The hope that we are talking about in the Christian journey, the hope that we have in Christ, is a noun, and not a verb. As insignificant as that might seem, remembering that hope is a ‘thing’ that is given to us and not a thing that we can muster up or do makes all the difference. The hope that we have in Christ is a provision of God, not from us or anyone else. Our hope is in Jesus Christ, who through his death and resurrection, has cleansed us from our sins, and promises us life everlasting. This is an eternal hope, a hope that endures, even when life in this world is difficult. John 3:16 says: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ In Jesus, we see the ultimate gift of love, Gods love extended to all humanity and the whole of creation. A love for the whole world, which he created in the very beginning. In Ephesians, Paul writes ‘I pray, that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you might be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.’ Gods love for us is immeasurable … and we see that most powerfully through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Love encapsulates the law, when Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is, he summarises the whole law into two commandments. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.’ Faith, hope and Love, but the greatest of these is love. As we go from this place tonight, may we do so with faith, hope and love in our hearts and minds, as we seek to live our out Christian faith in our everyday lives. Amen
