May the words that I speak be both spoken and received in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Christian faith to many people is all about being held, comforted, forgiven, strengthened and loved. Yet often this experience is lost in the baggage of Christian theology and practise.
An open, honest and humble approach to God through simple prayer, can lead to the wonderful experience of knowing that your prayer has been heard and answered through whatever way the Holy Spirit chooses to enlighten you.
In today’s gospel reading Jesus asked his disciples what they were arguing about as they travelled towards Capernaum. For on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. Jesus sat down and spoke to the twelve and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” And taking a child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
In the Aramaic language, which was the language Jesus spoke, the word for “Servant” and “Child” is the same. So here Jesus was saying that to be a servant or a disciple, one must become like a child. A small child is innocent. A small child does not try to make his or herself great. Those who make themselves like children, like humble servants, Jesus will make his representatives. It is a great honour to be the representative, the ambassador of Christ, but only the humble and childlike will obtain that honour.
St Augustine said that God loves us and sees us as if there was only one of us to love. When God spoke to Moses and said, “I know you by name”, God was saying, “I know you as you really are, neither a thing, nor an abstraction, nor an idea”. If we ask ourselves the question, “Who am I?”, people will often respond with different ideas.
Several years ago I greeted a clergyman, a man of the cloth, addressing him by his name. He wasn’t too pleased about that. He replied that I should have called him “Canon”!. I thought to myself, “Blast! I got that one wrong”. (Or did I?)
Then there are titles such as – The Sergeant Major, Matron, Detective Inspector, Doctor, the Managing Director, or perhaps Sir, or Madam. I once heard of “The Jacket Man”, when I worked at Preston. Who turned out to be the man who sold jacket potatoes with extremely good fillings! And there was always a long queue!
You also have people who think that they know all about you, thanks to gossip, rumours, chinese whispers, fake news, and so on. There is also typecasting. This can be based on where you live, when you were born, what your religious beliefs are (that’s assuming that you have any in the first place), who your parents are, your colour or creed, your political beliefs.
People are often treated as the homeless; the unemployed; O.A.P.’s; consumers; cash cows; motorists; cyclists; and so on. Judgement values can be based on the clothing people wear, In the book of James he makes it clear that favouritism is forbidden. He says to not take into account differences in people’s position i.e. status, rank, title, or on their outer appearance.
In our minds, we are not to divide people into rich and poor, high class or low class, high rank and low rank. The light of the glory of Christ makes the so-called glory of this world fade into nothing. So, let us not look at a person’s worldly position or circumstances. Rather, we should look only at how much the light of Christ shines in that person’s life. Instead of looking at people’s outward appearances, let us look instead at their inward spiritual qualities.
James says if we are wise and understanding then let us show proof of it! If we say we have love, let us show it. If we have faith, let us show it. This can be done by living a good Christian life and by our deeds. He goes on to say, “Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those that love him?
In Psalm 146 it is written, “The Lord looses those that are bound; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down”. This refers to those who are spiritually blind, as well.
In trying to discover who and what we are on our journey or pilgrimage through life, some believe that looking inwards is important. Jesus said, “Seek and you will find, knock and the door will open; for the Kingdom of God is within you”.
In churches, synagogues, Buddhist temples and other places, people light candles that symbolise spiritual luminosity. Saints’ and other figures are universally represented by shimmering halos of light, surrounded by numbuses and auras, which some people can see in reality.
Lighting a candle is just a symbolic, ritualised was of offering light in the darkness. The candle symbolises the inner light and luminous wisdom that can guide each one of us through the darkness and ignorance of confusion. The candle’s shining flame is an outer reminder of inner luminosity and clarity – the living spiritual flame burning within the temple of our heart and soul.
Tibetan Buddhism says that at the heart of each one of us and all other creatures, is an inner radiance that reflects our essential nature. This inner light is pure radiance and is the ground of our being. This clear light is endowed with the heart of unconditional compassion and love and is birthless and deathless.
In the gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”. So let us walk together and worship together, filled with the light of Christ, who gives life to the world. St James says we should not show favouritism towards people and resentment towards others who do not come up to those false worldly standards, which Christ himself criticised. For he says that the meek shall inherit the Earth and that we should love others, as he loves us. For God is Love.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[Mark 9:30-37; James (inc. 3:13-4:3,7-8a]
St Peter's Church 