Drawing on the scriptures set for Mass that day, he finds plenty to ponder about the idea that our parishes and ministries should travel together, and travel light...
SERMON @ MASS @ ST
ANDREW, LEYTONSTONE
THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
PROPER 9 – YEAR B
SUNDAY 5 JULY 2015
2
CORINTHIANS 12:2-10; MARK 6:1-13
v
Are you a natural introvert or extrovert?
Have you ever made use of any of those tools which help you to identify your
‘preferred ways of operating’? I have,
from time to time, made use of the Myers-Briggs tool. I identify as an INTP...there is lots to say
about this, but it starts with a strong recognition that I am an introvert – do we get our energy from being quiet & alone
or in the company of others?...
v
Whichever our temperament, there is a
struggle in the Christian life over how to be ‘present’ to one
another – there to support, but also to challenge and rebuke... this is especially
important for pastors and teachers to get right, but actually important too for
us all, if we are to take seriously that we each have a ministry to which God
is calling and equipping us...
v
Jesus finds it difficult to do his
work and to be ‘heard’ in his hometown, cf Mark 6:4 “Prophets are not without
honour, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own
house.” Even He found this is a huge
obstacle! I wonder what our own
experience tells us? Does this have the ring of truth about it?!...
v
When Our Lord sends people out in
mission, to tell and perform good news of God’s coming Kingdom, he sends them
out IN PAIRS and also TRAVELLING LIGHT...I wonder, therefore, whether it is
entirely natural (or correct/ideal) for Christian disciples to have ‘solo’
Vicars and charge of big, expensive buildings?... Surely, we should work in
mutually-supportive and accountable ‘teams’ and should just meet in homes and
temporary spaces?...
v
And then there are the dimensions
which St Paul is surrounded by in Corinth – a background which includes quite a
few powerful, charismatic ministries & personality-cults. St Paul is, of course, referring to himself
in the 3rd-person: he needs to emphasise that self-publicity is a
sub-Christian action – and perhaps introverts, no less than extroverts, can be
tempted to this route?
v
There is little point speculating on
details of this experience he refers to – lots of silly Christians have wasted
time mooting possibles for both the shape of the heavenly realms and the
precise nature of Paul’s affliction (‘thorn in the flesh’). The point is surely that he has been granted
a sublime experience of God’s transcendent reality but he is determined that
using it for ego-trailing is not the right thing to do. God has helped him out, by giving him
something which is a regular reminder of his mortality, weakness and potential
for sinfulness...
v
Of course, also, this drives at the
heart of what should be the character of the relationship between a Christian
congregation and their minister/pastor?
Us publicly-called and appointed ministers are still regularly assessed
in terms of our powers: powers to attract quantities of people and quantities
of money. You may even be doing such a
piece of assessment, as I speak with you, even now, or be tempted to do so when
Fr Jack joins your church family after the summer?!?...
v
The call is to be present and to be
vulnerable; to be available and to share the gifts we do have with one another,
as we encounter one another, and with little fanfare...
v
God pray we may continue to do so,
this day and always. +
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