Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity.

Date: 17th August 2008

Preacher: Revd. Hilary Barber

God’s house is for all people

Mr and Mrs Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform. In fact that was how he came to have such an unusual name for a bear, for Paddington was the name of the station. He was brown in colour, a rather dirty brown, and was wearing a most odd looking hat, with a wide brim, and from the brim, two large, round eyes stared back at Mrs Brown.

Seeing that something was expected of it the bear stood up and politely raised its hat, revealing two black ears. The bear looked at them inquiringly. “Can I help you?” Mr Brown looked rather embarrassed. “well…no. Er... as a matter of fact, we were wondering if we could help you.”

I don’t know how many of you have read Michael Bonds’ books about the bear called Paddington, but those of you, who like me loved them as a child, and now have the pleasure of reading them with our own children, it has been wonderful to buy a new book, especially written by Michael Bond to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the publication of the first book. Joshua and I finished reading it together earlier this week.

In a radio interview some weeks ago, Michael Bond gave a moving description about the hidden truth and meaning behind the simple story. For Paddington represents the refugees of our world, people who come for many reasons, seeking a safe haven, and a new life, in a place of safety, and a place in which they can be treated with dignity and respect, kindness and charity, in exchange for contributing towards the economic prosperity of a country, and upholding the status quo of law and order.

Mr and Mrs Brown represent everything that British culture can be proud off: economic success, stability and family life, and the confidence to welcome a foreigner, a refugee, into their home and their community without thought or suspicion. Our nation has a proud history of accepting foreign nationals, be they refugees or asylum seekers.

Whilst Paddington is a refugee, his friend Mr Gruber, was an asylum seeker, coming to England as a Jew from Germany, in the years surrounding the Second World War, when he feared for his life from the Nazi regime, and had he been refused entry, he would most certainly have returned to face his death.

Isaiah, the Prophet, in our Old Testament reading today, challenges the Israelites about their attitudes towards those who they regard as foreigners. He warns them that God’s house is for all people, and not just for the Jews. The Prophet acknowledges that foreigners will come to the holy mountain, and that they too will offer sacrifices and offerings. Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

We know from the gospels that much of Jesus ministry was about breaking down barriers of division, and challenging the Leaders of the Sanhedran, that the Kingdom of God was for both Jew and Gentile. The Jews kept themselves apart from the Gentiles by their strict laws: such as eating; circumcision; what is permitted and not permitted on the Sabbath; and who one is allowed to engage with and socialize with. Some of the Jewish sects cut themselves off from other parts of society, keeping themselves to themselves, and keeping, those outside their community, ie those commonly known as Gentiles, far away from the possibilities of influence or persuasion.

Isaiah in his prophetic way, foretold that not only would God’s salvation come to the Gentiles, but that they would indeed be delivered from the bondage of being outcasts, and that justice would prevail. Jesus fulfills God’s promise and the prophesy of Isaiah. In today’s gospel, Matthew retells the story that was first recorded by Mark, of how Jesus meets the Syrophoenician woman.

For those of you who are keen to explore biblical exegesis, it is well worth examining Mark’s version of events, and then comparing them with Matthew’s version. Mark makes it very clear that the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. Matthew on the other hand, does not give us this information, but adds a comment made by the watching disciples “Send her away, for she keeps shouting at us”. Presumably, they regarded her as a Gentile, and encouraged Jesus to have nothing to do with her.

Mark then tells us that she begged Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter. Matthew records Jesus reply to the disciples, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. And then the woman persists and in doing so, Jesus informs her that by her faith, her daughter has been healed. Jesus reply provides us with imagery that of a Shepherd, or perhaps we can liken this to his position as the Great High Priest.

The truth of this scene is surely that here Christ is breaking down the walls of hostility between the Jews and the Gentiles, and that the Gentiles, whoever they might be, are to be accepted into the Church on equal terms with the Jews. The priestly Shepherd is sent by God to find the lost sheep who are outside Judaism, and to bring them back into the fold.

Both Isaiah and Jesus speak to the Church today about inclusion, and who may or may not belong to the life of the faith community. Following the Lambeth Conference, certain parts of the Anglican Communion seem to have forgotten one of the fundamental imperatives of Anglicanism, which is that we are all sinners in God’s sight, and that by God’s grace alone, we are all forgiven, restored, and healed. The Church of England as the Church of the nation needs to demonstrate all the more loudly its inclusive nature to all sections of the community, and that the Good News of Jesus Christ is for all people, regardless of their sex, race or sexual orientation. And to that end, in order to strengthen the Gospel’s proclamation of justice to the world, and for the greater glory of God, the Church’s own common life must be justly ordered.

Immigration in our society remains a political issue, with some people in our land finding it difficult to accept and welcome foreign nationals into the life of our nation. But if we were to reflect upon our Christian heritage, we would quickly find God, through the Prophets and through Jesus, pointing towards a tolerant society, which welcomes others, especially those who are of faith: and in this town of Halifax we know that many immigrants from Europe come as practicing Christians, and others from other faith traditions, Islam especially. A few weeks ago I attended a prayer vigil at St Augustines, where there were many refugees and asylum seekers present, and we need to thank God for the way in which the St Augustines Centre is able to minister to those people.

Having just returned from holiday abroad, I am also well aware that as we welcome others into our own land, there are indeed many British people who have emigrated to others parts of the globe, and our presence their over history has certainly been received with a mixed response – Zimbabwe being but one example.

There can be no doubt, that in society today we have important challenges that face us, some of which relate to integration and social cohesion. The Church, that is you and me, have an important role to play, in making sure that our response as a nation is both charitable and upholding human rights, championing a Christian gospel that is based on human dignity and justice for all God’s people.

It was Christmas and Paddington said he still had some important shopping to do. Mrs Brown said “you mustn’t go spending money on us. You being here is the best present we could possibly have” Mrs Bird added “Life just wouldn’t be the same without you”

Paddington pointed to a large nail on the back of his bedroom door. “Uncle Pastuzo taught me one thing”, he explained. “Home is where you hang your hat.” Removing his bush hat he tossed it into the air. Much to his surprise it landed back on his head. “Never mind Paddington,” said Mrs Brown, amid the laughter that followed. “Practice makes perfect, and from now on you have all the time in the world!”