Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Date:5th July 2009

Preacher: Revd David Carpenter

Mark 6:1-13

In the name of God: our wisdom and our truth.

The reading we have just heard is from S Mark’s gospel. This is the second of four gospels which you can find in what is called The New Testament: itself a compilation of twenty seven written text or letters.

Some of you may be unaware of this, but these books have not always been in this form. Around the time when they were written there were many Gospels and letters circulating, all being used by different localised Christian groups. Some of these writings no longer exist, the only reason we know of them is that they were cited in other texts. Others have grown dusty and have been forgotten, others only discovered recently: some nearly making it into what we call the Canon of Scripture. So today we could just as easily have read from the First Letter of Clement or the Third Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, and when we read from the Book of Revelation, we could just as easily have never have heard of it, as you probably have not heard of The Gospel of Mary, The Gospel of the Egyptians, The Epistle of the Apostles, or The Acts of Pilate.

Some would no doubt argue, that as the early church coalesced and as stronger groups grew in influence the winner wrote the history book.

As ’People of the Way’, as we were first called, we would want to claim the churches discernment within the action of the Holy Spirit. It is this we would say that led the process which ultimately gave us what we know as the New Testament.

I would just like you to understand though, that what we now hold as dear was a long time in the making. There was discernment yes, but there was also a lot of argument and suppression of differing ideas. What we have did not drop from heaven intact; it took shape with much struggle. There was wide diversity in early Christianity, witnessed to by the beliefs embraced by the people who followed Jesus and by the scriptures they read.

What we can certainly say of Jesus is that he asked people to look afresh at their understanding of God, and human relationships. He practiced his faith, both in synagogue and temple but was not afraid to challenge the accepted norm. Here was a man who had new ways of looking at things, and encouraged others to look and see differently also.

We know also from today’s gospel that it was the stranger, the outsider, who came to Jesus who was the most prepared to listen. Those who knew him we are told took offence at him. They just couldn’t accept that someone who they knew and with whom they had grown up could challenge their thinking – perhaps, who knows, they perceived that he was judging their ways, by his questioning and teaching.

There are those who would seek the answers to all of today’s questions in the pages of this book we call the bible. This actually has never been the Anglican way; it has always maintained two sources for its reasoning: scripture and tradition. Discernment has always been big in the Anglican way of things and this process is continuing. Often there is no single Christian definitive answer. Take for example the question of the termination of pregnancy. There are those who will tell you the scriptures are clear cut on this issue; that the mind of the church is as one: they are not, it is not. Sadly, we cannot really tell who has the monopoly on the Holy Spirit.

There are other issues of course that the Christian has to deal with today. The question of stem cell research, or the manipulation of genetic material with the potential of choosing the sex of your child, to steer it’s pre-birth health and development or even to engineer a clone for the treatment of an existing sibling. All these things do not belong to science fiction, they are, or are becoming, real possibilities.

The time is already here when as a Christian you have to decide on the issue of assisted suicide. It will not be long before you will have to contend with laws that will allow this, and live alongside clinics that exist to help people die, and worship alongside people who will readily avail themselves of this facility when the time comes.

There will be Christians who will tell you one thing, others who will sing from a different hymn book. Most will claim some sort of biblical authority; some will be so bold as to claim they have God on their side.

You will no doubt have your own opinion on some, if not all, of these issues. If you are serious, as a Christian, in having and giving a Christian response then you will certainly have looked at the scriptures. You will, if you are desirous to discern a Christian understanding have looked at the gathered experience, albeit diverse, and considered the tradition. If you are wise, you will do these things before, if ever, claiming Godly authority and divine right.

Some of you will be able to stand alongside the Jesus of today’s gospel in all of this, as others will question you right to have an opinion, and your ability to express it. You will certainly be misunderstand and people with vehemently disagree with you. One thing is certain; there will not be a unified voice – that’s just not the way it works.

What I want you to understand is that for you and for me, it’s exactly as it was for Jesus: fresh vision needs courage, but it brings misunderstanding and rejection. New paths require a contribution from each of us. They require us to listen and to discern.

There is a real danger for both preacher and listener: that is, words can sound the call and the hearer can offer the nod of assent, but in a few moments when I’ve done, the imperative can so easily be lost.

We cannot allow this to happen. Jesus was urgent in his ministry, there were things that needed to be said, and we are told he marvelled at his listener’s lack of faith.

Nothing has changed.

Today, society is becoming increasingly secularised: it is becoming de-Christianised. There is a need for a Christian witness and response.

What is going to be your response?

What is your witness?

Much is going on here in the Parish Church. There are plenty of ideas and much change in the air.

Are you going to be among those who reject new ideas and change out of hand? The yesterday forever approach!

Are you one of those who distrust change, valuing the tried and tested? Nothing essentially wrong with this of course providing it doesn’t lead to stagnation!

Or are you prepared for the possibility of change: looking for fresh vision and new paths to tread?

Are you prepared for the difficulties that may ensue?

When our chapter is fully written, it may be in some future time; your effort may be completely forgotten, like those early texts I mentioned, banished from the practice and life of the church.

However, it just may be that you could be linked with a revolution. Something that will change the face of this place and the town we say we seek to serve.

Don’t, please don’t, fall into the trap of thinking that ‘what was’ is the only way, the only good. That somehow tomorrows questions can always be solved with yesterdays answers. This certainly was not Jesus’ way. Have the courage, as Jesus did, to tread new ground and to be resolute, keep an open mind, a critical but not complaining stance, seek to discern, and above all, to do this in a prayerful way.

Amen.