MCCEL SERMON NOTES: 1ST SUNDAY OF LENT 21 st February 2010
GOD BRINGING US THROUGH
OPENING
I ask that God will infuse me with divine wisdom so that this sermon may hit the spot and speak to all of us, in Christ’s name. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
Thanks for invite to preach. Ss some of you know, I live in Bournemouth so I don’t get out much. So a good opportunity to be back in your pulpit.
I see our pastor has a very interesting programme for Lent. We will be hearing reflections from our members.
We come from a variety of backgrounds and with those backgrounds come many different stories of how we have journeyed to this church.
Some our journeys may have been with stresses and strains.
Often in becoming who we are, or finding out who we are, we go through experiences we would rather forget.
Yet later on, when we have overcome, we may begin to see the them in a different light, that despite the pain or hardships at the time, that have made us who we are today.
Eminently lovable people!
I see the theme of our Lent programme is “in the most difficult times the spirit of God has led us”
There will be reflections on transgender, HIV/aids and parenthood and the Diaspora (meaning a movement of a people from their original homeland and the community formed as a result of travelling)
SERMON TITLE
I had this theme in mind when I decided on my reflection/sermon title.
I wanted to acknowledge our varied journeys as travelling people and to open up those stories as possible examples of our being able to see ourselves either overcomers or in the process of overcoming or even perhaps wondering whether we actually will.
I wanted to include those possibilities under the surety that we will overcome in Christ.
So my title - God bringing us through – not God has brought us through, past tense, or God will bring us through – future tense, but God bringing us through as a constant part of our relationship with the Divine.
God never stops bringing us through because life will always have those situations where we need that extra something to get us through the day, the week, or even the hour!
Hence - God bringing us through.
RELATE TO READINGS
It’s worth noting that some of the readings today echo some of these themes. Reading from the NIV may be slightly different from yours.
Deuteronomy 26: 1 – 11
We heard the reference to Jacob as a ‘wandering Aramean’ who eventually settled in a foreign land - a traveller, a nomad, who found home far from home. Like many of us, displaced for good and not so good reasons,
We find ourselves away from our ancestral homes or places of birth, settling down into a foreign land and culture and becoming an accepted resident of this country
An example of God bringing them (and us) through the difficulties that may include unfavourable treatment as migrant workers, refugees or travellers.
Whether we are mistreated as domestic slaves, indentured or trafficked labourers, by those who see us as second class citizens or who are unaware of our history of exploitation.
Or even by the lawful authorities in terms of how our immigration status or health status is processed and how we are treated DWP or the NHS.
These are examples of God bringing us through.
Psalm 91: 1 – 2, 9-16
He who dwells in the shelter of the most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare [those entrapped or domestic or sexual slaves and trafficked people for example] And from the deadly pestilence.[chronic illnesses including HIV/Aids, cancer, lupus etc] He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, [which is often when earthquakes & hurricanes strike] nor the arrow that flies by day [caught up in wars or terrorist activity]
In all these circumstances and hardships God is truly our refuge and strength – our shelter in the storm
Again situations of hardship of God bringing us through.
Romans 10: 8b – 13
11 as the scripture says, “anyone [not some people] who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 12 for there is no difference between Jew and gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “everyone [ again not some folk] who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
So we know that God is not a snob, but respects all people, God’s promises are for everyone.
So as we say in MCC regardless of our gender identity and our sexual orientation and I add our past or present circumstances we are acceptable to God.
Actually I really don’t like the word ‘regardless’ as if it doesn’t matter to God what our gender identities and sexual orientations.
I believe it matters as God sees our gender identities and who we love, as very important and part of His creation and therefore a very important part of our lives that we can bring before God for divine blessings.
MEANING OF LENT
A brief word on Lent. I am not an Anglican or from any of the established churches. I joined MCC to become a pastor so I was never in membership before that. My church tradition is evangelical pentecostal – the Assemblies of God Church
This means that I did not grow up with the Anglican or Catholic religious calendar. We did not make anything special of Lent we don’t wear robes or stoles
I didn’t know what a lectionary was until I joined MCC.
So for those of us not too familiar with the religious calendar, the word ‘lent’ is an old English word - probably from the word – ‘lengthening’ of the days in spring which begins on Ash Wednesday, the day before Strove Tuesday – pancake day and continues until Easter Eve.
Lent symbolises the 40 day fast that Christ undertook in the wilderness, which is why we associate Lent with giving something up a period of reflection and personal growth.
THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST LUKE 4: 1 -13 .
And Christ was not alone – angles attended to him. But church tradition tends to favour Luke’s account.
The telling sentence in the story of Christ’s trial is this; 13 when the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
I believe Christ was tempted further, not just in the garden of Gethsemane – I think like all of us, Christ endured temptations and hardships as an everyday part of life and that we are never really free of them.
But whatever, we can believe in God bringing us through
It’s a shame the author hasn’t told us anything about how Jesus felt during this time in the desert, how he wrestled with his hunger and his loneliness.
How he dealt with the possibilities of being attacked by wild animals or becoming ill through dehydration or heat stroke.
Apparently, his survival skills were seen as secondary and less important to the temptations. But I am sure we could have learned much from that.
TRUE FASTING OR TRUE RELIGION (AS SAID IN THE POVERTY BIBLE)
Isa. 58:2-7, 10 Contemporary English Version
Here the Israelite nation is being criticised for how they behave during times of fasting.2 Day after day, you worship Him and seem eager to learn His teachings. You act like a nation that wants to do right by obeying His laws. You ask him about justice and say you enjoy worshiping the Lord.
3 You wonder why the Lord pays no attention when you go without eating and act humble. but on those same days that you give up eating, you think only of ourselves and abuse your workers.
4 You even get angry and ready to fight. No wonder God won't listen to your prayers!
5 Do you think the Lord wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what He wants on a day of worship?
6 I'll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused!
7 Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives…don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel.
10 Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun.
The prophet Isaiah is saying - true religion is within how we relate and treat other people.
If you have given up something for Lent because that is important for you, I pray you have the strength to stick with it
If you haven’t given up something, don’t fret there are other ways you can experience the rituals of Lent. It’s not too late.
Church tradition may tell us that Christ fasted in the wilderness for 40 days and nights, but many scholars see 40 days as not literally 40 days but a saying that indicates – a long time.
So you can give up something or do something different for Lent from now today, that means something to you and which lasts a long time and that is OK and fits in with this religious season.
ADD – there are values in fasting from a spiritual and health perspective. The text from Isaiah is critical of those who try to be holier than God by seeming to be religious through obeying the laws whilst at the same time not treating people kindly.
CLOSING TEXTS
I’m very Jamaican – I quote from the bible a lot - here are 2 of my favourite texts that restore me when I’m feeling flaky and wobbly in difficult times.
Psalm 27:1 of David (NIV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
I like to add this:
The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom or what shall I be afraid?
And here we can add our own experiences and looking at the kinds of reflections Margarita has planned for this Lenten season, I can add these
Of what shall I be afraid - of having a serious potentially life limiting illness – no, of being displaced, not in my own land – no, of fearing how others will respond to my transgendered self – no of being a parent with all the attendant responsibilities and fear of failing – no
Why – because God (is always there) bringing us through!
Philippians 4:12-13 (Amplified Bible)
I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me - I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.
Because of this empowerment- the preceding verse holds true
I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
Like Asda’s prices – this is written in stone. You can take God’s promises to the bank!
Never never doubt that regardless of the circumstances - God is constantly bringing you through.
BENEDICTION
May God bless you and keep you
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you
And may God give you peace
Amen.