Sermon 21st March
Today our Vicar, Cameron Barker, preaches based on the reading from John 12:1-8.
This may not perhaps be the most typical of sermon openings, I realise: but, who remembers 'The Matrix' films? Specifically, does anyone recall 'that' scene from the first film – the one with the woman in the red dress?!
The reason for bringing that to mind isn't what may seem the most obvious one! It doesn't matter if you've not seen the film, or don't remember this scene. What's important is to know how that particular scene concludes. First, there's the revelation that the stunning woman is actually an Agent in disguise, who's out to kill the film's hero. Then, as some may remember, it turns out this has happened inside a computerised training programme. So Neo's instructor can have the action frozen at that exact point. With everyone and everything stationary he can then drive home all the relevant lessons for Neo's survival when he does enter the matrix itself.
Imagine the possibilities if real life worked that way! As we all know, though, life isn't like that! We can't click on an 'undo' button to rectify a mistake we've made, or recall words that we wish we hadn't spoken. Nor can we just stop the action of our life where it is, in order to learn whatever we may need to from what we've just done, seen, or heard. Modern technology may enable us to pause films, or video clips. And of course, we've always been able to do that by using our imagination with literature. But we aren't able to stop and review our own lives in this way. However, there are times when that is the best course of action to take with literature or images. We do sometimes need to freeze the action where it is, and then try to put ourselves on the inside of it.
Again, this isn't standard preaching practice here; but I do think that today's Gospel story invites us to do exactly that with it. In our Lent quest to prepare for Easter, this is a perfect piece of action to freeze-frame. In so many ways it's a very ordinary story, of the kind that most of us could so easily be involved in, on almost any given day. Yes, there is cultural adjustment needed if we're to make full sense of what happened at and around Jesus' anointing. But this is a story essentially all about disappointment, tension and conflict. Here we can see conflicts of purpose, intention, of motivation, understanding, and of action – and how people dealt with those (or didn't) in a common social setting. If we freeze this action there are challenges for us at every stage about how to live out faith when we face similar situations ourselves.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight, we know that this was a truly significant time for Jesus. The disciples may not have grasped it at the time; but we, with Jesus, know what will happen at the Passover in 6 day's time. So we know that this should be a very special time for them, with so little time left before Jesus' death. It's also set in a very special place – in Bethany; in the home of Lazarus and his sisters. Not only are these good, long-standing, friends gathering for a meal – which in itself was a key expression of closeness. These are people who have been through an extraordinary experience together – and so have much to process.
After Easter we'll spend several weeks on the details of Lazarus' brush with death at some time before this meal.
That will be the basis on which we'll examine some of the traumas that we have been, and are going through as a church. For now we can take it as read that these people had more than a passing acquaintance, and so should have been enjoying a meaningful evening together. But this is far from that! The air crackles with tension – and that's just on the obvious surface! So lets freeze this action: put yourself in a room full of unspoken tensions and underlying conflicts – and think for a moment about how you deal with being in that scenario ...
Actually, once we move a few frames on, it may be better to start outside the room! That's where Martha is most of the time: she has likely overseen the preparation of this special meal, if not cooked it. Now she's helping to serve it, rushing about as always. We know that from the other times we've met Martha in the Bible: she's always on the go! She'd probably like nothing better than to stay in the room with the others; but she feels she can't. And how often are you in that position: wishing that you could do something that you would really enjoy, but feeling that you aren't able to? How do you cope with that kind of tension? Does freezing this part of the story change that for you? ...
Now, feeling tense already, look at what Mary does in the next scene. She's your sister: you love her, really; but she hasn't helped you in any way with the meal. In she swans, though, with this perfume: you know it's worth over £10 000 in today's money. She goes straight up to Jesus, and pours loads of it, over his feet! If anything, it's meant to go on his head, really. And she's not done yet either! Once the whole house reeks, she undoes her hair, and wipes Jesus' feet with it! That's the modern equivalent of your smart hostess taking off her skirt and dancing on the dinner table! Freeze the scene again. How are you going to deal with the embarrassment, resentment, the anger, and yes, the jealousy that you very likely feel? Is it time to speak up; or are you just going to let it stew? ...
Either way, somebody beats you to it in a matter of a few more frames. Let's freeze the action again at that point, and put ourselves in the shoes of a disciple. It's Judas, the most 'proper' of the disciples who has spoken out. Maybe he's just being the spokesperson, saying what you would have if he hadn't got in first. Is that your main objection to what has happened, though? Does the waste of so much money in this way anger you? Would it have been better being sold, and the money given to the poor? Or are you suspicious about Judas' true motives? Do you, like the gospel writer, and presumably Jesus too, know that Judas is being self-righteous, self-serving, deceptive? This is, after all, only a minor foretaste of what's to come from Judas. He has a far greater betrayal than theft in mind. So how do you feel, being around a person who's behaving like that? What are you going to do or say about it, either now, or perhaps later? ...
The next frame freeze is with somebody else once again in centre-stage. This time it's been Jesus himself, telling us to leave Mary alone. She has just done something very special, he says. Yes, he's conceded that in some ways it wasn't meant to happen tonight. But we obviously haven't grasped what he knows is coming all too soon. He's been talking about his own burial. This is preparation for that, he says. How can that be, though? He's so young; surely he's hardly started his work? He can't die now, can he? There's so much that he hasn't told us, or explained yet. We need him to lead us, to show us, and to keep on doing what we can't. So what are we going to do with all this confusion, frustration, and additional tension? Is it time to ask serious question about the big picture; or let it keep on churning away inside?
Perhaps it's a good thing that there aren't any more scenes in this story to freeze and examine, though. That's probably more than enough conflict and tension to be processing for one day ...
This is obviously an exercise that we can't do full justice to in the setting of a sermon. But I do hope that it's given you more than a flavour of what's possible for us. Lent is a good time to try different methods of Bible study and exploration. This kind may not work for you, perhaps – even with a good story like this. But we won't know until we try it! The point is that we all need to find ways to engage both with particular stories, and also with the wider story of the Bible. The most crucial part of the whole Bible story is about to reach its dramatic climax. Without the story of Easter we have no story to live by, or to tell others about. We do have the good news of Jesus' death for us, and his rising to life, though. But time's now starting to run out to get ready to hear it again afresh, and then to live it in all its glorious fullness!
In one way that's not true, of course! We can engage with the story of Jesus' death and resurrection at any time. But for those of us who follow the pattern of the church year, this is the time that's specifically set aside for doing this. And it's too good an opportunity to miss – not least because we do never know what may happen! That is one of the lessons that I've re-learned from my own recent medical adventures. Another reality that it also reminded me of is that if it's real then faith must be integral to every part of life. That means when times are bad as much as when they are good – and at all points in-between too!
Reading a story like today's challenges us, I think, to work out what being in relationship with Jesus means no matter where we're at. It means doing it if we're busy and stressed like Martha; it means doing it if we're extravagant and riskily flamboyant, like Mary; it means doing it if we're conflicted and confused, like Judas; it means doing it if we're just watching everything happen around us, like the disciples. It means dealing with the disappointments, tensions and conflicts that are inevitably part of everyday life. It means doing it in the context of who Jesus is, and what his purpose is. And, as I'm sure you well know, that isn't often easy to do! But the story of Easter means that we're never without hope, or help. So, at least be encouraged by this encounter today. Risk taking the next step, and let this wonderful story transform every part of your life, including the disappointments, tensions and the conflicts, the good and the bad. And now let's pray that God will use it do just that ...
This may not perhaps be the most typical of sermon openings, I realise: but, who remembers 'The Matrix' films? Specifically, does anyone recall 'that' scene from the first film – the one with the woman in the red dress?!
The reason for bringing that to mind isn't what may seem the most obvious one! It doesn't matter if you've not seen the film, or don't remember this scene. What's important is to know how that particular scene concludes. First, there's the revelation that the stunning woman is actually an Agent in disguise, who's out to kill the film's hero. Then, as some may remember, it turns out this has happened inside a computerised training programme. So Neo's instructor can have the action frozen at that exact point. With everyone and everything stationary he can then drive home all the relevant lessons for Neo's survival when he does enter the matrix itself.
Imagine the possibilities if real life worked that way! As we all know, though, life isn't like that! We can't click on an 'undo' button to rectify a mistake we've made, or recall words that we wish we hadn't spoken. Nor can we just stop the action of our life where it is, in order to learn whatever we may need to from what we've just done, seen, or heard. Modern technology may enable us to pause films, or video clips. And of course, we've always been able to do that by using our imagination with literature. But we aren't able to stop and review our own lives in this way. However, there are times when that is the best course of action to take with literature or images. We do sometimes need to freeze the action where it is, and then try to put ourselves on the inside of it.
Again, this isn't standard preaching practice here; but I do think that today's Gospel story invites us to do exactly that with it. In our Lent quest to prepare for Easter, this is a perfect piece of action to freeze-frame. In so many ways it's a very ordinary story, of the kind that most of us could so easily be involved in, on almost any given day. Yes, there is cultural adjustment needed if we're to make full sense of what happened at and around Jesus' anointing. But this is a story essentially all about disappointment, tension and conflict. Here we can see conflicts of purpose, intention, of motivation, understanding, and of action – and how people dealt with those (or didn't) in a common social setting. If we freeze this action there are challenges for us at every stage about how to live out faith when we face similar situations ourselves.
Now, with the benefit of hindsight, we know that this was a truly significant time for Jesus. The disciples may not have grasped it at the time; but we, with Jesus, know what will happen at the Passover in 6 day's time. So we know that this should be a very special time for them, with so little time left before Jesus' death. It's also set in a very special place – in Bethany; in the home of Lazarus and his sisters. Not only are these good, long-standing, friends gathering for a meal – which in itself was a key expression of closeness. These are people who have been through an extraordinary experience together – and so have much to process.
After Easter we'll spend several weeks on the details of Lazarus' brush with death at some time before this meal.
That will be the basis on which we'll examine some of the traumas that we have been, and are going through as a church. For now we can take it as read that these people had more than a passing acquaintance, and so should have been enjoying a meaningful evening together. But this is far from that! The air crackles with tension – and that's just on the obvious surface! So lets freeze this action: put yourself in a room full of unspoken tensions and underlying conflicts – and think for a moment about how you deal with being in that scenario ...
Actually, once we move a few frames on, it may be better to start outside the room! That's where Martha is most of the time: she has likely overseen the preparation of this special meal, if not cooked it. Now she's helping to serve it, rushing about as always. We know that from the other times we've met Martha in the Bible: she's always on the go! She'd probably like nothing better than to stay in the room with the others; but she feels she can't. And how often are you in that position: wishing that you could do something that you would really enjoy, but feeling that you aren't able to? How do you cope with that kind of tension? Does freezing this part of the story change that for you? ...
Now, feeling tense already, look at what Mary does in the next scene. She's your sister: you love her, really; but she hasn't helped you in any way with the meal. In she swans, though, with this perfume: you know it's worth over £10 000 in today's money. She goes straight up to Jesus, and pours loads of it, over his feet! If anything, it's meant to go on his head, really. And she's not done yet either! Once the whole house reeks, she undoes her hair, and wipes Jesus' feet with it! That's the modern equivalent of your smart hostess taking off her skirt and dancing on the dinner table! Freeze the scene again. How are you going to deal with the embarrassment, resentment, the anger, and yes, the jealousy that you very likely feel? Is it time to speak up; or are you just going to let it stew? ...
Either way, somebody beats you to it in a matter of a few more frames. Let's freeze the action again at that point, and put ourselves in the shoes of a disciple. It's Judas, the most 'proper' of the disciples who has spoken out. Maybe he's just being the spokesperson, saying what you would have if he hadn't got in first. Is that your main objection to what has happened, though? Does the waste of so much money in this way anger you? Would it have been better being sold, and the money given to the poor? Or are you suspicious about Judas' true motives? Do you, like the gospel writer, and presumably Jesus too, know that Judas is being self-righteous, self-serving, deceptive? This is, after all, only a minor foretaste of what's to come from Judas. He has a far greater betrayal than theft in mind. So how do you feel, being around a person who's behaving like that? What are you going to do or say about it, either now, or perhaps later? ...
The next frame freeze is with somebody else once again in centre-stage. This time it's been Jesus himself, telling us to leave Mary alone. She has just done something very special, he says. Yes, he's conceded that in some ways it wasn't meant to happen tonight. But we obviously haven't grasped what he knows is coming all too soon. He's been talking about his own burial. This is preparation for that, he says. How can that be, though? He's so young; surely he's hardly started his work? He can't die now, can he? There's so much that he hasn't told us, or explained yet. We need him to lead us, to show us, and to keep on doing what we can't. So what are we going to do with all this confusion, frustration, and additional tension? Is it time to ask serious question about the big picture; or let it keep on churning away inside?
Perhaps it's a good thing that there aren't any more scenes in this story to freeze and examine, though. That's probably more than enough conflict and tension to be processing for one day ...
This is obviously an exercise that we can't do full justice to in the setting of a sermon. But I do hope that it's given you more than a flavour of what's possible for us. Lent is a good time to try different methods of Bible study and exploration. This kind may not work for you, perhaps – even with a good story like this. But we won't know until we try it! The point is that we all need to find ways to engage both with particular stories, and also with the wider story of the Bible. The most crucial part of the whole Bible story is about to reach its dramatic climax. Without the story of Easter we have no story to live by, or to tell others about. We do have the good news of Jesus' death for us, and his rising to life, though. But time's now starting to run out to get ready to hear it again afresh, and then to live it in all its glorious fullness!
In one way that's not true, of course! We can engage with the story of Jesus' death and resurrection at any time. But for those of us who follow the pattern of the church year, this is the time that's specifically set aside for doing this. And it's too good an opportunity to miss – not least because we do never know what may happen! That is one of the lessons that I've re-learned from my own recent medical adventures. Another reality that it also reminded me of is that if it's real then faith must be integral to every part of life. That means when times are bad as much as when they are good – and at all points in-between too!
Reading a story like today's challenges us, I think, to work out what being in relationship with Jesus means no matter where we're at. It means doing it if we're busy and stressed like Martha; it means doing it if we're extravagant and riskily flamboyant, like Mary; it means doing it if we're conflicted and confused, like Judas; it means doing it if we're just watching everything happen around us, like the disciples. It means dealing with the disappointments, tensions and conflicts that are inevitably part of everyday life. It means doing it in the context of who Jesus is, and what his purpose is. And, as I'm sure you well know, that isn't often easy to do! But the story of Easter means that we're never without hope, or help. So, at least be encouraged by this encounter today. Risk taking the next step, and let this wonderful story transform every part of your life, including the disappointments, tensions and the conflicts, the good and the bad. And now let's pray that God will use it do just that ...
posted by Parish Administrator at 12:35 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home