Deacon Christine Saccali – St Paul’s Athens
May I speak in the name of the triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
‘ I hate COVID’ Abp Steven said multiplied by 20 times in part of his maiden General Synod address he shared with Abp Justin last month. It was quite shocking to hear as some of the first Abp York’s address to Synod . Many of us feel the same way, though, in fact the pandemic, affecting all – pan dimos, arouses all sorts of feelings and emotions in us which we may or may not express out loud. To name a few: fear, anger, anxiety, hate, uncertainty, loneliness. I expect you can think of more.
Many people feel that nothing will be the same and others sincerely hope it will not and that after the pandemic subsides, God willing, we will have a new normal. Does this include church both with small c and capital C? I think we have to find a new exciting way forward, leaving no one behind, which does not mean abandoning liturgy but learning how to worship together and apart literally and virtually and to adapt and listen to one another which means communication lines must be open and hearts and ears too.
In all of this time of change, fear and uncertainty the one sure thing is that God is the same, faithful and unchanging whatever our circumstances. I think one factor in acknowledging our vulnerability and mortality, which we have suddenly been forced to consider over the last months, is that human powers, governments and leaders, were under the impression that they were invincible. Let me tell you only God and His kingdom is invincible.
We are all co-workers in God’s Kingdom not only all the time but in these traumatic times of collective trauma. Our gospel reading set for today St Luke’s day, records the sending out of the seventy and then tells us that the harvest is plentiful but the workers few ο θερισμις ολιγοι .
We shall be celebrating agricultural Harvest and the associated harvest festival here at St Paul’s next week but today we are thinking of a more figurative harvest. Recently in our readings we have been talking a lot about the vineyard and how it represents Israel and God’s people. Last week we were thinking of judgement in the challenging parable in Matthew of the wedding banquet. It can be also a challenge when we recognise that we have a generous and abundant God who is faithful but we do not always respond with the same generosity with our time, commitment, gifts and talents. I have been encouraged to see how, in the face of hardship and inability to fundraise as usual, we are all working together to contribute to church life in a new and safe way contributing our gifts and finances in diverse ways.
I live in an area surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and the τρυγος harvest of grapes both for eating and moustos to be turned into wine is upon us. I heard one comment on the harvest trigos that it is ζωηφορος life bearing/ giving and that is how it should be with God’s people. Church should be about mutuality and everyone’s well-being whether they are here this morning or listening at home. We cannot grow and support each other unless we are prepared to contribute to Kingdom work in whatever way we can together. We need to practise self-care and care for one another.
Well-being and thriving not just surviving is all about mind, body and spirit. The Christian faith looks at the whole person so they and the community can be full of wholeness and wholesomeness. Jesus did just this in his healing miracles and ministry, many of which are recorded in the gospel of Luke the Evangelist , the physician who focuses on the marginalised. The book of Acts is also attributed to Luke and was our first reading today. We know Luke accompanied Paul on missionary journeys putting the gospel into practice, living it out. Let’s listen again to the Collect for St Luke’s day: Almighty God, you called Luke the physician, whose praise is in the gospel, to be an evangelist and physician of the soul: by the grace of the Spirit and through the wholesome medicine of the gospel, give your Church the same love and power to heal; through Jesus Christ your Lord.
To this end, and in acknowledgement of healthy, Christian life, later on within this service a liturgy of healing with anointing of oil will be administered to those who wish to come forward, safely observing necessary precautions. In these times, which are so different from usual we need to use technology but also go back to basics. In the absence of physical touch, we need to find other ways of touching people as God touches our lives through the Holy Spirit. I think the absence of touch, especially to those living on their own or far away from loved ones and beloved activities has had a devastating impact on people’s well-being in all its aspects.
All the senses are sacred, but I think touch is particularly holy. Think how many times in the gospel miracles when Jesus physically touches the sick and marginalised in different way. And think of how many times ordinary people want to reach out and touch Jesus or even the hem of his garment for his saving and healing powers. We need to learn how to embrace again in these times. In his book of prayers for everyday life entitled Touched by His Hand Nick Fawcett imagines how every moment of the day and everyone and thing can be imagined as being touched by God.
World mental health day πανκοsμια ημερα ψυχικης υγειας, there is that word soul again, combined with health and wholesomeness was last Saturday the tenth of October. I for one am very grateful that there is less taboo about the subject as i was brought up amongst mental anguish at a time when such trauma was not openly discussed. Would that we could all be open and caring with each other as a healthy church spreading and embracing the gospel into the community at this time of uncertainty, fear and pestilence. Remember the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
I end by quoting Lemn Sissay, a favourite poet of mine who underwent a traumatic childhood and adolescence: ” I am not defined by my scars but my ability to heal”. In the scarred, crucified and resurrected Christ we find our healing. As we are all invited to take our place around his table we say I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed.
AMEN
