Sermon Preached on 27th September 2020 – Creationtide
Deacon Chris Saccali
MAY I SPEAK IN THE NAME OF THE LIVING GOD, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT.
I had just brought the washing in and was settling down for a siesta when my husband came in holding a photo on his phone. Our granddaughter’s latest escapade, I thought but no it was a picture of a snake basking in the sun on the flagstones! It turned out it was an Ottoman adder after consultation with Google. Now it is a long time since we have found or seen snakes on our property.
Creation and nature seem to be making a come back even though we are told species are dwindling. This is the season of creation from beginning of September through to 4th October St Francis feast day instituted by Patriarch Dimitrios in 1989. This year is entitled Jubilee for the Earth which combines ecological and economic justice. It reveals the truth that our redemption from financial indebtedness and material poverty is inextricably intertwined with the redemption of the land from wanton extraction and pursuit of profit. We are encouraged as Christians to hold a climate Sunday service during this year.
This past week has been international climate week. Prince Charles, a friend to this church and a staunch activist on Climate said this week at the virtual opening: COVID 19 offered a window of opportunity to reset the economy for a more sustainable and inclusive future. He added the pandemic was a wake up call we cannot ignore.Remember Prince Charles suffered himself from COVID earlier in the year.
At the end of August I preached on a lockdown psalm and today it seems appropriate to use another psalm, so relevant in these times when the world seems to be facing a second wave and CO20 summit due to take place later this year has been held over until 2021. This piece is written by Rev Dr David Pickering based on psalm13:
‘How long?’ cries the psalmist, facing seeming abandonment in the face of affliction.
‘How long? ‘Cries the psalmist, expressing as enemies assail.
3,000 years on we too may cry, ‘How long will the shadow of illness surround me or a loved one?
How long shall lockdown separate me from my loved ones?’
‘How long, cries Greta , on behalf of the world’s youth, will we ignore the house on fire?’
‘How long?’ speaks Sir David on behalf of the scientific community, will policy fall short of evidence?’
‘How long, Extinction rebellion prophetically protest, must we wait for a zero –carbon, just and green new normal?’
By articulating their concern the psalmist starts the transforming journey from their hurting hungry, heart.
Their next cry, ‘give light that i may see your light.’
Opens way to a renewed faith and trust in God.
The psalmist’s journey from a problem stated
To action taken, is one of engagement and hope.
It is so in our lives, for the way of healing
Is lined with with care of body, mind and soul,
And the loneliness of lockdown
May be overcome with phone call, post and messaging.
Liewise, the Greta, Sir David and rebellious prophet within us all being concerned for the well being on earth, know of the imperative that policy follows science,
That personal rights shouldn’t trump community wellbeing. Today’s choices should be mindful of tomorrow’s generations.
We stand as Moses once did overlooking the river to the promised land beyond.
In a post lockdown world do we just gaze over a fictitious land of hope and dreams?
Or do we choose life, setting off to a just and green new normal to which we are called and ultimately born to run?
As heart cries, How long may eyes’ light see through darkness and hope lead the way.
We need to hold on to the Christian promise of hope in these times more than ever and be a beacon of Christ’s light to others and for the world. To this end on 18th September our Diocese in Europe held a service for Creation. You can follow this service on youtube if you missed it. On the very same day I followed it, Greece was watching the progress and path of Ianos the medicane Mediterranean storm. This is a rare weather phenomenon in this part of the world, parts of the plain of Thessaly, a rich normally productive and fertile land will see no harvest this year and maybe for many more. We have also been observing fires across the world and the pandemic , the root of this word meaning pan dimos all population in Greek, has affected us all.
How can scripture connect with this? We declare that Christ is the new creation when we use the words of Philippians as a creed. What we are saying is that only Christ, Son of God, can bring fullness out of emptiness life out of death. This is the meaning of kenotic.
Jesus is not always sweetness and light. Increasingly we have had readings in Matthew’s gospel of justice and fairness and how this applies to all with no exceptions, like the pandemic. In this parable which is told just after Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. He has overturned the money lenders tables outside the temple and his behaviour is challenging the Jewish norms.
We have not been promised an easy life or one without challenges to embrace. Creation is groaning and we are still crying how long O Lord? Mankind and creation is facing several challenges at this time. However, we are called as Christians in these times and that means we have to grapple with them. James Baldwin, the American author says: ‘We cannot change everything we face but we have to face it in order to bring change.’
As Christians in the year of our Lord 2020 what does justice across the board look like for mankind and the planet we live on and have been put in charge of by our Maker?
AMEN
No Comments