But it wasn’t just Jesus’ body that was rejected. It was his teaching and his way of life - his choice to oppose the foxes of this world with feathers and wings rather than with guns and swords; with loving vulnerability rather than lethal force; with empathy rather than empire.
God is with us always, but each week we come to this place to be consciously and deliberately in God’s presence together. We see the light of Christ in each other’s faces, in the scriptures, in our songs and prayers, and in the bread and wine. With all those things and more, we charge up our solar panels so as to leave this place carrying God’s love, wisdom and justice in our entire selves. We take that light into a world that is both terribly afraid and desperately longing to meet God face-to-face.
Jesus calls us to love our enemies. This is not fluffy sentimentality. This is the hardest thing you will ever do. Some say this is the only truly new ethical teaching Jesus delivered, and I think they could be onto something. Most of what Jesus taught was distilled from his tradition – the Scriptures and teachings of his day. ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’: you can find that in the book of Leviticus. The Beatitudes that we looked at last week lare pretty much a summary of the book of Psalms. Love your enemies, though. It is hard to find that clearly and explicitly taught before anywhere Jesus. So it is basically the most Jesussy ethical teaching in Scripture. That doesn’t mean we like it, though.
Bishop Sarah Plowman's sermon for confirmation
Through the Epiphany season we reflect on God showing up in human experience. So, I’d like to invite you to close your eyes for a moment and imagine God showing up right here where you are. What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel? What might you do in response?
Every four years I share my birthday with the inauguration of a US President. To be honest, I didn’t even notice until the start of President Obama’s first term. Having a birthday that coincided with the inauguration of America’s first black president: that was something to be proud of!
Being asked to change water into wine is Well An occupational hazard for clergy. It is one of those jokes that the people think is original. Every time! “Hey Vicar, we need more wine. How about it!”
Baptism is, among other things, a sign of unity. With the world as divided as it is, that may make baptism the most practical gift we can offer the world right now.
As we enter a new year we welcome the light of Christ, symbolised by the star the Wise Outsiders followed; and we welcome all wise ones from diverse places and perspectives, who come to us as outsiders, looking different from us, speaking different languages, engaging in different customs, holding different beliefs and world views, yet determined, with us, to follow the light of truth. With them we discover anew each year that the search for truth always leads to Jesus – because all light is the light of Christ.