love and reconciliation

The overriding theme for today is Love and reconciliation.  When we think of this, often in churches we focus on sin, and then think that there are different types of sinning, with a range of effects.  Sometimes that can lead to exclusion of people from the Kingdom of God by our misunderstanding and brings God’s name into disrepute.

Looking at the three scriptures we have listened to today, it’s worth looking behind the scenes a bit and try and discern what the authors are trying to convey.

The excerpt from psalm 51 is sometimes to thought to relate to David’s adultery with Bethsheba, however it was probably written in the post exilic period and rather than talking specifically about an individual’s sin is actually focussing on the sin of the entire society.  The psalmist makes the point that the punishment of sin is alienation from God. “So what”, you say, we know that already. He is trying to get across that being in the presence of God, another way of saying having a relationship with God is so important to life that alienation from God might just as well be thought of as being dead.  However, let me make this clear, the author is not suggesting that you get ill or die because you sin; in fact, this psalm betrays this myth that has been the cause of so much suffering down the ages.  If we sin, whatever we do, we sin against God and this harms the intimacy of our relationship with God; the wages of sin therefore is really alienation from that intimacy. We put back in place the barrier, that God, in the incarnate form of Jesus broken down on the Cross.

A word on verse 5 “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me”.  This is not evidence of original sin, it doesn’t make sex bad or unclean. It rather acknowledges the proclivity, the likelihood if you would prefer, of the people around him to sin.  A bit like taking a stroll down your local high street looking around and commenting on society now; what would we say?

John’s reading occurs just after the feeding of the 5000 and Jesus appearing to his disciples as though he was walking on the water. He then talks to the crowds equating himself to the bread of life.  The order of these events is important to John, he is showing a picture of Jesus, first of all highlighting memories of Moses, then showing him as greater than Moses; (Moses may have moved the water, but here is Jesus walking ON the water), and finally he is taking upon himself as being the very source of life; the sustainer of life – hence the allusion to bread.  John as the author is using picture words, metaphor; he is encouraging the reader to equate Jesus’ words and link them to later happenings, in particular the crucifixion; the very act by which salvation – literally reunion with God would be achieved. 

John wrote his Gospel after the split between the early church and Judaism, and so he has Jesus say “Your ancestors”. Clearly delineating a line between Jesus and his followers to the Jewish tradition. All of this needs to be taken into consideration with a lot of care when reflecting on these texts. John deliberately uses picture language to help the first century reader grasp the truth that John believes is so important to see about Jesus.

Again, we have this overriding message that a deep intimate relationship with God is what is required to experience true life. We might understand true life as being Life with meaning, and that is meaningful both to the person and to those who the person meets with. A life where we can reflect our true nature and purpose – something that is nothing more complicated than being an image of the true God.

Later in John 17, the evangelist will speak again about this union with God when Jesus will pray in the grove at Gethsemane that his followers (you and I) will not only enjoy a unity with each other but most importantly will enjoy a deep and intimate unity with the Trinity itself. It is that deeply intimate relationship that Jesus alludes to as being the pearl of greatest treasure, a relationship initially envisioned by the authors of Genesis and nothing less that the evangelist is suggesting. It is this very unity that lies at the heart of the metaphor – eternal life.

Paul in his letter to the church in Ephesus picks up the theme of this unity in his letter. And gives some detail about how to conduct living and therefore relationships. The nitty gritty if you like of how to do relationship.  It does seem clear that our relationship with God is somehow mirrored in the authors minds with our relationships with others.

Paul therefore advises those in Ephesus to behave with humility, gentleness and patience. To bear with one another with love. Even in the relatively short space of time that had passed between the events of Jesus’ death and Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus it seems clear that the old tensions that exist and tend to raise their heads in human organisational relationships were clearly being encountered; leading to Paul encouraging patience and a yearning to maintain a unity of the Spirit held together in a bond of Peace.

What does this tell us today? How can we relate to these texts from 2,000 and more years ago. The overriding message is that we should seek first and hold onto with all our strength relationship with God. However, in doing so, we should not let slip our relationship with others, because you can’t enjoy one without the other. The two are inter-related at a very deep level and will therefore affect each other. So, we need to be careful about the way that we treat each other.  Is it really helpful if we talk about people as being “unchurched”, is it really helpful to talk about Christians and non-Christians in subtly judgemental terms. Is it really OK to look down on half the population as though they are in some way incapable?  Is it really OK to post hate speech on social media against LGBT people?

It's important because if we are the image of God, then that means you are, and you, and you and the that person who really has the knack of winding you up, they are too!  Even the lying politician or the money grabbing executive. It doesn’t mean that we need to agree with what they say but that we do need to treat people with respect, not for any position or status, but simply that they bear within them the image of God, whether they are aware of this or not. 

This means that if we disagree with someone, then we need to do our best to do so with Grace and Love and we need to try and avoid using judgemental language.

For this is the way towards a society built on Love and Reconciliation; otherwise known as the Kingdom of Heaven.  This isn’t easy at all, but if we look carefully at what the scripture suggests, then I am afraid to say there isn’t an alternative.

So, let us ask for God’s help in guiding us with this

In Jesus Name - Amen