Longing

 Gate Pa – Presentation of Jesus / Epiphany 4 2013

Readings:

Hebrew Scripture:      Jer 1:4-10

Psalm:             Psalm: 71:1-6                         

Epistle:            1 Cor 13:1-13 

Gospel:            Luke 4:21-30 or Luke 2: 22-40

What I want to say:

Today is about longing

            longing of those in various readings

                        for God

                        for hope

                        to be loved

            God’s longing expressed in Jeremiah

            longing of all people

            longing of Maori as we approach Waitangi Day

What I want to happen:

What does God long for for this community

for us this Waitangi day

The Sermon

         1.      Introduction:

sobering over the last week watching and reading about people Mali

especially Timbuktu

                        historic city

                        sense of history seemingly still shaping who see themselves as

as heard stories having lives overrun invading force

living under constant threat

see much what treasured

            encapsulates your identity

            suddenly danger destruction

as I watched

            I wondered what that was like

as listened people being interviewed about their experience

reminded that the experience of those people much like people of Gospels

in many ways describes world Jesus lived in

            world gospel writers

world under occupation by Romans

who were as violent as Islamist militants in Mali

living always threat violence

that shadow covers entire gospel story

colours people in it

and all long for

especially Luke

       2.      Longing

if thread ran through all readings heard today

it would be longing

longing of Psalmist God would rescue him from all besets him

Longing Jeremiah to be freed from call that God being placed on him

            knowing this will not be good

Longing of God found in that call

            longing that all that separates people from God might be removed

            they will remember again who they are

                        their identity found only in God – and not all they desire

Longing of Paul people in young church

            let go need to mark each other as in or out community,

            let go of need name some as more in and more important than others

this Pharisee,

            once guardian of who was in and out God’s community,

                        who in and out of God’s care and concern

                        who had worked maintain his position at centre of that community

says let it go

we are all in

and we are all as beloved as each other

instead of these boundaries

            he longs for his readers follow way of compassion and love.

                        see each other with compassion

                        see each other knowing they are unreservedly loved

            not wishy-washy romantic love

                        about how I feel

            but God’s hard crunchy self-giving  love

                        commitment

                        God unwavering eternal commitment to all humanity

                                                            that invites us sees the other as beloved,

                                                                        no matter who that other is.

Paul longs for love to be the cornerstone, not preservation, not boundaries

On Wednesday, commemorate Waitangi day

            which for many Maori is day sorrow and anger

when remember again how all they longed hoped in signing that Treaty

was betrayed

how sacred covenant they signed was broken

I wonder what we would bring to that commemoration, to the debate

if come from position of compassion

            and not preservation

follow Pauls way of love

            God’s hard crunchy self-giving  love

                        commitment

                        God’s commitment to Maori

asked what might need to happen that Maori can flourish

            and be all that God longs for

     3.      Gospels

longing also thread that runs through both options for gospel readings today

            Continuation of last week’s story (Luke 4 reading)

where those originally are in awe of Jesus

            reminded that just son of Joseph

            led to verbal joust

            when they lose verbal joust (as so many do)

            resort to violence, try to stone him (and so the return to Jerusalem begins)

     4.      Candlemas

in reading heard this morning set for the  Presentation of Jesus at the Temple or Candlemas

                        – explain in pew sheet

meet longing Joseph and Mary for their son

who take from Bethlehem to Jerusalem

not big journey

go to temple

            offer sacrifice –

                        giving thanks first born son -  dedicate as holy to God

            where Joseph publicly claim paternity of Jesus

                        establish is place in community as his son

            puts to rest all rumours about Mary and this pregnancy - maybe

poor devout family – can only offer sacrifice of poor people (two birds)

living under occupation

longing for an end to that

all their longing for Jesus, for themselves,

lived out in this simple act, following requirements of their faith

      5.      Simeon

in Luke

- Story early years Jesus mirror that of John’s early years

Just as John’s father prophesied at presentation at the temple

So prophesy over Jesus

way establish someone’s honour at the beginning of their life story

            gives means measuring worth life at the end.

Simeon prophesies with Jesus

His prophesy, his song has been sung or said evening prayer centuries

full of longing

story of We All Belong at Wellington Synod

developed youth policy for Diocese of Wellington

            statement of our longing church see youth ministry as so much more than running a youth group

            longing that every adult see their role in journeying with young people

                        helping them name their questions and doubts

                        helping them discover God’s longing for them

Creatively presented it at this synod

last item of business,

finished days business with evening prayer

saying this prayer, song of Simeon

            gave voice to all that longing

            gave voice all hope we had that we might live this out

profound experience have our hope and longing held in an ancient prayer.

Song of Simeon echoes great songs we have already heard

            Zechariah

            Mary

songs born out being people under occupation

full of their longing

            long freedom

            long for God,

            songs born out knowledge only God meet this longing

As we say these songs

            we join with them in this longing

            we join with all who struggle under occupation and poverty

                        long for freedom

                        long for a different life

as we say these songs

Reminded again

Luke presents Jesus as one who will fulfil that longing

            as one who embodies God’s longing for us

                        for all humanity

as Augustine of Hippo said

God longs to remind us who we are

made in Gods image

we are known

we can only know ourselves in God

when we willing embrace love that is at the core of our being.

when we know that we and every person is beloved

      6.      Treaty of Waitangi

this Wednesday is Waitangi Day

what can any of this have to say to this commemoration

often wonder how readings link with our hopes and longings

as we approach this Waitangi day

 how connect longing people live among

longing of Maori

as we approach this Waitangi day

what does Pauls way of love invite us to

what does this gospel written out hat that invite us to?