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?
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