Living in God

Gate Pa – Pentecost 7 2013

Readings:

Hebrew Scripture:          2 Kings 5:1-14              

Psalm:                                  Psalm 30

Epistle:                 Gal 6:7-16                   

Gospel:                                Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

What I want to say:

explore what the gospel says about our money

What I want to happen:

people to hold lightly to money and grow in faith 

The Sermon

1.       Introduction:

ambulance story

rude Elisha and Naaman – God does the unexpected

                not confined by our attitudes and rules

                                even when think come from God

2.       Paul

same God meet in Paul’s writings (and gospel story with Jesus

                God does unexpected

                calls those seek follow to live the unexpected

                so today baptise Nada

                place her among people God

                follow God acts in unexpected ways)

               

same God meet in Pauls writings

struggling with those demand new converts circumcised

because that is what God expects

                                partly obedience law

                                partly help them avoid persecution from Jews

 3.       Sending out 70

certainly God meet Jesus life

Jesus breaks all kinds of rules

                especially rules divided his society

                socially, economically, politically, religiously        

                rules defined who neighbour and who wasn’t

                rules named some worthy attention and care

                rendered others as invisible and unworthy

everything he did understand along these lines:

                those ate with made visible and restored God’s community

                those healed sickness and possession brought in from outside

                those forgave restored as well

with each these acts God’s circle compassion widened

therefore rules excluded them confronted and rejected

those followed Jesus were to care as well

                treat them as people worthy treated as neighbour

                those us as people follow Jesus invited see all

                                treat all

                                worthy treated as neighbour

lot harder do than say.

Things that separate us whether like it or not

one of those things is money

 4.       Money

something founder other great mendicant order – Dominicans  Francis understood

in Dominic case – set out remove

As Franciscan this one readings need take note of

one readings Francis based own understanding responding to and living out gospel on

took these passages literarily

fortunately – Luke lot less clear

                not everyone told give all away poor

                great relief to all us sitting here today

story of missionaries

                compared life in US – poor conditions

                compared people lived around – rich

own experience in Solomons

These are issues that Francis and Dominic confronted

until 1200’s – no friars

just monks

live in monasteries

how monasteries worked

                individual vow poverty

                Order accepted land dowries and gifts

-          very wealthy and powerful

-                  why Henry 8^th got rid of them

Dominic realised that this lead common people see clergy and religious as wealthy

                also meant they no understanding what like to be poor

                not standing amongst peasant

                                more inclined to listen to poor people – seen as heretics

so established Order of Preachers – university trained

                vows of poverty

                lived out amongst peasants

Francis just read gospel and obeyed

one level no planning involved

another level understood that his wealth – son very wealthy cloth merchant

                obstacle life of faith

                obstacle living out that life amongst people time

by removing money, removed barrier

as Franciscan seek to walk in his footsteps.

This is one passage shaped Francis attitude money

so passage Franciscans have to take seriously.

troubling

Jesus sent out disciples with no money, no means beg,

                no sandals, no cloak – comfort body

could no longer rely on their own resources

absolutely dependant on hospitality of others

absolutely dependant on God

social rules his time helped all this

wealthy homes, courtyards and hospitality

while wealthy ability offer that hospitality

all depend on how saw disciples

                see them as neighbours

                worthy being given hospitality?

good chance not offered hospitality

real possibility people should not be seen with offer

who do we offer hospitatlity to?

who offers hospitality to us?

5. my struggle as a Franciscan

have not given all money away poor

not taken vow poverty

instead my vows are for living simply, in love joy and humility.

-          avoid luxury and waste

-          stop worrying about money – reasonably easy for me cause I earn enough

-          seeing what I have as God’s and not mine

-          be generous as God is generous

-          try to live depending on God and not on my own resources and gifts and strengths

-          live in faith

-          struggle with each one of these

readings like this are hard

remind me of my calling

remind me I have long way to go to really live that out. 

talk to neighbour moment