Whose are we this Lent?

Gate Pa – Lent 1, 2015

Readings:

Psalm 25:1-10

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-17

Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22

Gospel: Mark 1:9-15

What I want to say:

Lent is a time to slow down, embrace being still and silent, so that we might listen more deeply. It is a time to pay attention to the three questions that shape us: Whose are we. who are we, what is ours to do? In particular it is a time to reflect on who we understand God to be, and to hear the invitation to deepen that understanding, to let go of some images and embrace new images.

What I want to happen:

People to pay attention to the God they worship, and to use this as a time to let go of some images and embrace new images.

The Sermon

1. Introduction:

Wednesday night read this out – quote

alto like Ramadan for Muslims

traditionally we seem focus on fasting

does involve emphasis on prayer and reading scripture

being aware of meeting needs poorest

could describe lent as time slow

embrace silences and stillness

listen

some of that is about giving things up – so have space listen well

some of that about developing new spiritual disciplines

new practices

help us listen, new ways live gospel

sometimes we just fast

just give up something

good for you

what we do

I kind of feel that misses the point really

point being Lent time pay much more attention to God

further problem – end up feeling super virtuous

doesn’t seem to be what it is all about

2. The 3 Questions

last 3 years much what said three underlying questions

seem to me shape understanding of what our role is in this place

here in Gate Pa

three questions are

whose are we

who are we

what is ours to do

primary question whose are we

who is God for us

who is this God we seek to follow

And Lent offers us a chance to reflect on what names/images we use are helpful

what names/images we might be invited to let go of

what new ways understanding God we might be invited to embrace

our Lenten studies offer us a chance to engage with this in a more deliberate way.

3. Readings

the readings we heard this morning also give us a good start

especially reading Genesis and Mark

both traditional readings for first Sunday lent

alternate between fall and first covenant for reading from first testament

hear Jesus time in wilderness in each Gospels we focus on for that year

how might we understand them?

4. The Fall and Ensnarement

The other reading we might hear on a first Sunday in lent is story of the Fall

When Eve is deceived by serpent

she and Adam eat of apple

they are cast our Eden

more importantly maybe

all creation is ensnared by powers that work against will God

powers that would become personified in Satan

prevent creation from being all that God wills it

Paul talks about this as all creation groaning in childbirth

we, humanity

blinded

prevented seeing that we are made in image of God

prevented seeing that we are beloved children of God

prevented living as beloved children of God

then have story Noah

God seeks to start again

start afresh

with Noah and the Ark

Now here are some images that we need to take note of

Noah sends out dove

eventually returns with olive branch

symbol of the land uncovered

the chance to start again

precursor to covenant God will now enter into with all humanity

with all creation

covenant we heard this morning

all that goes before it

God will never again use violence and fix what has happened

deeper import

that god will fix what has happened

but by other means.

it is a covenant

God promises to fix what has happened

God promises not to use violence

what do we promise?

what does humanity have to do to get this fixed?

nothing

this is a one sided

one way covenant

5. Mark

flash forward to today’s gospel reading

this man

most which heard before

as i said before

sets themes for rest of the Gospel

- authority

- liberation

begin with how unexpected this all is

come from Nazareth for goodness sake

then baptism

where sees the spirit descending into him (into way better translation than on)

commentators suggest this deliberate image

designed take hearers back to Noah

back to that first covenant we also heard this morning

covenant where god says

“I will fix this

I will end this ensnarement

I will heal this blinding

I will restore creation to what I desired

I will restore humanity to beloved children”

The sign of that is this dove

In this morning Gospel we are offered an image of Jesus

as God’s answer to the fall

6. pay attention

number ways we can understand what this is all about

more recently – last 700 years or so

might describe this as Jesus coming to meet the demands of God

so that our relationship with God can be restored

one we know best

first 1300 years or so

understood as Jesus coming to break chains hold creation

hold humanity

by meeting demands of Satan

This is God honouring the first covenant

Jesus being Light God (John’s Gospel)

that banishes our blindness and restores our sight

so that we might see that we are still beloved children of god

we never ceased to be children of God

throughout all gospels

Jesus takes of powers that resist God

defeats them

in death on cross

when all seemed lost and Satan had won

God destroys power evil for ever

7. Lent