A Fourth Way

Can be listended to here.


 Gate Pa – Passion Sunday 2016

Readings:
Hebrew Scripture:     Isaiah 43: 16-21  
Psalm:                         126     
Epistle:                        Philippians 3: 4b-14 
Gospel:                        John 12: 1-8
What I want to say:
·         when we are truly found by love then our only response it to repent (not other way around)
·         when that happens we are radically changed, and invited to live out of that love rather than our own effort
What I want to happen:
People to reflect on/pray about – do I live in response to being found by love, or struggle to earn that love?

The Sermon

      1.      Introduction:

the story we just heard is such a great story
has so many layers to it
to explore those layers
I want to use story we heard last week
            - Wendy helped us explore
the unfinished story Two Lost Sons
remarkable story
I think it is a story holds at its heart all that Jesus was on about.
want a summary of Jesus good news
            this is it.
who and why did Jesus tell this story?
-> ask
·               to Pharisees and scribes
·               getting antsy about how Jesus seemed to be accepting and honouring tax collectors and sinners by eating with them.
hold that for minute
over last few weeks using Brian McLaren's idea that we all see world through one of number of lenses or world views
·         rivalry
·         compliance
·         meaningless mechanism
both sons        
more importantly people listening to story
all see world and God
            through one of these
rivalry and compliance
let you decide which
both sons in story felt entitled
neither understood who they truly were
both are beloved sons
            despite all that both of them did
            beloved sons

            2. Beloved Sons

sonship not something to be attained
            something to be lived
everyone who listened to story also struggles with this
Pharisee and scribes thought they sons because obedience to law
they too thought entitled because of obedience
get really cheesed when groups people shown no inclination to follow law as they do
being treated with honour and blessing by Jesus
told that they are beloved children of God
those groups are not entitled to that honour
so Jesus tells this story
sadly we usually miss this point.
we think sonship is earned through repentance - compliance
tell the story in light of that
            say younger son repented and asked his fathers forgiveness
doesn't
comes up cunning plan return as servant - no repentance in that plan
Father sees him far off
runs to him
embraces him
at that moment he was found
            found by father's love
            he realised who truly was – beloved son
realises not worthy
not entitled
            then repents of all that stopped him knowing that or living that out
We left other son still locked into seeing self as entitled because of his service
            still thinking he had done enough to earn his place as son
            unwilling to see anyone else as beloved son
                        not even his brother
so too Pharisees and scribes
feel entitled through obedience
unwilling to see anyone else as beloved

3. Worldviews

all this takes us back to world views and gospels
One son let go of how he saw the world
            put on new glasses
            saw himself as beloved
not because of anything he had done
just was
in doing so he looses control of his destiny
life is now a response to being loved
that changes everything
this is the fourth world view
            fourth set lenses that McLaren talks about
world view or lens of love
this is heart of what Jesus is on about
heart of gospel
we are beloved
not through own actions
but because God's generosity
            we,
            like all those heard this story
invited to see selves, God, world through this lens
this worldview
invited to live it out
to live in response this love freely given
this extravagant life changing life giving love
so what does look like when see world and God and self in this way?
brings us to todays story.

            4. Mary

Gospel story this morning is also about someone found by love
            extraordinary story.
this story appears in some form in all 4 gospels
not many that do that
ln all of the stories Mary is someone who defies expectations
Luke version Mary sits with the men as disciple
            while sister Martha fulfils her role
John’s story different from the other three
            some similar elements
            few differences
setting
            just raised Lazarus
            led to high priests deciding enough is enough          
                        deciding Jesus must die
            Jesus goes back out to wilderness until Passover
now on his way back into Jerusalem
next day is Palm Sunday,
part important role in setting scene for Jesus’ arrest and execution
smell death hangs over this story
Lazarus death and raising
threat of Jesus death
threat Lazarus's second death
Mary's response is bold and unexpected
anoints Jesus's feet with very expensive oil
            wipes with her hair
in dong so
assumes role servant
uses perfume and not water
treats him as husband or brother
she has been found by love
understands that she is beloved child of God
lives that out
actions fill house fragrance of life

while also preparing Jesus for death that awaits

Judas in contrast
still earning his way in
uses poor to show how virtuous he is


5. Being found by love

Mary was found by Love
            but being found by love is dangerous thing
Mary responds to that love by breaking a whole lot of social taboos
            offering that love back to the one who found her.
Act of deep compassion which Jesus recognises.
when we are found by love we are no longer in control
we don’t take the initiative
            God does
            we respond to God
When we are found by love
            we invited to remember who we are
                        that we are God’s beloved
and invited to consider all that prevents us knowing that we are beloved
all that prevent us living that out
all that prevents us from seeing all others as god's beloved
all that leads us to act like Judas and the Pharisees
treating them as somehow less
leads us inevitably to let go whole lot predetermined ideas about
            who is God
            who we are in God
            what means live Godly life
            at most extreme – become like Paul and Mary
people who shed religious and social constrictions
instead embrace loving freedom comes being Beloved.
stop trying to do everything in own strength
stop needing to have all answers
stop needing to be in control
become willing to simply respond to God
            look for God at work
            join in work reminding all that they are beloved

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