“Has”
This sermon can be listened to here.
Gate Pa – Year C 19th
Sunday of Ordinary Time, Pentecost 12
Readings:
Psalm
Psalm: 50:1-8,
22-23
First
Reading:
Isaiah 1:1,
10-20
Second
Reading: Hebrews 11:1-3,
8-16
Gospel
Reading Luke 12:32-40
What I want to say:
I
want to explore the importance of “has”
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
Lot we could focus on this Sunday if we wanted
to.
Yesterday is a big day.
In our church calendar yesterday was Feast of
Transfiguration–
day
remember story Jesus being transfigured and lost in light God
yesterday also Hiroshima Day
world
remembers bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, and Nagasaki three days later
day we remember horror of nuclear weapons
pray
for world without them
I find it so sad that day remember story Jesus
being transfigured and consumed in light God
also
now remember 150,000 people who were instantly consumed by violent and life
consuming light created by us humans unleashed from two bombs
Because of yesterday – today is Peace Sunday
day
we invited pause and pray peace around world
recognise
how we contribute to lack of peace
here
in this land
so
many places
give
thanks for those risk own lives trying bring peace, restore peace and keep
peace.
give
thanks many people who work tirelessly with many millions people displaced by
war
those
work create world where war is not needed.
This day we remember life of God
now
wrapped in deadly cloak of war
honest it has been since beginning
date
August 6 was set by Pope Callistus 1456
6
years after fall of Constantinople
when
news arrived in Rome that European forces had overcome the Muslim Turks near
Belgrade
Pope
ordered the whole church to commemorate the victory by celebrating the feast of
the Transfiguration to commemorate the slaughter.
It is hard to keep hold of Christ the Prince
of peace in the face of such violence
2. To Begin - rich foolish barn guy
with that in mind let’s look at today’s gospel
reading
a couple thoughts to start with
ð first is that this week’s reading is
continuation of what heard last week
rich
foolish barn guy
told in response to crazy and dishonorouble request
greedy
man
wanted
Jesus to tell brother divide family land with him
request – put land at risk of being lost to
family
dire consequences for communities that relied
on that land to survive
reminder that
greed
is never just about me and my moral well being
always
affects community in which I live
and verses in between that story and what
heard today
Jesus
talking further about that parable
look at birds – not anxious about what eat
God look after them
so too we should not be anxious.
important that what we read this week is read
in relation to all that
it is continuation of all that
3. Reading and Standing
last week also talked about how where we stand
affects how we read bible
used example of being on Savo
where
I was richest person by far in church
having
preach about rich foolish barn guy
how
what story says to me
very
different from what says to them
push that a bit
say that important part of where we stand is our
theology
really
affects what we read in scripture
affects how it is translated
no translation is just a word for word match
can’t do it
grammar different
words don’t always have equivalents in other
language
translators always having to decide what
passages mean when translating
small scale we can see that in passage we
heard this week
CEV - 32My little group of
disciples, don’t be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom. - future
NRSV - “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it
is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
New Jerusalem - “There is no need to be
afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.”
In line with NIV
suspect how we translate this verse depends on
what see kingdom as
when
it will happen
Greek verb is in perfect tense
“has
pleased your Father to give you the kingdom”
already
happened
we
are in kingdom
implies- we can do nothing to change that
we
are in
kingdom
is all around us
verses
around that idea then become how we might live in the kingdom
whether
we live up to what follows will not change fact
you
and I are in kingdom
very different sense to it from CEV - Your
Father wants to give you the kingdom. – future
father
wants to give it
questions
around that
change
how read following verses
can
easily become things I need to do to measure up
to
make sure that father does give me the kingdom
because
while father might be pleased to give me the kingdom
if
I don’t measure up I could miss out.
interesting - commentaries read
took
nrsv as future
how
many read this as future tense
I
think is sad
I know lot Christians who are worried about
just that
worried not good enough
worried
let God down
worried
faith not strong enough
worried
actions are Christian enough
worried
actions not please God
not
let them into kingdom
Jesus says “There is no need to be afraid,
little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.”
Lets pause and let those word sink in
4. What is the kingdom?
so what is kingdom?
what is it we have been given
when will it happen?
I’ve talked a lot about this
so lets spend some time with you talking about
this
turn neighbour
what is kingdom
when will it happen
5. Plenary and Bernie
feedback
our understanding of kingdom important
shapes
how read scripture
shapes
how live lives
shape
our response to events we remember today.
what ever it is
keep hold of that opening line
“There is no need to be afraid, little flock,
for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom.”
(9.30am)
finish showing little clip Bernie Sanders
reflecting on his time with Pope
which captures for me a lot of what kingdom is
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