Candlemas Lighting Waitangi Sunday

Listen to the sermon here

 Gate Pa – Year B  5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

Readings
Psalm                             Psalm 147:1-11,20                                                     
First Reading             Isaiah 40:21-31
Second Reading           Luke 2:22-40                    
Gospel                        Mark 1:29-39                         

What I want to say:

-        What is Candlemas?

-        What is revealed of Jesus in story from Mark 1 – that we might see and live in the reign of God today?
-        What has this to do with Waitangi Day?

What I want to happen:

-        How are we a restored community of justice, generosity and aroha this Waitangi weekend?

The Sermon

      1.    Candlemas

Friday (February 2) many churches around world celebrated the Presentation of Jesus in the temple which we heard about as our second reading.
-        marks the end of the 40 days of the Christmas-Epiphany season.
-        our church – marks the end of Epiphany.
®   Themes of light and manifestation of God
®   God revealed in Jesus
®   Revelation made available to all people
Began with Matthew’s story - coming of unknown number of Zoroastrian priests – Magi
o   Unsettling story that results in death all infant boys under 2
-        Mark’s version of Jesus being baptised
o   where he is revealed to be God’s Son
Since then heard how kingdom or reign of God is made present in this Jesus
And call to others to join the work of the reign
 
Friday is more commonly known as Candlemas – the day the candles for the coming year are blessed.
Candles are about light and seeing – in every way we can understand that?
Epiphany is about how light of God’s reign is revealed for all people in Jesus
How the light shines in darkness

     2.    Peter’s mother-in-law

We also continuing our slow journey through Mark 1
Fast pace
Full action
-        John the Baptiser preaching and baptising,
-        Jesus baptised and tested in the wilderness,
-        Jesus preaching and calling his first followers,
-        Jesus casting out a demon on the Sabbath in the meeting place (synagogue) in Capernaum.
®   “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom!”
®   is revealed in Jesus
only up to verse 29!
Story of Peter’s mother-in-law being healed from a possibly life threatening fever
First person healed in Mark is a woman
*  Intimate story
-        maybe just Jesus and Peter’s mother in law
-        or those in the house
-        not in big public place
holds her by the hand
®   how most healing happen
®   kanohi ki te kanohi – face to face
*   Difficult story
-        healed mother-in-law gets up and serves Jesus and his disciples
o   tikanga – the culture
§  story has been used reinforce that tikanga in churches up to today
o   many suggest that more than that
§  same verb used describe what angels did to Jesus in wilderness in verse 15
§  same verb Jesus uses describe what ministry is about in Mark 10:45
o   major theme in Marks gospel
-        important to note that healing is not just about the individual,
o   it is about the community
-        When someone is healed they are restored to their place in the community
ð Peters mother-in-law is restored to her place in the family group
-        Maybe also restored to her vocation
-        Number of commentators wonder
ð show us all what being a disciple is about
ð this story is about her healing
ð through her healing community and service

      3.    Waitangi day

Tuesday celebrate Waitangi day
Te Tiriti has been in news a lot lately
Some politicians and others said some nonsense about it
Sad and disappointing
Waitangi Day offers chance acknowledge that we are culturally different and that is to be celebrated not feared
And to honestly acknowledge our history.

      4.    Culture

Exercise at the Polytech on culture
What would you do if you won Lotto
Are significant cultural differences.
Not being divisive name these difference
We bring different values to table
  •        Whanaungatanga (family and community)
  •    Manaakitanga (how you care for each other, the well-being of your community, engaging with one another and maintaining strong relationships)
  •    Kaitiakitanga (guardianship, for the sky, the sea, and the land)

      5.    History

Historians like Ned Fletcher, Paul Moon and Samuel Carpenter offer clear view what Te Tiriti is all about
Talk about history
Situation in Aotearoa in 1840 – populations
-        Concern missionaries and others activity of NZ Company
-        Concern Māori and missionaries – who would exercise authority over those settlers
British at no time expressed any desire to exercise sovereignty over Māori before or after signing of Te Tiriti (up to about 1845).
Means by which British could exercise sovereignty over new British immigrants
Role Anglican missionaries in
-        helping convince British government of the need for Te Tiriti
-        helping develop and then translate Te Tiriti
-        working convince Māori rangatira to sign, in Waitangi and around motu
-        vocal in upholding te Tiriti – often at great cost.
®   Place of Te Tiriti in Te Pouhere , our church constitution

     6.    Us

As we shine light of revelation of God in Jesus on Aotearoa today, what do we see?

As we hold example of Peter’s mother in law  - how do we build community with and serve the first people of this land

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Get those PSA Blood Tests Done Boys!

What a Ride! - Thankyou and Goodbye!

"Just Enjoy The Coffee"