Candlemas Lighting Waitangi Sunday
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
-
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!
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
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
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