Sermon from Sunday

Second before lent
27th February 2011.

If you have not seen it already, then “Inside I’m Dancing” is a must see film. It is the story of two young men who live with full time care and a life confined to wheelchairs. It is a very moving film, partly because of the way it may make the viewer think about themselves. I have now met three people confined to life in a wheel chair because of Multiple Sclerosis who have coincidently and independently said to me that they have been blessed with the condition, as it has made them a better person, or the person they are.
Lent is soon to be upon us and a time of critical self reflection is often what is carried out at this time.
Stephen Cherry, the author of the Barefoot disciple, gives up grumbling one Lent, and says what an education that was.
How do we go about looking at ourselves in a positive yet self critical way?
Certainly we need to be able to do this, otherwise we can easily get sucked into feeling that others should feel and react to things the way we do, and that the world revolves around the self.
Paul obviously struggled with this a little in today’s epistle as he struggles with the judgement of self and of others. His well versed conclusion is “do not judge others!” which is of course easier said than done. However he does frame God in the scenario and conclude that God is real one who has to face who we are and what we are.
This week I have been heartened to see that the Government are beginning to recognise (again!) that what has been called “Quality of life” is perhaps more important, or at least as important, as money wealth and property. To this end they are conducting a survey apparently to find out how happy we are.
Wil Smith featured with his own son a few years ago in another great film called “In pursuit of Happyness”. It tells the heart rending story of a salesman Chris Gardner, who depends on the sale of a particular medical machine to survive. Gradually he looses everything including his wife, who just comes to the end of her tether. He struggles against the odds with his son. He eventually gets hope when he pursues his gift with numbers and with tenacity becomes very successful indeed. Chris Gardner is now in real life a multi millionaire.
Although the real story has a monetary reward, the film is about holding on to the things that are important and investing in them, rather than stuff. It comes back to what possesses us rather than what we possess. And the phrase “the most important things in life aren’t things”.

As we begin Lent therefore it may be the time to take a good long look at who we are and what posseses us, and check if this is the thing which feeds us or if it is the thing which drives us.
Jesus taught his disciples constantly to be aware of the things which feed them.
How can we find enough food to feed this multitude of people they asked one day, and yet his response was amazing bring what you have bring who you already are and share it… there was more than enough.
Elsewhere he reminds them “I am the bread of life”, and though some might want to stray into thinking that there is some link with Sacrament here, he was not for sure meaning this at all.
Do not worry about your life….. food, eating drinking, clothing, fashion, smell, looks, appearances, cars, appliances, gadgets…… Strive to find God and then you may discover that everything else fits into its proper place.
It might seem that even in Jesus day people were possessed by the world rather than being freed to live in it and alongside it.
There are people who see God set almost against the world, they see the Great Judge before they see the great lover, and one at the expense of the other. The people of Israel also tustled with this worrying thought over and over….. we are for it now!! But in todays OT reading we are reminded of the intimate natural relationship we have with God and God with us, so intimate that we are seen as inscribed on the palms of his hands. This means that when in metaphorical language we come towards him and see his outstretched arms what is it we see? (our own names)
So looking at ourselves critically over Lent is a time of liberation not condemnation, it is a time to rediscover a God Life and a life lived wholly and Holy in the world.

If a child lives with Criticism,
He learns to Condemn.
If a child lives with Hostility,
He learns to Fight.
If a child lives with Ridicule,
He learns to be Shy.
If a child lives with Shame,
He learns to feel Guilty.
If a child lives with Tolerance,
He learns to be Patient.
If a child lives with Encouragement,
He learns Confidence.
If a child lives with Praise,
He learns to Appreciate.
If a child lives with Fairness,
He learns Justice.
If a child lives with Security,
He learns to have Faith.
If a child lives with Approval,
He learns to Like Himself.
If a child lives with Acceptance and Friendship,
He learns to find Love in the World.