Sermon Archive
Suffering
Sermon preached by Clephane Hume at Matins on 9 December 2001, on the occasion of members of Soroptimist International of Edinburgh attending the service
This used to be called Bible Sunday, and the collect is embedded in my mind because I can remember notices on the blackboard at school, telling us to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest, various pieces of homework. As educational techniques change, so does the world in which we live, though some factors are constant. One being God's covenant with his people. Source for the writings of prophets.
In our first reading today, Isaiah sounds to be in vengeful mode - the woes and judgement are powerful images, as of course is the song of the vineyard. It's interesting how many of the images in the Bible are related to gardens - right from the beginning of Genesis we are told that 'the Lord God planted a garden', and this of course is where we find the first mention is of mankind.
Gardens of course must be tended, or like mine, they get out of control. Isaiah gives us a clear picture of that! But gardens produce food and beautiful flowers, so that they are an abundant source of pleasant imagery as well as desolation. Here the prophet gives us a picture of what will happen if God's people, like Adam and Eve in Eden, are not attentive to his wishes. He reminds us that while we are humbled, God will be exalted.
Romans 8 is a familiar chapter. It contains a verse that always bothers me, because it gets misused - that is, the idea of present suffering. Too often interpreted as meaning that the worse life is, the better we can expect things to be for us after death. It reminds me of the patient who shocked me by saying that her minister had asked her what she had done to deserve the fate of ending up in hospital, unable to walk.
That view persists. I daresay it stems from the healing miracles, where sins are forgiven, but confronting people with such opinions is not giving them a message of love. Christ forgave sins, but did not look for circumstances requiring punishment. Fortunately the patient's symptoms were transitory, and I hope the same could eventually be said of the damage to her faith.
I don't believe, indeed I refuse to believe, that it is mandatory for people to suffer on earth in order to gain salvation. It's counter to what we are told about the grace of God. And if you read beyond those words, it is clear that Paul is using the notion of suffering as a relative factor in conveying to us what lies ahead. The worst possible suffering here is nothing in comparison to the glory and the joy that will be revealed to us. It is beyond comprehension - not even the most extreme emotions can begin to suggest what the experience will be like.
In all things God works for those who love him and Future glory is something that we can all look forward to with the hope which Advent inspires. We have to take that message to the world.
In a letter, focusing on the challenges and problems of modern day ministry, a friend asked me - 'How are we going to support the church in this changing world of many contradictions?' She suggests that this is the responsibility of us all. In the face of all the secular Christmas festivities which surround us, I would agree with that!
Despite all the troubles which we hear and see daily in the news media, there are signs of hope in our world, in which everyone can share.
One is the proposal to bring together and train a group of young women to be Peace ambassadors. This is being undertaken through the Guide and Scout movement, working in different countries in Africa. Child refugees have problems which are outwith our experience - separated from their families, education turned upside down and probably living in a violent or at least turbulent environment.
Additionally, as happened to a Rwandan boy I met in Kenya, people can't speak your language. Post traumatic stress is bad enough when you can talk about it, and a white stranger who could speak to him was just too frightening.
Any chance of normal play is surrendered to premature adulthood -caring for younger siblings or working to eke out a living and that of course puts girls in danger of involvement in the sex trade. And so the cycle of abuse and fear continues.
The Guiding initiative brings with it genuine hope for a more positive future for children who a currently living in a climate of fear. It is a project which is being supported by members of Soroptimist International, the world over. An example of multifaith and multicultural unity. Such things are possible.
News of this initiative coincides with the request to observe a day of prayer for Burma. Today is the 10th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Peace prize to Aung San Suu Kyi. The Burma campaign, a partner of Christian Aid, has made this request, asking 'can you arrange for peace for us?' I wonder if we have any idea what that feels like? The sheer desperation.
I have watched the news reports from Jerusalem this week and felt a sense of despair as well as horror. But this reaction is no use. Prayer, in hope, is the only possible response.
Returning to the epistle to the Romans. This was written in an era of a powerful political empire, with colonies all over the world. The church was a small and fragile group within this. They would have known what we feel like. The church today is vulnerable, but it needs to take a lead. Paul is giving the young Christians encouragement which we should heed.
We must wait patiently for what is to come. Advent is the season of hope and the time of waiting. The incarnation is the precursor to the glory of Easter. And thus our lives are a time of active waiting, being ready for the future - the eternal life that is to come.
We have been called by God and hence we shall be saved. The Holy spirit intervenes for us, however feeble we may feel our efforts are.
We have the opportunity to go out and tell the world the good news that Isaiah and Paul write about. The difficulties and challenges are there, yes, but God's love is above all and that, as Desmond Tutu put it is the wonderful thing. 'God loves you. God loves you. God loves you' Go and tell someone that, and give them hope.
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