Sermon Archive
Travelling on our spiritual journeys
Sermon preached by Clephane Hume at Holy Communion on 1 January 2006
Numbers 6:22-27 ; Philippians 2:5-11 ; Luke 2:15--21
Happy New Year to you all.
At the beginning of a year, we look back on the one before and look forward, wondering what lies ahead. The past year held no shortage of challenges and things to provoke serious consideration. This is truly a time for reflection, rededication and commitment, to consider making changes. The media are, as usual, dispensing advice on how to improve our lives during the forthcoming year and providing predictions for our global future. Some pretty dire, but probably unlikely to shock us into action to prevent the ravages of global warming for prospective generations. But that’s me being gloomy.
So, at one level, here we are, doubtless resolving to do all sorts of things, which reality suggests we will most likely have failed to stick to - within a week The Times polled bishops and church leaders, thereby discovering that their resolutions are similar to those of the rest of us. Mixed in depth. But this service provides the opportunity to resolve to do things in a thoughtful way – as we renew our covenant with God, to continue on our Christian journey.
We do need to be mindful of our lifestyles - which is where New Year contemplation comes in. There may be things we want to change or improve upon as we travel on our spiritual journeys. You could argue that too much thinking is not productive. The shepherds didn't hesitate – when they realised that something special was happening, they simply headed off to Bethlehem. They wanted to investigate and to be part of it. There are a lot of people out there in the streets, seeking for something to give their lives meaning in today’s world, and we have something to offer them. As his new year resolution, Archbishop John is cited as quoting the first chapter of St Paul's letter to the Philippians 'it is my confident hope that nothing will daunt me or prevent me from speaking boldly.' The shepherds spread the word – we need to be less reticent about doing that. Good news is, after all, for sharing.
This may require change in our way of doing things, and change requires action on our part. Before, during and after any new behaviour. If you have tried to give up something, (like smoking) you will know that maintenance of the new habit is the most difficult part. And encouragement is required. I unearthed a book recently, inscribed 'Presented to John Hervey for his improvement in his studies generally, in the hope that it will serve as an incentive to future exertion'. Signed, Principal, 19th Dec 1856. Serious stuff. Just short of 500 pages, with a few, very few, illustrations, a veritable tome on the history of India. A comprehensive text, which is actually very interesting, but daunting, I would have thought, for a schoolboy – my great grandfather. He went into the church and his daughter was responsible for me growing up in this church. Make of that what you like!
But, an incentive to future exertion? Maybe it was in Victorian times. But we do have an incentive, if it can so be described, in the promise of redemption which the incarnation brings us. Mary pondered, we know the sequel. Not everyone gets an announcement as experienced by the angels. People may need help in finding the way and will discover it in different ways according to the paths they journey on. Some may be blind to their surroundings, take wrong turnings.
Here at St John’s we have been thinking about ecological issues and last September during creationtide we made pledges related to our responsibilities for the planet. Nevertheless, I groaned inwardly last week when I received a counselling journal with a focus on 'ecopsychology'. Putting people in touch with nature for therapeutic purposes. Why do we have to get so heavy about some things? It can stifle the wonder.
But then I watched a programme from the BBC natural history unit – a superb compilation of wildlife and nature photography. One of the themes was growing and changing. Time lapse photography produced amazing pictures of tendrils creeping up trees, eggs hatching, and flowers bursting out of buds. Although there were dramatic and powerful scenes of waves and volcanoes, the programme was very much a celebration of the beauty of creation and a contrast to all the tragic episodes of natural destruction which occurred during the past year. For me, this is a useful metaphor for our Christian life. We are growing and changing as we develop. Life is never static, and our faith journey – if it is to be a real journey – is the same. We explore, and move on.
During this Eucharist, in the renewal of our discipleship, we shall make a public declaration of our intention to put ourselves into the hand of God and walk in his way. We need not expect a continually smooth path, obstacles and distractions have to be overcome, but in my experience it is often those who have faced tough challenges, who are most serene at their journey’s end.
Is that daunting? 'We are,' writes Douglas Aitken, 'weak, small and ineffectual, in the face of the tasks which face us.' 'But,' he continues, 'we are just like the seeds which lie under the hardened ground'. The bulbs are at work already. Unbelievable as it seems, I saw my first snowdrop of the season on December 23rd.
The words of our covenant are based on the Methodist Covenant Service – This also reminds us that Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are suited to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves, in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
Whatever else 2006 brings, we have the opportunity to celebrate our Christian heritage, to rejoice in the beauty of the world around us, and to share it, within God’s family and beyond. Even if we do feel small and ineffectual there are things we can do. Remember that Jesus took on the nature of a servant. But when necessary, he spoke out and went against the majority. Be a leader like that snowdrop! The power to do all things is given us in Christ who strengthens us.
At the beginning of this new year I return to the prayer written for the millennium. 'Let there be respect for the earth, peace for its people, love in our lives, delight in the good, forgiveness for past wrongs, and, from now on, a new start.'
Enjoy your journeying this year and don’t forget to look at the scenery!
Aitken D 1983 Words For Living. Saint Andrew Press. Meditation entitled 'New'
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