Turn, then, and live

Reverend Sue

12 minutes ago

6 min read

The parable this week is one of the shortest and at first seems quite obvious but with time and reflection grows in significance. (Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 21 [26]. Matthew 21:23-32.) Whether our initial response is to say Yes or No there is a journey to undertake.

Sentence:

“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.” Ezekiel 18:32

Collect:

Creator God,

You have called us to be co-creators, midwives,

labourers in your kingdom.

So fill us with desire for your dream for the earth

that we find our Yes to your plans.

Grant us courage, faith and the imagination

to go where you call.

This we pray in the name of Jesus

who emptied himself of everything but love, for us. Amen.

Reflection:

Matthew’s gospel continues one of his perennial themes that Israel – the chosen ones – (read we in the church!) often miss the point, often fail to heed the prophets, and that there is a harsh judgement upon those who had the message of life in their midst but do not heed it. Again and again we are reminded that the religiously righteous and smug missed the point and will now be among the last to work it out and to experience the kingdom of God whilst the poor and dubious will grasp the lesson and therefore experience the kingdom much more quickly. So, what do these ancient words have to say to us today of life?

You may like to read what I wrote a few years ago that focuses on the movement from saying No to doing Yes.

Finding our way to Yes

Those of us who are comfortable members of the established church often have reason to squirm in our seats while listening to Matthew. But the parable with its warning also tells us the good news that we can change our minds and our ways, that we are not doomed by our first words and actions.

How often do we say Yes to what we think we should, only to find that we do not automatically do what we say, what we know we should and could do and be? The spiritual journey, especially for those who have grown up in the church with the wisdom of Christ always near, often brings us to a spoken Yes, to the knowledge of where and what we should be about. But something then prevents us from doing wholeheartedly that which we know we should. How often do we say with our lips that we believe that God is the creator of all things and then go home and act as though some aspects of creation are more important than others, indeed we often act as though some of creation is dispensable! Or how often do we say that we know that God does not take pleasure in the death of anyone and then watch the evening news unmoved, or even a little triumphant, when people not like us die in famines or wars far from us? Or even more simply how often do we say with our lips that we will pray for each other and then when we say our prayers do not remember many more than our own children and most immediate loved ones?

All of us, I suspect, are a little like the second son who says Yes to what we think is right but do not always do the work of our Father. So, what then are we to make of the first son who says No but then goes and does what is right? What does it mean to say No to what will eventually be our life’s work?

I wonder if that is not like the process of truth telling to the self? To tell the truth of our resistance, fear, disinterest, laziness – our “No” - when confronted with the call to work. And that something about telling that unattractive truth begins to set us free to find our way to the “Yes” that is within us. And here our reading from Philippians may point us to how to reach the Yes needed. To be fully present even Jesus the Christ had to empty himself. So whether we start with a No and move to Yes, or start with a verbal Yes and then have to find a whole hearted Yes before we begin the real work, there is a process most of us must engage in order to free ourselves from resistance and doubt to find the desire to serve and grow.

This is understood in other traditions as well. A lovely story from our Eastern brothers and sisters. “A woodcarver named Ching had just finished work on a bell frame. Everyone who saw it marvelled, for it seemed to be the work of spirits. When the Duke of Lu saw it, he asked, ‘What sort of genius is yours that you could make such a thing?’ The woodcarver replied, ‘Sire, I am only a simple workman. I am no genius. But there is one thing. When I am going to make a bell frame I meditate for three days to calm my mind. When I have mediated for three days, I think no more about rewards or emoluments. When I have meditated for five days, I no longer think of praise or blame, skilfulness or awkwardness. When I have meditated for seven days I suddenly forget my limbs, my body; no, I forget my very self. I lose consciousness of the court and my surroundings. Only my skill remains. In that sate I walk into the forest and examine each tree until I find one in which I see the bell frame in all its perfection. Then my hands go to the task. Having set myself aside, nature meets nature in the work that is performed through me. This, no doubt, is the reason why everyone says that the finished product is the work of sprits.’ ” (from The Way of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Merton.)

Meditation, prayer, the great spiritual disciplines of the ages all can assist us to empty ourselves and to find the Yes within. And so can engagement with social justice. We can move from No to God’s way of living to Yes when we empty ourselves of the false separations between us and others. When we no longer focus on what is different between us and the imprisoned – those in prisons, detention centres, psychiatric hospitals, re-education centres. When we can look at a prisoner and see ourselves. When we can identify what imprisons us. We begin to empty ourselves of false divisions and protections and become available to others and to God. God who already waits in the prison, in the hospital bed, in the tomb. When we confess the No but turn up anyway we begin to empty ourselves and make room for God and God’s good priorities and gifts. When we give ourselves over and away we can begin to know ourselves differently. When we allow the least and the unlikely to teach and to give.

And again and again we are given the opportunity to turn, and live. If we but have the eyes and the ears we are each other’s Yes, each others opportunity, each other’s work and each other’s gift.

Even so, come Lord Jesus Christ.

Intercessions:

Creator God,

you have made a world filled with your myriad image

in all peoples, creatures and the universe itself.

Grant us eyes that see, ears that hear,

minds capable of awe and intention, and hearts that desire to serve,

so that we might do your will and serve you in the world.

We particularly pray for all who are suffering

because of climate change, political unrest and violence…

We pray your strength and protection

over all agents of care and rescue

who seek to bring relief and restoration to your little ones…

Creator God,

Hear our prayer.

Jesus,

who emptied yourself of all but love,

come find us we pray in our homes, our workplaces, in your church,

and ignite us with your vision of hope and rescue,

that we may desire as you desire, to gather your precious ones together.

We particularly pray for all who are broken by grief, isolation, addiction, imprisonment of any kind. Help us to be neighbours to one another and build the common bonds of care and belonging until we live as you would have us live.

Jesus, full of love,

Hear our prayer.

Spirit that disturbs and sustains,

come speak to us in tongues of love and images of hope

until we desire that all may live withing the kingdom of God.

Come spark our imagination, ignite our passion,

and stir up our feinting hearts within us until we are truly your dwelling place.

You have given us all gifts to share and enjoy,

may we find our feet upon your path.

We particularly pray for all new souls that they may grow surrounded by love and encouragement and experience the wonder of life,

and we pray for all approaching the end of this life,

that they may know their place within your embrace.