The Position on Salvation

Sermon for the fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Position is everything 

in life, they say.

If this is true,

then it's worth watching 

the position of the ten lepers

who ask for healing

as Our Lord enters their town.

Because of their condition 

they stand at a prudent distance 

from Jesus.

That is the done thing.

We're used to that

even in this day and age.

When COVID lockdowns happen,

business is conducted at a distance.

So the lepers are acting

in a socially acceptable fashion

when approaching Jesus.

That's their starting position.

Then they are told

to show themselves to the priests

who have the responsibility 

to declare them clean

or not.

And now we see them set off.

Their distance from Jesus 

is increasing 

but necessary for them

to be declared clean.

It is then

that salvation comes to them.

Salvation in the sense 

of being salved, cured, healed.

Nine continue on their way

recognising the cure

but still walking away from Jesus

more concerned 

with being declared clean

and being restored to society.

Their cries of relief

are heard

but they must go to the priests

to praise God.

But the tenth,

the Samaritan,

a man who has no position

in the eyes of the Jewish society,

turns back to Christ.

His position 

becomes prostration 

at the feet of Jesus,

no longer far off 

but in a closeness

that would be obscene

if he were still a leper.

But it is here,

at the feet of Christ 

that glory is given to God.

It's not that the nine others 

aren't giving glory to God

in the temple,

it's that this one leper

recognises the grace of God

in his healing

and recognises that the source

of this grace is not far off

but here, right here,

standing and waiting for his thanks

with blessing upon blessing

in His holy and venerable hands.

[PAUSE]

This is a key moment 

in that it points directly

to Jesus as God,

not a prophet,

not a messenger,

not an angel

but Christ Our God.

Further,

it shows that,

while we come to Church

to find and worship God,

He is always near us.

Our Church will always

make His presence clear

to the world,

but,

for us Christians

who seek first 

the Kingdom of God

and His righteousness,

He is always nearer than we think

to receive our praise and thanksgiving,

and our prayers and supplications.

[PAUSE]

The Christian religion

preaches the truth

that God is always with us

which is why Our Lord Jesus Christ 

is the One Whom Isaiah calls

Emmanuel - God with us.

Seven centuries before 

the Incarnation,

Jesus is near Isaiah 

just as He is near 

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

centuries even before that.

[PAUSE]

And now,

many centuries after,

Jesus is present here for us

to be worshipped 

and adored.

He has given us

the sacrifice of the Mass

not only to make His presence 

visible to us

but for us to take away with us

in the depths of our hearts.

Our tenth leper 

shows us 

that we can always 

give glory to God

at the feet of Christ 

where we are 

and that doing so 

brings us ever closer to Him

and to our Eternal joy.

Saving the strong

How young men are victims that often go unnoticed.

Oiling the Samaritan

Sermon for the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity 

One of the reasons

that many of us give

for not wanting to live

a long time ago

is the poor quality

of healthcare.

We don't want to live

with leeches

or knives used for bleeding 

or the horrible way

In which those suffering 

from mental diseases

were treated.

Indeed,

if we were lying bleeding 

by the side of the road,

would we want someone 

to pour oil and wine

onto our wounds?

[PAUSE]

"Ah!" you might say,

"the ancients often know

better remedies for illness

than we do now."

It's a good point

given how artificial 

much of our treatment 

appears.

Indeed, we have found

that olive oil can be used 

as an anti-inflammatory 

and disinfectant.

We have found that wine

can stimulate blood flow

and has other properties

that help the healing process.

But they have their limitations.

You wouldn't want 

to use them 

if the wound is infected.

But for a temporary solution 

to a wound

you could do a lot worse 

than pour oil and wine on it.

[PAUSE]

For the Samaritan

binding the wounds

of the poor traveller,

a temporary solution 

is all you need.

Once you get him 

to the inn 

and pay for his care,

then those wounds 

will be washed

and treated carefully 

and heal

ready for the Samaritan's return.

But oil and wine

will do for now.

[PAUSE]

Does this mean

that, in order to be

a good neighbour 

we need to be carrying around

oil and wine just in case?

Well that might do 

for the likes of Jamie Oliver

having balsamic vinegar,

turmeric and quince zest

in his back pocket,

but for us

that seems unlikely.

Remember,

Our Lord is expecting 

us to have mercy,

not whip up sour dough

at a moment's notice.

But one thing 

that is good to know

is that the Greek word for mercy

- and you know it 

when we sing 

Kyrie eleison -

is related to the pouring on

of oil.

Each time

we show mercy

we are pouring oil 

onto wounds

or onto troubled water.

We anoint with oil 

as a cleansing and purifying 

substance.

It eases stiff necks

and softens proud hearts.

This is why we are told 

to use oil

in our sacraments.

As the oil cleanses us outwardly, 

inwardly we are cleansed 

by the Holy Ghost Himself.

We show mercy

when we seek 

to calm a situation 

and dispel evil thinking,

cruel intentions 

and defuse anger.

Just as the Samaritan 

seeks to cleanse the wounds 

of the poor embattled traveller,

so do we seek 

to cleanse the wounds of Sin

not by condemnation 

but by forgiveness, truth, beauty 

and love.

[PAUSE]

We use oil 

at Baptism,

Confirmation,

Ordination,

and Unction

so that the Holy Ghost 

may bring us His peace in our lives.

He is the oil

that will ease our path

back to Heaven.