St Simon and St Jude: piercing zeal

 

Where Christians should direct their enthusiasm in evangelisation.

Just answer the question!

Sermon for the feast of Christ the King

Oh He's infuriating!

Why doesn't He answer

the question.

Yes or no.

"Art Thou a king, then?"

But you know why 

Jesus is going around the houses

in answer to the question.

It's not about being truthful

it's about being truthful 

under the circumstances.

Is Jesus a king?

[PAUSE]

Of course He is.

The apostles say, "Jesus is Lord"

and the psalms say

"The Lord is king 

and hath put on glorious apparel."

It's a no brainer.

But it's how you tell the truth

that matters.

Preconceived ideas

make things difficult.

If you are a military person 

and someone calls herself

a captain.

You're going to think:

Army - an important commissioned officer

in charge of a platoon

or 

Navy - an even more important officer

in  full charge of a vessel.

But what if she means

she is

the captain of the rugby team?

The confusion 

could be amusing,

irritating,

or even dangerous.

The same is true

with the title, "doctor".

A doctor of philosophy 

is dangerously useless

when a doctor of medicine 

is needed urgently.

[PAUSE]

It's clear

that Jesus wants 

to refrain from using the title

because it could

be very dangerous.

The people 

have all tried

to proclaim him king

but Jesus 

slips away from them.

A king 

could cause 

a misunderstanding 

that could result 

in many deaths.

The people want

a triumphant military Messiah

to cast out the hated Romans

and restore their land.

That's not the salvation 

that Jesus is thinking.

To call Himself king

would give Pilate

a grave cause for concern 

that the people

are about to rise up.

It is a question of kingdoms.

[PAUSE]

Of course,

Our Lord is King of the Jews,

but He is King of the Jews

because He is

the King of Kings.

His Kingdom is more

than Judaea.

It's more than Rome.

It's more than 

all the kingdoms 

of this little planet.

His Kingdom is not of this world.

It cannot be explained 

in earthly terms 

of treaty, jurisdiction 

contract, and alliance.

If a King

favours one part 

of His Kingdom

over another,

it splits the kingdom.

To fight the Romans 

for the Jews

might liberate the Jews

for a time

but it would not 

liberate the Romans,

and Jesus is King of the Romans.

To have that view of Kingship

defeats the purpose 

of the Incarnation,

defeats the purpose 

of the Cross.

[PAUSE]

The Kingdom of God

is established in us

by one covenant alone

and that is the covenant 

of the Blood of Christ.

In drinking that cup,

we accept Christ our King,

and in accepting Christ our King

we accept a King 

Who fights for us

and with us

against the darkness

that seems to enslave us

by separating us from our King

and His Kingdom.

And, because He is our King,

He issues His Royal command to us

to fight under His banner

against sin, the world and the Devil

to play our part

in our salvation 

and the salvation of others 

by co-operating with His grace.

Our salvation comes 

by faith and trusting in our King

and by works of love

that proceed from faith

through our willing acceptance 

of His Kingdom.

[PAUSE]

Jesus always uses His titles

carefully, judiciously and in perfect truth

so as not to confuse

or scandalise.

Likewise,

our proclamation 

of His Kingdom 

must be done

carefully, judiciously and in perfect truth

which can only come by love.

Love is the Royal Command 

for us to obey.

My Community

Dom Bruce de Walt (left) died on 20th September, peacefully and having been assiduously and lovingly looked after by Prior Simon and Dom Francis as well as the staff of his nursing home.

With the passing of Dom Kenneth (pictured beneath the holy crucifix) there are now just two monks remaining from the Pershore-Nashdom-Elmore-Salisbury community. Indeed, Dom Francis joined the order in Nashdom.

Dom Bruce was not what you would call orthodox either in belief, nor in manner, but he was a Godsend. He reminded me, an earnest doctrine-scrutinising Anglican Papalist, that life has to be lived and lived with some joy. His passions were always on display: I have heard him snap and complain and grumble; I heard his laughter, his naughty joke and mischievous expressions of his thoughts. Although, the Rule rather prohibits all of these, Dom Bruce reminded me that St Benedict wanted moderation. 

St Benedict knew of the frailties of human beings. The laughter he witnessed was cruel and at the malicious expense of others: Dom Bruce was often cheeky but he didn't rejoice in the misfortunes of others. St Benedict hated murmuring, having in mind the Israelites complaining against God and Moses in the desert; Dom Bruce complained often but he was always loyal to his community and valued its integrity - something which murmuratio does not allow.

Dom Bruce remained a full part of the CofE, unapologetically accepting the decisions which caused me to question my membership before I had to leave. That didn't bother me: I am most content with being an Anglican Catholic, having withdrawn from full Anglican Papalism, when I joined the ACC, but this departure from the CofE didn't split my sense of community with the monks even if I am not in communion with them. I am still proud (if that is the right word) to retain my oblation with Salisbury Priory and I pray for them daily, though now I pray for Dom Bruce along with Dom Kenneth and Abbot Basil in a different section of my intercessions from those who still have an earthly conversation.

Dom Bruce reminds me that Christians who disagree should not do hatred. I have heard several Christians declare others as "satanic" or "non-Christian" for not being Calvinist. I certainly would not think of anyone in that way for not being an Anglican Catholic, even if I firmly believe that it is the truest expression within the Catholic Church. My love for Dom Bruce has not diminished, nor for Prior Simon or Dom Francis - they are my community even if we are separated.

God bless them and keep them safe, for they are precious to His Church.

And may the Angels bear Dom Bruce to His eternal rest in the arms of Our Saviour.

Anglican Catholicism and Merit

 

Why there are things we can earn with God.

Not seeing is believing?

Sermon for the twenty-first Sunday after Trinity 

Do you believe 

in ghosts?

What about

the Loch Ness Monster?

The Yeti?

Fairies, pixies and little folk?

What would it take

for you to believe?

Photographic evidence?

A YouTube video?

Or would it have to be

something you see

with your own eyes?

[PAUSE]

A nobleman rushes to Jesus

and asks Him

to heal his dying son.

And Jesus tells him

"Except ye see signs

and wonders,

ye will not believe."

It's a strange thing

to say, 

isn't it?

After all,

this nobleman 

has only heard 

of Jesus' fame

and clearly believes 

that He can heal his son.

He's clearly 

not after signs and wonders

but the healing of his son.

He's not after proof 

to believe 

but already believes.

So why does the Lord 

tell Him,

"Except ye see signs

and wonders,

ye will not believe."

[PAUSE]

There is a great beauty

in using the language

of Cranmer, Coverdale 

and King James 

in our worship.

But often it reveals 

something

that modern English 

does not.

In particular,

Old English

can tell the difference 

between 

you singular 

and

you plural.

We say "thou, thee and thine'

when we are speaking

to one person.

We say "you, ye and, your"

when we are talking

to more than

one person.

And Jesus is saying "ye".

"Except ye see signs

and wonders,

ye will not believe."

He is talking 

to a group of people,

the man among the bystanders.

You see that

we know that the man

already believes 

and so 

Our Lord 

is about to use 

the faith of this man

as an example 

to all those 

who will not believe 

unless they see signs

and wonders.

And what happens?

[PAUSE]

There is no flash or bang.

There is no waving of hands

or making clay

or anything obvious at all.

The man takes Jesus 

at His word

and starts the journey home.

And we know that 

this journey

took more than a day!

What faith 

this man has!

And his household greets him

with the great news:

the son lives.

And St John

doesn't even bring us

to see the boy, 

either.

We are just told

that the son lives

and that is that.

We leave the situation 

with the father 

going back to his house

rejoicing.

The miracle 

isn't for us to see.

It is a miracle 

for us to believe 

because we trust 

in Our Lord.

It is a miracle 

that brings us

face to face with

the joy that we can't see,

the peace which passes 

all understanding,

the love we see through 

the glass darkly.

We don't need to see Christ 

to believe Him 

but when we do see Him

we shall be like Him

for we shall see Him as He is.

Hope in a web-free society

 

What will we do when the internet goes down.

Right to refuse

Sermon for the twentieth Sunday after Trinity 

A wedding!

A feast for the senses!

The taste of the sumptuous food, 

well-prepared, 

succulent,

and delicious!

The sound of joyful music,

laughter,

happy conversations 

and thanksgiving!

The smell of the food 

but also the perfumes

and incense!

The feel of the warmth

energy and vibrancy, 

the dancing and revelry

of the guests congratulating

the Happy Couple.

The sight 

of gorgeous dresses

of the King dressed in His

most regal and elegant clothes,

of the Bride and Groom 

in their finery

and clearly very much in love.

Who would refuse

an invitation to this feast?

Would you?

But there are that would.

[PAUSE]

It seems you don't have 

to come if you don't want to.

You are allowed to stay away.

Parties aren't for everyone,

it's true.

For some people,

the business of socialising 

is difficult and many stay away.

And that's okay.

But even then,

if it's a family friend

getting married

or an invitation from a king

or someone you really love,

then even an introvert

might be persuaded 

just to put their head around the door

and enjoy just a bit of the festivities.

Who knows,

with this king

there might be a quiet room provided,

or a chance to go out 

into the lavish gardens

and enjoy the feast

in beautiful surroundings 

with the noise of the party

carrying on in the background.

This is a feast for everyone.

In this kingdom, 

there are many mansions

prepared for those 

who accept the invitation.

You can still come

even if you're 

not a social animal.

And yet people 

still don't want to come 

and, worse, kill the people 

carrying the invitations!

Who would do that?

[PAUSE]

There are clearly

those who hate the king

and yet they have been invited,

freely to enjoy 

the great feast.

It's their hatred

that causes them

to reject the invitation 

and even try

to stop others being invited.

There are even those

who will go to the feast

but show contempt for it

by not dressing appropriately.

They will be cast out.

They have chosen 

not to participate 

and they are the ones who miss out.

[PAUSE]

We always have a choice

whether to  enter 

the Kingdom of God

and God honours that choice.

But He honours it with justice.

We cannot expect 

to enter into the wedding feast 

of the Lamb

if we are dressed inappropriately.

We are given a wedding garment 

to put on

this is the white robe St John

records in his Revelation.

It is the white robe

of those baptised in the name

of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

It is the white robe 

that signals that we belong to Christ,

that we love Him

and seek to invite others 

into His feast.

It is the white robe

of love,

of working with God's grace

in our hearts

for the good of all.

Those who try 

to gatecrash the party

do not have this robe 

and are cast out

because the Lord says,

"I never knew you!"

even if they say,

"Lord, Lord!"

[PAUSE]

It is clear,

that we do not have to enter

the Kingdom of God.

It is also clear

that we enter that Kingdom

accepting the terms 

of the King.

If we choose

not to enter

or to try and enter

on our own terms,

then we shall be shut out

from this wonderful feast.

But we can be assured

that, should we choose

to accept the invitation,

should we choose

to put on our wedding garment,

then the door will be opened

and we shall enter a feast

that goes beyond the understanding 

of what it means to be enjoyable.

That is our invitation.

That is God's promise to us.

Anglican Catholic Infallibility

 

How Anglican Catholicism begins to engage with authority.

Killjoy woz 'ere

Sermon for the nineteenth Sunday after Trinity 

There has always been

that type of person 

who likes to put

a downer on everything.

"I'm just trying

to be realistic here,"

they say.

While it is truth to say

that life is not always

a bed of roses,

life is not always 

not a bed of roses 

either.

Our bed of roses

has thorns

but it has gorgeous flowers, too.

... if you like roses, that is.

There will always be

someone who doesn't 

and will take great glee

in telling you why not.

[PAUSE]

A paralysed man

is brought to Jesus.

What's the first thing 

Our Lord says to him?

"Son, be of good cheer!"

He doesn't say

"thy sins are forgiven thee"

- not straightaway.

He doesn't say

"Arise, take up thy bed,

and go unto thine house"

- not straightaway.

No.

Straightaway it's,

"Son, be of good cheer!"

In this first clause,

Our Lord calls the man, "Son".

A term of familiarity,

a term of acceptance,

a term of love.

Then, He says, 

"Be of good cheer!"

A message of hope!

A message of healing!

And a message of intention.

Our Lord wants the man

to be joyful

and live a life

freed from the shackles 

of his condition.

But,

rather than allow

joy its rightful place

in this encounter

between the patient

and the Eternal Doctor,

there are those

who can see

only sin,

only transgression,

only condemnation.

And they seek to steal this joy

to fill the emptiness 

of their being right.

And so the Lord

shows them the truth

that He is God 

by healing not only 

the spiritual paralysis of sin

but also

the physical paralysis of disease.

Jesus is showing us

that sin is a sickness 

of the soul

and He can save 

both soul and body.

[PAUSE]

The trouble is

that there are 

thieves of joy

among Christians too.

These are those Christians 

who see nothing but sin

in human beings

These are those Christians 

who try to spread the Gospel 

by focussing on

Man's total depravity

and our need for Salvation.

 

Every conversation 

with this sort of Christian

involves the words

sin, heresy, immoral, 

and even Hell!

How can we expect 

to share the Good News 

if the only thing that is good

about what we say

is the full stop

at the end of our

final sentence?

[PAUSE]

We Christians know

that we are sinners 

but we also know

that God made us,

that God loves us,

and that

the Creator of this magnificent universe 

with all its complexity,

variety,

from supernova 

to neutrino

wants us never to be

separated from Him so badly

that He will become 

one of us,

die for us,

rise from the dead for us.

We are dead to sin and,

if we live the life of faith,

sin need never be a real problem 

because if we do sin

then we have an advocate in heaven

who will save us from it.

Of course, 

sin is serious

and we must repent,

but we are given the opportunity 

to get up from our sickness 

take up our beds 

and walk in joy

at knowing Christ Himself.

We are not to be killjoys

but bringers of true joy

in Christ.