AMDG

SPIRITUAL



Below is the transcript of a sermon delivered three years ago in Canada by an Anglican priest. I posted this now because of what he has to say about economics and the "distribution of wealth", an issue that has suddenly been branded as "Un-American" and socialistic" by McCain-Palin. It is important that those of us who claim to be Christians (especially those who claim to be more Christian than others) heed this advice.



JVP



Sermon - Fourth Sunday of Easter
Preached by the Very Reverend Peter Elliott April 17, 2005


Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly."
In the year 185, in Lyon France, the Bishop, Irenaeus wrote a treatise called Against Heresies. What is remembered from his essay is a phrase that continues to inspire people of faith to this very day. St. Irenaeus wrote these words, "The glory of God is humanity fully alive!" Fully alive--life to the full: this is the glory of God and the destination of all spiritual seeking.
Day after day I meet people who are seeking a fuller life. Weighed down by their responsibilities or anxious about their futures, many people do not so much live as exist in the expectation of living. To all of us, wherever we are in our spiritual journeys, Jesus' words in today's gospel bring us fresh hope, hope that life can be better, can be fuller, can be more abundant.
But what is it that causes life to be diminished? What is it that denies us the fullness of life? There are many things that diminish life: this morning let's look at just 3--religion, economics, and self regard.


1. Are you surprised that my #1 item that diminishes life is religion? Maybe it seems an unusual choice for a priest but I believe this to be true. I have seen too many lives diminished by the claims of religious leaders and their systems. People get burdened down by following systems of thought and belief that do not bring life. In a conversation a little while ago with our friend Archbishop David Somerville, he said to me something like this: "So many people use religion as a way to control people; I always saw religion as a way to free people to be who they are." I agree; but, sadly, in our time and even in our communion there are many who seek to keep people dependent on formulas and ideas that restrict and deny life. The history of our church even in my lifetime is illustrative of this: I can remember a time when only men were allowed to take up the collection, when children were forbidden from receiving the Holy Communion, where gay people were prohibited from participating in church life openly--and there are parts of the Christian world where these things continue to happen. Using religion to deny life is inhibiting the creative Spirit of God to move in our midst. It is denying the abundance of life that Jesus promises, and it denies the expression of the glory of God as humanity fully alive. Now understand me: I'm not saying that the church should sanction an "anything goes" philosophy: far from it. But I do believe that the church has a sacred obligation to usher people gently into becoming the persons that God has uniquely created them to be. Followers of Jesus seek this abundant life--this fullness of life that is promised in the gospel. In the passage from John read as today's gospel, Jesus contrasts the one who brings life from the one who comes only to steal life, to kill life and to destroy life. In this passage Jesus identifies himself as the gate, the way to fullness of life. The church, his Body then can and I believe should be a way that brings fullness of life to all who seek to be in relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. Of course, a second and important dynamic that diminishes life is economics. And I'm not referring here to those of us in the middle class who too often find ourselves a bit short of cash at the end of the month; I'm wanting us to think globally here. One of the things that disables people from expressing the glory of God by being fully alive is the unequal distribution of wealth globally. We know the facts and figures only too well, the inordinate concentration of wealth in the few and the abject poverty of the majority. Even those of us who feel stretched by our own financial obligations are amongst the wealthiest in the world, from a global perspective. And we need look no further than to a project that the HIV-AIDS Africa support group has identified--the Bochabelo project. Here's the story: in this township of Soweto in South Africa, a population of roughly the size of Vancouver, 2/3 of the people who live there are HIV positive. And the major centre for the provision of medical services for this whole community is a used shipping container. What we're seeking to do, in a very small way, is to help here, by raising funds to build a new medical centre. Our goal is $96,000 and we're working away at it. Why? Not just because it's a good thing to do, and it is that, nor just because we want to help, although we do; but because Jesus invites all of us into abundant life. You can't live life in its fullness when you are deprived the medicines that will enable you to survive. And this project is just one small example of the obscene distribution of wealth in our world. While we sit down to our lunches and suppers today, there will be children dying of starvation and malnutrition. Followers of Jesus care about economics because we believe that the glory of God is humanity fully alive, and because we have been called to continue the work of the one who came to bring life and life in abundance.


3. And the third thing that deprives us of living fully is one I found difficult to name, so let's call it self-regard. For some it's because of religion, for some it's because of their upbringing, for some, it's because of the way they were educated--but too many people walk around this world thinking of themselves as no good. It's all their fault--the bad things that have happened to them, the relationships that have gone sour, the lack of accomplishments, the lack of life. Bad religion has drummed this worthless message into folks, bad parenting, bad education--and what we end up with is a vast segment of the population self medicating with alcohol and drugs to feel better because deep down they feel so very empty. And to those of us who find ourselves with a diminished sense of self, I want us to look at Jesus words about being the gate to this abundant life. In this passage we find some hope to our troubled lives, if we read it symbolically. Because what this passage affirms is that within each one of us there is an irrational and instinctual capacity to know how to live fully. This is what the sheep symbolize. They may be not be the smartest animals, but they know the voice of their shepherd. Legend has it that the shepherds of Jesus time had affectionate names for their sheep, and called them by their names. This parable of Jesus isn't so much saying that people are sheep, as it is saying that within us, there is an instinctive capacity to know the voice of the true and living God, the shepherd, the caregiver of our souls. It is saying that the loving and compassionate power of the universe calls us by name, and invites us to fullness of life. It is saying that we can regard ourselves not so much as miserable sinners but as the beloved of God in whom the glory of God desires to be manifest. We are not destined to a life of depression, thank God; we are invited to a life of abundance and fullness. We, and all God's children have been adopted and cherished by God in Jesus Christ, and within us there is the capacity to know the one who guides us and draws us more and more into life's fullness.You are God's beloved daughters and sons, called to manifest the glory of the divine by being fully human, fully yourself, fully the person that God has created you to be. You are loved and called by name. And a table is spread for you here, even in the presence of all that threatens you. In baptism you have been anointed with oil, and each of us is given the promise of abundant life. We are invited to be fully alive--to be critical of the life stealing propensity of religion and economics, and self regard, and to be part of a community that seeks to bring us to life and to bring life to others.
Let us pray.
Glory to you, Jesus Christ, our good shepherd. In the waters of baptism you give us new birth, at your table you nourish us with heavenly food, and in your goodness and mercy you guide us daily and at the end of our days you will guide us to that eternal home where we will dwell in eternal light. Give us always the fullness of life that you have promised. Glory to you for ever and ever.
Amen



Citation

http://www.cathedral.vancouver.bc.ca/news_info/sermons/2005_0417.htm