The text of my sermon for Sunday 9 May 2021, preached at St Andrews, Kildwick at 9:30 and St Johns United Church, Cononley at 11.00.
The readings were Acts 10: 44 48 and John15: 9 – 17
I have quoted from parts of the Christian Aid week resources which are available under the heading “Sermon Notes”
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/christian-aid-week-sermon-notes
Desert Island discs
Recently the parish magazine has carried some ideas from various individuals about their Desert Island discs. And I have been wondering about what my contributions might be. I could be very pedantic and point out that when the programme was devised in 1941 it would have only been possible to have played records using a wind up gramophone so perhaps my selection should only be old records!
As I was thinking what records I could list I recalled thinking how on my way home from school there was a group of us converged on a girl’s house where we sat around and listened to the latest records. One of the first of these was “Love me do”, “She loves you” and “Can’t buy me love” (1962 – 1964).
All you need is love
Many popular songs of my teenage years had love as a theme: I suspect that it was mainly about romantic and personal love but was summed up in the 1967 hit “All you need is love”. It was released via a a world wide broadcast and because of the show’s international audience its lyrics were deliberately simple, in an attempt to capture the utopian ideals associated with what was termed the Summer of Love. It was very much an anthem of the flower power philosophy. Did I really wear flared, purple cords – yes I was a dedicated follower of fashion – then!
All you need is love. I think that needs some qualification and I think that while it uses the word love some of the notions of the time are not those we might readily associate with the idea of love that Jesus mentions in one of his final teaching sessions with the disciples we read in our gospel today. All they needed was love, but it was love as displayed by Jesus. And all we need is that love – but it takes rather more effort than might be implied by a pop song of 54 years ago.
Love in Action
This following week is Christian Aid week (10th – 16th May 2021) and if you check out their website you will find stories about individuals such as Rose and Florence who live in Kenya.
Rose is caught in a cycle of climate chaos. From severe drought to flooding, extreme weather robs her of what she needs to survive: a reliable source of water. Without water, every day is a struggle. Without water, Rose is thirsty and hungry. This is her climate crisis.….
In recent years, the drought has been so bad that it’s caused a hunger crisis. Crops wither and die. Rivers run dry. People struggle to survive.…
In times of drought, Rose sets out on a long and dangerous journey every morning to collect water for her family. She walks on an empty stomach.
….
‘We have to walk long distances. We are suffering,’ Rose said.
… But if she gives up, her grandchildren will suffer hunger and thirst.
With a dam full of water, Rose would be free from her long, painful journeys. She’d have time to grow fresh vegetables for her family to eat. And she could see her grandchildren grow up and live life in all its fullness.
Florence is full of life, love and laughter … because next to her farm, Florence is proud to show us something remarkable – a dam, full of fresh water.
It’s thanks to your donations that Florence and her community have built this water dam, …. Now, Florence is reaping a good life for herself and her family.
Climate change is a major issue: how many of us can remember the drought in 1976 or 1977? I do not know how many of you here have personally experienced being flooded. But I can tell you that it is unnerving, leaving your house in a boat and unsure of when our even if you will return and live in it again. It has happened to me and even with all the support available in this country you are faced with all sorts of feelings of total helplessness. The event did have its lighter side: when I got through to work to explain and apologise for my absence I was told “oh its OK we knew about it – we have seen you on the TV!” I can only imagine how a regular cycle of drought and flood can be so overwhelming for many such as the people highlighted by Christian Aid.
Inclusiveness of love
The passage from Acts is a reminder of how although initially a Jewish sect, the followers of Jesus took a while to expand to the gentiles. Although some gentiles do figure in the gospel accounts such as the Centurion whose servant was ill and Jesus healed, and various Samaritans who although having some things in common with the Jews were considered definitely not kosher.
The passage (v 45) tells us that “The circumcised believers ( Jewish believers) who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles” seems that they found it hard to accept. Yet to me this is important: the gospel is for everyone regardless. Not only nationality or background, but also other divisive categories.
I notice that our Diocesan Bishop, Nick Baines, is noted in the Church Times of 30 April as stating “to only stand up for the rights of Christians is an act of self-harm” in the General Synod debate on freedom of religion or belief. To be inward looking is contrary to what we should be doing. We should show no bias towards those of other faiths or none – we are to love unconditionally.
We need to be an inclusive church – one that welcomes all – regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, economic status, mental health or sexuality. We have to love everyone, as God loves everyone – we are all created in his image.
We are social and need to live out God’s love
I started by mentioning Desert Island discs – occasionally for many the prospect of being alone and free from much of the routine might sound idyllic but I guess it would begin to pall. Humanity is primarily social and we live among others – family, friends, fellow workers and so on – some four contacts better known, some more akin to our way of thinking but a huge variety of types of people. Soem we may not especially care for but they are part of our shared existence.
We need to note these words from the Christian Aid website?:
Jesus’ parting words to his disciples are an encouragement to abide in the love of God and dig deep into consistent, uncircumstantial joy. And he knows that they are going to need each other to get through. Their love for one another and their sacrificial giving for their friends will strengthen them to endure. It is not duty, obligation or command that will enable them to remain faithful and bear lasting fruit. It is love, friendship and joy.
Love, friendship and joy is what we hope lies at the heart of our experience of Christian Aid Week. We hope that it is our love for one another that inspires our generous giving. That it is our friendship with communities we get to know through the stories of Rose and Florence that motivates us to sacrificial acts of solidarity. And it through our generous giving and sacrificial actions that we bear lasting fruit and know complete joy.
The joy that we participate in and experience in and through Christian Aid Week does not lead us away from suffering and struggle, but towards it. We choose to look towards the pain and see the possibilities for transformation. Jesus goes on to explain to the disciples that even pain will turn to a joy that no one can remove (John 16:20-22). Alice Walker wrote ‘resistance is the secret of our joy’.
This Christian Aid Week, as we choose to enter into the struggle with Rose and celebrate transformed communities with Florence, may our joy be complete.
In the words of the hymn “O Jesus I have promised” we need to serve God to the end. To follow Jesus, modelling what we do on the example of Jesus. Our saviour and friend.
As the spirit came down upon the gentile believers mentioned in the Acts passage so may we also be energised by that same spirit and live out a life of love. Love is all we need – God’s love expressed through us. Amen.
A Reader Reflects 