Saturday, August 20, 2011

Rocky 5 Billion


Pentecost 10, Year A, 2011

Text: Isaiah 51: 1-6; Romans 12: 1-8; Matthew 16: 13-20.

Let us bow our heads in prayer –
Living God, help us as the Church to unlock our doors with the keys that you give us, so that others may be welcomed in. Amen.
___________________________
Today’s Gospel passage is among the most studied and debated in the New Testament. Historically, of course this passage has been central to issues surrounding authority in the church, especially the authority of the episcopacy of the Bishop of Rome, or the Pope. However, I think this is a misunderstanding of what this passage is actually truly about and I want to suggest today that it is in fact suggesting something much deeper.

Our Gospel passage begins with Jesus and the disciples reaching Caesarea Philippi where he asks his disciples “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”, which is followed by quite a debate among the disciples as to the ‘Son of Man’s’ identity. I don’t want to get into discussing the meaning of the term ‘Son of Man,’ suffice to say that this was an apocryphal figure who Jesus seemed to identify himself with.

Turning the attention to himself Jesus then asks them “But who do you say that I am?” Perhaps there is a bit of a clue here as to what Jesus is trying to suggest in asking the question about the ‘Son of Man’ first, and then in the words ‘I am’, which are words used throughout the Hebrew Scriptures to refer to God. In other words maybe Jesus is suggesting here ‘I am God’.

It’s important to realise that Caesarea Philippi was in the far north western part of the Holy Land. This was an area in which Jews mixed with Gentiles and where Roman rule was immediate and not exercised through local Herodian kings. And so when Peter says to Jesus ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God’ in response to Jesus’ question, Peter’s statement could in fact be interpreted in a very revolutionary way and could be interpreted not only as a challenge to the religious establishment but also the power of Ceasar himself.

Of course it is impossible to separate the scripture from its historical context and Peter may well have understood this implication in what he was saying, but I don’t think Peter’s prime motivation in making this statement was political – but was rather spiritual. And this is acknowledged in Jesus answer when he says “Blessed are you, Simon son of Johan! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.” Jesus is saying that Peter has finally got it. Peter finally understands his true identity. Of course this does not mean that Peter totally understood Jesus’ identity and all it’s implication for his own life, as we are to later witness in his denial of Jesus before his crucifixion, but Peter has at least got started!

Peter becomes the very first person to make the great Christian Confession of faith. He names Jesus as the Messiah, the hope of Israel, the Son of the God who created heaven and earth. Prior to Peter the Gospels say that only the demons knew who Jesus was. Now Jesus is beginning to be known by people as well – something new is happing, something new is being built.

In response to Peter’s confession Jesus gives him a new name – ‘Peter’. And this truly is a new name. There is absolutely no record of anyone using ‘Peter’ or ‘Petros’ in Greek meaning rock, or ‘Cephas’ the same word in Aramaic, as a proper name before this event. And so in spite of moves to the contrary, Peter really was ‘Rocky 1’!

In the Hebrew mind a name was a summary of the existence of the thing named. To change a person’s name, like God changing Abram’s name to Abraham or Jacob’s name to Israel, was to alter fundamentally that person’s identity, relationships and mission. It still works that way today. To confess Jesus as the Christ is to be changed, it is to be given, by him a new name, a new identity and mission. At our Baptism our new identity is recognised in the giving of our first name, which is why our first name is also called our ‘Christian name’.

Part of our name, part of our identity that we receive from God is the same as Peter’s. He is Rocky 1, the first rock of the edifice of God’s building the Church, that’s Church with a capital ‘C’ by the way, and we are in effect the movie sequels. Have you ever thought of yourself as a movie sequel before? You are Rocky 5 billion, or whatever. The same director, same plot, just a larger cast. Through us and by us, Christ continues to build God’s church. Though us Christ continues to be present to the world.

Jesus then says something very interesting to Peter ‘I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

This famous verse has been used in many ways. It is a pity that all too often it has served as a “proof text” by the church, with a small ‘c’, to justify exactly the sort of power Jesus opposed. The power Jesus claims and gives to his followers, the true Church, has nothing to do with force, coercion, dominance, or “control,” which are the attributes the church with a small ‘c’ have lorded over society for so long.

Rather Jesus is addressing our very function here as his Church. To be keys of forgiveness to the world. Remember Jesus was teaching within a political context and there were those who would have liked him to lead a political uprising against the Roman authorities, and who thought he was going to do just that. Jesus here is saying, however, that freedom is not found in doing things in an earthly way but rather in a heavenly way through forgiveness. And it is for this reason that he then sternly orders the disciples not to tell anyone that he is the Messiah. He doesn’t want Peter’s recognition of him as the Messiah, and his mission or love and forgiveness to be confused with the political context in which he finds himself at that point in time. That’s is not what he is on about.

So as individual and corporate members of the church, as many parts of one body, while our gifts may be different, as recognised in our Romans reading, our function is the same. We are each individually, and as a corporate body, called to see forgiveness as our function and it is only then that the world will be brought out of darkness into the light. Forgiveness is the demonstration that you are the light of the world and it’s through your forgiveness that you will find God. Therefore, it is through your forgiveness that your salvation lies.

Stop and think for a moment about what you need to forgive in your life. Illusions about yourself and the world are one. That is why all forgiveness is a gift to yourself. Every time we attack someone else or ourselves we call upon our own weakness, while each time we forgive we call upon the strength of Christ. Only forgiveness removes our sense of weakness, fear, guilt and pain. Only forgiveness can bring us to the place that God wants us to be. Jesus has given us the keys of the kingdom as descendents of Peter. It is up to us to unlock the forgiveness within ourselves and help the world proclaim of Jesus “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Amen.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

“It is I, Have No Fear”



Peace Sunday, Pentecost 8, Year A, 2011

Text: 1 Kings 19: 9-18; Romans 10: 5-15; Matthew 14: 22-33

Let us bow our heads in prayer –
God of peace, in the midst of the pain of this world and the church, help us to step out and walk in faith with You. Amen.
____________________________
It’s important to realise that just prior to our Gospel lesson for today Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist is murdered by Herod, an immoral and weak king and his family. Both John and Jesus had started their brief ministries together as courageous prophets, proclaiming God’s justices, calling people to repentance and inviting them to find their way to God. After hearing the terrible news brought to him by John’s disciples, Jesus withdraws to be alone, to grieve and to pray only to be confronted by a large crowd in the story of the ‘Feeding of the Five Thousand’ which proceeds today’s passage. After feeding them Jesus once again attempts to have some time alone, and so we come to today’s Gospel where Jesus literally forces the disciples get into a boat and to go on ahead to the other side of the Sea of Galilee before he dismisses the crowds and goes off to spend some quality time by himself on a mountain in prayer.

I’m sure through our human empathy we can begin to imagine what Jesus might have felt after the death of John, but, as I said last week when it comes to fear, we have to do a rethink. We are confronted here by the one who always greeted his friends with the words, “Do not be afraid.” We can recognise in Jesus emotions what we, ourselves, have experienced; but fear is not one of them. What is very evident in Jesus after the death of John is Jesus’ sense of urgency – the realisation that the end will come very soon, that when he sets his face towards Jerusalem he sets his face towards his own death.

While Jesus is praying the disciples are sailing to the other side of The Sea of Galilee heading for the “other side,” which our text doesn’t point out until later means “enemy territory – the land of unclean gentiles,” or non Jews. As morning dawns the disciples are against the wind and are battered by the waves. It’s important to note that there is no indication at all from Matthew that they are afraid about being on the boat. Many of them were fishermen after all. They had however shown a lot of fear within themselves in the story of the ‘Feeding of the Five Thousand’, just prior to getting onto the boat. Being disciples of Jesus they were now scared for their own lives after what had happened to John, and mixed in with that when confronted by the needs of a large crowd they did not now how to react. They felt under attack from all direction and as a result felt very fearful. No doubt they still felt this way as they sailed on ‘to the other side’, a place of uncertaincy and fear.

For reasons not explained Jesus seemingly comes out of nowhere – “walking towards them on the Sea.” It’s only when they see Jesus walking on the water that we are told they become terrified. Not that they actually recognise him – thinking that he was a ghost!

The disciples are now truly terrified. The same word in Greek is used to express Herod’s fear at getting the news from the magi about the child to be born king; the same fear that rendered Zechariah mute when an angel of God appeared to him in the Temple; and the same fear the disciples experienced in the upper room after Jesus is crucified when they though he was once again a ghost.

So it was not the storm that tested the disciples, but rather the presence of Jesus in the storm. And it was not simply Jesus’ presence, but what he had to say that would truly test them “Take heart; do not be afraid; it is I”. Words that take us back to the burning bush, the “I am who I am” statements throughout the Hebrew Scriptures and the “I am” statement of Jesus in John’s Gospel. In other words “I am God”. Jesus’ unrecognised presence on the sea was a threat to the disciples, but the real test where these words “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Can they trust what he says? Can they trust in God? Can we?

Isn’t it true in our own lives that when we are confronted by God in the storms of our own lives it is often God we are more fearful of than the storm itself. What do I mean by that? I mean we really don’t believe that only God’s plan for our salvation will work. Our ego’s plan for salvation centres around holding on to our fears, onto our grievances. Our egos tell us that if only someone else spoke or acted differently or if some external circumstance or event were changed we would be saved. Maybe you can think of an example in your own life at the moment. Each grievance we hold onto is a declaration and an assertion that says, ‘If this were different, I would be saved.” The change of mind necessary for salvation then is demanded of everyone and everything expect ourselves.

It’s Peter who steps forward and bravely answers Jesus. Interestingly Peter prefers to take of the role of being the tester rather than the tested. His words echo the words of Satan testing Jesus in the wilderness, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water!”… “If you are the Son of God….”

But Jesus simply tells him to “Come”. Peter has no choice. He jumps out of the boat in faith and walks towards Jesus. Peter does quite well making is way over the waves until he “notices” the wind, and fright takes over, he loses his focus and he begins to sink. “Save me” he calls to Jesus, who immediately takes him by the hand.

God’s plan for our salvation works simply because, by following God’s direction, you seek for salvation where it is. But if you are to succeed, as God promises you will, you must be willing to seek there only. Otherwise, your purpose is divided and you will attempt to follow two plans for salvation that are diametrically opposed in all ways. The result can only bring confusion, misery and a deep sense of failure and despair. Like Peter if we focus on the wrong thing we sink in fear.

As I said last week, fear is always generated from a sense of attack. Think of something you are fearful of in your own life at the moment. What’s causing that sense of fear? Maybe you have a grievance against somebody. Whatever it is I guarantee it is caused by a sense of attack. Fear always produces guilt, guilt that we place upon other people because of the situation that we believe they have put us in. Or we turn fear in on ourselves and feel guilty because of the situation we have put ourselves in and are fearful of the consequences. Either way we always feel guilt within ourselves. The only way we can overcome attack and fear is to forgive the guilt we put on others and the guilt that we put on ourselves. Something which of course is more easily said than done. And as I said last week it is easier to understand the idea of forgiving our neighbour than it is to forgive ourselves. Forgiveness of ourselves is something we often don’t want to face up to.

When we trust Jesus words, “Take heart, do not be afraid, it is I,” when we jump out of our boats, his outstretched hands are there to save us if we begin to sink. Our baptism and the gifts of faith that it signifies does not by any means guarantee a lifetime of smooth sailing ahead. The Sea of Galilee, still is subject to storms today. And like Peter, and the other disciples, we still find ourselves afraid and terrified and calling out to God. But only Christ overcomes our dread and terror of what the waters deep beneath – and within us – may contain. Once again Jesus shows us that the only way to overcome our own fears and pain is to surrender. To hand things over to God in faith. “Take heart”, he says to us again, “It is I; have no fear.” It is only when we truly hear this that the wind will cease and we will be able to proclaim “Truly you are the Son of God”. Amen.