Sermon - The Third Sunday after Trinity

Sermon – The Third Sunday after Trinity

Readings

2 Samuel 1:1,17-27

Psalm 130

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Mark 5:21-43

As I spent some time looking at the readings for today, I noticed that one phrase jumped out at me from the pages of the Bible. In the Gospel reading, I noticed that, around two-thirds down, amidst the crowds who had come to see Jesus and Jairus’ daughter, Our Lord says some words that can be easily lost in the noise of the scene.

“Do not fear, only believe”

I don’t know if you have ever noticed that the most important parts of information ALWAYS seem to get lost in the noise of everyday life, how the things we should really ‘listen to’ get lost somewhere along the way.

What are we scared of?

Bertrand Russell said once that “Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom – Bertrand knew this – but Jesus knew this before him, and as FREE children of GOD, Christ encourages us in the Gospels to do away with our fears and believe.

In the last few weeks the lectionary readings have been helping us come to terms with our fears. Last week, we looked at the event where Jesus calmed the storm in Mark’s Gospel. We were thinking then of our FEAR of circumstances beyond our control.

It’s all about FEAR today, so be afraid, be very afraid!

This DOING away with fear, isn’t a complete disregard for all dangerous things. I would hate it if I heard that some of you decided to have a go at some ‘extreme sports’ this afternoon instead of walking the dog.

The fear that CHRIST is talking about it the FEAR that takes us away from GOD – the fear that rules our lives, the fear that makes us worry about things we can’t change, encouraging us to build castles to protect ourselves against the world.

This is the FEAR that stops us having FAITH. There is a great analogy of this – in the C.S.Lewis Narnia Book the Silver Chair, the young woman has arrived in Narnia, and she is really thirsty and needs a drink.

On the path to the most beautiful and clear stream, she sees ASLAN the lion lying there (Aslan is supposed to be Jesus in the books). She asks ASLAN to go away, but he won’t. She asks him if he will attack her if she tries to pass, and he says nothing, other than to say that he has eaten boys, girls, men, women, rulers and nations.

She says “I will go to another stream” and Aslan says this is the only one. She says that she doesn’t need water, and Aslan says she will die without it.

Then she risks it all and passes to drink. The water is most refreshing, because she had faith that overcame her fear.

This FEAR is all about us not seeing God as He is, but making all sorts of excuses to stop us having FAITH, even though it is what we need, and what we can’t do without.

And I can tell you that this is my greatest fear – that somehow in my own ministry I will take my eyes off the real task of FAITH, by worrying about things that are not important. Being so wrapped up in RELIGION, that tells me of the SCARY God, that I forget to drink the living water of FAITH.

We need to always ASK ourselves what we ‘do’ as a CHURCH, if it doesn’t involve love, peace and faith, then we are surely on the wrong track. If in our interactions with others we are rude and surly, churlish and abrupt, how does that make our Faith look? If we can’t call for justice for the poorest people, the outcast and the oppressed who will?

This is MY greatest fear – that I will miss the real reason why GOD has placed me here, today on this sunny morning.

And Christ says “Do not fear, only believe” – It will be OK

Something to think about….

On September 11, 2001 the world joined in expressing their horror at the death of nearly 4.000 caused by the horrific attacks in the USA. On that same day;

24.000 persons died from hunger,

30.000 children died from mal-nutrition and diseases of poverty,

1.410 women died from complications of pregnancy or childbirth,

548 children were slaughtered in conflict.

Have we missed the point? When we pray to the messiah who sat with the poorest, should we consider how well we follow Christ?

I am scared of No individual, government or army, but I am terrified that I might not be shouting loud the Gospel loud enough – and living by religion and not faith.

And Christ says “Do not fear, only believe” – It will be OK

The woman who touches the hem of JESUS cloak in the reading must have been in great fear, she had spent all that time unwell, and outcast for being ritually unclean. She had spent all her money on doctors who couldn’t help her, this was her last chance before she died in poverty and exclusion.

She was not only restored to health, she was restored to her society – no longer outcast but accepted.

And Christ says “Do not fear, only believe” – It will be OK

In the story of Jairus’ daughter, we see that desperate fear that has brought the temple executive to the feet of Jesus – the fear that makes us do anything. With great sensitivity, Jesus gets rid of all the doubters and brings the girl back to life, showing his reach far beyond the mortal world. Those with closed minds don’t see it, and we only know because someone there must have spilled the beans later – disobeying Jesus’ order to say nothing. THIS A DESPERATE FEAR

And Christ says “Do not fear, only believe” – It will be OK

When things are going wrong – I sometimes remember the words of Psalm 130 – a bit like a terrible pop song that bounces around your head for weeks on end.

“Out of the depths have I cried to you, O Lord; Lord hear my voice”

That image of being in the depths is a powerful one – The Psalmist goes on to say;

“My soul waits for the Lord, more than the night watch for the morning”

I have always thought that this is a cry for help too…that wait for things to come right seems to last for ever – but we need to trust that they will. When we are depressed or upset, in grief or loneliness, God has a plan, but we might have to wait.

Perhaps we could re-write this psalm “Waiting for you God is like watching a kettle to boil.”

And Christ says “Do not fear, only believe” – It will be OK

Of course it will all be OK as long as we understand that when we believe we march as an army, acting as Christ did for those in need, praying to God and expecting answers, and remembering that nothing can separate us from Him, we will be ok.