The Practice of the Prescence of God by Brother Lawrence: A Review

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

The Practice of the Presence of God is a book that is attributed to Brother Lawrence, though it is primarily a collection of letters he had written to people in need of spiritual counselling. It also includes a number of conversations recorded by a M. Beaufort as well as a piece by the same man reflecting upon the life and character of Brother Lawrence, a few seemingly random “collected thoughts” and a number of short pieces by Brother Lawrence that have been sub-titled “Ways of Attaining the Presence of God”.

Far from being a theologian of great learning, Brother Lawrence was in fact a simple lay brother in a French Carmelite monastery and had previously been a soldier in the army. He had undergone a conversion experience after coming across a barren tree in the winter and coming to the realisation that in spite of appearances to the contrary, come the spring and summer the tree would once again flourish with new life. Feeling at that time as lifeless as the tree appeared to be, he still had hope that in God’s own time he would eventually be restored to spiritual health. Upon leaving the army he entered into the monastery where he changed his name from his original “Nicolas Herman” to “Lawrence of the Resurrection”. His role in the monastery was as a simple “kitchen-hand” performing some of the most menial and tedious tasks in the community.

He came to believe that everything, no matter how seemingly mundane, could be a way of serving God and a vehicle of obtaining God’s grace. The book could almost be subtitled “The God of the Little Things”, as Brother Lawrence’s approach was to see the work of God in what was often regarded as the small and unimportant things as well as the grander side of life. The opening sentence in the book sums up his whole attitude “It matters not to me what I do, or what I suffer, so long as I abide lovingly united to God’s will ---- that is my whole business”.[1] The constant thread that runs through the book is one of finding total fulfilment through the submission of every part of his life to the will of God.

In the constant busyness of our everyday lives it can often seem difficult to find “quality” time to spend with God. Brother Lawrence seems to overcome this obstacle by seeking to devote ALL of his time and actions towards God. “How can we be with him unless our thoughts are ever of Him? How can he be in our thoughts unless we form a holy habit of abiding in His presence, there asking for the grace we need each moment of our life”?[2]  In the noise and clatter of the kitchen and the often menial duties he was required to perform, he discovered the ability to know that God was present at all times, and in all things. It was sensing the presence of God with him at all times that seemed to bring him to such profound peace, both within himself as well as with God.

The back cover of the book says “Amid his pots and pans, Brother Lawrence became so noted for his serenity and joy while he worked at the most menial kitchen tasks that cardinals and theologians came to see him and learn his secret, even the pope of the day is said to have visited him”.[3] For a simple uneducated layman to have such people wanting to know the secret of his relationship with God was certainly something out of the ordinary.

The book describes how due to his closeness to God Brother Lawrence had no need of a spiritual confessor. He was certainly conscious of the times when he failed to have God at the forefront of his thoughts and when he fell into sin. His strategy for dealing with it was to simply confess directly to God in the knowledge that he had been forgiven and then to move on with his aim of being in God’s Presence at all times.

The letters that he wrote were written for specific people with specific issues including a Prioress. He strives to encourage the recipients of these letters to constantly place themselves in the hands of God. He describes the struggle of his first ten years in religious life where he often felt unworthy of God’s love, with his past sins often tormenting him (possibly a sort of “dark night” experience). He recognises that by putting himself completely in the hands of God he can be transformed into the person God wants him to be. In his letters to people suffering from a variety of ailments Brother Lawrence does not so much as to offer the hope of healing to people as that they be given the strength from God to endure their suffering by feeling the presence of God with them at all times and being completely focused upon Him. In one letter he actually says, “I do not pray that you will be delivered from your pains, but I pray God earnestly that He will give you strength and patience to bear them as long as He pleases”.[4] Certainly as he neared his own death he did not seek respite from his pain, rather he sought to identify his suffering with that of Christ and in doing so was more able to enter fully into God’s will for him.

The book does give pause for thought at how God can be in ALL aspects of life, no matter how mundane or painful it may be at the time. Brother Lawrence seems to be suggesting that God is always present with us even in our suffering; we simply need to recognise that and allow God to work in us as He will. I’m not sure that many of us could ever attain the depth of what it is to know the Presence of God as constantly as Brother Lawrence, but it’s certainly a goal worth aiming for no matter how slowly we may get there.

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[1] Lawrence, p13

[2] Lawrence, p16

[3] Lawrence, Back cover

[4] Lawrence, p107

The Kingdom of Heaven is Near (but it's not the rapture)!

 In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Two weeks ago we heard in the gospel reading about the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. That momentous and life-defining event in both of their lives when the Spirit of God came upon Jesus, and a voice from heaven declared him to be the “Son of God”. John had been sent to prepare the way for Jesus, and as he baptizes him, appears to be the first to acknowledge the adult Jesus as the Messiah. Indeed, some 30 years or so earlier we are told in Luke’s gospel that even in his mother Elizabeth’s womb, the still to be born John somehow recognised who Jesus was in the womb of the pregnant Mary as he wriggled about with joy.

In today’s gospel reading the first thing we hear is that John has been arrested. This is the very beginning of what we know to be the ministry of Jesus, and it begins with his cousin John, the man who had baptized him not so long ago being arrested. What a very inauspicious start to the public ministry of the one who was meant to be anointed by God! I imagine that Jesus probably was pretty concerned about what had happened to John, but the gospel writer doesn’t fill us in on the details.  Instead he moves straight on to tell us of Jesus moving away from Nazareth to the small village of Capernaum, by the Sea of Galilee, in order according to the writer of Matthew’s gospel, to fulfil the words of the prophet Isaiah.

He begins to proclaim a very similar message to the one preached by John, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near”. When John said these words they would be seen as preparing people for the arrival of the one who would bring about this “kingdom of heaven”. Spoken by Jesus however, in the light of John’s recognition of him as the Messiah, these words take on a great deal of extra significance. They are no longer the words of a man who was merely laying the ground for what was to come; rather they are now the words of the one who brought about the fulfilment of John’s proclamation. The “kingdom of heaven” in the person of Jesus was indeed very near, and it wasn’t only a reference to some future state of blissful paradise.

 This was a kingdom that was manifest in the very present reality of Jesus’ words and actions. It certainly wasn’t just some wishy-washy abstract motion that looked only at some future reward. It was grounded in the real lives of real people and how they related to one another as well as to God.  He comes across a group of fishermen at work and simply tells them to follow him, and we are told they do so immediately. These fishermen are the first people that we are told of other than John, who responded to the call of Christ and obeyed.

I’m sure that for most of us if we were at work or even just sitting in a cafe somewhere in Brighton and some random person came up to us and just told us to follow them, we would probably at least think about it for a short while before immediately heading off in the opposite direction, wondering why we are attracting the crazy man. Yet, to those first few disciples there must have been something pretty compelling for them to simply down tools and immediately follow Jesus. He relates to them in the way they know best as he tells them that he will make them “fish for people”. He meets with them in the reality of right where they are! This marked the beginning of their journey with Christ as they too became standard-bearers of his message about the “kingdom of heaven”.

What was this “kingdom” if it wasn’t just some future reward only to be attained after living a good and upright life? It was much more than this! We get a glimpse of it at the end of the gospel reading. “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people” (Matt 4:23). In a very real and practical way he displayed the love of God to people in whatever situation they found themselves. The “kingdom of heaven” often challenged the status quo as we see Jesus speak out against the injustice and hypocrisy that was all around him. It was not something that was easily available to those amongst whom Jesus would go on to perform his ministry, the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the lepers. For Jesus to walk amongst these people offering his unconditional love and acceptance and claiming to be bringing the “kingdom of heaven” was really something quite radical, and in the eyes of many at that time, made him out to be a dangerous subversive who needed to be eliminated .

  Those early followers of Jesus would eventually learn, and come to understand what it meant to not only to proclaim the “good news”, but also to demonstrate it in their own lives, but for now they simply obeyed his call and followed!

What does all this talk of the kingdom of heaven being near have to do with us today, two thousand years later?  In the same way that it was “near” then it is equally true to say that it is “near” now. In the words, actions and lives of those who even today choose to obey the call of Christ to reach out to those around them. Do we see ourselves as people who show in our attitude towards others what it means to be a follower of Christ? It is in the simple action of keeping an eye out for a neighbour or helping them to get the groceries in. It is in standing alongside those in our own community (and beyond) who are on the margins and struggle to cope.

I would suggest that much of the work of the community centre downstairs demonstrates in a very practical way what it means to say that the “kingdom of heaven is near”. The many groups that meet there cater to a huge diversity of people’s needs within our own community. There is no overt evangelism, no pushing religion down people’s throats. Rather it is simply ordinary people like you and me making themselves available to others at their point of need.

I am reminded of the words of Teresa of Avila who wrote, “Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on the world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.” We are so often reminded that the church is the body of Christ, his visible presence here on earth. When we allow ourselves to be vessels for taking something of the “kingdom of heaven” to others we enter in a very real way what it means to be the hands, feet, and yes.....the body of Christ.  It is in reaching out to others with no strings, no pre-conditions and often beyond our own comfort zone that we show them Jesus, and we get a glimpse of just how near the “kingdom of heaven” is, even here in our own community.

AMEN

Prayers for Osama bin Laden

Church asks for prayers for bin Laden's soul - NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida

The Sunday after it was reported that Osama bin Laden had indeed been found and killed by US forces it was my turn at church to lead the intercessions. I did consider including bin Laden's name in the prayers for the deceased, but in the end decided against it. Not out of any great principle, except for fear of what people would think/say if I did mention him. Afterwards I was challenged by my good friend Jim about this omission, and rightly so.

As Christians we are commanded to love not only our friends, but also our enemies, and to pray for those who persucute us. It is a pretty unambiguous command. Osama bin Laden (and others like him) are just as much in need of our prayers as anbody else. It is not for us to pick and choose who "deserves" our prayers. We pray to God for His will to be done, and trust in His mercy that is so.

The Ashes of Grace (Ash Wednesday)

Sermon, Ash Wednesday 9^th March 2011

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

At the beginning of the service book that we are using today is a description of why we have gathered together to mark Ash Wednesday. It speaks of ideas that may seem to have somehow gone out of fashion in today’s world. It speaks of penitence, of repentance, prayer, fasting, self-examination and self-denial. These are not really words that people tend to feel comfortable using today. Indeed many people would rather run a mile in the opposite direction than take part in something which may make them face up to their own limitations and mortality. Yet in this season of Lent, which begins today, we are called upon to observe these practices in order to aid us in our faith and devotion to Christ.

In our reading from John’s gospel we hear of the account of when Jesus was in the temple courts and a woman accused of adultery was brought in. I’m sure it’s a story we have all heard before. The penalty according to the Law of Moses for adultery was to be stoned to death (and from time to time we do hear of such situations even today where women in other countries face similar horrific penalties). The Pharisee’s brought this woman in and said to Jesus “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” Jesus could quite easily have agreed with them, as what they said regarding the law was indeed quite correct. This woman had transgressed the law, and now must pay the penalty,

Yet in his response Jesus did not choose to argue the finer points of the law with the woman’s accusers. And neither did he try to defend her actions. Instead he bends down and starts writing on the ground. We are not told what he writes, but as he does so the questions regarding the woman keep coming at him from the Pharisees. Always eager to stick to the very letter of the law and ready to catch out anybody they suspected of breaking it. They were not going to let Jesus off this one.......they wanted an answer. If he simply let her go they would use that as the basis for accusing Jesus of having no regard for the law. On the other hand, if Jesus agreed with them and took their side it would go against everything he had stood for so far in his ministry, where he stands up for those who are on the margins, and shows compassion for those who are often looked down upon.

Instead, Jesus simply stands, looks them straight in the face and says, “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”. In a way he was giving them permission to do exactly as they wanted, and stone the woman, but first he made them look into themselves and examine their own thoughts, attitudes and behaviour. As we see, the ones accusing her melt away, leaving Jesus (the only one to be actually without sin) standing by her side, offering his compassion rather than condemnation, as he says “Go now and leave your life of sin”.

It is interesting that as well as using this occasion as an opportunity to show compassion to the woman, he also uses it as a chance to get her accusers to examine their own underlying motives behind what they do.....and when they did so honestly, none of them stayed around much longer. When confronted with the sin in their own lives, their eagerness to point their fingers and condemn others seems to vanish pretty quickly.

I wonder what people outside the church make of Lent. There is often a general sense that it is about “giving things up”. It’s not perhaps too different from when people make often well-meaning New Year resolutions a few months earlier. Full of good intentions to somehow make a positive difference to their lives. Yet often the momentum seems difficult to keep going. If you were to mention the words spoken of earlier; of penitence, repentance, prayer, fasting, self-examination or self-denial I suspect you would probably be greeted with a blank look and maybe a few embarrassed, mumbled words about religion, but that’s about it. Yet it is in observing these things that we are able to come closer to what Lent is all about.

Lent is a time of preparation. Five weeks that hopefully take us on a journey of discovery about ourselves and our relationship with God as we slowly move towards the events of Holy Week. It is an opportunity to deepen our commitment to the one with whom we make that journey. As we are reminded in our reading from Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthians, we are able to be reconciled to God because, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”[1] In a few minutes we shall recite together The Liturgy of Penitence where we will bring to mind not only our own sin, but also the unfailing love and mercy of God.

As each of us receive the Imposition of Ashes today let us remember that though we may have come from dust, and shall return to dust, the words of the liturgy remind us not simply of our own human failings, but of how our spirits can be renewed through his power and grace. And, at this time of renewal may each of us be like the woman who received grace instead of condemnation, as Jesus says to each of us “Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”

AMEN

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[1] 2 Corinthians 5:21

Betrayed......and for what? (Holy Week Wednesday)

Holy Week Wednesday

John 13:21-32, Isaiah 50:4-9a & Hebrews 12:1-3

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

In today’s gospel reading we hear once again of Jesus being “troubled in spirit” (Jn 13:21). It is an echo of what we heard in yesterdays reading where he was similarly troubled and in such anguish about the coming events. This time though, the cause of his despair is closer to hand.....much closer. The context is immediately after Jesus had just shocked them by washing his disciples stinking feet. Yet, despite this very symbolic act of love he knew that there was one person in the group who was going to turn against him.

This small group of very different people had spent the last few years travelling around with Jesus. They had firsthand experience of his miracles, his inclusiveness and his love. Coming from very different backgrounds, and with very different temperaments they had still somehow managed to form a bond with one another, united by the one they followed. Some of them had given up everything they had in order to follow Jesus.

As they got to know one another friendships would have been forged, and yes, rivalries made also. Within this group there would have been immense loyalty, not only to their leader, but also to one another. So imagine their shock when Jesus turns towards them and says, “Very truly, one of you will betray me” (Jn 13:21). You can picture them sitting there after all they had experienced together with Jesus.....the high times, and the low times. They had gone through so much with him, what was he saying now? What did he mean? It was out of the question! Surely none of those gathered there would turn their backs on all they had seen and witnessed of Jesus....would they?

Of course, betrayal and talk of traitors is a very emotive subject. History is full of those who have crossed over from one side to another for many different reasons. For some it may be a deep matter of principle that has caused them to turn against those who they once claimed to support. For others it is simply a question of personal gain....what will they get out of it? In sport a player transferring to a rival club, especially a local one can easily stir up very strong feelings of disloyalty and betrayal amongst the fans. A politician may feel so strongly about a particular issue that he or she feels compelled to join the opposing party. Again, those who feel left behind often feel bewildered and hurt at what has happened. Did they really know this person as well as they thought they did? And of course, at times of war those who are suspected of selling out and giving away secrets to the enemy are almost universally reviled.

We see here though, Jesus knowing full well what was about to happen. He knew that he was about to be betrayed by one of those who he has come to know and trust. And it wasn’t over some deep point of principle either; it appeared to be down to plain greed. Matthew’s gospel tells us of how Judas received 30 pieces of silver for his actions. Being the keeper of the purse strings he had a way with money. This was an ideal opportunity for him to get just a little more to line his own pockets.

It is interesting that although Jesus correctly predicts that Judas will betray him neither he nor any of the disciples make any attempt to stop him from doing so as he leaves the room. Indeed Jesus actually tells him to “Do quickly what you are going to do! (Jn 13:27). It is as though this is all part of what must happen in order for events to unfold in the way they do. Without Judas acting in the way that he did we may never have had the arrest of Jesus, leading to his trial, crucifixion and eventual resurrection. As we saw yesterday, even though he was in a great deal of anguish over what was about to come, Jesus still remained completely focused upon the task ahead of him. The actions of Judas were a catalyst for what was to come. Though what he did was certainly completely reprehensible in every sense of the word, it was somehow able to be turned around and be used as part of the overall narrative leading to the eventual reconciliation between God and humankind.

 Without the betrayal by Judas perhaps events would have taken a different turn, we will never know. Even out of the deep sense of disloyalty and betrayal that Jesus (and his disciples) must have felt, there was still a way for it to become, if not quite a force for good then perhaps an event that could ultimately be used for the glory of God, though I doubt if Judas was thinking that at the time!

Again, Matthew’s gospel relates of how Judas was so full of remorse for his actions that he killed himself. What a weight he had now brought onto his shoulders. Knowing that he had handed over an innocent man to be condemned he was torn apart with guilt. It is easy I suppose for us to simply condemn Judas along with his actions. Less palatable perhaps to understand that he was in fact playing his part in the events that were to change the whole course of humanity. Even in the midst of betrayal God was still at work bringing about his divine purpose.

As we continue in Holy Week, may we remember that even in the darkest moments when everything seems to be moving towards such a dreadful finality, God is still in control. As we look to the one who took on our humanity to reconcile us with his divinity, let us keep our focus upon his journey of obedience to the will of his Father. A journey, dark and as dreadful as it is that is borne purely out of his love for each and every one of us.

AMEN

Strength in the Face of Weakness (Holy Week Tuesday)

Holy Week Tuesday

John 12:20-36, Isaiah 49:1-7 & 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

It is difficult for us to imagine the agony that any person condemned to death might feel as they await their fate, even more so when that person is actually innocent of any crime. The psychological pressure must be huge and simply waiting for the appointed hour would, for most people I suspect be quite unbearable. Here we have Jesus, even before his arrest and trial in front of a kangaroo court being fully aware of what it is that he faces. The only clue to the inner turmoil inside him is when Jesus says, “Now my soul is troubled. And what shall I say---Father, save me from this hour?” (Jn 12:27a).  I suspect that most of us would probably be a lot more vocal if we were in that situation, yet it underlines the vulnerability and humanity of Jesus.

In Mark’s gospel we read of a similar occasion in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is praying alone saying, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want”( Mk 14:36). Aware of the sheer horror of what is to come he is understandably completely repelled by it. Yet, at the same time he remains true to his divine calling, recognising that his own will was not what mattered here, but rather the will of the one who sent him. Yesterday we heard of how Mary sensed something of what was to come as she anointed the feet of Jesus with her expensive perfume. Now we see Jesus himself explicitly referring to his own death.....only a few days away now. How could he remain so outwardly calm while at the same time going through what must have been a huge mix of emotions? In one short passage he speaks not only of the very human fear of death, but also acknowledges that his own impending death will be an event that will change the course of the world. There was a sacred purpose in what was to come that only Jesus was able to bring about, as he bridged the gap between the human and the divine.

As Jesus agonizes over the sheer awfulness of coming events, there is the recognition of his divine purpose as he says, “It is for this reason that I come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”(Jn 12:27b-28a). Even in the midst of the barbarity that will soon unfold he is able to point towards the one who sent him. Death was not something that was able to contain him, in his upcoming resurrection the glory of God would be clearly seen by all.

He knew that his death was not going to be something that only a few close family and friends would be affected by, or even just his growing band of disciples. He speaks of being lifted up from the earth and of all people being drawn to him. It is a reference not only to the physical act of hanging high upon a cross, and visible by all who came to witness his execution, but also to the matter that in doing so the eyes of the whole world will be upon him. His death, rather than being a premature end to his ministry would in fact be the catalyst that draws people closer to the very heart of God. By his obedience to the will of his Father salvation was freely available for all without exception. In an echo of his radical inclusiveness during his earthly ministry, by his death and subsequent resurrection he was able to reconcile all of humanity with his heavenly Father.

In our reading from 1 Corinthians Paul speaks of “the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Cor 1:18). The message that those who bayed for his blood wanted to get across was that this was the just desserts for this troublemaker who had gone about stirring up the crowds with his healing and proclamations about the kingdom of God. He must die, and in the most public and humiliating way......on a cross sandwiched between two common criminals. In the minds of the authorities it was they who had won; it was they who had achieved their objective. They had crucified this imposter, this man who they accused of blasphemy, this man who challenged their whole way of life.

Yet Paul turns the whole thing upside down. Far from being a symbol of weakness the cross actually becomes a sign of the power of God. Jesus in his humanity becomes the weak and the despised, and in doing so reduces the power of those who believe they have brought him down. It wasn’t the powers that be that were going to have such a huge impact upon the world; it was this itinerant carpenter/preacher man who had managed to get so much under the skin of those who thought they were in control.

The message in the gospels though is that far from simply giving up and allowing events to overtake him, Jesus was actually very much in control of the situation. At any time he could have called upon God to save him from the upcoming horror, yet he chose instead to stand in the gap and bridge the gulf between humanity and God.

As we move on in Holy Week, we get closer to that moment when it all seems so bleak. When Jesus is betrayed and abandoned by those who were closest to him, and ultimately we journey with him to the cross, where it all seemed so final. Yet it is in the very weakness of the cross that we find our strength, and we join our prayers with that of Jesus as he prays “Father, glorify your name”.

AMEN

The Outsider on the Inside (Holy Week Monday)

Holy Week Monday

John 12:1-11 & Isaiah 42:1-9

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

After the solemnity of Lent and the great celebrations of the crowds as Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday, we turn our minds towards these final few days as we prepare to journey with our Lord during his darkest week. In the gospel reading there is still a week to go until Passover, that great feast that marked the liberation of the Jewish people from their long years of slavery. On the face of it, everything seems to be heading towards this wonderful celebratory event. It was for this great festival that Jesus was making his journey towards Jerusalem.

He chose to break his journey at Bethany, at the home of the two sisters Mary and Martha. It is a scene that echoes a moment in Lukes gospel where Jesus similarly goes to the house of these two women and receives their gracious hospitality. So here we have Jesus (and his disciples) pitching up at the house of two apparently unmarried women for dinner. The gospels record many of Jesus’ most significant events as taking place within the context of a meal. An occasion where folk can gather and share not only their food, but also their lives and experiences. The public ministry of Jesus in John’s gospel began with the wedding feast in Cana, and now we see it moving towards a close with yet another social occasion here at Bethany.

The difference between the two events could not be greater. At Cana the mood was celebratory and optimistic as Jesus embarked upon his mission bringing the sparkling new wine of the kingdom of God. By contrast, this time the atmosphere is quite different. This is a dinner party held in Jesus’ honour, yet this time there is talk of burial rather than renewal. It was not really the kind of dinner party where people exchange light-hearted chit chat or making grand plans about how they were going to somehow change the world with the Son of God leading the charge. It was much more muted than that.

We heard a couple of weeks ago from Jim on how Jesus included the excluded and these two women were certainly part of this group.....part of the other. Yet something quite remarkable happens at dinner as Mary proceeds to open a jar of the most expensive and luxurious perfume she had and begins to anoint the feet of Jesus with it. This wasn’t just a cheap bottle of Old Spice bought from the local supermarket. This was top of the range stuff, almost the fragrant equivalent to haute couture. And here she is on the ground covering the feet of Jesus in it, and then shockingly using her hair to wipe his feet. The very act of her unbinding her hair was in the Jewish culture of her day regarded as deeply suspicious, and certainly not something any respectable woman would do. She was moved beyond the point of caring what other people might think. It was a very public and moving display of devotion to her Lord that no doubt made some of those present feel quite uncomfortable. It pre-empts of course the events of the Passover meal itself a few days later where Jesus kneels at the feet of his disciples and washes their feet.

Brushing away the protestations of Judas, Jesus validates the actions of Mary, as he says, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial”. There is much rich symbolism in her actions as she uses oils and perfumes that are meant to be for covering the dead body of Jesus only days before that becomes an all too real necessity. Even as he remains fully aware of where events are about to take him, he still recognizes and acknowledges the devotion of one who had so often been on the outside looking in.

Jesus commends Mary because what she does is in recognition of the limited time that Jesus will remain with them. She alone seems to have some sense that the amazing journey of the last few years was somehow about to come to an end. She may not have known the full significance of what she was doing, but there seems to be little question of her knowing something of the darkness that Jesus was soon to go through. The Jesus that she and the disciples had followed as he healed the sick, fed the hungry, confronted injustice and raised the dead was now reaching the end of his earthly role.

We read the gospels with the benefit of knowing what happens next. What must it have been like for those first followers of Jesus as they began that final week? What was going through Mary’s mind as she fell to the ground to anoint the feet of Jesus?  What goes through our minds as we travel that slow, often painful journey with Jesus over the next few days? Even though we know how it ends, the pain is no less real, the sorrow is no less great. He came to share in our humanity as much as we share in his divinity.

We may not have the expensive perfume of Mary with which to anoint his feet (and some of us certainly don’t have the hair with which to wipe it). Hopefully, what we do have though is a deep sense of devotion, particularly in this Holy Week. A devotion that recognises in the awfulness of what is about to happen there remains hope that Christ will triumph over the forces of evil and bring us all into a new and life-changing relationship with God.

AMEN

An Examination of the Central Themes of 1 Corinthians and their Relevance to a Contemporary Christian Audience

In this essay I intend to undertake an examination of 1 Corinthians, taking a look at the central themes that run throughout the book and drawing out how they may be relevant to contemporary Christians today.

In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul addresses a number of issues, one of ‘which is the fractious nature of the church there. The church was beset by arguing and in-fighting, as different groups each followed different leaders and people vied for attention. This is arguably the theme that underlines much of the letter, with much else linking back to this central point. Paul begins almost immediately with an appeal for unity amongst the believers there (1 Cor 1:10), and in doing so lays a foundation for the rest of the letter. He has heard reports of quarrelling and partisanship and seeks to present himself as a focus of unity, urging the Corinthians to imitate him and see him as their spiritual “father” (1 Cor 4:16) rather than splitting off into different (and often opposing) groups.

In his book “An Introduction to the New Testament and the Origins of Christianity” Delbert Burkett entitles his chapter on 1 Corinthians as “Problems of Church Life”[1]. He goes on to set out the many issues that were faced by the church there (issues that are not altogether different from those facing the church in the twenty first century). As well as breaking up into many different factions there were also issues of personal morality (1 Cor 5) and how Christians ought to relate to one another correctly (1 Cor 6:1-11). Later in 1 Corinthians there is concern about the correct us of spiritual gifts within the church and their potential for misuse (1Cor 12-14). The entirety of the letter seems to focus upon inter-personal relationships that were honouring of each other and also of God. There are certainly parallels here with the present day church that I shall explore later.

It is apparent that the seeds of division that we see Paul speaking of here are only the beginning of what turned out to be many thousands of different churches and denominations which would spring up over the next two thousand years. In “The Writings of the New Testament” Luke Timothy Johnson asserts that “The Corinthians tended to define themselves by their differences rather than by their common life”[2]. It was this emphasis on difference from one another that tended to lead to a sense of elitism as each rival faction desperately tried to outdo the others.  Paul appears to be quite exasperated as he pleads for the in-fighting to cease. “For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul”, or “I belong to Apollos”, or “I belong to Cephas”, or “I belong to Christ”. Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptised in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor 1:11-13).  His questioning about Christ being divided strikes right at the heart of the problem. It is clear that so far as Paul is concerned these divisions do nothing to build up the church. He is on a mission to ensure that the church remains united as one.

In his book “Introducing the New Testament”[3] John Drane neatly sums up the four different parties as follows:

·        The “Paul Party” who were libertine in their outlook and relished their newfound freedom from the law.

·        The “Cephas Party” who remained true to the legalism of traditional Jewishness while still acknowledging Christ as the Messiah.

·        The “Apollos Party” who interpreted the teaching of the scriptures with the ideas and thoughts of Greek philosophy in mind.

·        The “Christ Party” who sought to have a direct mystical experience with Christ, and considered themselves to be the more superior of the parties.

It is possible to see modern parallels to Drane’s categories within the church today in the multiplicity of denominations and factions that each proclaim their own particular brand of Christian “truth”. Even within the different denominations themselves there are often different groupings each attempting to be the more dominant voice.  A prime example is the current situation within the Church of England regarding the debate over women bishops. It could be said that the supporters of women bishops most closely resemble the “Paul Party” with what could be viewed as a break from tradition and their openness to new and possibly different forms of ministry. The opponents of women bishops however would perhaps more fit the mould of the “Cephas Party” with their emphasis on continuing with what they believe is the tradition of male episcopacy that has been handed down through apostolic succession over the centuries.

The secession of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church, while superficially caused by Henry VIII’s desire for an annulment to his marriage has had consequences that continue to this day. Notwithstanding that the new Supreme Governor of the Church of England remained doctrinally catholic, in the coming centuries this new independent church would grow to become almost as monolithic at times as the Roman Catholic Church had become. In recent decades, even centuries, many different factions that cover a very broad range of interests and opinions have flourished within the church, not always in harmony with one another. The nineteenth century disagreements between the Anglo-Catholic and Evangelical wings of the church are one example that is brought to mind, and to some extent the rivalry between the two continues today. It is clear therefore that the splits that Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians were not a phenomenon unique to that particular context, but rather were a seemingly universal occurrence that has lasted throughout the entire history of the church.

Paul’s apparent irritation with the church continues in chapter three where he indicates that so long as they continue to squabble with one another he regards them as still relatively immature in the faith. “”I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for sold food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?” ( 1 Cor 3:1-3). It is evident that he regards their attempts at one-upmanship on one another as indicative of spiritual weakness rather than strength. To return to 1 Cor 1:10, it is clear that Paul sees their strength is in unity rather than the division that they have become so entrenched in.

Paul also takes up the theme of personal morality within the letter. This can be most clearly seen in chapters 5-7. He expounds upon sexual immorality (ch 5, 6:12-20), lawsuits among believers (ch 6: 1-11), instructions to married couples (ch 7:1-17), and instructions concerning the unmarried and widowed (ch 7:25-40). These instructions from Paul on what he considers to be the correct way for Christians to conduct their personal lives link into his desire for unity that I wrote about earlier. It is only by conducting their personal affairs in a way that is honouring to Christ and at the same time builds up their fellow believers that a Christian can truly know what it is to be a part of the one united Body of Christ. Pauls philosophy regarding sexual morality is perhaps best summed up in I Cor 6:19-20 where he says “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body”. It is clear that he sees each believer as being the personal dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and as such all that the individual does must be for the greater glory of God rather than for their own selfish gain.

In his book “An Introduction to the New Testament”, Raymond Brown suggests that “Ones body is a means of self-communication, and so intercourse produces a union between the partners. Union of one who is a member of Christ with an unworthy partner, such as a prostitute, disgraces Christ, just as marital union glorifies God (6:20).”[4] In a modern day context there are many different models of living that to some in the church may seem to contradict what they see as Pauls teaching on the matter. Most obviously perhaps is the subject of homosexuality, which has been a particular hot-topic within the church for a number of years.

Although the traditional teaching of the church has been that the practice of homosexuality is sinful and that sexual relations are reserved exclusively for heterosexual married couples, there are many within the church who view this issue quite differently. I Corinthians 6:9-10 is one of seven so-called “clobber passages[5] that is often used to condemn same sex attraction. There are many throughout the church who consider themselves to have been alienated and spiritually damaged by the use (or mis-use) of these texts in this way. Equally there are those within the church who continue to look towards texts such as this to support their views that the practice of homosexuality is wrong. What does seem to be apparent however is that whatever understanding of human sexuality Paul may have had, it would have been quite different to the experience of those within the church today who daily have to deal with the subject. What does seem certain though is that however one views matters of sexuality or personal morality; the overriding teaching of Paul is that one ought to conduct one’s life in a manner that is honouring to God.

1 Corinthians 15 provides the most detailed treatment of Paul’s teaching regarding the resurrection of the dead. Tom Wright discusses this at length in his book “Surprised by Hope”[6].  He argues that the traditional view of people going straight to “heaven” (or “hell”) is a serious distortion of Paul’s teaching on the subject.[7] Wright suggests that people’s views on what happens after death is often over-spiritualised. Rather than simply becoming a disembodied spirit at death and going straight to heaven (or indeed, hell), he argues strongly that the ultimate destination for those who are saved is to inhabit a physically transformed new body upon a physically transformed new earth. He emphasises that rather than possessing an immortal soul, Paul actually teaches that through the future bodily resurrection the believer shall actually possess an immortal and incorruptible body (though to my own understanding, this would also necessarily involve having an immortal soul as well).[8]

The discussion by Paul about the resurrection of the dead is prompted by the outright denial of some of the Corinthian believers concerning it (1 Cor 15:12). He goes on to say that without the resurrection of Christ and the future resurrection of those who are in Christ then faith is in vain (1 Cor 15:13-18).

In modern life death is often hidden away, and people are often uncomfortable discussing death or what happens afterwards. There is a sort of modern-day folk culture that can be said to have built up around death/funeral rituals (particularly when it is the untimely death of a relatively young person). Without a great deal of Christian/church input people often still seem to yearn for some kind of hope that there is something beyond this life. For many, that hope seems to manifest itself in the belief that the deceased may be “somewhere above” and protectively looking down upon them in the disembodied state that Wright specifically argues against. Others may believe that their loved ones have somehow “merged” with some greater abstract force. The Christian hope however, as put forward in Corinthians, is that one day we shall be raised from the dead and inhabit a new earth. “When this perishable body puts on immortality, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled; “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?”” (1 Cor 15:54-55). The challenge facing the church today is learning how to sensitively inform people, who may have been unchurched for a number of generations of what the Christian hope of what lies beyond death is.

In conclusion, the First Letter to the Corinthians was written by Paul to a community of believers who seemed to be experiencing issues not unlike many of those facing the church today. Personality clashes, inflated egos, an obsession with sexual morality and a desire to know what lies beyond this life. It goes to show that the underlying concerns of humankind cross the time and culture barrier, and that the words of Paul can speak to us just as much today as they did to his original audience, just perhaps in a  different way.

---

[1] Burkett, p328

[2] Johnson, p297

[3] Drane, p323

[4] Brown, p518-519

[5] http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibc1.htm (accessed 3/5/11)

[6] Wright, p159-176

[7] Wright, p160

[8] Wright 172-173

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

John 13:1-17, 31b-35; Exodus12:1-14 & 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Tonight’s service is for many the most significant of the year. Tonight we mark the Institution of the Lord’s Supper and we are reminded of the “servant-hood” of Jesus as he washes his disciples’ feet. It wasn’t until we started worshipping here at Saint George’s just over five years ago that I experienced for myself just what this service actually means. The stripping of the sanctuary at the close of tonight’s service, and the procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose is for me one of the most powerful moments in the church calendar.

The reading we have just heard from John’s gospel is firmly anchored in love. Everything that it speaks of comes from the very heart of Jesus. Looking at this passage we get a glimpse of the very essence of God, for God IS love. We began this week with Jesus sharing a meal with Mary and Martha, and saw Mary anoint his feet with the most expensive perfume. We come to a close at another meal, the final occasion when all the disciples will be together with Jesus and one another. Having lived and shared their lives together over the years they would have had great ties of brotherhood, as well as at times, moments of intense rivalry. Yet here they were sitting down together to commemorate the Passover meal. Though John’s gospel itself does not actually spell it out, if we look at the other three gospels it is clear that this is also the same event as that which inaugurated the Lord’s Supper.

We read of a remarkable reversal of position. Jesus knew that his time on earth was coming to an end, and he uses this last meal with his disciples as an occasion to demonstrate the reality of what he was all about. He gets up, pours water into a basin and proceeds to wash the disciples stinking feet. Peter, being characteristically forthright is outraged by this bizarre reversal of roles. If there is any foot washing to be done here, surely it should be the other way round? What on earth was going on?  Jesus responds by saying, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand. Unless I wash you, you have no share with me”, (Jn 13:7-8). He was providing them with a model by which to live their lives. By taking upon himself the role of a servant he visibly displays his love for his disciples. Even though he knows that the hour of his betrayal was almost upon him, right at this moment his focus was upon providing a perfect model of humbleness and servant-hood to his disciples.

It must have been the most deeply touching moments that the disciples had shared with him. How must they have felt to see their Lord on his knees washing their feet? Probably pretty confused at first, but they also had to let their sense of pride go too. Again, looking back to Peter, who says, “You will never wash my feet” (Jn 13:8), there may be some sense of wanting to keep things in the correct order. There was certain etiquette to behaviour, and this broke that etiquette right down. But then, as we read throughout the gospels anyway.....Jesus was hardly a stickler for the rules!

As I mentioned at the beginning his foot-washing was an act of love. Knowing that his time remaining was limited Jesus gave the disciples a “new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34-35). It is the entire gospel message summed up in one word....LOVE. Love for one another as well as for God. Without love the words of Christ would simply not be worth the paper they are written on.

When we share in the Eucharist tonight we are sharing with one another the ultimate act of love that God has given to us. We share in the context of community what it means to take of Christ’s body and blood. We cannot truly love in isolation, as though we are in a kind of spiritual bubble. It is something that requires us to develop a relationship with others in order to flourish and grow. The depth of love that god has for us is the perfect model by which we can aspire to love others as he has loved us. Out of our own experience of God’s love for us we can reflect that love back to God as well as to others.....a sort of mirror if you like.

And we experience that love most fully in the Eucharist or whatever other name you choose to call it by, Holy Communion, The Lord’s Supper or The Breaking of Bread. Jesus is present in a very real and powerful way as he gives of himself to us. By partaking of him in this sacrament we in a sense become Jesus to others. In our final session of the Lent course we heard a quote from the American theologian Jim Wallis. He said:

“We break the bread and we pour the wine, drink the wine-then we go out in the world and we BECOME the bread and the wine. We BECOME that sacrament in the world. We celebrate and then we go out and we enact that sacrament in the way we live our lives in the world”.

It is through Christ within us.....each and every one of us, that others are able to experience the depth of love and grace that he has for all. We are the hands, the feet, and the body of Christ. When people look at us they see hopefully, a community of people who are very far from perfect, but who seek as much as we can to stand up for the weak, speak out for the oppressed and feed the hungry.

It is worth remembering the words of John in one of his letters:

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God, everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for us. (1 John 4 : 7-10)

John reminds us that it is through God reaching out to us in love, and firmly rooting the sacrifice of Jesus as something borne out of that love that we are able to be reconciled to God. The whole idea of the atonement by which we are reconciled through Jesus comes purely out of his endless love. It is God reaching out to us in divine love, rather than us reaching out to God that is the key here. Only through his love are we able to truly know what it is to live because when we reach out to others in love they may see something (even if it only a small glimmer) of God in us.

So, as we partake of our Lord’s body and blood this evening, and as we allow him to wash our feet.....may we do so in the full knowledge, and deepest gratitude that we do so because he first loved us. And may we sit with him, even if only for an hour or so in the garden as we await the terrible events of tomorrow, but let us not forget that Sunday is only just around the corner.

AMEN