Outward and visible signs
Ordinary Sunday 25: 21st September, 2003
Fr John Davis, Vicar of St Peter's, Eastern Hill
There are many passages in the Scriptures that speak of the fruits of the Spirit, the outward and visible responses to the gift of faith, the works that we do, the lives that we live. We are also familiar with the language of the catechism – which acknowledges the importance of both the outward and visible signs and the inward and spiritual grace that cannot be seen. This can apply to a sacrament. It can also apply to an individual or to a community. It can be noticed in a church building or a whole denomination.
What are the distinguishing marks? What is characteristic? These external things are important. Certainly in the matter of encouragement in the faith, or first contacts with a particular expression of the faith, it may well be these outward and first noticed things that are going to make all the difference. If a connection is going to be made, what is going to get things moving? What will the searcher or the enquirer see or find?
So that got me thinking. What are people going to notice about us? As people and as place? It is probably the place that will be seen first. First of all they will immediately notice that there is something here a little out of the ordinary. This is a particular church in a particular tradition. There are all sorts of give-away little indications. This is what is known around the English speaking world as a 'shrine' church – a city anglo-catholic church. If there is such a thing as a five star Michelin guide for anglo-catholic churches, we know what we ourselves would be checking down the list for. How many stars? Those of us who know and love these places seek out their equivalents wherever we travel. They are special, they are probably somewhat eccentric, they are generally places of tolerance and welcoming acceptance. That means that they are also always places where people who know nothing of this tradition also can feel welcomed and can, with fascination, sample something of the mysteries that seem to be beckoning them to explore further this way of worshipping God, in this community of faith.
But something will have to entice them down that driveway. Here in Melbourne it could be our wayside cross that is first noticed – an almost life-sized crucifix that is a memorial to our war dead, right on a busy intersection and never without flowers. Or they might see this apparently little church across the road from St Patrick's Cathedral, facing away from the street. Many people do come to investigate.
The historic significance, the simple beauty, the manageable size and the traditional pleasing shape of the building attract comment from the many visitors and school groups we get. But St Peter's tells the visitor more than that immediately. The placement, the prominence and the adornment of the altar with its huge candles and the tabernacle in the centre says something very clear about priorities. A person of Christian background would recognise at once that this is a church solidly located in the catholic tradition. A person of no particular understanding of such furnishings would still know that that was where the most important part of what ever might happen here would happen – and that it is greatly honoured.
The eye might then be drawn to the prominent crucifix, to this pulpit, to the stations of the cross on the walls, to the great stained glass windows in the transepts – full of people living and dying for the faith. And they would smell something special too: that lingering heavy scent of incense that permeates these very walls. All that is before they might see even one of us. Outside, they could see that there are Sunday mass times and also masses throughout the week. They could check out a spare pew sheet and see all sorts of activities and groups, and perhaps (if they were still checking out how many stars) they would certainly note public Rosary on Wednesdays and weekly Benediction. There would be multiple stars for those!
They would see too that the whole place is well kept and cared for. They might check out the Bookroom. They might notice the daily contact with large numbers of people who are homeless or in need in various ways. They could notice people coming into the church simply to pray and to be still. In short, they would note that this may well be a place that is in some genuine way alive. And this is before actually joining in anything. The interaction of the people who really make this place what it is then, is the further key ingredient.
All these outward and visible signs of activities, priorities and concerns are the outward and visible signs of what is inwardly deeply important to the people who worship God here. We are people who find friendship and support here, who care for the values and sacrifices of the generations who have built and cared for this place. We would wish to see these values honoured and passed on to the generations that are to come. In each generation this has been a place where the vocation, the call to be a Christian within this particular tradition, has been responded to and lived out in very many different ways – perhaps almost as many as there have been people – but all nurtured with the sacraments of the Church, challenged both by the Scriptures and by the example of others to attempt to have lives shaped by love and service, for God and for others. And if this is more often than not a step forward and then a step or two back, then at least this is being tried in the context of a community of faith, and not alone. And we try again.
The lessons today remind us that if from time to time we find things hard, or if from time to time we find ourselves falling well short of where we should be or need to be – then we are in good company. In the gospel reading today from Mark, the disciples were arguing amongst themselves about who was to be the greatest among them. And the Lord tells them they should be like a little child, helpless and defenceless – and certainly not in any sense great. They just did not at this stage understand this paradox, even though the clearest example of it was actually speaking to them: "If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all."
Similarly, the epistle from James is addressing the problems of internal wars and battles within the very group that considers itself to be Christian.What, might we ask, has changed? James says that this is the time to pray and to pray hard. And he notes, "Peacemakers, when they work for peace, sow the seeds which will bear fruit in holiness". So there are some more potential outward and visible signs of something inwardly rich appearing there too.
These are not easy times. This is not a comfortable time to be part of the Church. This is a time when to be an anglo-catholic Christian is to be out of sympathy with much that seems to be holding sway. But the question really
is, then, what next? How are we who are of this way to face these confronting times and these difficult challenges?
Working together with good will is vitally important. Good humour too. All these outward things that we cherish and care for are indicators and sign posts towards that inner growing faith, hope and love that together we share. This is how we are fed, this is how we find strength for the journey that we must travel, this is how we find meaning in life and in living. We do this together. And by the grace of God, we can do this in a place that is very special to us. May we all seek to help more people to find what we have found here, with generous hearts.
The Lord be with you.
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