A vision of fulfilment and hope
Ordinary Sunday 23: 10th September, 2006
Fr John Davis, Vicar of St Peter's, Eastern Hill
Last Sunday because we observed NG Martyrs, we missed out on the first of a series of gospel readings from Mark that take us into a new phase of the year. We have now well and truly finished with the Bread of Life discourses from John and are now back with Mark, our predominant gospel for this year B. This week we have a striking healing miracle of the deaf man that attracts wonder and amazement. This comes straight after actions and attitudes that were full of complaint. The ministry of Jesus is a very bumpy ride.
Last week there was concern that the disciples were not properly concerned with the rules and regulations of ritual cleanness prescribed in Deuteronomy and Leviticus. Jesus countered by quoting from Isaiah: "This people honours me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me...for it is from within, from people's hearts that evil intentions emerge." Beyond the formalities and the externals, for the person of faith there is a relationship that expresses itself in attitudes and in actions – both to God and to others. We respond to God and in doing so this has a profound effect on how we respond to each other. Actions and attitudes are to be renewed in a very deep way. The superficial observance is not enough, if it does not reflect the inner reality. That danger would be, as Frank Maloney has observed, that 'the externals...eventually become the things that count, while the heart of the matter is lost'.
We have also started on a sequence of readings from the epistle of James. This is a remarkably practical and down to earth book of very explicit directions about behaviour. Luther in the 16th century did not like it at all because he feared that those who preached a doctrine of 'works righteousness' – getting yourself to Heaven by your good works – could find some comfort here. Indeed, we can get a bit of the flavour of this epistle in James' statement (1:27)
"Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world."
And the most inflammatory assertion of all is provided for us by James, next week. Wait for it! It is the text that had Luther wanting this book taken out of the canon of Scripture.
This week James takes his social gospel into the area of potential discrimination within the community of faith on the basis of wealth and social position. Do not, he says, even try to combine faith in Jesus Christ with the maintenance or institutionalising of such distinctions. In words that recall the Sermon on the Mount, James asks, "Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?" (2:5). Those who find themselves therefore accused of making themselves into corrupt judges of others are left moving just a little uncomfortably. And James has done his work well.
But our main readings relate to the healing miracle. The Old Testament lesson from Isaiah looks to the time of the new creation; the time when our God will come – when the natural order will burst into new growth, when there will be water gushing in the deserts and when all those who are constrained and held back in any way will be able to live life in all its wonderful fullness. So there will be opening and unsealing and leaping and singing where none of that was possible. This is a great vision of fulfilment and hope and promise. In the gospel narrative, the healing of the man who could not hear and was not able to speak, is tapping into the remembrance of these well-know passages from the great prophet. This is just what the Messiah was expected to be able to do. Such things are not possible unless God is absolutely and powerfully at work. The witnessing and experiencing of such actions was for many the occasion of a call and a response to faith. At least here, the praise is unqualified: "He has done all things well".
But an interesting part of this sequence, both last week and this, is where it is said to have happened. Last week on home territory and within easy distance of Jerusalem, the scribes and the Pharisees were more concerned with whether the regulations and customs were being properly observed, as proscribed by the tradition of the elders than in taking in the impact of just what this Jesus was actually saying and doing. Jesus left all that behind and went the considerable distance – at least on foot – to southern Lebanon. Today's gospel has Jesus coming back from Tyre and Sidon (names of places so recently again in the news for sadly different reasons) but still not in home territory. This man is a pagan. The people who are rejoicing are those outside the faith, unburdened by the requirements and presuppositions that stopped the scribes from seeing what was actually happening. Once again it is outsiders or those on the edge, who are put up as clear example of those who are open to God, willing to accept God and to respond joyfully to the gifts on offer. This is a continuing theme throughout the New Testament.
That strong imperative verb: 'Be opened!' stands there for us as a commanding invitation for the opening up of whatever it is that constrains us or limits us or holds us back from the fullness of relationship with God and with each other. The Church is expected to be a place where this opening might be able to take place. Many in various ways do experience this, and this is an occasion of personal and community joy. Others still search or consider. Some do not want it at all. That was the original gospel experience and it has been repeated through every generation.
In the gospel, the healing miracles are always intended as signposts of the potential actions of God – signposts that actually direct us to God rather than leaving us right at that point of encounter. A healing miracle points to a greater healing, a deeper insight and to the action and presence of a loving and sustaining God. This God is shown clearly to us in Jesus Christ and continues to be experienced today, in the community of faith, in the power of the Spirit.
This new life, unshackled by constraining disability either physical or spiritual, can be wonderfully experienced within the community of faith. It can also be experienced beyond and outside that community, especially if the original community is unwilling or unable to accept. That is the message of the gospel this morning. God's action is thankfully not limited to our own area of participation. God's action and God's graceful gifts may even be just around the corner; there to surprise and to fill us with more than we could ever have imagined. May we live in that hope.
The Lord be with you.
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