Do not let your hearts be troubled
Easter 6: 13th May, 2007
Fr John Davis, Vicar of St Peter's, Eastern Hill
It is the Sunday before the Ascension and two Sundays before Pentecost, the celebration of the power and gift of the Holy Spirit. We are coming to an end of the Easter season. Today and next Sunday our gospel lessons are from John. Some final teachings. Some last prayers and instructions to the disciples. The promise of the Holy Spirit to further teach, guide and remind in all that is yet to come. The promise of the continuing and abiding presence of our God who 'will come and make home with us', to use the beautiful image. There will be peace of the sort 'that the world cannot give'. We will recognise these things when we experience them, and we will know them to be genuine. We are urged not to be troubled or afraid.
What do you do when someone who is extremely important to you says that they are going to be leaving, but that they have some things they want to say to you? Of course you hang on every word. But then you hear what is important for you to hear at that time, and you savour it and cherish it. Last words matter very much. So it was with the disciples. So it would be with you or with me.
Considering this gospel passage myself, two aspects of it gave me particular pause; the sort of thing that you say, 'I want to think more about that', or 'that is something that I had not taken on board before, at least not the way I am right now.' We have used this approach for a number of years now in our Lenten Bible Studies and this is one of the insights that very simple and subjective Bible study methods can offer: What has struck me about this passage today? What is this passage saying to me today? What might I take away from this for the week ahead? So this sermon this morning is really an example of how this might be done.
The first section was this:
'But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.'
(Jn 14:26)
One thing I take away from this passage is the reassurance that there was not a specific time and place – say Jerusalem in the early part of 33AD – when everything had been said and done and revealed and finalised. Until the absolute end of all things and all time, there has not been a time when there was to be no more revelation, no more unfolding of salvation history, no further growth or development of understanding or teaching. Those who say there is nothing more to be revealed are leaving no room for the continued and ongoing working of the Holy Spirit. This is an important reminder for us as we approach Pentecost and reconsider its significance in our understanding of God. It says something to us of the nature of the task that is ours: it includes the prayerful attempted discernment of the continuing working out of God's grace and God's possible surprises, now and into the future, as well as all that has already been accomplished.
Our first lesson from Acts, talking about the opening up of the faith to non Hebrews, people who were of quite different culture and tradition in quite significant ways, is a case in point. As a result of what we now call the first general council in Jerusalem, the mission to the gentile world was thoroughly affirmed. What was previously the most important indicator of whether a man was part of the community of faith or not – circumcision – was not to be required of them. This was something completely new and for many enormously troubling. Look at everything that was said in Exodus and Leviticus. And yet.
We can think of other examples from the history of the Church where similar right-angled or even 180-degree turns have been made. Never without pain and difficulty. Sometimes it is very hard to know. What is from God and therefore is of obligation, once discerned? What deserves the streakers defence "It seemed like a very nice idea at the time, officer."
It is easy enough to consider many examples of church practice and teaching through the centuries where this has been a real question. And of course it continues today. What is absolutely core and what is cultural? What is the actual teaching or understanding rather than what is the means of conveying this teaching or understanding. Race or class has been a divider, ethics is currently, economic policy used to include the complete banning of the lending of any money at interest by Christians – that was called usury, language raised the question of our means of communicating with God in both prayer and worship, the appropriate place of secular authority was a big issue at the time of the Reformation – king versus pope. How is Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament?
So all of that comes from a reflection on the possibility and indeed that promise that the Holy Spirit will continue to teach the community of faith, generation by generation. For me it was an encouragement to consider what new things God might be doing in my life, or in the life of the community of faith, now.
The second passage that I focussed on was this:
'Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid'. (Jn 14:27b)
Now that is something that very much depends on particular circumstances and particular personality types. If you are a teenager facing important exams or a first love, there will be different concerns for you rather than those of a politician seeking re-election soon, or for someone who is getting older and who knows how dangerous a fall can be. What does this verse say to each of these? And since the purpose of this reflection is to acknowledge just how individual and subjective this is able to be, then what comfort or strength might I find in this word of encouragement? There comes a certain time in a human life when for instance it is necessary to consider the passing of the years. For some in this congregation that is a long way away. For others not so.
A 60-year-old vicar has to consider this – and I reluctantly concede that this is better than denial. But I can be a case in point this week: a cyst removed and sent for analysis which should be no trouble at all, but on the other hand, out of the blue some concerning test results in a dangerous area that are not able to be ignored. You get on with it and do what you have to do. But with what attitude and in what context? That is the question. That is the challenge.
The context includes God; the context includes the community of faith and the prayerful connecting of it all in a bigger perspective. The Christian faith has to have something in there that is able to address that time and that circumstance when a person finds themselves very close to or even on a rumbling and never-stopping conveyor belt, taking them somewhere they absolutely do not want to go.
In this passage then, hearts 'troubled and afraid' were honestly named and acknowledged. But what I took away from this, especially right at this time, was a reminder of a bigger God context as well as a gentle reminder that peace was also ultimately bigger than fear. And that for me was encouragement and care.
Consider then what you might be taking away with you from this mass, from this worship, from this participation in the gathering of this Christian community. Take it with you for the week ahead. If it is positive, share it with those you care for in whatever way is appropriate. And let us be open and accepting of the gifts that God has yet to share with us.
The Lord be with you.
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