A prayer of the head and a prayer of the heart
Ordinary Sunday 30: 28th October, 2007
Fr John Davis, Vicar of St Peter's, Eastern Hill
When I returned home from Canberra to consider this sermon for today, I found the text that had been on my mind since the Primate's address at the final General Synod Eucharist on Friday actually set for the gospel for today. The Primate's sermon had been a confronting response to the gospel of that day. His text was: 'You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?' Lk12:56. That sermon should be available shortly. Believe me, it is well worth reading. As the Primate noted somewhat wryly, it is only in having to respond to the requirements of a lectionary that such a gospel would be even remotely considered on such an occasion.
It was indeed challenging to hear that part of Luke's gospel in the context of all that had been going on, politics included, during the previous General Synod week. But of course the question is; just who is accurately reading the signs of the times? Is it those who are wanting to do something new or different? Is it those who believe that this is the prophetic call of God at work in us? Or is this the discernment that it is because so much is changing that all is falling apart? As we look around us with all that faces us, how are we to interpret? Many of these issues are here to be wrestled hard with and prayed over. Discernment is not easy. Grace-filled faithfulness is the goal.
What then do the Scriptures say? How has the Tradition dealt with this through the centuries? Very importantly, what might the Holy Spirit be stirring up in us today? How does the community of faith at every level as appropriate, even start to talk about such things, let alone actually live out the worked-through principles? How can we be helped in all this? That is the question. We have bodies like General Synods in an attempt to assist in a process of corporate prayerful discernment.
Today's gospel then contrasts the Pharisee's "God, I thank you that I am not like other people..." (Lk18:11) with the tax collector's "God be merciful to me a sinner" (18:13) The Lord declared that it was the second who went home with relationship with God restored.
So far as this gospel for today is concerned, we all have experienced that sense that it is the others that are being called to account and not us. And often we can produce some very good arguments to back that presupposition up. And just when we are ready to sit back comfortably a text like this comes into our minds to unsettle.
Today's little parable is a good one. It has a strong teaching point and it raises lingering questions in our minds. 'Two men went up to the temple to pray...' it starts, so we know immediately that we are going to be asked to identify with one or the other. Where do I see myself? What the Pharisee does, he does perfectly. God will surely reward his merits, which are many, and condemn the shortcomings of others, which are many, especially for instance those of that one over there. That one over there is readily identifiable as someone who is not at all perfect. He is standing back from the rest asking for God's mercy, beating his breast in a sign of contrition, not expecting anything of right and not judging others. Is this perhaps a difference between a prayer of the head and a prayer of the heart? So the end of the parable is two men going home from the temple having prayed, one is set right with God, the other not.
Now a parable urges application. This parable teaches humility, self-discernment, forbearance of others, heartfelt prayer. Once again, someone on the edge of things gets it right, spiritually, while someone at the centre who has it all right by every possible external indicator, has it wrong inside. These are interesting passages of Scripture to give a context for reflection on the experience I have just had as a member of our General Synod. There were two us from this parish, three if we count the Warden of Trinity College. Rachel Ellyard has served this diocese very well indeed in her first General Synod. She will certainly see many more.
The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia meets in session for a full week every three years. Its purpose is to consider legislation and resolutions for the good of the Church as a whole — we have 23 dioceses here — and where necessary to speak as a Province of the worldwide Anglican Communion — and in that context we are one of 38 such provinces or national churches around the world. The elected Primate (presently the Archbishop of Brisbane) chairs the synod. You can imagine that the quality of chairing is absolutely crucial. We have an excellent chair at this time — I have seen no better in the more than 20 years of these gatherings that I have attended in one way or another.
In the Australian scheme of things, the dioceses have retained great power and nothing decided at the centre must be accepted in any diocese until they themselves approve. Nowhere else in the Anglican world is this so to such an extent. It is probably the only way we were able to join together organisationally.
Representation is by diocese proportional to size — at least in the houses of the laity and the clergy. So the biggest diocese, Sydney, had some 55 representatives, the smallest 2. The bishops, clergy and laity from time to time are called to vote separately in houses — so there in the case of the bishops, the Archbishop of Sydney's vote is the same as the vote of say the Bishop of Willochra. That is to offer some sort of balancing weight to the smaller country dioceses so they are not completely swamped by the big urban centres. Melbourne's representation was vigorously fought over in the clergy in particular and our delegation reflected the various traditions here in Melbourne. A third of the 250 reps are sufficient to block a major change.
So that is the body that has just met. Legislation has priority. This is Church law if and when it takes effect. So our Melbourne synod will in due course accept or not accept all the canons passed in Canberra last week.
There were big issues under consideration in one form or another. These included a continuing theme throughout the week relating to fresh expressions of ministry and church growth, the national professional standards register, the consecration of women bishops, the strains in the international Anglican Communion, same sex relationship issues, the environment and climate change and particular response to the drought, to name just a few. There were some inspiring addresses and challenging sermons. Morning and evening prayer were said together daily. There was much connecting and manoeuvring. Differences of approach and attitude were apparent often, yet overall it was perhaps the most peaceful General Synod in a generation. For that we can all be most thankful. We have not torn ourselves apart just yet and maybe, just maybe, we will not.
The fundamental issue is not that from time to time we will disagree with each other in the Church. Of course that will be so and in every generation. The issue is rather to do with our response to that fact of life. Because we find ourselves disagreeing, or not in favour of a change that is of significance, does that mean that we feel that we have to divide or leave? I really hope that it does not. Sadly there have been times in the history of the Church like the 4th or 11th or 16th and 17th centuries when this has happened, at great cost and with great personal and corporate pain. Once again, discernment is never easy. Grace-filled faithfulness still remains the goal.
The Lord be with you.
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