May 9, 2010

Linda Murphy

Easter 6     Acts 16:9-15     John 14:23-29

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Here at St Matthew’s our peace is disturbed; Glynn is still very ill. We are all feeling unsettled and anxious for him and his family. Our inner peace is being disturbed, but we are all coping; working together and gaining strength from each other. Is this what the readings are saying?

Our first reading this morning from Acts has Paul the Apostle having a vision; Paul has lots of visions. This particular vision presents itself as a man from Macedonia telling Paul to go to Macedonia to preach the Gospel. This visit to Macedonia represents the introduction of Christianity to what we now know as the continent of Europe. Paul is following his ‘calling’ to preach to the Gentiles. This is stepping outside his comfort zone, he was a Jew and Gentiles were the ‘unclean outsiders’. Paul was a Pharisee and they were forbidden to talk to woman therefore Paul’s encounter with a group of women is significant; he is breaking social and cultural boundaries. Paul had been taught not to be seen in public with women, let alone Gentile women. Nevertheless he and his companions Silas and Timothy preach to this group of women by the river outside the gates of the Greek city of Philippi.

Lydia is described as a “worshipper of God” or a “God fearer” who is receptive to the Jewish faith and belief in the one true God. She is a business women and affluent as she deals in purple cloth an expensive commodity of the time.

Lydia listens to Paul’s Gospel of Jesus and “God opened her heart” and she and her entire household are baptised in the river. This is radical stuff; Lydia is the first European reported to be baptised and she is a gentile! The inclusive message of love, peace and compassion has been heard and accepted by an outsider. Both are taking a leap of faith and Paul is welcomed into her home and accepts her hospitality. The distinctions of clean and unclean, acceptable and unacceptable are passing away.

It isn’t just Paul who has been radical Lydia has accepted the gospel of Jesus and faith in God alone. She then invites, Paul and his companions to her home. That Paul was probably a scruffy looking individual doesn’t faze her. Expect the unexpected when you “open your heart”. Paul and Lydia were willing to suspend all the rules, regulations, and customs that governed their world; for their faith in Jesus Christ and his gospel of love, compassion and inclusion.

Seven years ago Peter and I moved from Mission Bay to an apartment here in the city. The feature of homeless people astounded me. We had seen homeless in Santa Monica and London but in New Zealand I couldn’t believe it nor could I understand why we had these marginalised people. When I heard people say, “It’s their own fault, they don’t want to work”, I decided I needed to get to know these people. I couldn’t come to church each Sunday and listen to the Gospel and not live that message of love, compassion and inclusion.

For the first time in my life I decided to do something radical; I have had homeless living in our apartment, spent many hours down at the District Court and spend time listening to the homeless. Just as Lydia and Paul stepped outside their social boundaries so have I and this is not a comfortable space. This experience has lead me on a path to ordination, something I had never imagined and while I continue to be challenged by this path I am open to whatever changes that path will lead me to. This radical move has led me to an inner peace that I had never experienced before.

In John’s Gospel; Jesus promises his disciples (including us) two things: the gift of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit and peace. Jesus has also given the disciples a new commandment; “to love one another as I have loved you.”

Jesus promises that an Advocate, the Holy Spirit will come to assist them when Jesus has left them and will give them peace.

This peace is not the oppressive peace being offered by Rome, pax Romana; nor is it the current peace being offered by the US and UK to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”

What beautiful words! I would love to have peace especially at 3 am but living in the city doesn’t allow me that luxury. I am sure peace means something different for each of us. It could mean a secure job, no debt, and a home off the streets or not to be ill, however this definition of peace is more about being secure.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German priest who was executed by the Nazis, said, “Peace is the opposite of security”. He meant that seeing peace in terms of meeting our need for security means we would never achieve peace. There would always be something else we need to be secure; a job, a home, health insurance and a superannuation plan to list a few. This is not the peace that Jesus was giving. This peace would be like this poem by Judy Chicago.

And then all that has divided us will merge

And then compassion will be wedded to power

And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind

And then both men and women will be gentle

And then both women and men will be strong

And then no person will be subject to another’s will

And then all will be rich and free and varied

And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many

And then all will share equally in the Earth’s abundance

And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old

And then all will nourish the young

And then all will cherish life’s creatures

And then all will live in harmony with each other and the Earth

And then everywhere will be called Eden once again

This peace is Shalom not just the greeting but an understanding that peace and wholeness is not something you can get from anyone. It encompasses justice and peace among all people. It demands respect for the dignity of every human being. Shalom, God’s peace means becoming a people who seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbours as ourselves. It comes from a relationship with God through Jesus.

As Paul and Lydia faced radical change so too were the disciples facing radical change; Jesus was leaving them on their own. Jesus knew that this would be a very difficult time for the disciples. Jesus promises that no matter what lies ahead, what fears or unexpected events God will always be with them and us. We can’t plan for the unexpected but we need to put our faith in the mystery that is God; by doing so we are never alone. Just as I decided to become involved with the homeless and the surrounding community, I feel God’s peace is with me and is guiding me.

The disciples have great challenges ahead of them, and the gift of the Advocate would go with them and lead them in ways they could not understand. This future is still full of mystery and uncertainty but there is the joy of new experiences with God.

With the gift of shalom, inner peace, we as the disciples did can face the future, the unknown, and the unexpected.

Next Saturday we are having a day of reflection, discussion and networking and it is entitled “Disturbing the Peace”, an important area for discussion. Given the churches historical involvement in war it seems to me the end of Eastertide is timely to discuss this issue of Peace.

Let us all put our faith in the mystery of God and Jesus by living lovingly, hospitably like Lydia, with courage to embrace the outsiders like Paul and as the disciples walk with the assistance of the Advocate through the good times and the bad times. We have God’s Spirit:

With us to defend us

Within us to refresh us

Around us to preserve us

Before us to guide us

Behind us to justify us

Above us to bless us.

Amen.