“LIGHT ON AUSTRALIA DAY”

            S E R M O N CNR1071                               3pp

Epiphany 3a       Mosman 26 Jan 2014, 9.30am

Isaiah 9:1-4; Ps 27:1,4-9; Matt 4:12-23; 1 Cor 1:10-18

Matt 4:16f

1          THE GLARE OF DARKNESS

1.1       Extreme weather

The summer sun has been beating down upon us.

Even with its glaring brightness

there is that sense of darkness upon the face of God’s earth.

The ferocity of bushfires here and in California,

cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons, and storms,

both natural and man-made disasters bring 21^st darkness for many.

Climate change, or rather climate extremism, has come upon us.

Human involvement has been denied

mainly, I suspect, to escape responsibility for what we do or not do.

Extremes of weather intensify extremes of behaviour expressed socially, politically and religiously.

1.2       Walking and sitting in darkness (Isa 9:2; Matt 4:16)

Before we can appreciate the light

we have to recognise our walking in darkness.

Isaiah writes in 9:2 of people “walking in darkness”.

By the time we come to Matthew 4:16,

they are described as “people who sat in darkness”

Have we arrived at that state where instead of groping through the gloom

we now sit in a form of collective depression

believing that nothing can be done?

2          REPENT!

2.1       The Kingdom of God is at hand (Matt 4:17)

Whether the people walk or sit in darkness they have seen a great light.

The Gospel reminds us again today, as if we need reminding,

that the light coming upon us in this season of Epiphany is Jesus.

John the Baptist has been arrested by Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee,

and Jesus has deliberately moved from Nazareth to Capernaum

further into this territory.

Again he continues the message begun by JB.

“Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” (Mt 4:17)

2.2       Not for turning?

“Repent” is a dirty word in our 21^st century.

Nobody really likes it.

It really means stop what you are doing because you are going the wrong way and turn about and go a different way.

It has been easy for us to feel irritated when we are driving and our navigator tells us we are heading in the wrong direction.

It means a change in thinking, in feeling, and in doing.

Many admired Margaret Thatcher when she described herself

as “This lady’s not for turning.”

Towards the end she was removed from high office by her colleagues because of her rigidity.

The Iron Lady finished by losing her mind.

3          THE CHURCH COMMUNITY (1 Cor 1:10-18)

3.1       Repenting from exclusivity

Paul effectively calls the church in Corinth to repent.

They had to turn about and change their behaviour towards one another.

The Corinthian church community was less than a decade old

but already it had formed into exclusive groups, based on different cultures and loyalties.

Even today churches all around the world

are known more by exclusive differences rather than by co-operating.

3.2       The light of the world (Matt 5:14)

While Jesus has come to be the light for us

in our present 21^st century darkness,

in our turning around towards him as the light,

we are called ourselves to be that light

as Matthew’s gospel reminds us later in chapter 5:14

 “You are the light of the world.”

4          TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

4.1       Climate extremism

This means that in turning around ourselves,

we are called to be part of the world’s present need to turn around.

We, as the world, have to take responsibility for the climate extremism

coming upon us all over the world.

Human greed is bringing this world undone.

We have altered the world’s climate for the sake of making more money.

4.2       Deliverance with attitude change

I cannot say in all honesty whether we are or are not too late for this world

to be delivered from climate extremism.

Already, movements across the world call for simplistic

and sometimes violent answers to what faces us.

We know from experience that this does not work.

Jesus promises deliverance wherever there is a change of attitude,

and attitude today has been the problem.

4.3       Being just a small candle

We have heard how Jesus calls his disciples to share his risky road with him and to deliver his same message.

We have to face the fact that Jesus knew that,

like the prophets, he would not be heard,

and it is no shame on us that we experience that same rejection.

Nevertheless, the light of Jesus can stay with us

even if we be just a small candle lighting up the darkness

and showing how to turn around.

This is our message for Australia Day 2014.

Let us be the light of Jesus coming into the world.