A wily fox among the hens – Mentmore 28 February 2010

Second Reading Philippians 3.17 - 4.1

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Gospel Luke 13.31-35

At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day – for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Sermon

Just before today’s reading from PHILIPPIANS, there is a passage which contains a “prize metaphor.” Everything is counted as loss, except the prize of Christ himself. Everything is garbage except knowing him and the power of his resurrection. Paul tells the PHILIPPIANS to forget what is behind, but strain for what is ahead. Press on towards the goal to win a prize for which God called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Unlike the coolly argued Romans, Paul is here writing a pastoral letter. His tone is sharp and emotional. Paul pleads for the PHILIPPIANS to emulate him.

There are many adversaries, he says. “Enemies of the cross” he calls them. Their minds are set on earthly things: our minds should be set on heaven. That is where we should think of ourselves as citizens, not on earth but already in heaven. Jesus will transform our lowly bodies, so that we can be like his glorious body.

Who are these adversaries Paul is talking about? In the passage from Luke’s gospel, we get a flavour of the “enemies of the cross.”

Jesus laments in advance of his arrival in Jerusalem. He is warned about Herod’s intention to do away with him. Herod Antipas is ruler of Galilee, Tetrarch of one quarter of the kingdom of Herod the Great. He saw Jesus as a successor to John the Baptist. Maybe Jesus was even John brought back to life, Herod believed.

Jesus calls Herod a ‘wily fox’ for trying to see him. His ministry must continue, and must end in Jerusalem. That is his destiny. He will continue exorcising, healing and teaching. Then he will suffer, die and be resurrected. “On the third day I finish my work” he says in a clear reference to the empty tomb.

But Jesus’ lament is not over Herod. It is over Jerusalem. Jesus weeps for the city. Herod’s threat may be ominous, but it cannot divert him away from the road to Jerusalem.

The lament is tinged with great sadness. Jerusalem is the heart of Judaism. The chosen people for whom the messiah has come. Yet it will reject him and worse. He will die there. Not only Jesus, but the early Christian martyrs too. Stephen and James.

Jesus uses feminine imagery. He would gladly have protected Jerusalem like a hen protects her chicks, but Jerusalem will turn on him like a fox in a hen coop. The people will not listen. So Jesus pronounces doom against the city, and the Romans eventually destroy it in 70AD fulfilling that prophecy. Of course, by the time Luke’s gospel is written, this has probably already happened.

These adversaries, enemies of the cross, are possibly the Jews who are insisting Paul conducts his ministry as a kind of special Jewish mission. These were the people in the early church who would trying to force a Jewish agenda on the early Christian believers. They insisted the first converts followed Jewish law, rather than conform their lives to the way of the cross of Christ.

Or they may have been hedonistic and violent people whose teaching and pattern of life was diametrically opposed to Paul’s gospel.

We are now well into the season of Lent. And we know that every time has its “enemies of the cross.” In this day and age, the enemies are as likely to be those who show a complete lack of interest as those who are opposed to the Christian message. In our unequal society in particular, we are probably talking about those whose sole pursuit is their interests. What they can earn. What goods and services they can amass for themselves. What wealth they can build up, regardless of the effect it might have on those who are marginal in society, or even the generality of those on modest incomes.

If this is the prevalent attitude towards success, then this leads others astray especially the young and the vulnerable. If this is what people think of when they aspire to be successful, then this breeds an attitude to life which is diametrically opposed to the message Paul is giving to the PHILIPPIANS.

The season of Lent is sacrificial in nature. But it’s not just giving up something we won’t miss. Instead, it should be conforming to the cross of Christ. Transforming ourselves. Behaving as if we are Christ’s followers. Living sacrificially all the time, and not during these four weeks.

I read a survey recently about sermons. People were asked about their experience of preaching. Did they feel sermons gave them instruction, comfort, peace, reassurance or an invitation to change their life? The last one received the least votes. Apparently preachers do not often enough challenge people to change their lives.

Paul does not ask us to do what he says. He invites us to act as he himself acts. Like Paul we must lead through personal example. My father used to delight in telling me “do as I say, not as I do.” I hope he did not really mean that. But this is a lesson we can all learn. Especially during Lent.

Transformation does not just change lives, but should lead to sanctification. Making holy. Holy things. Holy people. The change that affects mind, body and spirit too.

Like Paul, we can offer others Christian hope and help in setting and maintaining that which is rooted in the cross of Christ. Or at least, that is what really should be happening and something we can offer sacrificially in Lent. Transforming ourselves into a holy people. Sanctification, not only of ourselves but of everything we do. Everything we own. How we go about our jobs. Our attitude towards material goods. The highest standards of integrity in the way we conduct our business lives.

This call in Lent is the call to all who desire that future citizenship. Citizenship in heaven. Citizenship in the Kingdom of God, which is not just something which exists in the future. Not just a hope, but hopefully a present reality.

Amen

Life and Death

Reading Deuteronomy 30

The Offer of Life or Death

¹¹ Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" ¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶ For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Gospel Luke 9

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰ "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "God's Messiah."

²¹ Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. ²² And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

²³ Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for you to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit your very self? ²⁶ If any of you are ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

²⁷ "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

Sermon

Deut is book of Law. Full of rules and regs how to act. How to treat runaway slave. Boundaries, debts and worship. Dietary laws. Family. Waging war. Murder and crimes.

Towards the end, in c28 – consequences of obedience and disobedience through Blessings and Cursings.

In our law, consequences of breaking law are manmade sanctions. Fines. Imprisonment. Community service. Training. But law of Moses was Covenant. Obedience to law brings God’s blessing. Good harvest. Many children. Victory over enemies. Disobedience brings a curse. On the city, on the field, on livestock. The Lord will send disaster, panic and frustration in everything you seek to do.

So if you make money and are successful, you must be a good and just person. But if you are cursed, you must have sinned. Like Job.

The offer of life and death in c30 is not personal choice between eternal life and perdition. Land has been devastated by curse – but c30 turns towards images of salvation. If Israel will return to God and be obedient, God will show mercy.

Moses has delivered God’s law. It is accessible. Not far away. In your heart. On your mouth. So choose life, says Moses.

Jesus exercises choice between life and death in different way. He predicts his own death. Son of Man must suffer. It’s a reverse of Deut – who ever chooses life will lose it; whoever chooses death will be saved.

This is New Covenant as Paul explains in Rom. 7. We are no longer subject to Law. Because Jesus chose death, we also have died to the Law through body of Christ. We now belong to another, in order to bear fruit for God. We are no longer slaves to rules and regs. No longer subject to Law but freed from it. Freed from old written code in new life of Spirit.

So our salvation is not measured by material success like Law of Moses but by life in the Spirit through which we can call God our Father. Even if we suffer in this world, we can look forward to future glory, as creation awaits the revelation of the children of God.

Compare the two. Read Deut. 30 and then Romans 7 and 8. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Asks Paul? Nothing – is the answer. Amen

Transfiguration

Reading 2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Gospel Luke 9.28-36(37-43)

Jesus took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no-one at that time what they had seen.

The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

“O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Sermon

Transfiguration of Our Lord – last week before Lent. Ending of Christmas and Epiphany season. Christmas = God revealed in human form. Transfiguration = Jesus in human form revealed as God.

Transfiguration – all about what is hidden and what is revealed.

OT Reading – Exodus 34
²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.

Aaron and people afraid to go near him. So Moses veiled his face. Continued to do so whenever came out of tabernacle after he has spoken to the Lord. Message given by people of Israel is clear. God scares them. When Moses left them, they made god of their own they could stand to look at.

I Corinthians
Paul picks up on this word veil 4 times. He takes this story of Moses’ veil as allegory of Old Covenant with God. In Hebrew scriptures, encounter with God was frightening experience. Its effects had to be masked by veil. Paul goes on to say the good news can only be fully understood and accepted when veil removed. Until then, we can only perceive dimly what is deliberately concealed – the glory and majesty of the Lord.

The veil is removed by Christ. Only through him can we see clearly the appearance of God without fear. Our hearts and minds set free by action of Holy Spirit. Only when veil lifted do we finally see glory of the Lord with clarity – no longer hidden from our sight, no longer afraid to encounter.

What is result of veil being lifted?
Result is that our sight, but also our mind and our faith are de-veiled or revealed. Result = transformation or transfiguration.

¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
II Corinthians 3

Transformed – word is metamorphoumetha – a metamorphosis has occurred. We are different afterwards. Same word for Transfiguration in Matthew and Mark.

Luke
Luke does not use word Transfiguration. Only says Jesus’ face was altered.

Let’s imagine we are with Peter, James and John. It’s only 8 days since Peter’s bold declaration:
²⁰ "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "God's Messiah."
This was followed by Jesus’ passion prediction. He said he must suffer and be killed. Anyone who seeks to save his life will lose it, Jesus goes on to say. Hardly encouraging.

So here we are up the mountain. Jesus has come to commune with the Father. Maybe to talk with God about his destiny. This may explain why Moses and Elijah spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem.

Along with the other disciples, you are sleepy after the long climb and have probably dozed off. But you’re suddenly wide awake when Jesus’ glory is revealed, and you see two men standing with him.

Being a Jew you are familiar with the Law and the Prophets. The two figures of Moses and Elijah are both associated with mountain tops. Elijah fled to Mount Horeb In I Kings 19 and had an encounter with God, not in the forces of nature but in the sound of sheer silence. Moses went up Mount Sinai and received the tablets of the testimony from his encounter with the Lord.

Moses and Elijah are both dead. They are in the nearer presence of God, knowing intimately his will. So they are well qualified to converse with Jesus about his destiny and future in Jerusalem.

You are amazed at what you see, but happy to be shown the glory of the Messiah after his news about suffering and death. So you together think of staying up that mountain for all time in the presence of God’s glory, away from trouble. Why not build dwelling places, so the moment can last forever, and the predication of suffering and death may be forestalled?

Mountain top experiences are like that. We never want them to stop. We prefer to remain in the cocoon and be shielded from harsh reality for all time. All too soon the spell is broken and reality breaks through. The figures disappear in the mist, and the voice of God is heard. Jesus’ destiny as Son of God is affirmed. What he predicted will come to pass. There is no getting away from it.

Like the other disciples, you are frightened and wonder whether anything really happened. Was it all a dream? How silly would you look telling others about the strange appearance of men in shining white at the mountain top?

You talk about it with the others, and make a pact. Nothing will be said. You will keep it to yourselves, for the time being, anyway. The veil of fear is not yet quite lifted. That will only happen after the crucifixion, when the new covenant will break through and the veil is taken away.

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Amen

Transfiguration

Cheddington February 14 Sunday Next before Lent

Sermon

Transfiguration of Our Lord – last week before Lent. Ending of Christmas and Epiphany season. Christmas = God revealed in human form. Transfiguration = Jesus in human form revealed as God.

Transfiguration – all about what is hidden and what is revealed.

OT Reading – Exodus 34
²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.

Aaron and people afraid to go near him. So Moses veiled his face. Continued to do so whenever came out of tabernacle after he has spoken to the Lord. Message given by people of Israel is clear. God scares them. When Moses left them, they made god of their own they could stand to look at.

I Corinthians
Paul picks up on this word veil 4 times. He takes this story of Moses’ veil as allegory of Old Covenant with God. In Hebrew scriptures, encounter with God was frightening experience. Its effects had to be masked by veil. Paul goes on to say the good news can only be fully understood and accepted when veil removed. Until then, we can only perceive dimly what is deliberately concealed – the glory and majesty of the Lord.

The veil is removed by Christ. Only through him can we see clearly the appearance of God without fear. Our hearts and minds set free by action of Holy Spirit. Only when veil lifted do we finally see glory of the Lord with clarity – no longer hidden from our sight, no longer afraid to encounter.

What is result of veil being lifted?
Result is that our sight, but also our mind and our faith are de-veiled or revealed. Result = transformation or transfiguration.

¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
II Corinthians 3

Transformed – word is metamorphoumetha – a metamorphosis has occurred. We are different afterwards. Same word for Transfiguration in Matthew and Mark.

Luke
Luke does not use word Transfiguration. Only says Jesus’ face was altered.

Let’s imagine we are with Peter, James and John. It’s only 8 days since Peter’s bold declaration:
²⁰ "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "God's Messiah."
This was followed by Jesus’ passion prediction. He said he must suffer and be killed. Anyone who seeks to save his life will lose it, Jesus goes on to say. Hardly encouraging.

So here we are up the mountain. Jesus has come to commune with the Father. Maybe to talk with God about his destiny. This may explain why Moses and Elijah spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem.

Along with the other disciples, you are sleepy after the long climb and have probably dozed off. But you’re suddenly wide awake when Jesus’ glory is revealed, and you see two men standing with him.

Being a Jew you are familiar with the Law and the Prophets. The two figures of Moses and Elijah are both associated with mountain tops. Elijah fled to Mount Horeb In I Kings 19 and had an encounter with God, not in the forces of nature but in the sound of sheer silence. Moses went up Mount Sinai and received the tablets of the testimony from his encounter with the Lord.

Moses and Elijah are both dead. They are in the nearer presence of God, knowing intimately his will. So they are well qualified to converse with Jesus about his destiny and future in Jerusalem.

You are amazed at what you see, but happy to be shown the glory of the Messiah after his news about suffering and death. So you together think of staying up that mountain for all time in the presence of God’s glory, away from trouble. Why not build dwelling places, so the moment can last forever, and the predication of suffering and death may be forestalled?

Mountain top experiences are like that. We never want them to stop. We prefer to remain in the cocoon and be shielded from harsh reality for all time. All too soon the spell is broken and reality breaks through. The figures disappear in the mist, and the voice of God is heard. Jesus’ destiny as Son of God is affirmed. What he predicted will come to pass. There is no getting away from it.

Like the other disciples, you are frightened and wonder whether anything really happened. Was it all a dream? How silly would you look telling others about the strange appearance of men in shining white at the mountain top?

You talk about it with the others, and make a pact. Nothing will be said. You will keep it to yourselves, for the time being, anyway. The veil of fear is not yet quite lifted. That will only happen after the crucifixion, when the new covenant will break through and the veil is taken away.

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Amen