Trinity 21: Willing to be Last?

Call of the Sons of Zebedee – Marco Basaiti

20/10/24
Trinity 21

Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45

I am going to start with a story I picked up from an online sermon this week about a man who was offered the presidency of a small educational institution in the US. He wanted the job, and thought he should take it. Nevertheless, given his Quaker tradition, he assembled a “clearness committee” of some trusted friends. Their job wasn’t to give him any advice, but instead to ask him honest, open-ended questions, so that the man could discern his vocational call for himself.

Halfway through this three-hour meeting, a friend asked what he would like most about being president. He mentioned several things he would not enjoy, like wearing a tie, at which his friend pointed out that he wasn’t answering the question.
The man paused, thought a bit, then he writes how he “gave an answer that appalled even me as I spoke it: ‘Well,’ I said, in the smallest voice I possess, ‘I guess what I’d like most is getting my picture in the paper with the word ‘president’ under it.'”
He concludes: “I was sitting with seasoned Quakers who knew that though my answer was laughable, my mortal soul was clearly at stake! They did not laugh at all but went into a long and serious silence — a silence in which I could only sweat and inwardly groan.
Finally, my questioner broke the silence with a question that cracked all of us up — and cracked me open: ‘Can you think of an easier way to get your picture in the paper?’ By then it was obvious, even to me, that my desire to be president had much more to do with my ego than with the ecology of my life.” The clearness committee had made things clear, and he withdrew his name from the search.
The man isn’t a bad person; he’s just more honest than most of us, and maybe more in touch with his true self.

How about you? Think for a moment about any positions of power or responsibility that you have held; could be a job or in the community or the church. What did you like about it? How did it make you feel? Did you enjoy the title more than the actual role?

This is a live issue for me as Lead Chaplain of Gatwick Airport. I like the title. I like telling people what I do when asked. It makes for easy conversation when meeting new people as it is a unique role. There are downfalls to this; the temptation to only talk about myself or think that I am the most interesting person in the room. Or to convince myself that I am exempt from normal rules and regulations because of my title. The danger of being overwhelmed by entitlement is real and present.

Over the last 8 years I have been a curate and priest in 11 churches (8 parishes) in 9 towns and villages. Experience has shown that some people (however good-ly or godly intentioned and well-meaning) possess a deep need for power and control over local goings on and more frighteningly, the sharing of information, news or gossip.

Fortunately this is not a new problem for human beings. As far back as Mark’s Gospel and even before, the grab for glory has existed. Make me great again! This is what James and John, with the help of their mother, seemingly want to do. There is no record of what motivated their request; maybe a sense of entitlement or seniority over the other disciples.

James and John make a startling demand of Jesus: ‘we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you’. They say this before they actually ask/tell Jesus what it is that they want him to do. There are very few people whose request I would grant before I knew what the request was. Their question is often dismissed as foolish or arrogant, ‘oh those silly Sons of Thunder!’ Jesus does not rebuff or get angry with them as the disciples did. Jesus welcomes the question, invites them to ask it, but has some questions of his own for James and John. Questions that are not easy to answer.

‘What is it that you want me to do for you?’ asks Jesus. The first thing James and John did right was that they have come to Jesus; generally a very good starting point. James and John clearly trust Jesus to come through for them. However they along with the other disciples have missed what Jesus was trying to tell them about what was coming: being handed over to the chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, handed over again, mocked, spat on, flogged and killed; and after three days rise again.

They did not listen, they did not hear what they wanted to. Again, a familiar problem in the modern age; the failure to listen, to hear what is being said. The first accusation or failing of any leader is often the failure to listen. Many people rightly complain about not being listened to. There is a difference between not being listened to and being listened to and still not getting what you want.

This was the case for James and John. They are not criticised for their tactless request, not at least by Jesus. James and John believe that Jesus will win; Jesus will be in glory and they want to be right there with him. They are ambitious for God! They expect Jesus to be glorified in the way they thought he should or would be. Jesus redirects these ambitions, wants to reset their priorities and motives.

Real greatness, whether on the international, national or local stage (in whatever capacity) is not characterised by domination, political power or schemes to control or subjugate people but by self-sacrificial service to others. So often we believe this although practice proves otherwise.

How ambitious are we for God? The real danger we face as a church, as parishes and the Church more widely is apathy, cynicism and complacency. These are the roadblocks to abundant living and transformation.

Jesus wants us to want more, seek more, hope more and need more of him. This, I think, is why he did not get angry with James and John as they were doing the right thing: going to him and asking but they needed some redirection. The request of James and John does get answered. Jesus tells them that it is not his request to grant but it is for those whom it has been prepared. Sounds a little cryptic but Jesus is completely deferring to God. This is not Jesus’ decision to make. The purpose of God will not be thwarted. But neither can they be fully understood beforehand.

The places are seemingly prepared for those who want to serve. This is what James and John fail to recognize and probably the other upset disciples too. Jesus calls them together for a lesson of ‘supreme importance’ as one commentary put it. Jesus is not going to operate like the world does, ruling with tyranny and a heavy hand.

Jesus came to serve and not be served. You want to sit on my left and on my right? Then you must be the servant. Want to be first, then you have to be the last! Give up your entitlement, move downwards. This is not about rules but a way of life.

On this Dedication Sunday where we give thanks and celebrate the work of Emmanuel, how are we doing as a house of prayer? Are we following Jesus as we should? What about the orientation of our hearts? We may be following the commandments but what about storing treasure in heaven? The future of Emmanuel is not very clear and we need to pray about this. Where is God calling us to go?

If we only look at the bank account or the church building (both of which can be anxiety-producing exercises) it will never work. We need to look at something bigger, beyond us. We need God to lead and guide us in our mission, our giving, and in our love for each other. In any and all instances we need to approach the throne of grace and seek God’s mercy and help and then be obedient to what is being required.

Can I ask you to pray for the plans for Emmanuel and St Nicholas? For the people who faithfully serve, for our finances, for the impact on the community around us.

The real question we need to ask is: ‘What can I do for you?’. This is a question to ask of God but also to each other. Be prepared for more questions than answers; not always what you want to hear but always loving and always true.
Like James and John, we might want God to do something for us. Ask away! Go to the Father in faith, in confidence; He will take your questions, your ambitions and desires in order to line up with His will. If we are willing.

There is no need to be embarrassed. James and John certainly were not. Their questions were heard. The answers may have been unexpected, even unwanted but they came away changed from these conversations. Hopefully more understanding of how God operates and what Jesus came to do. He came to serve and we should be willing to do the same.

Trinity 20: Giving Up & Giving Out

13/10/24
Trinity 20

Hebrews 4:12-end
Mark 10:17-31

Our lectionary readings this morning remind us that God is a God of change. In Hebrews, the word of God is living and active, it is meant to bring change to our lives, sharply and piercingly. The word of God will expose and judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. We are to turn away from ourselves to the throne of God to find grace to help in our time of need. Mark’s Gospel tells the story of the young man who comes to Jesus potentially looking for change. His apparent earnestness, maybe an expectation of an easy answer is dissolved when he does not receive what he thought he wanted or maybe deserved. He leaves Jesus shocked and unwilling to part with possessions. What the man who had everything really needed was nothing.

How many of you are good with change? Some might embrace it with enthusiasm while others might be slower to embrace. In my previous life as a nurse I learned early that things can change quickly; a quick response could mean life or death. This is similar to being the Lead Chaplain at Gatwick where flexibility and adaptability are essential.

Not all change is bad or negative. Sometimes change is actually a very good thing although we may not see it at the time. I also find those things I want to change; never seem to.. And the things that I do not want to change; always do!

I had a conversation this past week with a colleague about the changes that Covid and lockdown brought to our lives. Some people have recovered and others have not. We are still processing the effects and often the trauma brought about the rapid changes we all experienced.

The story of the young man and Jesus appears in all three Synoptic Gospels which indicates it is important. It asks challenging questions about the attainment of eternal life, what does God’s goodness mean, how do we enter the kingdom of heaven and who can be saved. It provides a look into the upside down kingdom of God.

This young man often gets cast as being greedy, selfish, unwilling to give up his possessions for the sake of Jesus. We try to make him look worse than the rest of us (who also have many possessions). This young man is the only person in Mark’s Gospel whom Jesus is said to love. Think about that for a moment; the one who runs to Jesus and then goes away grieving at the thought of giving it all up is one that Jesus loved.

Jesus does not go after him either. He does not plead or beg him or make it any easier for him. Now Jesus could have gone a few ways with this young man’s question of how to have eternal life. It would have been easy for Jesus to secure a new convert. ‘Great!’ Jesus could have said ‘come on! You already follow the commandments, you’re already calling me ‘good’ so you must know who I am because only God is good. You’re in!’

Jesus could have also worked him in more slowly, easing the young man into the values of God’s kingdom. ‘How about you writing a small cheque to charity this year? Nothing scary – just a token?’

However Jesus is not interested in convenience or comfort. That is what I/we may be concerned about. Remember that Jesus loved him and because he loved him and said the truthful thing, the hard and unwanted thing, Jesus knew the young man’s excitement would disappear on the spot. “Sell what you own, give to the poor and follow me.’

This was not what the young man wanted to hear and so he goes away shocked and grieving. This was not the change he was looking for! He was probably shocked because he considered his wealth an entitlement; symbol of worldly accomplishment and of God’s favour. He seems to be after life in its fullness as we all are. Maybe he thought that he could buy his way to eternal life by observing a special commandment.

Jesus welcomes his desire but also knows his weakness, his attachment to possessions. This is probably why he invites him to give it all to the poor so that his treasure and his heart will be in heaven and not on earth. But the young man decides (as far as we know) to hang on to his wealth which will never bring him happiness or eternal life.

What about the Church? We have our own hang-ups too. The Church of England has faced huge changes in the last few years which for an organisation that is notoriously slow and often resistant to change has been a challenge. Things like Living in Love & Faith (same-sex marriage), the safeguarding inquiries, power struggles and financial matters make the headlines. Are we really representing the Kingdom on earth?!

On this Dedication Sunday where we give thanks and celebrate the work of Emmanuel, how are we doing as a house of prayer? Are we following Jesus as we should? What about the orientation of our hearts? We may be following the commandments but what about storing treasure in heaven? The future of Emmanuel is not very clear and we need to pray about this. Where is God calling us to go?

For St Nicholas: we have found a person to help sort out our finances. We give thanks to PC for his service over many years. Please pray for them in the season of change and transition. Can we find new ways to be generous in our giving? This is not just about taking a few bags off the camel to lighten the load. This is about orientation of the heart to the work of the church; ensuring a future that is bright, a church that is open and welcoming to the people of Charlwood.

If we only look at the bank account or the church building (both of which can be anxiety-producing exercises) it will never work. We need to look at something bigger, beyond us. We need God to lead and guide us in our mission, our giving, and in our love for each other. In any and all instances we need to approach the throne of grace and seek God’s mercy and help and then be obedient to what is being required. Can I ask you to pray for the plans for Emmanuel and St Nicholas? For the people who faithfully serve, for our finances, for the impact on the community around us.

It might seem like a big ask at this time. Everyone is struggling in some way or another; a number of our friends have been in hospital recently, many people may be stressed by the end of winter fuel payments or other changes in finances. We might relate to the words of Peter who passionately lays it out for Jesus, ‘look at what we gave up to follow you!’

It was not lost on Jesus what had been given up in order to follow him and all will be made good according to him. In this season of change, God is offering us new opportunities. Following Jesus will challenge us to lifetimes of change where we are invited to encounter God in new ways apart from tradition, memory and resting on history.

Like the young man, we might want more from God but may not want to give up what God wants us to. We might choose to hang on to the familiar even when it does not bring us happiness or eternal life because it is comfortable.
Are we willing to risk being disappointed with the answer God gives and choose his way regardless? Will you continue to follow?

My prayer is that in this coming season of change we will be ready for whatever may come, that we will hold fast to the promises of God and know we can approach the throne of grace when help is needed.

Harvest Sunday Meditation

St Nicholas & Emmanuel
6/10/24

Matthew 6:25-33

When you came into church today you were given a leaf. I would like you to take that leaf in your hand now. Harvest is a time of year for us to stop and notice. We live in a different time from our ancestors whose lives would have been dominated by harvest. Today we hardly notice it except for seeing some combine harvesters in the fields around Charlwood and Sidlow Bridge. We carry on with our lives as if nothing is changing although the creation all around us is. Harvest is there in the calendar to make us stop and notice.

We move into autumn and the leaves are falling from the trees. Look at the leaf in your hand. What colour is it? Can you trace the veins on it? Does it have any unsightly marks or is it nearly perfect?

Now I want you to think back over the last year. How has it been for you this year? What have been the highlights, the best bits? What have been the difficult things?

Just like these leaves, all of us have had different experiences, different challenges this past year. Just like these leaves, each one of us is unique and each one is beautiful. God has written His beauty into creation. In our reading today we heard Jesus tell us that we should look at the flowers of the field. Stop and notice. See how God has made these leaves so beautiful, even though they will end up on the bonfire soon.

Matthew 6 is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It is clear that worry was of great concern to people 2000 years ago and it still is today. It is likely that we worry about similar things too. Jesus is speaking to the practical needs of food, drink, clothing and housing. Jesus is trying to give his listeners some perspective on their worries, and give them a bigger picture of life. Life is more than food and the body more than clothing. We are of value to God, we are special to Him. More than the birds and he looks after them.

Can you add any hours to your life by worrying? Jesus says, if God cares that much to make something as insignificant as a leaf on a tree so beautiful, how much more does God care for you? So Jesus says we shouldn’t be rushing around worrying about everything. We need to stop, notice, stay calm and remember that as sure as the seasons are coming and changing, we can trust that new life will come out of death. We know that all our trees will soon look dead but in the new year, new life will come. This is God’s promise to us.

Today is an opportunity to reflect and give thanks for all the good things in our lives. Especially the way in which the earth produces food for us to eat. We can give thanks to all those who work to produce food and drink for us to enjoy. We can say sorry for the times we are not grateful, when we do not notice God’s work in the world, and do not look after the things God has given us.

Look at your leaf again. I want you to think of one thing that you are grateful for. Hold that thought and thank God in your heart. In this season we see the trees letting go of their leaves, letting them fall to the ground. What we are going to do now is pass around a basket in which you can place your leaf. When you do this I want you to think of one thing that you need to let go of.
It might be a resentment against a person or situation, or something that you have been worrying about too much. Let us take a moment of quiet again.

By giving it to God as we remember that he knows the number of hairs on our head, he knows all the things we’re worried about.

Trinity 15: Be Opened

8/9/24
Trinity 15

Psalm 125
James 2:1-17
Mark 7: 24-37

The lectionary readings this morning are rather dense and present us with challenges to our own behaviour as well as the challenging behaviour of Jesus. James has a lot to say about favouritism, uncaring behaviour towards the poor, the need for mercy and the purpose of good works. Jesus encounters two people who desperately need his help which they both receive with different processes.

We will start in the shallower end with a few questions: What is your favourite colour? What is your favourite food? Favourite song? Film? Television program? We all have our favourite things and this is certainly okay. Favourites can bring comfort or security and of course enjoyment. Given our different personalities and tastes, if we went around the room this morning, there would be a lot of different favourites.

However there is a fine line with our favourites. The line when our favourites grow a sense of favouritism. Especially when it crosses over to people. Do you have a favourite parent or child or sibling or friend? You might! When we begin to treat people differently or preferentially over others is what James is warning us about.

James’ letter was for the followers of Jesus who left Jerusalem after the resurrection of Jesus. They had been sent to spread the Good News of the Gospel. His letter is full of instructions on how they should operate and get on with people. James had learned a few things the hard way, he missed the message of Jesus while he was alive. Now James is urgently wanting his audience to get it and do it better than he did.

James has a unique insight into human behaviour; he knows the dangers and damage the tongue and the words that roll off it can do. If he was speaking to a modern audience, he might also include our thumbs and the send button. From the same mouth, or thumbs, come blessing and cursing.

What makes James’ letter even more poignant is that James is thought to have been a biological brother of Jesus. He may have been the first-born son of Mary and Joseph. Imagine for a moment growing up under the same roof with Jesus as your older brother? Maybe James grew up feeling he was not the favourite? Anyone with siblings generally knows the destructive power of the tongue. We do not know much about James’ life. The references in the New Testament to Jesus’ family coming to remove him or being embarrassed by him would have included James.

In Acts, James seems to be involved in the early church in Jerusalem after the resurrection. At some point James went from non-believing to believing in Jesus, the potentially annoying older brother to the true Messiah. Something happened to transform James to a passionate leader in the church and writer of one of the most challenging letters in the New Testament.

James is pointing out our condition of inconsistency and carelessness. We need boundaries and guidelines to help us live in peace and freedom with other people. At the end of chapter one, James reminds his readers to remain unstained by the world. He starts chapter two with an example that is still spot-on for today: our capability to treat people differently. Left to ourselves we would favour one and dismiss another. We all have our own prejudices.

James would call this being stained by the world. We cannot have faith and favouritism as they do not go together. The people in the Jerusalem church liked rich people more than poor, clean people better than dirty people, healthy people better than sick people. Who doesn’t?

Well God doesn’t! This is the shocking answer that James gives. God is totally blind to our normal measures of society. He does not seem to notice accents or cost out people’s clothes and treat them accordingly. He makes no distinction between posh and common. He doesn’t need to. He is God.

Faith should change the way we live. Calling ourselves Christians should make a difference in the world around us. The streets of Charwood and the lanes of Sidlow Bridge should be better because of our faith. Our neighbours should be loved the same as we love ourselves.
Our faith needs to work. There should be some evidence in the world around us and in our families of our faith. As much as we might want to be favoured or more highly favoured than another, sadly we are not in the sight of God. This might be disappointing news!

This does not mean that we are less loved or less valued by God. Of course not. It means that in God’s kingdom there is no favouritism. We are equal in his eyes and there is nothing that we can do or say to change that. He would not be a good and loving Father if he favoured one of us over another.

We see this in the Gospel story of the Syro-Phoenician woman and her daughter’s encounter with Jesus. I think this is a fascinating passage although I am not always sure of what to make of it. A new insight into this story in regard to favouritism is that she is certain that God does not have favourites!
Jesus appears to be travelling on his own. He has left the Disciples and has gone away to the region of Tyre. Wherever he was going Jesus did not want anyone to know he was there. He seems to have wanted to close himself off – catch a break, have a rest. But instead he is interrupted by this woman of a different race and her persistent begging for a favour.

Her little daughter, we are told, has an unclean spirit and she is in distress over what to do. She has obviously heard about Jesus and somehow found out that he is in town. I wonder who told her about Jesus? It must have been a convincing story for her to seek him out. That or she was so desperate to find someone to help her daughter. Despite the social, class, race and gender difference she is determined to speak to him. Nothing is going to stop her from asking, begging and pleading with Jesus to heal her daughter.

Jesus’ response to her is less than kind; it is really quite shocking! Jesus is rude to her. What is going on?! Jesus was fully human and we all know what it is to want a break, take a rest or just be alone for a while. Where was the compassionate Jesus who fed the 5000 because he felt sorry for them? How can he not now have compassion on a single, poor, hurting woman? Jesus has his vision enlarged by the encounter with her.

It is surprising to say that this woman reminded the Son of God of the scope of the Father’s love. Jesus is moved deeply by the depths of her faith. She is certain that God does not have favourites, that there is always enough of God’s provision: his love, his healing and grace to go around. Even the crumbs of God are enough to heal and restore and this is what she believes.

Her answer is so striking that Jesus heals her daughter that instant and sends the woman home to find that the demon has left the child. Jesus shows in his actions that he has no favouritism either. He goes from this encounter to heal the deaf man with a speech impediment.

Jesus’ prayer here is interesting. He looked up to heaven, he sighed and said, ‘Be opened.’ Be opened. Maybe this was a prayer for himself as much as it was for the deaf man whose ears needed to be opened.

Be opened. Maybe this morning we need our eyes and ears opened again. Opened to those around us who need less favouritism shown from us. Opened to those around us who need more attention or better treatment from us.

There is no room in our faith for favouritism. If we have made space for it then we need to close that gap. Return to the one who loves you and cares for you but doesn’t favour you.

I want to end with a few verses from the Proverb set for today.

Proverbs 22

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2 Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.
8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
9 The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.
22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,
23 for the Lord will take up their case
and will exact life for life.

Trinity 13: To Whom Can We Go?

Great crowds followed Jesus as he preached the Good News, 2004 (w/c on paper) by Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist);

25/8/24
Trinity 13

Psalm 84
Ephesians 6:10-20
John 6:56-69

We have finally reached the end of John 6 as today is Sunday five of five. I have mentioned the various threads and themes that run through this rather carb-filled chapter over the last few weeks. At each turn, Jesus is ratcheting up what is at stake for both that early crowd and for us now.

One golden thread running through this chapter are the words very truly and believe. Jesus is telling us very truly to believe in Him. I spoke last week about how the way we trust in things and people can influence how we trust God.

We all have our own ways of coming to trust things and people. Maybe some of us trust the wrong things or don’t consider the things we trust until they prove themselves to be untrustworthy. Maybe some of us set the bar so high that we trust almost nothing and no one. Jesus wants us to trust him; for anything and everything, all the time and forever. He died for us; his death and resurrection is a very clear indicator of his willingness!

Those first listeners did not yet fully appreciate what Jesus meant about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. The response from many was, ‘this teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ Jesus has challenged his listeners on everything from their extensive rules on food preparation and eating to what happens (or does not happen) when they die. Jesus has thrown down the proverbial gauntlet with his final question, ‘do you also wish to go away?’

Jesus was giving them and still gives us that choice. To follow Jesus or not is a choice; the ultimate one. Christianity is based on making that choice; being a Christian is not an automatic event, it does not just happen. There is a lot of talk in various magazines and websites about being a ‘cultural Christian’.

A quick internet search with some AI help: A cultural Christian is someone who identifies as Christian but may not be religious and may not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They may have been influenced by Christian values and culture through their family background, personal experiences, or the social and cultural environment in which they grew up. They may also identify as cultural Christian because they believe that attending church, being baptised, or being a good person makes them Christian. For cultural Christians, religion is something they add to their lives to make things better.

This sounds rather good. Religion should make life better. Most of us want to be good people. Unfortunately this is the pinnacle of achievement for many; not the basic starting point. Just behave and all will be well.

However, at some point in this life we all have to make a choice to follow Jesus or not. Follow Jesus. Not cultural Christianity. These are the values and virtues; not salvation. It is salvation, eternal life with God that is at stake.

The people Jesus puts this question to in John’s Gospel are not newbie followers. These are people who have heard the teaching, seen the miracles, followed him around, maybe some were healed, they were certainly all loved by Jesus.

Often the discussion around salvation and the saving work of God turns to ‘what about those people who never hear about Jesus’ or people of other faiths. This is the modern day approach to the redirection that Jesus faced when his parentage was questioned in John 6. Personally, I do not worry about those who have never heard as much as I do about those people who hear the teaching, have been to church, know something about God and yet choose not to believe.

I think of some of my cousins, my friends, people I have worked with in the past. The only people who cannot or will not be saved are the ones who put themselves beyond the reach of God. God does not put people beyond his reach; people put themselves there.

It is sometimes an hourly, daily, moment by moment decision to choose God and live fully as the people we were made to be. It is hard work. You might notice that Jesus does not make it easier! He doesn’t make excuses or argue back when his followers take offence and claim it is too hard. He is not offering a lighter version. Many disciples left, not just a couple or a few. Many.

Debie Thomas, the American essayist wrote, ‘What does it mean to choose God? According to Jesus, it means eating his very essence, taking the incarnation so deeply into our own bodies and souls that we exude the favour of Christ to the world. It means doing what Jesus did and living as Jesus lived. It means turning the other cheek. It means loving our enemies. It means walking the extra mile. It means losing our lives in order to gain them. It means trusting that the first will be last and the last first. It means seeking God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness. It means denying ourselves. It means the cross.’

What is amazing in the closing of John 6 is that Jesus had any followers left. Maybe the real miracle of the bread and fish story is not that the multitudes were fed but a handful of those stuck around when he finished teaching. By asking them, ‘do you also wish to go away?’, those who are left are free to walk away.

It is an uncomfortable question. Imagine Jesus asking it with sadness and compassion as He knows that some will walk away. He knows what is asking them. He wants them to know that his love is a freeing love. I find this an uncomfortable question because sometimes I want to say yes.

Yes I do want to go away. I want to quit, I want to be more comfortable, pick an easier, less demanding, less costly, more culturally acceptable version of the Gospel. However, I know that there is no lighter version. It just does not exist.

In the final verses of Ephesians 6, Paul is telling his readers to get ready for the battle. War was a frequent reality then so this language would not have been strange or off-putting. Paul is putting the struggles of small Christian communities as a cosmic battle against supernatural evil. The people are to stand firm and not run away. They have been given the equipment they need.

We too need to stand firm, ready and rooted, if we are to choose Jesus, choose real Christianity. Not only stand firm, but use the equipment we have been given properly. It is sort of like PPE, great to have but only gives protection if used correctly. It means understanding the truth of the Gospel, being ready to proclaim it, being faithful when the arrows come, and knowing the word of God.

We also need to know, like Peter, that Jesus has the words of eternal life. Who else is there to go to? Nothing and no one will ever satisfy us like Jesus does.
We are called to make that choice over and over again. When we come together to celebrate Communion, this is what we are doing. Coming back, choosing again the one with the words of eternal life. Feeding on Jesus is our only hope.