15th Sunday after Pentecost. 10/9/2023
Matthew 18.15-20, Ezekiel 33. 7-11, Romans 13. 8-10
The prophet Ezekiel wrote in the sixth century before the Incarnation, in exile in Babylon. He was part of the priestly line known as Zadokites, who held power at the temple in Jerusalem. He first he called on the nation to repent: he was ignored. Later, faced with the reality of the Temple’s destruction, the destruction of the Holy City and the dislocation of the people from the Promised Land, he recorded those unheeded prophesies plus his vision of hope for the restoration of what had been lost. God speaks words of life through Ezekiel into their hopelessness; promising forgiveness. Today’s pericope contains God’s words to his appointed sentinel Ezekiel, instructing him on a matter vital to the survival of their faith – he should never neglect cautioning the wicked.
Several hundred years down the track, at another crisis point in faith, Jesus, after teaching about the gravity of the sin of harming God’s ‘little ones’ or causing them to stumble in their faith, outlined a process of disciplining wrongdoers within the church - similar what was used amongst the Essenes.
Bad behaviour from within has always been a threat to the faith.
Now, as then, God’s prophetic voice has been unheeded. For over 4 decades we have turned a blind eye to the exploitation of God’s “little ones’ and the earth’s resources for the sake of monetary gain. Rich countries like ours have ignored God’s warnings against human neglect and exploitation of the poor and needy and the misuse of the created order. God speaks through the Scriptures, and through other – sometimes unlikely sources, beginning – in my memory – with Midnight Oil in 1987, and How do we sleep when our beds are burnin’? Remember?
The bloodwood and the desert oak
Holden wrecks and boiling diesels
Steam in forty-five degrees
Peter Garret’s strangely haunting voice: lamenting the plight of Aboriginal Australia.
The time has come to say fair's fair
To pay the rent, to pay our share
The time has come, a fact's a fact
It belongs to them, let's give it back
How do we sleep while our beds are burning?’ Sang Garrett.
Half the world seems to be burning this year, and in Kinglake this fire season we’ll all be sleeping with our cars fully tanked and pointing toward the open front gate.
Do you recall Al Gore and An Inconvenient Truth In the early 90’s, with its urgent warning to take action to save the planet?
Again, the faith – in our corner of the world at least – is in crisis as was the faith in Ezekiel’s day; in Jesus’ times. The people ‘out there’ have no idea what Christianity stands for or believes - and some of us are not too clear ourselves.
Within the safety of the church we have often chosen the easy way… we go with the flow… No-one taps us on the shoulder or has a private chat with us. We avoid unpleasantness at all costs. We mind our own business.
God’s sentinels have been caught napping, and the ‘little ones’ left to fend for themselves.
Many Christians have confused judgement and discretion – fearful of judging others in contravention of Biblical teaching that judgement is for God alone, we fail to exercise discretion in matters of right and wrong, thereby neglecting to keep watch over the integrity of Christian practice.
Our Children are asking hard questions: Is humanity on the threatened species list? Will the earth burn? And many churchgoers are asking: Is our faith dying out?
In 2020 the Norbertines, a RC priestly Religious Order, built a magnificent new Abbey in California, bursting with priests and seminarians, and boasting a long waiting list for entry. Fr Wood, one of the fraternity replied to a question about the state of world: I have my days of crying over what is going on in the world, but I never lose hope. If we keep our eyes on Jesus we will never lose hope.
Jesus says no matter how few we are, if we gather in his name, he’ll be there.
If we call with a united voice – that is, the voices of whoever meets, plus Jesus’ voice - what we ask will be done by the Father…
What then, shall we ask? If it has to be something that Jesus will lend his voice to, it had better be concerned with love. We will fulfil the law; we will equalise the world’s resources; we will begin the process of restoring Mother Earth; we will build up the church … only in love. Real love. Open –eyed love that names what is wrong and turns decisively away from it. Love, that for the sake of the wrongdoer as well as the victim, is brave enough to speak for justice and truth when needs be.
Later in this service the ashes of our brother in Christ, Fr. Robert Whalley, will be laid to rest in the crypt. I didn’t know him, but have heard from others about the kind of person he was - rich in love, and very well loved in return. May this love and all our prayers bless Robert on his way as he enters more deeply into the realm of eternal love.
I believe Fr Rob was a great Thomas Merton fan. Merton’s understanding about love suddenly crystallised as he stood on the corner of fourth and Walnut Streets after visiting the dentist. Gazing on the crowd he felt the bonds of unity that bound him to them and found that he truly loved each one. As he said later –‘There are no strangers”. In mystic unity with our Lord, he knew. We are one. One with each other and one with all God’s creation.
God’s peace be with you
Mthr Pirrial Clift