Sermon for the 6th Sunday after Trinity: ‘Love and Service; preached at the Eucharist, Sherborne Abbey on Sunday, 7 July 2024 by The Reverend Rebecca McDonnell (2 Samuel Ch 5: v 1 – 5, 9 – 10; Mark Ch 6: v 1 – 13)
Last Saturday, 29th June 2024, I was given a new role, a new job description, that of priest. I retain the job specifications of deacon but add new responsibilities under the ministerial order of presbyter. If you were to concisely add these to a CV they would be to absolve, bless and consecrate the bread and wine in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Of course, being a priest isn’t a job, it’s a vocation. In an exert from the poem ‘Priestly duties’ Stewart Henderson writes:
‘What should a priest be?
All things to all – male, female and genderless.
What should a priest be?
Reverent and relaxed, vibrant in youth, assured through the middle years, divine sage when ageing.
What should a priest be?
Accessible and incorruptible, abstemious, yet full of celebration, informed, but not threateningly so, and far above the passing soufflé of fashion.’
Let me know how I’m doing! (As you can tell this is meant to be slightly tongue-in-cheek!)
On Thursday night there were others who received new jobs and new specifications, and the impact of that hiring bares a great weight on all of us. And most importantly the outcome with be borne out in our schools, in our hospitals and care in the community, and amongst the most vulnerable in our society, those on the poverty line, those of vulnerable housing, and those seeking asylum. Their calling is to serve us.
There is a succession of notable and important people in scripture, starting in the Old Testament, with the prophets, judges, leaders and Kings. Today’s Old Testament reading tells the story of Saul’s demise and David’s rise as King in Israel. David’s succession is seen as a natural consequence of Saul’s downfall, and this is a peaceful transfer of power at the will of the tribes of Israel. David becomes stronger, as God is with him. So far this week we have seen a peaceful transfer of power, we pray that continues. This succession of leaders and different tribes and ruling powers in the Old Testament can seem confusing, distant and remote. But the current political situation of this area today shows us that continued tussle for power, the titles people wish to possess, and where does the place of human life come amid this?
Jesus came to subvert those ideas of Kingship and leadership. What title is it Jesus bares out in today’s Gospel reading? That of prophet, returning to his hometown to preach and teach but, as in the job description of a prophet, being rejected by those most familiar to him, those amongst whom he grew up. Their reaction to him seems to be ‘who does he think he is? Getting ideas above his station! He should stay in his lane, stick to being a carpenter, stay only with family he grew up with.’ He challenges their ideas of what a prophet is or can be, and of course Jesus is so much more than another prophet. He frustrates people’s expectations of him, of what he should be or how he should act.
Jesus goes on to pass on some of his job responsibilities to his disciples, enabling them to go out in pairs preaching and healing; he gives them precise specifications for this task, what they will wear and carry. They are not to carry any food or money, or wear a second tunic, so that they are reliant on others hospitality to forge fellowship and enable their ministry. Jesus’ authorises others to speak and act on his behalf, but they enter people’s homes as guests, as Jesus himself waits to be invited in. If the people of a town do not listen to them, and they are not welcomed, they are to shake the dust of that place from their feet and not carry it with them. It seems harsh, but those people have refused to help a traveller in need. They have not welcomed the good news of Jesus.
Today in Sherborne is being held the first ever pride event, a day of celebration for those under the banner of LGBTQI+ from the area, their friends and families, supporters and allies. Whatever you may think of such an event, it is a reminder that it is under our job description as Christians to be loving, welcoming and inclusive. Our golden rule, to love the Lord your God, and to love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus was rejected in his hometown, let us not make the mistake of rejecting others here at home in Sherborne in the 21st Century. Jesus was expected to be quiet, stay in his lane, behave in a way that conformed to others’ expectations and didn’t upset the comfortable lives of those who were living there. However, he did not, he wanted to challenge them and us in a model of life that exemplified God’s love and grace. One of the descriptions of a priest that came up in the ordination sermon was that of ‘friendly irritant,’ so watch out, I may not always give you the comfortable answer you think you want!
We must throw open our doors, show what true love is as shown to us by Jesus, and share that with others. That is a calling and vocation made on all our lives, as Jesus authorised the disciples to preach and love under his authority, so we follow in that apostolic tradition and are likewise sent out in his name. We don’t want to be the dust shaken off the feet.
Jesus has many job titles beside prophet. Some of the many names and titles we use for our Lord are engraved around the edge new nave altar in Salisbury Cathedral, around which I was knelt with my fellow curates as I was ordained priest last weekend. They reminded me of all Jesus is to us, and the example that leaves us, of all we are called to, not just those of an ordained vocation, but the ministry that is uniquely yours in your journey of faith and enriches all our lives. The end of the poem ‘priestly duties’ I started to read earlier reflects on one of the titles for Jesus, that of High Priest,
‘As priests, transformed by The priest, that death prised open so that he could be our priest martyred, diaphanous and matchless priest.’
We all have a role to play in God’s Kingdom here on Earth. I will be praying for fellow ministers who have recently been ordained deacon and priest as they walk this path they have been called to. I will be praying that those called to serve in new political roles, both at a local and a national level, remember who they serve and work for, for the preservation of human life and dignity. I pray that all of us who are called to follow our Lord, to be authorised to work for him and to be sent out into the world to speak and act in his name do so with love and generosity of heart. And that all God’s children may come to know his love, his grace and mercy, for we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.