07/07/2024

Trinity 6 – Humility in Tough Callings Our readings today couldn’t have been chosen knowing they would be read the Sunday after a general election result, however to me at least they seem to have something important to say to this moment. Ezekiel is called by God to be a prophet to His chosen people at a time when frankly anything else might have been easier. Ezekiel knows full well that God’s people are not listening to God, are falling away from their calling to. Be His people, and are being tempted by powers that be in neighboring countries, and in taking their eye off their proper course are treating their own people badly, especially the weakest and those least able to help and defend themselves. He knows that whatever he says he will receive a very poor reception, they are either ready to listen or willing to listen to anything that is critical of their behavior or is calling them to amend their ways. And when Ezekiel tells God that this is a hopeless cause, God responds that he is most likely right, but if Ezekiel stands his ground and delivers his message however badly received they will know that a prophet has been in their midst. This is a bold job description of what a prophet is, someone who speaks truth as they see it, often in the face of opposition, usually to those who very much don’t want to hear. It is often after the fact that such truth carriers are recognized for their authenticity, and this would be the case for Ezekiel, who knew that after the time of plucking up, breaking down and overthrowing, there would indeed come a time of re-building, re-planting and growth. For now the terrible times were yet to happen, looking back decades later the people could acknowledge the truth of the message the prophet so bravely brought. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians has much to commend it, but the context was one of a church constantly slipping back from the teachings of the Apostle, and failing to live up to their calling. This particular passage is famous for biblical scholars for it contains that puzzling idea that Paul had a constant thorn in his side metaphorically, one that never went away, and yet one that brought him access to a humility as to himself and his purpose as God’s Apostle that served him well for his whole difficult and painful ministry. Now what was this thorn? Well there are many ideas; was it some kind of on-going chronic illness, was it fatigue at the relapses so common in the churches he founded, was it persecution and trials he suffered on so regular a basis? All have been thought possible, but to my mind it is simpler, Paul was never allowed to forget that he had never known the earthly Jesus, and had only encountered him on his conversion experience on the Emmaus road. The Church in Jerusalem contained many of the original disciples, and others who had been close to Jesus during his three year ministry. Many others had seen Jesus’s acts of power and miracles, or had spoken directly to those who had, and one can be sure that when the chips were down no-one missed the opportunity to question the authenticity of Paul’s claim to be a genuine Apostle. And this must have stung very much, not only for the scale and success of Paul’s missionary work, his expansion of the Christian vision to include the gentiles, but also for the quality of his writings and thinking about the faith. As a rising star in the world of Pharisaic Judaism, Paul had clout, he had been trained by the famous Gamaliel, he was rising through the ranks, a Roman citizen, hugely clever and multi-lingual, and many of the others were frankly ordinary people, and yet Paul could never claim their degree of authenticity, he was always vulnerable and on the back foot. And the point is those who are cast in roles as prophets or leaders of the faith always are vulnerable. In the Gospel Jesus leaves us in no doubt that he is in a similar situation. A prophet has no honor in his own country we are told, and even Jesus found it hard to conduct His ministry in its fullest sense in the presence of his family and friends. Jesus knew the same would be the case for those who followed him, and his response was to keep it simple and authentic, take only what you need, put yourselves in the hands of those who listen, serve them, live among them, take only what they freely offer, and expect nothing. This is the foundation for an honest prophet, let them judge you only by how you live and hat you say, knowing that even then some will carp and complain, but you will be able to know that you have followed the path laid down for you. I have been pondering these readings in the context not only of all those who have been elected to parliament, but also of those recently ordained into ministry. There is a well-known saying – you get the leaders you deserve, and to some extent you do. If you demand the impossible, or expect the unlikely, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Expecting elected politicians to turn around the countries woes in a 5 year term surely isn’t realistic, neither is expecting more money for everything, providing none if it comes from you personally. In so many ways we expect the impossible, and perhaps worse than that we have little or no patience, we expect our own particular bee in the bonnet to be their top priority, little understanding the breadth of problems politicians have to contend with. Rightly we hold them to high standards, that is vital, but perhaps we also need to be held to them too? The same is true of ordained ministry, people used to say that they didn’t want much in a new vicar – well only that they were young, male, married, with children, well educated, had a volvo and a Labrador [ by which I mean could live a comfortable life on a very uncomfortable income]. Also appeal to high and low, be available 7 days a week, and find a way of pleasing everyone, and not appearing partisan. Grow the numbers while preferably never really changing the things which prevented growth in the past, and never upset the wardens or the organists! Easy then… To my mind the key in all these readings is to accept that it is never going to be easy to deliver an unpopular message or to hear it, never going to straightforward to lead or indeed to be led. For all of it to work we have to accept Paul’s thorn, Jesus’s humility, and Ezekiel’s forbearance and patience. Humility, sticking at what you believe to be right, living authentically, and serving the people in the name of God, and especially those who need you the most, is a very fine start. And for those who will shortly take up their seats in Parliament, and for those starting on their journey of ministry, I pray God gives them all these, but that they never forget “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”