Forgiveness ... a difficult thing to do... but worth it!

A sermon preached by Revd Robert`Ferris based upon the Gospel passage for this morning - Matthew 18 - About forgiveness. 

 

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer Amen

 

Our focus today is on the thorny topic of Forgiveness

 

Before I get into this topic

 

There’s a prayer we used to pray in the choir at my home church before every single service

 

Bless, O Lord, us Thy servants who minister in Thy temple.
Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts,
and what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

This topic of forgiveness

 

A topic which depending upon where you are coming from and what’s going on in your life right now be OK let’s think about this … but I understand that for some here this morning its one of those topics that we might be struggling with … either because we’ve been in a situation where we’ve been wronged by someone else and you are wanting to get the debt paid … or see the individual suffer for what they have done … or 101 other things.

 

From the outset – In the Apostles creed

1.     We believe in the forgiveness of sins.

 

As Christians this is one of our fundamental beliefs … we say in our creed – we believe in the forgiveness of sins. Its also key in the Lord’s prayer – we ask God, our heavenly father … ‘Forgive us our sins and we forgive those who sin against us’ – ouch!

 

This is really vitally important – core to our identity as Christians … that we have been forgiven and we are ones who are called to forgive.

 

This is not to say its easy … not at all – but we do need to explore this if we are to live life to the fullest.

 

I have met many people in life who are still holding on to issues which haven’t been forgiven, which are affecting them from moving on – this issue isn’t about excusing or apologizing for their behaviour or actions but saying I’m not going to hold that thing against them going forward – at the very least it’s saying my life is not going to be defined by your actions towards me … if that makes sense?

 

But there’s more to it than that.

 

2.     Let’s look at the parable

 

let’s look at the master and the first servant – the servant is in debt to the master … he owes him much … he’s made wrong choices, he’s up to his neck in debt without any chance to pay … its affecting the life of his family and its beyond the point of no return he can only fall at the feet of the master and begged … I will try better, I will eventually repay … the master says go … the debt is wiped

 

Imagine the relief of the servant … what… did you really say that I am Free … imagine the relief, the incredible generousity of that master.

 

That’s an amazing place to be – all the weights lifted off – the shackles snapped

 

Folks .. when we understand the grace of God … the amazing love and freedom that we can have … no matter what we’ve done, what we owe – to be in that place of ultimate freedom is a place where there is no condemnation

 

This is how it is with us and God … when we ask for forgiveness he gives it

 

At the opening of our services … we recall that moment – we say sorry … and we are assured of God’s forgiveness … this is no little thing … its huge! God does forgive us.

 

BUT to those who have been given much  … much is expected!   

 

We’re called to pass it on – we really are

 

It’s difficult to get our heads around this – when we desvered something else … he provides us with love and grace … grace upon grace

 

So…

 

Letting this into our hearts and lives is vitally important

 

 

Then

 

We’re asked to be people who forgive like that … who pass on this gift of love and freedom to others

 

 

IN the parable .. the first servant fails to see this – and immediately goes about getting even with the second servant – this is not to be with us

 

 

In the small things

 

And ultimately to the big things

 

Forgiveness is not an easy thing … its not natural – we want to get even, to get our own back

 

I was speaking to someone on Friday who was recalling a  conversation with a friend who was trying to understand forgiveness

 

So… what you’re telling me is … you believe that if someone was to do some  serious crime against a family member you’d forgive them … not me! … I’d want to kill them!

 

This reminded me about Gordon Wilson in Northern Ireland and how he would forgive the terrorists who planted the bomb that killed his daughter.

 

Forgiveness is a difficult decision but without it … we lock ourselves up in a  downward spiral of darkness and revenge.  Forgiveness is a way of healing and allowing God in.

 

It is a difficult topic yes but as we see in this text if we withhold forgiveness there is consequences.

 

And when we pray the Lord’s prayer … we are saying – all of us are asking God to forgive us our sins and we forgive those who sin against us.

 

The person I was speaking to recalled how his friend couldn’t say that bit of the Lords prayer.  This is desparately sad … and challenging. I applaud that person for not being a hypocrite in terms of having thought about this but we do need to delve into the issues surrounding what this leads to – Where there are issues of unforgiveness … we know that there are issues of hatred, loneliness, despair, violence, snowballing emotions & effects and 1001 other things which can lead onwards.

 

The road of forgiveness … is a road of release, of ultimately healing.

 

Those are difficult words but they are true and have profound implications

 

The only way I can understand forgiveness is to understand that I have been forgiven and the one who has forgiven me has asked me nay he expects me to pass that release on to those around me – for their sake yes but also for my own sake because he knows what is best for me. He loves me too much!

 

My challenging question for this week

 

What unforgiveness are you and I holding on to ?… what issue are we not prepared to give to God? What do we need to release?

 

Reflective music 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Stinky feet - New Shoes and more

 Beautiful Stinky feet - New Shoes ! – and More

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer.

Reading 

⁵ Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’ ⁶ But the righteousness that is by faith says: ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ ‘or “Who will descend into the deep?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ 

¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’  

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

   

Here's the true story of Bill Barnes, a creative Miami, Florida, pastor who resolved to stop staring at the homeless in Dade County and do something about them. Bill Barnes had an idea!

Since other people were giving them sandwiches, he decided to give them shoes or socks.

Few shoes or socks make it to a second life, much less a second-hand store. Dubbing it the "S.O.S." project (for "Shoes or Socks"), he found a donor who funded the purchase of new socks and another who gave free new sneakers to the church in assorted men's, women's and children's sizes. Barnes then contacted a local podiatrist to help out, since one of the biggest health problems of the homeless is their feet. The podiatrist enlisted some already overloaded med students at Barry University in Miami Shores, who agreed to donate some of their free time to assist with foot examinations and medicine.

Now Barnes faced his toughest customers: his own parishioners. He recommended to the church they implement their "S.O.S." homeless program with a foot washing service on Maundy Thursday. Would they commit to washing the feet of as many homeless as they could convince to come? You can imagine the yucks and grunts that followed. But one lay leader stood up and demanded of her brothers and sisters: "The question is, are we humble enough to do it?"

Those church members who weren't humble enough then, soon became humble. Just before the appointed Maundy Thursday service, a homeless woman was electrocuted on Biscayne Boulevard during a rain storm. She had stepped barefooted on a metal drain underneath which was a broken power line. The news reports stated that had she been wearing rubber soled shoes she would not have been killed. Unable to identify the woman, a local coalition of homeless ministries organized an interfaith memorial service. The date selected was Maundy Thursday. 

They spread the word through Social Services, bread lines, mission houses, that there would be free medical treatment and sneakers available to all who attended. Many came and received spiritual and physical care that Maundy Thursday. The church conveyed to over 500 homeless, habitually downtrodden and despised (they gave out more than 500 pairs of shoes and many more socks - they only stopped because they ran out of larger men's sizes) that they cared about their bodies and their souls. To those with the most need, they did not hand out pious sops - they handed out sneakers. Instead of prayerful platitudes, they offered podiatry. These Christians attended to their brothers' and sisters' bodily needs as well as to their spiritual longings 

https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/beautiful-feet-gerald-roberts-sermon-on-good-news-210837?page=1

 

 

When I read this story – I was struck by the importance of what’s in our hands. For some it may be food, for others it may be prayer, for some it may be a passion for figures numbers etc – Whatever it may be lets bring it to God.

 

In our new centre – we ‘re going to need to doing stuff … we have Enable Ireland, Music Teachers, YMCA, Cocaine Anonymous, Lego Camps, Bible Study, Seniors Lunches, people using our playground, Slimming world and many other needs, Domestic Abuse Helpline supplies Sunday Morning Worship, Folk Dancers, Ballet- Cian today was talking about football

 

In Blarney we have al-anon, growth Group … and many others

 

How are our feet?

 

What are we called to do in Blarney for our community – for the least and the lost?

 

What about this vision of the river running from this building … what does that look like in the next 6 months? And beyond

 

When we aren’t as busy as we ordinarily can be? … how can we show love to those who are stuggling?

 

IN the midst of this pandemic how can we preach … how can we show people God’s love and his care?

 

I’m challenged by this at this moment … how do we love in the midst of this time and in this place?

 

Many many questions then move on in this 

Beautiful Feet are beautiful because they have put on witness walkers I am a (witness walker) shoes you can actually buy “For How can they hear without someone preaching to them?

• Beautiful Feet are beautiful because you cover those feet with Good News Gospel Shoes

• Beautiful Feet Respect The Poor

• Beautiful Feet respond in love and compassion to everyone in need

• Beautiful Feet help the burdened they do not make or create burdens

• Beautiful Feet offer hospitality, clothing , shelter, and food

• Beautiful Feet offer fellowship and peace

• Make those feet beautiful by putting on traveling shoes, witness walkers, good news gospel shoes .

I’m really challenged by all of this – and want to challenge each one of us here – In terms of sharing our faith – how will people know

 

Becoming a world Christian means that, wherever you live, you “consider all other citizenship a secondary matter” (D.A. Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry [Baker, 2004], 117) and “reorder your life around God’s global cause" (Piper, Desiring God, 232–33). It means that even as you give yourself to making disciples on the tract of land to which you’ve been sent, you connect your efforts with the Global Cause, among peoples reached and unreached, and you pray and dream and give toward completing the task.

 

But becoming a world Christian not only leads to the resourcing and flourishing of ministries abroad; it also leads to vibrancy and fruit at home. “Becoming a world Christian cannot be an end in itself,” writes Don Carson. “The aim is not to become so international and culturally flexible that one does not fit in anywhere; the aim, rather, is to become so understanding and flexible that one can soon fit in and further the gospel anywhere" (Carson, Cross and Christian Ministry, 132).

 

 

As we continue to reach out

 

We do so sharing the good news of Jesus’ love in the communities and the neighbourhoods which we live and work

 

Here in Blarney – Over the next weeks I want to pick up some of the stuff that has been let go in the past few months – the connections with businesses and people

 

Please do pray as we go on – seeking what we can be doing within the guidelines as we are able to do what we can do.

During the interregnum I want to ask questions each week as part of my sermons 

This week I want to challenge us with a question? 

- What's in your hands that we can share to proclaim Jesus 

 

 

 

 

Storms Stilled & Growing Disciples - Sunday 9th August 2020.

 Sermon preached in St. Peters  Church Carrigrohane on Sunday 9th August 2020 

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen 

I don’t know about you but I long for normality - just rewind a little bit - to the days when we were able to sit together, share peace … invite a friend over, not have to hand sanitise, social distance, wear a face covering and contact trace … but those days are gone for now.

I also have been longing for a bit of structure - my old structure when I was leading services and preaching - rather than sorting microphones, cameras, recordings etc 

I’m so thankful that I’m able to get back to some sort of structured week again … but as of last week - its not the same - Ian is away. 

Things will be different - but also we are called by God to be his church in our day - and I’m so thankful to God for the work of this Union of Parishes as we remain faithful to the calling we have as his Children and his disciples today 

Over these weeks - we’re being challenged by the teachings in the Gospel of Matthew - under the theme of Ordinary Time, Extraordinary times … amazing God. 

Ordinary time is meant to be a time in the churches year when we talk about ordinary things … talk about growing, leaving space for growth —> I wonder how you are growing in your faith —> I would love to challenge each one of us including myself - how is your walk with the Lord at the moment? 

Today I would want to take a look at this Gospel reading - usually when I take this gospel reading - of Peter walking on water … I use the idea that its Peter keeping his eyes on Jesus stepping out of the boat and that being the point 

But the more I’ve read the more challenged I’ve become about other parts of the story 

Matthew’s Gospel is one that is very well structured and we see him using event’s in Jesus’ life  and the life of his disciples - for the purpose of convincing his readers that Jesus was the Messiah - the Son of God 

So … 

Back in Matthew 8 - we read a similar story of an similar event -  the Story of the stilling of the Storm where Jesus was with them, storm, they are afraid in the boat and say don’t you care if we drown 

Jesus stills the storm … and the disciples exclaim  - “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Now time has passed … they have heard his teaching, they have understood a bit more, they have seen some amazing things 

Play Matthew 14 - They are in the boat … same sea of Galilee, this time Jesus is not with them, storm …. Jesus passes them by - Phantom? If it is you - Facinating words … fear not … it is I 

If it is you? … Peter questioning Jesus’ identity … who else did that ? … Back to Temptations in chapter 3 - If you are the son of God … is on the lips of the devil … 

Peter Walks on water … he doesn’t do it in his own strength - its because Jesus is there 

We don’t hear Peter being congratulated but what we do see … is not the question about identity but Jesus gets in the boat with the disciples and him being worshipped - That’s huge … Its the first time in the Gospels we see Jesus being worshipped - These guys are all Jews - they know their commandment - worship no other God’s but me 

There are so many strands to this passage and this incident pointing both backwards and forwards 

I want to pick up on just two of those strands this morning 

Jesus’ Identity - Peter said if it is you tell me to come - From What kind of man is this  … to —if it is you to worshipping him -   They are growing in their understanding of the master through the intensive discipleship course they have been on - seeing how Jesus works, how the kingdom of God works - It’s remarkable that he doesn’t know everything!  And as we’ll see in subsequent weeks … we see Peter’s understanding increasing more and more. 

That gives me hope - That we just don’t get zapped and understand everything about Jesus in an instant  in an encounter with Jesus … Its a process, a long process  - a life long process. Which occurs in difficult circumstances along with normal everyday circumstances and also moutain top experiences. 

If we take the time to be with Jesus. 

The Safety of the boat - This is really really important - vital - Jesus didn’t stay out on the water - he could have but he didn’t - he got into the boat with his disciples 

When you look at images from the first couple of centuries of church history and down through the years  … the imagery of the boat is of high emphasis in Church circles … Paralleling a boat to safety - and equating the boat to the church 

This is interesting - Today the symbol of the world council of churches is a boat - a sail boat 

In our day - I wonder what your view of Jesus is? … In the safety of the boat … what is your take upon Jesus - It was CS Lewis who said - Lunatic, Liar or Lord.  We see the disciples prior boat journey asking What kind of man is this? … Now they are worshipping him 

This is huge - Today we Worship him

Then there is the safety of the boat … Jesus Joins them in the boat … He’s there with them 

As the storm raged they were safe in the boat … In our world today there are many storms raging … I do think that the imagery of the boat is a good one - not a luxury yactch but a fishing boat … Jesus joined them in it. 

In our little fishing boat - Jesus is with us - as we go about our journey Jesus is with us 

In the storms we face he is with us. 

Conclusion 

I come back to where I began today - In the midst of the changes - This year isn’t the same as last year quite obviously - we’re not going around in circles - we’re living breathing humans and in our lives we’re made to grow and to learn. We’re also meant to be responsible for our own growth and development. In our understanding of Jesus - in our faith development how are we using these times of growth. 

How can we journey with Jesus during these days - maybe its digging into his word more and more 

• Maybe it’s simple things - like acknowledging his presence at meal times - thanking him for provision 
• Maybe its taking time to pray at other times during the day 
• Maybe its stepping up to do something you’ve not done before 
• Maybe its serving in new ways 
• Maybe its trusting him in things that might appear scary 

Over these weeks - I would love each person here to take time to grow in their relationship with Jesus - Stepping a bit further than you have up to this point - even in the midst of the storm around about us at the moment - take time to worship in a different way 

I do hope in my sermons over the next few months to leave you with some questions to ponder 

2 Key Questions today

1. Do I know who Jesus is? … where am I on my Life’s journey of Faith ?
2. What could I be doing differently in my spiritual life? 

Let’s pray 

Pause #2 - A reflection for Tuesday of Holy Week

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Bible Text John 12:20-36 

Tuesday of Holy Week 

A holy week like none of us have lived through before 

We're told - like none other in Christendom

A week, a month, a season where the church buildings are closed - and the church is dispersed

A week where those of us who would normally be sitting in our pews listening to a speaker guide our thoughts through the events of Holy Week, 

contemplating what gospel means for us as a Christian Community 

But this is different

in our isolation, 

in the fog of worry 

In the confusion of the new reality 

In the concern for family & friends 

There is an aloneness in our thoughts 

A wondering what others are doing 

But also an enforced wondering what we ourselves are doing 

In this fog we could wander aimlessly 

And lose our bearings 

Or - there is another option 

Like the Greek contingent 

head to the light, the teacher, the source 

Who with words chosen to challenge 

Who with actions (and words) that seem to contradict (except in hindsight) 

Show what love, light, kindness, life and death really are all about 

Therefore, as we live today 

Let’s take a few moments - to ask like they did - ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’ 

And to take time to meet him, to be in his presence 

Where you find yourself at this moment

At home alone wondering & pondering

At home stressed

At work alone 

At work stressed & hard pressed 

Wherever you find yourself in these days - do carve out time this week to ponder, to worship in the strange times and places we are living through. 

May we see Jesus. 

In the name of Father the Son and Holy Spirit. 

Amen 

Pause #1 - how life has changed so quickly! - Let's be kind!

I'm hopefully going to take time to pause over these next few weeks once in a while and blog about the strange season we're in!

Since the beginning of Lent 2020 things have changed - how life and ministry have changed.

Who at the start of 2020 would have believed we would be where we are now.

Schools closed
Ireland in a period where movements are restricted
Church buildings closed
and normal life on hold.

I write this a couple of days after the latest restrictions have come into force.

In one email I received during the past week quoted someone who had been caught up in a earthquake and said that the important thing was to get to a place of relative safely to discover what was going on.

The past week or so has for me been just that - getting ourselves into a place of safety - a place of ah.
a place to take a breath and look around at what's happening.

Church for us here in Carrigrohane Union like in so many other places across the globe has dramatically changed in its form but remains reassuringly together in its substance.

The past few weeks have allowed me to experiment with pieces of technology which are new to me - it is by no means a substitute for face to face pastoral ministry - not by a long shot. I would just love to be in Blarney, St. Peters, Inniscarra or Parish Centre with the familarity of place and people. With the smiles and banter. I long for sitting down in Centra in Blarney with a cuppa and meeting with people over a brownie.

I long to be standing in the Carraig Centre welcoming visitor and members of our congregation to the new place

but for now we're having to do stuff virtually. And what we've managed to do has been remarkable in such a short period of time. I say remarkable because we have people who have taken the time to create art, record music, send stuff to our kids, re-invent house groups to on-line communities and much more besides.

It has also involved phoning around many parishioners - and many more still to happen in the coming weeks - I'm so thankful for the technology that allows all of this to happen,

Thanks to the wonders of a couple of bits of software and some hardware which was installed in the Carraig centre and now at home here with me we've managed to bring together some stuff and produce a decent enough Sunday Morning service. Enough in order to get people joining us from both Facebook and You Tube simultaneously.

It's been remarkable to have on average 60-70 streams of live worship going out to homes all over the parish and beyond

The great thing which has helped is that people can comment on these streams - so that has been great.

There are loads of interesting links coming in from lots of people for activities - next week I hope to do a sequence of what's possible in the announcement slot.

This stuff is going to be useful in the weeks ahead - there are very much by all accounts really difficult weeks ahead for all of our communities.

My hope and prayer is that as a community we stick together, support one another in new ways.

I have no idea what is coming our way - thankfully I do not! - but for the time being I'm  taking time to pray, read, enjoy creation, time with family whether they be present in our house or virtually with us.

My prayer is for those who cannot do this at this time - for all of those essential workers in all sectors of the economy - health, food, infrastructure, government, communications, security and more - whilst we are staying at home they are being put at risk.

One piece of advice which holds true in any circumstance - let's be kind to one another - and even more so now.

Day 14 - Where is there hatred in my life?

Part of the 40days40questions series

this is another Lenten question

its about self examination and removing stuff that doesn't need to be there

The Bible is very clear

Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:12

"You have heard that the law of Moses says, `Love your neighbor' and hate your enemies. But I say, love your enemy! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too." Matthew 5:43-44

With Hatred as well as a load of other things I turn as an illustration to the computer - and it's processor - I hate it when this comes up - It means I can't do the things I want to do because I don't have enough memory space to do them! 

My brain does have limited capacity! ... and my days have limited time ... and my earthly life is ultimately limited too therefore I need to be careful how I use my resources - are they going to be taken up with hatred - That certainly is an option but not a great one considering the beauty, the love and the other amazing things in this world. 

Does that make sense?  what hatred do I need to get rid off?  

Certainly that's my simplistic thought around this - its all a case of resource management in the brain ;-)