A Sermon preached in St. Senan's on Sunday 11th June 2023 in St. Senan's Church, Inniscarra
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
Text Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26
What can I/we do?
That’s a question that I’ve been asking this week quite a lot
In light of world, national and local events – It’s a question which I think will take us on a journey over the weeks, months, and years ahead.
< our work with the Ukrainian community>
It comes back to a very simple thing – What would Jesus do – WWJD ?
We see Jesus here in this gospel – Call Matthew, Heal the woman, Interacting with all sorts of people, challenge the settled and eat with those seen as outsiders
That’s quite a lot for one Sunday’s readings.
We can’t be expected to do everything but we can do something – what is God calling us to do?
In the past we have been great at listening to our stories of faith – highlighted in “Ordinary People” but what about those outside
As a Church, we have begun to listen to stories – stories of individuals who are on the fringes of our society – and they are voices that need to be heard – I want to thank our Associate Minister Abigail for her leadership in this area- not just here in Cork but for many years during her time in Dublin.
On Sunday 25th June we are going to hear from one of our own parishioners – Naomi Kagari who has been working with Cork Migrant Centre based at Nano Nagle place we have also been working with young people who have been seeking asylum here in Ireland at an event.
Those who are on the fringe – those who are being looked down upon in our society -we need to hear their voice and we are being encouraged to get to know them. As a church, we are being to explore what it means to reach out beyond – to be known as a place of care, place of sanctuary, community, and love beyond who were are right now.
My message this morning as we step out into Ordinary Time – the time of growth, the time of discipleship – the “green” season of the Church year is – asking – who in our community needs to be listened to, who needs to know of the care, the love, the embrace of community.
When I look at the ministry of Jesus – he didn’t sit in his synagogue and wait for people to come to him.
He sent people out – with invitations, he responded to invitations, he dealt with issues as they arose, he took opportunities.
As a church – a church that is growing – it is my hope that we do the same – Let's take opportunities, lets do what we can – to love, to hear, to respond when we can, to be a community in all sorts of ways – there's a lot to do – what might God be saying to you, to us.
I would love us all to begin to hear from those – not those who are tax collectors but those who are on the fringes of our society today. We just need to look around and see those whose experience of our society is like those – who are looked down upon those who are being called names other than their own, whose experience is different to ours.
Abigail has organized an event on Tuesday 22nd June at the Carraig Centre – can you help out? Can you come along?
Why does Jesus eat with those who …. Are different?
This is an opportunity to hear from voices we don’t usually get a chance to hear from – to show the love, the care and also to simply share table with those we haven’t had a chance to until now.
