Season of Creation – Week 3

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Introduction 

Sermon Notes

Proverbs 1:20-33

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; v20

In this passage Wisdom is personified as a woman, one who permeates creation and who holds divine authority. She is shouting out in the streets and the public squares warning us that disaster is coming. She does not spell out the practicalities of what we must do, she presumes that we know the Torah, that we have learned from our ancestors the right way to live.

When calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind v27

We are ignoring the voices that are calling out to us, the climate scientists, the indigenous voices, and we are staring disaster in the face. We are already suffering from the effects of our destruction of forests, our overuse of fossil fuels and yet we still do not listen to those voices. We fail to listen to the voice of God who called us to be keepers of the Earth.

Looming over our planet is a threat of extinction, acknowledged now as a sixth extinction. The Season of Creation is an appeal not only to hope but also to act. The living soil, the seas, rivers, and oceans are being polluted – trampled underfoot by the massive human footprint. Let us not ignore the prophetic voice of Lady Wisdom, let us learn from climate science, listen to the wisdom of our ancestors and indigenous people from around the world.

It is time to act!

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech v1-2

 The Early Church spoke of the ‘two books of God’ the first book of creation and the second, the written Scripture. God speaks to us both through the pages of the Bible and also through creation.

‘For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous’ v3

Psalm 19 expresses this balance beautifully, in two different sections. In the first section – v1-6, we see how the heavens are bearing testimony to the presence of God. Without language, we can become aware of the presence and power of God. How often have you walked by the ocean or looked at the stars and sensed the mighty presence of God?

“Very good,” is a constant phrase in the entire process of creation. God created the universe to show His Glory. And so, everything that God created was good, but human sin and ignorance brought about confusion and mismanagement of what was meant to be ‘good’.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; v10

In the second section (7-14) the psalmist declares the inspiration and trustworthiness of the word of God, words which revive us when we are tired, which bring light and hope and wisdom. The Psalm extols the heart of wisdom which is the fear of the Lord (vs 9) and which is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey (vs 10).

In this Psalm the writer shows the harmony between the beauty of Creation and the law. The universe is indeed sacramental – we can see the fingerprints of God in Creation and we can feel God’s presence with us. As Martin Luther said “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and in clouds and stars”.

As we continue with our environmental work, we need to be grounded, in the word of God and the commandments to care for Creation, but also in our love for Creation. Many people live in concrete jungles and many young people do not have opportunities to connect with nature. This is also part of our ministry, to connect people with nature through outdoor services or retreats, or hikes. For you will not protect what you do not love.

James 3: 1-12

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly v1.

As preachers we have a particular responsibility to pass on correct knowledge. What knowledge are we passing on? There is so much fake news going around it is important that we take the time to study to equip ourselves with scientific knowledge.

Faithful wisdom requires us to confront the frailty of our human behaviour and call forth the richness of human knowledge. Provided we are careful in our exposition, we avoid the unpleasantness that “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing” (v.10).

We also need to avoid getting into useless fights with people – how do you respond for instance when someone says that climate change is a myth? The tongue operates much as a bridle does to control a horse or the rudder to steer a ship (v 3 and 4). It is small but influential. Negatively it can be destructive. It can be the spark initiating a raging forest fire. For the person carrying the image of God it should not be like this. We need to find ways to disagree and education but with respect for the other person.

And God said…” is a phrase that occurred in every season of creation. By the word of the mouth, there came an existence. God spoke and it was done.

This symbolizes the power of the word. The word of the mouth brings salvation and healing – both spiritually and physically. We are co-creators with God, so our words also are powerful for healing or for destruction.

Mark 7: 24-37 

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. v34

Jesus teaches that a prophetic ministry, speaking truth to Bishop Rose planting trees 16 power, carries with it the perils of suffering and death. Peter, like many of us, does not really understand, he is hoping to see the restoration of a Jewish king Jesus on the other hand is focussing on the suffering and death ahead. “Get behind me, Satan!” he says for Peter has made the error of offering the same temptation that Satan offered Jesus in the wilderness (Mark 1.13)

Jesus calls together the crowd and reminds them what it means to be intentional in our Christian discipleship. The imperatives “let them deny themselves” and “let them take up their cross” (v.34) are what it means to follow Jesus. Jesus is seeking in His followers is something more than pious resignation in the face of the ways of the world, but spiritual activism.

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? v36

Jesus asks what good it is to gain the whole world but forfeit our souls. What a challenge to the materialism that hardens our heart against God and our fellow creatures! Environmental and climate activism requires sacrifices, we are called to sacrificial living to live more simply. We will sacrifice our time, our resources, our energy. There may be times when we feel that we are burning out because the challenges are so great, and yet we are called to act with hope. It is action that brings hope, and it is hope that inspires action.

Bibliography

1. Scottish Eco-congregations Creation Time – 2018
2. ACSA Season of Creation Manual 2021 – Tim Gray