Season of Creation – Week 2

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Introduction 

Sermon Notes

Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23

The lectionary has given us a set of three short passages in Proverbs 22, connected by a simple theme of the poor and those who have riches. The Bible does really help us to understand why some people are trapped in poverty.

Rich and poor have this in common; the Lord is the Maker of them all. v2

Our starting point as Christians is that we are all God’s children. Whether we come together in worship or we meet on the street – all are equal in the sight of God. This challenges the false teaching that personal wealth and privilege are the result of blessing by God (prosperity gospel)

The borrower is slave to the lender v7

Although this verse is not included in the lectionary reading it is a very important reflection of the impact of debt. Our capitalist system basically creates interest for the rich, whereas the poor pay interest. Tragically we are seeing how with increased impacts from climate change, poorer nations are going deeper and deeper into debt as they borrow money to replace key infrastructure destroyed by floods and storms.

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. v9

Here the bible shows the Christian values of generosity and sacrificial giving. Bishop Zac Niringiye from Uganda reminds us that the Lord’s prayer is a communal prayer – Give us today our daily bread. It is not me praying for bread for my family, but for the whole community. If there are hungry people in my community and I am not giving them bread, then I am failing to pray the Lord’s Prayer. 

Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case v22-23.

This verse shows clearly that God is on the side of the poor – what is called the ‘preferential option for the poor’ and echoes the prophetic tradition. It also shows how economic and legal systems of society favour the wealthy.

These passages show us that it is important to understand the underlying issues of why a particular person is poor and what are the challenges they face. It is only then that you might score the goal of helping them to get out of poverty. On the journey of life, the probability of meeting a poor person is 8:10. Policies such as the government’s land policies or the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to climate action may have been beautifully crafted in terms of helping the poor. However, those polices and NDCs do not see reality through the lenses of the poor. Through manipulating these very policies, the rich are able to accumulate more wealth whilst the poor become poorer.

Even when opportunity strikes, the poor are often not in a position to embrace the opportunity as they do not have the necessary resources or connections to be able to benefit. They can be easily cheated as only the rich and the powerful are able to read the fine print which is meant to open the doors for the poor. 

Psalm 125 

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever’. (v.1)

This Psalm is one of the 15 songs of Ascents, meant for pilgrims to sing on their way to Jerusalem for the annual feast days. As they walked they would look up at Mount Zion, the mighty hill on which Jerusalem was built. They sing of the greatness of God, their faith is as strong as the Mount Zion – they cannot be moved.

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

And yet as they come closer they see the Fortress Antonia, the Roman headquarters, and they were reminded that the city was under the control of a foreign invader. It must have seemed as if ‘the sceptre of wickedness’ was indeed resting very heavily on the land allotted to the righteous!

How well this Psalm reflects our current situation as the Church in Africa, our faith is strong, we sing, we worship, we proclaim our faith in God. And yet it is Africa that is to be the hardest hit by climate change – we face an insecure and frightening future.

The sceptre of wickedness shall not overcome – reminds us of the gospel hymn ‘We shall overcome” we sing out our faith in God, knowing that our God is a mighty God who will overcome. And so, the theme of Season of Creation this year reminds us that we must hope in the God of Mount Zion and act to combat the wickedness that is causing climate change.

Do good O Lord to those who are good … but those who turn aside to their own crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers v 4-5

In this world, those who are doing the least to cause climate change are the most impacted. But this Psalm looks forward to a time when justice will prevail and God will establish his Kingdom of justice, love and peace. The poor need to be empowered so that they stop depending on the wealth. Environmental education can help people have good food, plant trees, and heal the land.  

James 2: 1-10

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. V1

Modern day culture loves to honour the rich and famous – we think of the lifestyle of the ‘influencers’ politicians, sports stars. This consumerist society is killing the earth with so many throw aways and plastic rubbish building up.

Why don’t we give more honour to the humbly dressed faithful believers who are raising their families within their means, living simple hardworking lives, eating from the earth and giving to their neighbours?

Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you. v5-6

Again, we see how God stands on the side of the poor against injustice and exploitation. Climate injustice is one of the major issues that we are facing globally, and the church should act on behalf of those most vulnerable.

Love your neighbour as yourself v8

In the context of climate change we are all called to care for our global neighbours and to make decisions about our travel, source of energy etc that will not harm our neighbour. Our neighbours are also the generations to come and our non-human neighbours, God’s creatures given into our care.

As a church we need to think of ways of building bridges between the poor and the wealthy. Such bridges will eliminate the environmental injustices that the poor usually suffer from the hands of the rich. How can the voices of the most vulnerable be heard by the powerful? Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity and the rod of anger will not fail.

As the poor cry under the injustices of the wealthy, we also need to hear the cry of the animals, plants which are fed in a manner that is against their natural way of life. They are confined into little spaces unable to move, such as battery farms.  

Mark 7: 24-37 

The passage about Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman is difficult to understand. Why is he so rude to her – he refuses a request for healing – he refers to her and her daughter as ‘dogs’. This seems out of character of the Jesus we know.

“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” v27

He is pushing the woman to express the faith that he knows she has, before he gladly heals her daughter.

 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” v28-29 

She pushes back persistently. She is combatting sexism, patriarchy, cultural barriers, xenophobia – all these issues can be seen in this passage. What a strong woman! Through her persistence her daughter is healed. We are reminded of the strong women who fight for the health of their children in situations of waters poisoned by mining, air poisoned by coal, forests being cut down- it is often the women who stand up against all the forces against them. Her theology is not rooted in books, it flows from her love of her daughter. 

The love of a mother is a powerful force!

LITURGY: ACT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR

GOD GATHERS US:

PENITENCE

God of mercy,
we come before you seeking forgiveness
because we know how much we have failed you.
You created a world of beauty;
you gave your people paradise.
But we have not been good stewards
of the earth we inherited.
The rivers are polluted;
the air has been made impure;
forests are felled and fertile land turned to desert;
wild animals are hunted and,
for pride and greed, whole species are endangered

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD:

A Confession of Faith of St. Patrick

Our God, God of all people,
God of heaven and earth, sea and rivers,
God of sun and moon, of all stars,
God of highest mountain, of deepest valleys,
God over heaven and in heaven and under heaven.

He has his dwelling
in heaven and earth and sea
and all that is in them.

He inspires all,
he gives life to all,
he surpasses all,
he upholds all.

He ignites the light of the sun.
He surrounds the stars and tells them to shine.
He makes fountains in dry lands,
and dry islands in the sea,
and stars to serve the greater lights.

He has a Son,
coeternal with him and like him.
The Son is not younger than the Father,
neither is the Father older than the Son.
And the Holy Spirit breathes in them.
Not separate are the Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

(This creed is attributed to the 5th century missionary and bishop Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland)

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.

(Pope Francis, Laudato Si)

CELEBRATING AT THE TABLE

During Season of Creation many churches now hold a service outside, celebrating in Creation, acknowledging that ‘The Earth is the Lord’s’ and we worship in the sanctuary of all Creation

SENDING OUT OF GOD’S PEOPLE

Bless the wisdom of the holy one above us Bless the truth of the holy one beneath us Bless the love of the holy one within us (Chinook Psalter)