Reuben's Sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity:
Reuben's Theme: "What 'Rite' have you got?"
(Trinity 16) - EVENSONG 1830hrs. at Saint George's - Cullercoats.
Sunday, 11th. September 2005 Anno Domini.

Morning Mass: Exodus: 14.19-31 Ps: 114 Romans: 14.1-12 Matthew: 18.21-35
Evensong: Psalm: 119.41-48 [49-64] Ezekiel: 20.1-8,33-44 Acts: 20.17-end

September 11, 2005 Cycle A Trinity 16.

COLLECT OF THE DAY

O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

TODAY'S READINGS:

Morning Mass:

FIRST READING
Exodus 14.19­31

A reading from the book of Exodus.
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers.
At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, 'Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.'
Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.'
So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

PSALM
Psalm 114

R Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord.

Alleluia! When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
Judah became God's sanctuary and Israel his dominion. R
The sea beheld it and fled; Jordan turned and went back.
The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like young sheep. R
What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? O Jordan, that you turned back?
You mountains, that you skipped like rams? you little hills like young sheep? R
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,
Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water and flint-stone into a flowing spring. R

SECOND READING
Romans 14.1­12

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions.
Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgement on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.
Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honour of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honour of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honour of the Lord and give thanks to God.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.'
So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

GOSPEL
Matthew 18.21­35

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Peter came and said to Jesus, 'Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?'
Jesus said to him, 'Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made.
So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything." And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.
But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, "Pay what you owe."
Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you." But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
Then his lord summoned him and said to him, "You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?"
And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt.
So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.'

POST COMMUNION

Almighty God, you have taught us - through your Son - that love is the fulfilling of the law: grant that we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbours as ourselves;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Evensong Readings:

Psalm 119.41-64

41. Let thy loving mercy come also unto me O Lord : even thy salvation according unto thy word.
42. So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers : for my trust is in thy word.
43. O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth : for my hope is in thy judgements.
44. So shall I alway keep thy law : yea for ever and ever.
45. And I will walk at liberty : for I seek thy commandments.
46. I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings : and will not be ashamed.
47. And my delight shall be in thy commandments : which I have loved.
48. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments which I have loved : and my study shall be in thy statutes.
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49. O think upon thy servant as concerning thy word : wherein thou hast caused me to put my trust.
50. The same is my comfort in my trouble : for thy word hath quickened me.
51. The proud have had me exceedingly in derision : yet have I not shrinkèd from thy law.
52. For I remembered thine everlasting judgements O Lord : and recievèd comfort.
53. I am horribly afraid : for the ungodly that forsake thy law.
54. Thy statutes have been my songs : in the house of my pilgrimage.
55. I have thought upon thy Name O Lord in the nightseason : and have kept thy law.
56. This I had : because I kept thy commandments.
________________
57. Thou art my portion O Lord : I have promised to keep thy law.
58. I made my humble petition in thy presence with my whole heart : O be merciful unto me according to thy word.
59. I called mine own ways to remembrance : and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60. I made haste and prolonged not the time : to keep thy commandments.
61. The congregations of the ungodly have robbed me : but I have not forgotten thy law.
62. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee : because of thy righteous judgements.
63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee : and keep thy commandments.
64. The earth O Lord is full of thy mercy : O teach me thy statutes.

Ezekiel: 20.1-8,33-44 (RSV)

1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
2 And the word of the LORD came to me:
3 "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then let them know the abominations of their fathers,
5 and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the seed of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God.
6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.
7 And I said to them, Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.
8 But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not every man cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. "Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
33 "As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.
34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;
35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgement with you face to face.
36 As I entered into judgement with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgement with you, says the Lord GOD.
37 I will make you pass under the rod, and I will let you go in by number.
38 I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
39 "As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols.
40 "For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, says the Lord GOD, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land; there I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings.
41 As a pleasing odour I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.
42 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country which I swore to give to your fathers.
43 And there you shall remember your ways and all the doings with which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed.
44 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, says the Lord GOD."

Acts: 20.17-38 (RSV)

17 And from Miletus Paul sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
18 And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews;
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there;
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom will see my face no more.
26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,
27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
28 Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me.
35 In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
36 And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
37 And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him to the ship.

Hymns: (NEH)

337 (office hymn)
As pants the heart for cooling streams

243 (hymn directly before the sermon)
At even when the sun was set...

331 (hymn directly after the sermon)
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

Reuben's Theme: "What 'Rite' have you got?"

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

In the first reading, from the book of Exodus, this morning we heard Chris Tradgett telling us about the people of Israel, hemmed in between the mountains and the sea, with Pharaoh's armies closing in on them.

In an extreme test of their faith, the LORD saved them, giving them a straight, and safe, path through the chaotic waters of the sea and destroying Pharaoh's entire army, in those same waters of chaos, because they had no straight path to follow.

Then, in our psalm, Chris Enticnap sang recalling God's marvels on Israel's behalf at the time of the exodus.

James Tradgett read to us about how Paul told the Christians in Rome, as well as the Christians in Cullercoats, that although there are some matters of conscience and procedure over which Christians will disagree, we must not try to force agreement - for that will only create division.

And in the gospel reading, Rolland read to us about how Jesus told us that unlimited forgiveness is expected from those whom God has forgiven.

So, with all that still echoing in our memories, what have we heard tonight?

God speaks to us through our Bible readings.

What is God telling us today?... Here?... Now?

It's about July or August, the year is 591 BC and Ezekiel is making certain that we know that what he is writing about - is historical fact.

From the time in Egypt and the wilderness, right down to Ezekiel's own day, Israel's history had been a repetitive cycle of disagreements and rebellions against God.

All along, God held back from destroying the nation of Israel, but now he will deal with the rebels, saying...

"I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD."

It seems like even for God there is a final straw.

So, when we heard the passage from the Acts of the Apostles tonight, it is important to know that it is not only - the only address to Christians in Acts, but the only recorded address by Paul (which Luke actually heard him say).

Paul foresaw, so clearly, the troubles the Church would face, from inside and out.

There were serious problems in Asia, quite apart from the riot at Ephesus (and that's another story) and Paul was terribly worried about the unity of the Church.

Called by God to go to Jerusalem, where he does not know, in his words, "what shall befall me there; except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me."

Paul knows that he will inevitably lose his freedom, and feels he is running out for him.

He was worried that differences in opinion, on things that seem to matter so much to individual Christians...
Differences in opinion on ritual, procedure, worship and even the membership & leaders of the Church...
Differences in opinion about things that seem so important on a personal level yet are nothing to do with our faith in Jesus or the Church's mission in the world...

Paul was worried that these differences would cause rifts in Christian communities and fragment the Christian Church.

Guess what?

He was right!

There are so many denominations of the Christian faith today, I've lost count!

Within the relatively safe confines of our own Church of England we have disagreements about procedure, daily ritual, worship and church law.
I have seen serious arguments about what order candles at the high altar should be lit and extinguished.
I have even seen Christian communities split and become advisories over such insignificant issues as what type of human being can become a priest!
As Paul says, "Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.
Those who observe the day, observe it in honour of the Lord.
Also those who eat, eat in honour of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honour of the Lord and give thanks to God.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.
If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister?
Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister?
For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God."

and tonight...

Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

So...

We must be careful that we don't get pulled down by the waters of chaos, like Pharaohs armies, to an everlasting death caused by arguments over earthly things that really do not matter.

We must bring ourselves closer to God.

With that unlimited forgiveness, that Jesus told us we must nourish in our hearts, we must accept all true Christians for what, and who, they are...

No matter how they observe holy days...

No matter how or where they worship God...

No matter who they ordain as priests or deacons.

The closer we get to Jesus... The closer we get to God...

all these earthly things will become insignificant and unimportant next to the Glory of God.

"And there you shall remember your ways and all the doings with which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed."

We must fully accept all our Christian brothers and sisters who have true faith, no matter what denomination they are, or what rituals of worship and daily life they follow.

The only laws and commandments that really count are God's laws and commandments.

We must discern which laws and commandments are made by God and which are made by man.

The ten commandments, given to Moses, were written in stone, that is - written for all time.

Other laws like those found in books like Deuteronomy and Liviticus were not.

The teachings and the new commandment given to us in the Gospels came directly from the mouth of God incarnate - Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour...

...all others are man-made.

So, if we want to reverse the vast problems within the Christian Church that frightened Paul so much...

Rather than stumbling 'forward in faith'...

...we must go 'Back to Jesus'...

To the root of all Divine Teaching...

God made flesh...

Jesus the LORD!

Keep what earthly procedures and ritual you feel important in your own heart, but accept those Christians who differ from you and who's procedures and ritual are important in their own hearts.

As it says in tonight's psalm, verse 63, "I am a companion of all them that fear THEE : and keep THY commandments."

The day we can do that... ...while accepting all other Christians with all their procedures and rituals... ...is the day we abide with God.

The day we can do that... ...while accepting all other Christians with all their procedures and rituals...

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.