Reuben's Theme: "To be a Christian"

(Trinity 5) - Mattins 1115hrs. at Saint George's - Cullercoats.
Sunday, 12th. March 2006 Anno Domini.
Morning Prayer: Genesis: 17.1-7, 15-16 Ps: 22.23-end Romans: 4.13-end Mark: 8.31-end.

July 16, 2006 Cycle B Trinity 5.

COLLECT

Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer
for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Reuben's Theme: "To be a Christian..."

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

When preachers preach, they are supposed to preach their sermon covering topics raised by any, or all, of the readings in the service.

So, what have we got for morning prayer on this, the fifth Sunday after Trinity?

The "Battle of Jericho"

and

Saint Paul trying to explain, in his usual complex and sometimes long-winded way, his mission - and God's purpose, to the Christians at Ephesus.

We also had a psalm, the one set for morning prayer for today, psalm 30 - a thanksgiving for a new lease of life.

How do we make sense out of that mishmash of Christian liturgy?

It's not easy being a preacher!!

Let's first look at the battle of Jericho:

When Joshua reaches Jericho he discovers that God is on his side.
As described in the wonderful biblical metaphor's that we find in the historical books of the Old Testament he looks up and sees a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua goes to him and says, "Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?"
The man replies, "Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come."
And Joshua falls on his face to the earth worshipping God, and he says to him, "What do you command your servant, my lord?"
Joshua now knows that the conquest of Canaan is a Holy war and God was on his side.

It's important to remember that this was all set almost three and a half thousand years ago.
A time when death destruction and survival was bound by very different moral standards than those of today.
Everything must always be put into context.
What was right then...
...what was necessary to survive then...
...was very different from what mankind has evolved to today...
...despite the wicked antics of certain ungodly world powers I could mention.

The Battle of Jericho was a war of nerves for the men of Jericho;
day after day the encircling troops...
...the trumpet blasts...
...the silent army...
...building up to the great climax of the seventh day when their silence ended with one great united shout!

The walls fell and Jericho was taken.

In the part of Paul's letter to the Ephesians that we heard today, we heard the message of how before Christ came, God's promise had been largely confined to the Jews.

God's purpose for the world had remained a secret.
But now that Paul had been called to take the message of salvation to all the peoples of the world, a new phase of God's plan is revealed.

As all the peoples, of all the nations, are brought together in Jesus Christ, they demonstrate God's power and wisdom.

The scope of God's purpose is breathtaking.

In the light of it, Paul could keep his own problems in perspective...

...and so can we.

The sheer joy of knowing, for certain, that there is a solution to the world's problems.

The intoxicating happiness of knowing, for certain, that there is hope for all mankind.

The pure delight of knowing, for certain, that God's plan, revealed to us through Jesus Christ, can be acomplished on this fragile little planet of ours.

God's plan...
...to unite all the peoples, of all the nations, in peace.

The end to all wars and conflict.

The coming of the Kingdom.

Just knowing that all this is possible...
...and all that is needed, is for us to make it happen...
...by spreading the Christian message.

Not by fighting wars but by being united in the body of Christ.

A united faith.

A united people.

From all the nations of the world.

Christians working together.

Just as Joshua's people were united as they joined in that great shout...
...all Christians of all nations must unite to give a great shout.

A shout against all the wickedness in this world today.

A shout proclaiming our unity...
...because we are the body of Christ.

It's up to us...   ...all of us.

And united, we can do it.

And with the knowledge of that, all our personal problems just melt into insignificance.

As I said earlier, the psalm that was read today, is a thanksgiving for a new lease of life.

You have turned my wailing into dancing; you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy;
Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
You have made me, Lord, as strong as the mountains.

We are as strong as the mountains when we are united in Christ.

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