The Most Important Word

Today we are beginning the season of Advent in which we Christians prepare for the birth of the Christ Child.  The question I have for you today is, “what is the most important word in this season of the coming of the Christ Child to be with us?”  Any guesses?  Of course there are lots of possible answers - Love? Mission? God? Sin? Mercy?  Which one is the one that resonates with you?

Well, if you look at the opening verse of the Gospel of John we have the answer, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God”.  The Word was with God.  The most important word in the bible is ‘with’.  This idea doesn’t originate with me.  For this idea I must credit Samuel Wells, a theologian from Duke University and a priest currently working in England. 

I came across the question and answer in an article by Sara Miles on the web site Episcopal Café.  She notes that the idea of the Word being with God is based on the foundation of the Trinity.  ‘The Trinity is, at heart, about ‘with’: about what Christians call “perichoresis.” This is the dance in which Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one being, existing through their mutual relationship. And God is always gathering all humanity into that undivided relationship, bringing us all into life with God.  The Anglican worship service opens with, ‘The Lord be with you’.  The response is,…. ‘and also with you’.  That is the hope and promise that we Christians have.  It was promised to us by Jesus – staying with John’s Gospel, Jesus tells us, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever” (John 14:16). 

What then does it mean to be with another person?  We are all on the journey to be reunited with the source of life when our time on this earth has run its course.  Part of the answer is to not come to someone with expectations about them.  This came home to me for the first time most clearly when I was doing my unit of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) during my seminary training.  I was doing it in a hospital, and my assignment divided my time between a General Medicine Ward and a ward for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  I had – shall we say – quite a difficult making cold calls in the General Medicine ward.  I knew I was there to help the patient – probably whether they wanted help or not.  I was sure I probably wouldn’t say the right thing or do the right thing. 

The Alzheimer’s ward was an entirely different situation.  I arrived there not knowing who I would be or where I would be.  I might be someone’s father, brother, son or just a friend.  I might be sitting by a riverbank or in someone’s home.  It could be a year ago or five years ago or fifty.  All I had to do was show up and be with that person and be whomever they saw me to be.  I was able to let go and let God – sorry for the cliché - I couldn’t resist.  In any case, with the Alzheimer’s ward, I was able to be with the other person and let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

Above all we need to learn to truly be with each other and to enable God to be with us more fully in that journey.  The Lord be with you. 

 

You’ve Gotta Serve Somebody

Lorna and I watched the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday.  It was pageantry, pomp and circumstance that was overflowing with symbols and myth and legend.  There was much you could take from what is probably a once in a lifetime event for most – I was around for the Coronation of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, but I do not remember being aware that it was happening or much else – being four years old at the time.  My parents were not what you would call monarchists by any stretch of the imagination. 

Through all the pomp, circumstance, ceremony and liturgy – Anglican worship at its highest and perhaps best – depending on your view of liturgy, what came through loud and clear for me was the theme of service – of serving and not being served.  If the Coronation had taken a popular turn the theme song might have been, Gotta Serve Somebody by Bob Dylan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC10VWDTzmU – no, I’m not really serious. 

The theme of service was there right from the beginning, when a boy chorister welcomed the King.  The King responds with the declaration he has come not to be served but to serve:

Young Person (Chapel Royal chorister): Your Majesty, as children of the Kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of Kings.

The King: In his name, and after his example, I come not to be served but to serve.

This was followed by the Greeting by the Archbishop of Canterbury:

Dearly beloved, we are gathered to offer worship and praise to Almighty God; to celebrate the life of our nations; to pray for Charles, our King; to recognise and to give thanks for his life of service to this nation, to the realms, and to the Commonwealth; and to witness with joy his crowning and anointing, as he is set apart and consecrated for the service of his people. Let us dedicate ourselves alike, in body, mind, and spirit, to a renewed faith, a joyful hope, and a commitment to serve one another in love.

Then followed the Recognition:

Archbishop of Canterbury: I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service: are you willing to do the same?

The King’s Prayer continued with this theme:

God of compassion and mercy whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth.

 The sermon, preached by the Archbishop of Canterbury, was Surprizingly brief - even for an Anglican sermon continued the theme of service, “Each of us is called by God to serve. Whatever that looks like in our own lives, each of us can choose God’s way today.”

The Presentation of Regalia by the Archbishop of Canterbury again stressed service:

Receive this kingly Sword. May it be to you, and to all who witness these things, a sign and symbol not of judgement, but of justice; not of might, but of mercy. Trust always in the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, and so faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ in this life, that you may reign for ever with him in the life which is to come. Amen.

Service was also part of the Eucharistic Prayer:

Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord; he may be the Defender of thy Faith and the Protector of thy people; that, with him, we may learn the ways of service, compassion, and love,

The final Blessing by the Archbishop of Canterbury ended with a blessing for all whom each of us serve:

Our help is in the Name of the Lord; Who hath made heaven and earth. Blessed be the Name of the Lord; Now and henceforth, world without end. Christ our King, make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign with him in glory; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rest upon you, and all whom you serve, this day, and all your days. Amen.

The King is called to a life a service as we are all called to serve and not to be served.  If we could live out this calling, this world would be an even more wonderful place.   

May you be blessed to serve on you journey.