Sermon for the Third Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday 23rd January 2005

Preached by Rev Brian Parker

Pieces

There’s a very creative television advertisement running at the moment. The visual impact is dramatic and absolutely enthralling. It’s such good entertainment you tend to get caught up in the drama so much so that you fail to get the name of the product! Suffice to say it’s a car!

The action starts with a short, sharp shot of a gleaming, perfect car. Suddenly it explodes into thousands of pieces. The pieces curl up into the air. It all happens in what looks like downtown New York. The flying pieces are reflected in the glass structures of the skyscrapers.

Very occasionally as the pieces begin to fall some come together – only for a second – to form a section of the car – then break up again.

It all happens in a matrix of shadows that cut across flashes of light. In black and white it’s a compelling, fascinating series of images. Throughout there is an expectancy that it will all come together eventually. And it does. Suddenly the pieces gel – and there it is – the perfect, prestige car in pristine condition, every part in place, looking very good.


In his letter to the troublesome, divided Church in Corinth Paul makes an impassioned appeal for them to gel- to live together in peace.

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought”.

Well, in the light of Church history his plea comes across now as wishful thinking. The pieces of the Church have been flying in all directions around the globe for centuries. We might well rush to judgement and conclude that divisions seem inevitable. It’s how human beings get on. It’s the way people are, the way it is.

But asks Paul –“Is Christ divided?” The rhetorical question reminds us that all the pieces are part of the Church universal.

In for example the Anglican Communion, in Churches Together, in Christian Aid to name but three, we catch glimpses of this universal Church, united in purpose and faith. .
The Anglican Communion demonstrates this universality in its incisive and courageous witness against racial slavery, in facing down the evil of apartheid, in coming together with others to alleviate poverty, famine, disease, and not least in helping those who have suffered from the natural disaster in south east Asia.

And together various churches have established around the world centres of excellence for theological education and social development. Such work co-operative initiatives are giving people a chance, not only to survive in places like southern Sudan, but also to prosper.

Bishop Harold Miller, for example is just back from Sudan where he opened a new theological college.

Pieces coming together – giving us a glimpse of that cohesion and common purpose that Paul was so earnest about.

However more often than not we see only pieces, flying apart, even in disarray.

“Come follow me”, said Jesus and not long after the disciples are arguing and divided over who will be the greatest. This divisive tendency runs like a fault line through the Church and in society.

The world unites in a spirit of compassion for the tsunami victims. But soon groups start competing over who can do the best job. They begin arguing over who needs what and which charity deserves the most support.

Paul addresses this reality in human society.

He sees the factions. Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ are all named as representative of the divisions. In truth none of these names were divided against each other. They were names of convenience, simply used to reinforce factional identities.

The reality is that people take up positions, begin power broking, grasping for recognition, flying off on ego trips and consequently present a picture of a Church in pieces.

So we see liberals attempting to turn liberty into licence. Christianity interpreted as an excuse to do what you like - saved but free to sin.

Philosophers with an eloquent turn of phrase finding meanings that do not exist, turning Christianity into a philosophy rather than a religion.

Legalists asserting what is right and going by the letter of their own ideas – magnifying their opinion, belittling grace.

Purists claiming sole possession of the truth and acting as if Christ belonged to them alone – intolerant and self-righteous.

Paul recognised all these factions in his day and still today the Church struggles to find reconciliation and promote a greater tolerance and patience. The pieces are still in the air but is Christ divided?

The Body of Christ is not dependent on the whims or the moods or the ambitions of selfish cliques. The unity of the Church is Christ, the authority of the Church is Christ, and the mission of the Church is Christ.

“Your faith” said Paul, “does not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power”.

Neatly packaged dogmas, glib propositions, frenzied assertions – all such things may be manipulative, even persuasive but they have no fibre. As one theologian put it, “Even in producing striking results, men’s wisdom, cannot bear the weight of the Cross”.

“I appeal to you brothers”. That appeal still stands. In our pilgrim faith the imperative is to keep striving and to keep seeking the will of God.

“Come follow me”. Jesus the Living Word is neither a static source of information, nor an impatient giver of orders but rather the very bond of our life together in the Spirit

George Herbert captures the way of the Spirit, the way of the Living Word. In his poem ‘Love’ he writes:

“Love bade me welcome….Love drew nearer to me, questioning if I lacked anything….Love took my hand.”

In all our piecemeal failures Love takes the initiative. Love binds us together.

I remember a civil servant who was constantly frustrated at his failure to persuade various community groups and agencies to work together and to agree on a common goal.

He said: “It’s like trying to get butterflies to fly in formation”.

We all understand what he meant. But when you think of it butterflies flying in formation just doesn’t seem right. Butterflies are just not made to do that. Better surely that they fly in a rich diversity of flight and purpose.

Perhaps the Church is like that – a diversity of members but all caught up in the fresh wind of the Spirit.

Diverse yet ‘being perfectly united in mind and thought’ before the Cross, around the Lord’s Table, in the hands of a loving, patient God. Pieces together at peace with their Lord.

Amen