What can I bring him, poor as I am?
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A sermon preached Readings: Jeremiah
31:31-34 and Mt 2:1-12 |
Mt 2:11 “…They offered him gifts, gold and
frankincense and myrrh”
The Mint Walk
As
you drink your coffee after the service, do look at the picture gallery depicting
the latest exploits of the Mint Walking group.
About
35 of us went walking on New Year’s Day.
Thanks
to Rosemary for organizing the day – though I don’t think she can be held
responsible for the typically English holiday weather -
Pouring
rain overhead, and mud underfoot – what more could you want?
As
we came into the last stretch, sliding over the slippery stile, splashing
through the raging ford –
there suddenly,
just as we were about to come bedraggled in sight of home,
there above us -
a clear rainbow etched against the steel grey of the sky.
The sun shining through the rain.
Noah
And
so of course it was – in the old Hebrew myth -
that there came the greatest of all floods -
beyond Michael Fish’s wildest imaginings.
And
as the flood subsided,
Noah looked up and saw what we saw - the rainbow in the sky –
and suddenly he knew that God’s promise was true –
that though the rains might fall and the floods rise,
ultimately the sun would always shine through the rain,
and the light and love of God would prevail.
And
so, as Noah steps onto dry land,
for the first time in the Bible Story
God and his people make a covenant –
·
On his side God promises (unconditionally) to love and care for his
people –
never again to destroy, but to send the sun…
·
On the human side, Noah is called to be a steward of creation and to
care for humanity.
And
so in our day and age we gather
in the midst of our very minor floods -
and like Noah and Abraham and Moses before us,
as Methodists we make our new year covenant with God –
I
wonder how you feel about the new year of 2003?
Do you welcome it or fear what it may bring?
Well
if you start this year in anxious mode, remember the rainbow.
Remember
that however hard it rains,
God has given you the rainbow –
to remind you that there is always a homecoming,
always a safe haven, at the end of your journey,
always sun through the rain.
This
is the good news of the Covenant –
it is a two sided deal – but really a very uneven one –
God
gives his all before he even asks what we will give in return.
And
at the end of the Christmas season
we remember that God comes to us –
not as a contract lawyer scrutinising the small print,
but as a baby.
God
gives us his love – with no strings.
Epiphany
Tomorrow
is Jan 6th - the Feast of Epiphany -
when we traditionally think of the Wise Men.
Thanks
to Celia for singing our Epiphany Carol so beautifully.
And
here at our annual covenant renewal service
like the wise men of old
we thank God for all he has given us
and offer in return our gifts.
AND
WHAT GIFTS DO WE BRING???
Fire helmets
Amongst the many gifts presented to the people of New York
in the months following Sept 11
was a nativity scene from craftsmen in the Italian city of Naples.
The piece weighed one-ton.
This nativity’s Three Kings held in their hands
not gold, frankincense and myrrh.
but New York firefighter
helmets
And what do we bring? –
Everyone’s gift is different,
But may each one symbolize our commitment to share in his work –
·
of saving the lost,
·
healing the broken hearted
·
bringing light into
darkness.
And as 2003 unfolds, I pray that we will each and every one of us find day after
day ways of giving to God.
There are so many ways that could be – just
look about you
·
Look at this building and think of all our plans to develop our premises and work here in
the coming year – the time and talents and money and prayer we need to realize
our vision.
·
Look at the people sat around you – your brothers and sisters – do you share their joys
and sorrows? Of such is the Body of Christ
·
Look at the nearest
empty seat to yours – who might be sitting there? Is that God’s challenge to you this year to
find and encourage and welcome a new member of our congregation?
·
Look at the candle for Graham Shaw in Zimbabwe– he needs our prayers and our practical
support.
·
Look at the self denial
envelope you received today – a chance for you
to bring gold to the manger – gold to be spent on the poor and needy of the
world
·
Look at yourself. Are you a member of the
Methodist Church? Maybe 2003 will be
the year you make that commitment for the first time (or if you are already a
member, reassess what it means for you).
And so I could go on….
Gold, frankincense ,
myrrh and fire helmets –
we all have our gifts –
please pray about what God wants you
to bring to the stable door.
Hands of
Christ
You maybe know this story.
I can’t reference it, and it may or may not be true – but as often,
true or not, it makes a good point.
The story is of the statue in one of our Cathedral
cities –
a statue of Christ with arms outstretched, and with the inscription
below: “Come unto me”
During the 2nd World War the statue was
shattered in a bombing raid.
So the story goes, after the war the statue was
painstakingly restored
They were able to repair all the damage to the
statue except for Christ's hands which had been completely destroyed.
Should they even attempt to rebuild these?
Finally, the workers reached a decision that still
stands today.
They decided to leave without any hands, but they changed the inscription to read: "Christ has no hands but ours."
Teresa of Avila
The phrase comes from a prayer of St. Teresa of
Avila.
Lord Christ,
You have no body on earth but ours,
No hands but ours,
No feet but ours.
Ours are the eyes through which your
compassion
Must look out on the world.
Ours are the feet by which you may still
Go about doing good.
Ours are the hands with which
You bless people now.
Bless our minds and bodies,
That we may be a blessing to others.
WHAT HAS
CHRIST GIVEN US? –
His hands stretched upon a cross of
love.
AND WHAT DO
WE BRING TO HIM?
Our hands that his
work may go on through us.
That is our privilege and responsibility.
And if we have no gold, no frankincense, no
myrrh, no fireman’s helmet, nothing –
If are hands are empty –
Well, Christ says –
I need your hands and
empty hands are themselves a great
gift.
SO WE PREPARE TO RENEW OUR COVENANT.
And like the wise men of old, we come
to Christ,
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a
lamb.
If I were a
wise man I would play my part -
Yet what I can I give him -
Give my heart.