“ephphatha”

A sermon preached at the Mint Methodist Church, Exeter, by the Minister, Rev Andrew Sails at 10.30 a.m. on 7^thSeptember 2003, on the occasion of the baptism and confirmation of Chris Arya Readings 1 Cor 12:7-13, Mark 7:31-37 Back to Sermon Index

Mk 7:34 “Ephphatha”

All baptised by one Spirit into one body

It has been a real joy for us in recent months to welcome Naeem
as a member of our congregation here at the Mint.

For those of you who don’t know,
Naeem grew up as a Muslim in Afghanistan.
It was whilst working in Pakistan
that he was first introduced to the Christian Church.
From then on hie and his family were perseuted.
Returning finally to Afghanistan, his wife was murdered,
and Naeem had to flee to Britain as an asylum seeker.

Naeem – we feel for you in your troubles -
but we are delighted you made it to this country,
and that today you come for baptism
and reception into membership of the Christian Church.

Naeem, you have asked to be baptised with a new Christian name –
by which from now on you will be known.

You have chosen to be called Chris -
we will thus baptize you with the name Christopher,
and from now on –
as Saul became Paul and Simon became Peter,
so we will no longer call you Naeem but Chris.

Christopher means “One who carries Christ in his heart” –
it is a good name for someone giving their life to serve Christ.

But I know you have actually asked that we call you “Chris” –
partly because it is a few less English syllables to get your tongue around –
but chiefly because you wanted to take the name of Christ himself -
What better way could there be of declaring your allegience -
and from now on we will call you by Christ’s name –

No longer Naeem but Chris.

Chris, you have chosen our first reading today –
because these verses were some of the first ones which prompted you
on the journey from Islam to Christianity. -
especially 1 Cor 12 v.13:

“For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body--
whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--
and we were all given the one Spirit to drink”

And it is true – in Christ there is no east or west,
no preferred nation or language.
We are together accepted equally as God’s children.

As we approach the 2^nd Anniversary of Sept 11,
we recall how relations between Britain and Afghanistan
have often been difficult.

But I wonder – do you know which politician said this?

“Remember that the sanctity of life
in the hill villages of Afghanistan,
among the winter snows,
is as inviolable in the eye of Almighty God
as can be your own"

Any ideas? Claire Short, Robin Cooke?

It was William Gladstone in a speech during the 2nd Afghan War, in 1879

And it is as true now as it was then -
every human being
whether English folk speaking Devonian,
or Afghans speaking Persian,
are equally loved by God
as he speaks his words of love and grace to us all.

And so Chris, today we claim for you your place in God’s family,
We thank God that you have heard God’s call and now come to be baptized.

A Deaf Man Healed

Today’s Gospel Reading is about a deaf man who is healed by Jesus,
so that he can hear and speak.

God speaks to us all – but so often so many of us do not hear –
we suffer from spiritual deafness.

I’ve quoted before that passage in GB Shaw’s “St Joan”,
the Dauphin asks Joan how God speaks to her.
She replies that he speaks through the bells.
The Dauphin says that is not fair –
"Oh, your voices, your voices.
Why don't the voices come to me? I am king, not you."
And Joan replies:
"They do come to you; but you do not hear them.
You have not sat in the field in the evening listening for them.
When the angelus rings
you cross yourself and have done with it;
but if you prayed from your heart,
and listened to the thrilling of the bells in the air
after they stop ringing,
you would hear the voices as well as I do."

We have to open our ears - 
 
We have to ask Christ into our lives –
So that he may do to us as he did to the deaf man in the story – 
Touch us and say the word “Ephphatha” which means “Be opened” – 
Then may he open our ears so that we can hear God’s word.
 
Today we thank God that Chris has heard the Gospel and responded!
And pray that we too may hear and respond.
 
Now my grandfather was pretty deaf.
He had a strange condition – 
he wore a hearing aid, but it only worked at a certain pitch or frequency of sound – 
some things he heard quite well, others not all -
for example, a simple phrase like “Come and help wash up” 
he just couldn’t hear at all.
 
We are all tempted to hear selectively.
But when Christ opens our ears, 
he will insist ion opening them to everything –
We hear God’s word of love for us – 
we also hear God’s word calling us to love others.
 
Today Chris receives his ticket of membership of the Methodist Church.
It speaks of God’s grace for all -
It also speaks of our responsibilities as members – 
not only to worship but to care and serve and speak. – 
responding to the cries of the needy.
 
That can be a daunting task.
 
Near the beginning of “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” 
a man comes to the village doctor complaining that he cannot hear – 
the doctor finds a dried pea stuck in his ear – 
it has been there for years. he takes out the pea, and the man is cured.
Later the man returns to the doctor – 
he has been overwhelmed with the sounds and hassle back home. 
Please would the doctor put the pea back in his ear?
 
Chris – we wish you God’s richest blessing in your new life in Christ.
 
May you always hear God’s voice 
speaking load and clear in your inner ear, 
and know yourself to be one of his beloved children
 
May you always hear the cries of the poor and needy
and serve them in Christ’s name – 
the name you are now to bear.
 
As you journey through this life, remember this – 
Even the richest joys of this life are but a foretaste of the joys of heaven.
Now we see in a mirror dimly – then we shall see face to face (1 Cor 13).
Now we hear but the dim echoes, but then we will hear with crystal clarity.
 
In his later years Beethoven went totally deaf.  
His physical hearing was quite gone – 
but he still heard and composed music with his inner ear.
And on his deathbed, Beethoven is reported to have said
“I will hear in heaven”
 
Let us rejoice as we hear the Gospel word.
Let us commit ourselves to hear and respond, 
both to the promise and demand of the Gospel.
And then let us look forward to that wonderful day 
when we will gather around the throne of heaven, 
with those of every race and every tongue – 
in love and harmony
and as the heavenly choir begins to sing,
then oh then, 
shall we hear such music as we have never heard before.

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