Preached as a sermon at
Croydon Minster, Sunday 18 July 2021. Gospel reading mark 6.30-34, 53-end.
‘The
apostles returned from their mission. They gathered around Jesus, and told him
all that they had done and taught’
+
In
the verses before the passage in St Mark’s gospel that we have just heard, the
disciples have been sent out by Jesus to begin to collaborate in the work he
was already doing.
He
sent them out: but he sent them with practically nothing to live on – no bread,
no bag, no money in their belts. Oh, but they were allowed a staff, and some
sandals.
They
were learning utter dependence on him. They were learning that to be a disciple
– literally, one who learns by following – one must also be an apostle -
literally, one who is sent.
What
Jesus did give them was authority. Authority to speak and act in his name, to
be bearers of life that would triumph over death and distress.
Earlier
in this chapter we heard that ‘they went out and proclaimed that all should
repent. They cast out demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured
them’. (Mark 6.13)
So
when we heard ‘they gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done
and taught’ .That’s what they had returned to tell him.
The
ones who were sent – apostles – came to report back, and they reverted to being
disciples – learners. And Jesus taught both by teaching and instructing, but
also by sending. And when they returned they recounted what they had learnt and
reflected on it. And they came to rest.
How
often in life do we find that we learn more when we have some basic
instructions and then get out there and put it into practice. All the better
when we know the Master is ready to scoop us up, and help us learn better next
time.
It’s
often said that learning to drive takes place after you’ve passed your test.
And learning to swim does not happen on the poolside but in the water.
So
often the learning is in the doing, and, importantly, in the reflecting on what
we have done. That’s why Jesus took them to a solitary place, to pray, ponder,
reflect.
That’s
how Jesus teaches us now through his church. Christians are active, praying
learners; always disciples always apostles, by virtue of being baptised.
As
the baptised Jesus invites us to participate in his mission, which is the
Father’s mission, the Missio Dei as
it’s known.
In
the Eucharist we come first to adore God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are
taught through the scriptures, through preaching; we rest in Christ in prayer;
we are fed at the table he spreads before us, and we are sent.
All
this is being wrapped up in the life of Christ, and it is the Church’s mission.
The
word ‘mission’ means ‘to be sent’. So the mission of the church is lived out in
every disciple , and every disciple is sent out as an apostle.
That’s
why we will say in the Creed, I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church’. And we acknowledge
that the Church is inspired, led and guided by the Holy Spirit.
‘Go
in the peace of Christ’: that ends each Eucharist where, as disciples, learners
and growers, we have been intimately with Jesus Christ and now are sent as
apostles, bearers of Christ’s message of life in all its abundance.
No
Christian disciple is exempt from being an apostle, one who is sent. Hence, Go
in peace.
Whether
you’ve been a Christian for 1 year or 80 years you are sent to be Christ to the
world, whether that’s at home, at school, at work, in business or even on Zoom.
You
learn and grow as a Christian by being a Christian.
So
make your first questions at the beginning of each day, as a disciple and
apostle, these:
How may I show
the love of Christ today?
How may I
honour Christ in all I think and speak and do today?
However
trivial, worthless, boring, exasperating or frustrating you may see your life
or tasks this week, you can still ask those questions: you can be Christ to the
world.
How may I show
the love of Christ today?
How may I
honour Christ in all I think and speak and do today?
Then
cherish what you find.
No comments:
Post a Comment