Fr John's sermon

Matthew 10.24-39

Jesus summoned the twelve and sent them out with the following instruction: 24‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

26So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. 30And even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

32Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

34Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. 37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’

Dulverton Sermon

I am torn in two today - ought I to speak of the anniversary just celebrated or do I speak about the readings? Perhaps they are not opposites. So let's start with Jeremiah.

The prophet was imprisoned in the stocks for saying that their city would be destroyed because of the people's disobedience. It is a very real picture that emerges - Jeremiah the hapless prophet in the stocks with the sneering priests and the coarse jests of the crowd - he wonders whether God has led him up the garden path - he won't speak, but yet the word of God is burning like a fire imprisoned in his heart. BUT "the Lord is with me...and they will not prevail".

In the second reading St Paul reminded the Christians in Rome - and so us - that just as Christ has conquered so shall we - "for if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

So we come to today's gospel which is a continuation of last Sunday's commissioning and sending of the Lord's twelve apostles. I wonder if Our Lord had Jeremiah in mind when He gave this commissioning to the Twelve? - "nothing hidden will not be made known....fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.....you are worth more than any number of sparrows....I have not come to bring peace but a sword....whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me....whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me".

Jeremiah had to face the hatred of the local establishment because he spoke the Word of God. For doing the same Our Lord was crucified. Have we nothing to say to those who by-pass the Gospel and the Church as if they are quite irrelevant? Have we nothing to say when the government, with good intentions no doubt, is prepared to take away our freedoms? Do we protest when local authorities talk about Yuletide instead of Christmas? We could go on.

Jesus said "I have not come to bring peace but a sword". In most places the Faith was not accepted without a struggle - kingdoms and families were divided. In His commissioning of the Apostles Our Lord said "whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me". These sayings about taking up the cross should be most disturbing to Christian folk - for while we are in the world we are not of the world, we just cannot follow fashion and live and act as others do. Our loyalty is elsewhere.

This, I believe, is true of every priest in the Church of God. "A disciple is not above the teacher...it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher." Everyone, priest included, is called to be like the teacher, Jesus Christ. We fail very often - I am always grateful that Our Lord has left power in His Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent - the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession, as we used to say, is a great boon.

The priest has to try, try and try again to be like His Lord, so he carries on his heart his people to the Lord God, as we believe Jesus is doing now in Heaven. The priestly life of the whole Church and that of the individual priest, is one of offering - of sacrifice, I believe. And so, I have always believed and felt the need to offer the Eucharist frquently and to be present at other times. It is always a tremendous privilege to be God's priest - I ask pardon for the many times I have failed and I thank Him that He has allowed me to be one of His priests for 65 years - to preach the Gospel, to Absolve, to Bless and to celebrate the Sacrament.