From the four winds

Gospel
Mk 13:24-32

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In those days after that tribulation
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

"And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds'
with great power and glory,
and then he will send out the angels
and gather his elect from the four winds,
from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves,
you know that summer is near.
In the same way, when you see these things happening,
know that he is near, at the gates.
Amen, I say to you,
this generation will not pass away
until all these things have taken place.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.

"But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Sermon at St Martin-on-the-hill, Scarborough

From the four winds

“He will gather his chosen from the four winds” (Mark 13.24-32)

Last Wednesday we celebrated the patronal festival of this church on the feast day of St Martin of Tours. The choice of the patron saint was prompted by the Christian name of the father of the chief benefactor, Miss West. She occupied the only reserved seat in the church but the first service was delayed by the parish priest until there was agreement that all other seats in the church should be free and available for anyone who attended worship. The population of Scarborough had begun to expand across the Valley Bridge and this new church and parish were required. It was also decided that the churchmanship here should compliment the more evangelical position of St Mary’s on Castle Hill. It would be a sad day if the Church of England decided to become less inclusive by making it impossible for traditional anglo-catholics to remain with integrity in their spiritual home. The Church of England is meant to be for all Christian citizens not committed to other churches or faiths. This is part of what we mean by the catholicity of the church.

Also during this past week the Vatican has published the promised ‘Apostolic Constitution’ offering Anglicans an esteemed place in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of Western Christendom. This is most positive development in the cause of Christian unity enabling Anglicans to become ‘included but not absorbed’ in the wider church. This phrase derives from the prophetic Malines Conversations so recently celebrated at a great ecumenical service in York Minster whilst the holy relics of St Therese of Lisieux were resting there. I know that the ‘Apostolic Constitution’ is seen as an answer to the prayers of groups of Catholic Anglicans, around the world, who fear that they may no longer be able to stay within the Church of England, or the Anglican Communion, with integrity but dare we not hope that through this initiative the Holy Spirit is opening a way forward in unity for the whole Anglican Christian family?

Returning to today’s gospel the context is our Lord, as He comes towards the climax and conclusion of His incarnate life, pointing his disciples to what my Bible calls ‘The Last Act of the Drama’. St Mark leaves us in no doubt that in the end days the Lord will return to earth to wrap up human history and gather into His Kingdom “his chosen from the four winds”. The all important question that remains for us is ‘who are His chosen?’ and ‘are we among them?’. It was St Bernard of Clairvaux who spoke of three comings of Christ: at the Incarnation, at the end of time, and when he enters by faith into the hearts of his own. They who know him personally and inwardly, they are his chosen, and the sacramental unity of His Body, the Church, is vitally important if we are to receive the assurance that we are counted among their number by belonging and being spiritually sustained there.

Come to the altar, open your heart, and let Him come to you – for now, for tomorrow, for always.