SERMON PREACHED BY FR NEVILLE CONNELL

LENT 2 SAN DIEGO 12^th MARCH 2006

Every Lent we tend to hear the same sorts of exhortations from the clergy:

Lent is a time for reflection, self-examination and preparation for the celebration of the great events of Holy Week and Easter. This is true, and if taken seriously can be a time for real honesty and self-knowledge. A time for new directions, not least those which are to us unappealing or threatening.

Think about Jesus’ disciples in our Gospel Reading for today. Jesus seems to have felt that they were ready to be told the real point of his mission,

‘the Son of Man….plainly’. This was not welcome news to St Peter at least.

‘And Peter...rebuke him.’. Rebuke is a strong word to use, and Jesus used it in response,’Get behind….of men’. St Peter reacted as he did because this was not according to Jewish tradition. The Messiah could not suffer. Hence

St Peter’s fear; and also Jesus’ inner fear, because St Peter by his reaction was tempting Jesus to turn away from his destiny.

Consider the testing of Abraham in our First Reading for today,’ God tested….tell you.’. Having called Abraham, God was now asking him to sacrifice the one who was more important than anything else on earth – his only son, Isaac. An underlying theme in this story is the fact of human sacrifice, part of life in those days, which may be part of the reason why Abraham seems to have responded so readily to God’s demand. Even so, this was tremendous test of Abraham’s faith.

We can see this story in two ways – as God’s way of saying that human sacrifice was no longer acceptable among his people, rather animal sacrifice was to be the norm from now on; but also, for Christians, a pattern for the life of Jesus. A loving father, an obedient son, a costly sacrifice, and the offering provided by God in his own way – for Abraham a ram; for us, the Son of God Himself.

No wonder the disciples, especially St Peter, found this overwhelming. But Jesus goes on,’ If any man

(and woman, we may assume)....save it.’ Jesus was talking about his own sacrifice, which was hard enough to comprehend, but now but now he has taken it further, and applied it to all those who follow him. The sacrifice of Isaac is not just a pattern for the Son of God, but for all his followers.

This is, as Dietrich Bonhoefer tells, the cost of discipleship. Any attempt to avoid this cost is what he calls a search for cheap grace. God, our Father, has made this crystal clear, even if we struggle to see it much of the time.

Quite simply, the way of suffering and death is God the Father’s way of bringing the world back to him.

Jesus’ death on the Cross tells us that the Father himself does not avoid this sacrifice. And in a Church such as our own, in my own country Australia, just as much as in this country, and in the whole Anglican Communion, the healing of our wounds will only be found in the way of the Cross. There can be no cheap grace in solving our problems.

And there can be no cheap grace in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus’ love in the world around us.

There is no short cut to life with Jesus. Yet we are so often tempted to accommodate the spirit of the age-think of Jesus in the wilderness, tempted to worship the Devil in order to have the world, save the world even. Of course he knows what we go through, so He says,’ For what....his life?’

Much of the time, the cost of discipleship means that we will be out of step with popular opinion, with workmates, neighbours, people in the Parish even. And that can be uncomfortable, sometimes painful.

Yet it is the only way for Christians, the way of Jesus, the way of sacrifice.

Few of us could face the cost of discipleship as St Paul did. He did indeed give up everything for Jesus, and suffered very much as a result. Yet he never lost his confidence in Jesus, even in the darkest moments. ‘If God is....with him’. Jesus could condemn us, instead he defends us, strengthens us. ‘It is God

....for us.’ We are loved!

We may not face ‘tribulation....the sword.’ Literally, but many Christians do, here and now, for their faith in Jesus. But we will be tempted, to fear, to compromise, to give in. And we will give in, sometimes, yes.

But what will keep us going in our own discipleship will be the love of Christ. ‘For I am…Jesus our Lord’.

+ + +Himself.

No wonder the disciples,certainly St Peter,found this possibility overwhelming. But Jesus goes on,

‘If any man,( and we may presume,woman)....save it’. Jesus was talking about his own sacrifice,yes,which was hard enough to comprehend;but now he has taken it further,and applied it to all those who follow him. The sacrifice of Isaac is a pattern not just for the Son of God,but for all his followers!

This is,as Dietrich Bonhoefer tells us,the cost of discipleship. Any attempt to avoid this cost is a search for what he also calls cheap grace. God,our loving Father,has made it crystal clear,even if we struggle to see it most of the time.

Quite simply,the way of suffering and death is God the Father’s way to bring the world back to Him. Jesus’ death on the Cross tells us that the Father Himself does not avoid this sacrifice. And in a Church such as our own,in my own country Australia just as much as in this country,and our whole Anglican

Communion,the healing of our wounds will only be found in the way of the Cross. Their can be no cheap grace in solving our problems.

And there can be no cheap grace in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus’ love in the world around us. There is no short cut to life with Jesus. Yet we are so often tempted to accommodate the spirit of the age – think of Jesus in the wilderness,tempted to worship the Devil in order to have the world. Of course He knows what we go through,so He says,’For what....his life’.

Much of the time,the cost of discipleship will be to be out of step with popular opinion – with workmates,neighbours,people in our Parish. And that can be painful,or at least uncomfortable. Yet it is the only way for Christians,the way of Jesus,the way of sacrifice.

Few of us could ever face the cost of discipleship as St Paul did;he did indeed give up everything for Jesus,and suffered very much as a result. Yet he never lost his confidence in Jesus,even in the darkest moments. ‘If God is for us....with him?’. Jesus could condemn us,instead he defends us,strengthens us.’It is God....for us?’. We are loved!

We may not face’tribulation....the sword.’ Literally,but many Christians in our world do here and now,for their faith in Jesus. But we will be tempted,to fear,to compromise,to give in. And we will give in sometimes,yes. But what will keep us going in our own discipleship will the love of Christ. ‘For I am…

Jesus our Lord.’