St John's Cathedral Community - CATHEDRAL SERVICES

Epiphany 4
Preacher: The Rev'd Gillian Moses, Assistant Curate

Theme: Connecting to what?

These are exciting times for the Anglican Church in Brisbane. This is the year in which we, along with our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, and indeed the state of Queensland itself, celebrate 150 years of existence. Focus, the diocesan newspaper out today, is full of snapshots of the celebrations that have already begun – there is the Premier ringing out the bells of St Johns, the launch of a commemorative book, and lots of plans for other events. You may also have noticed that Connect To Church Sunday has been launched as part of the celebrations.

The idea of Connect to Church Sunday is that each one of us can think about somebody we know who we can invite to come along to church, either on the 15th February, or really on any given Sunday. Its quite a confronting idea for some of us to put our faith out there in such a public way as we definitely tend to treat faith as a private matter in Aussie society. In my travels around the diocese I have heard many parishioners from many parishes talk about their reluctance to mention church to their friends and family.

It would also be easy to think that Connect To Church is just about getting more people in church. We hear lots of talk about how church numbers are dwindling, and how finances are tight. In that context, something like Connect To Church Sunday can easily sound like an attempt to stem the tide and to save the church. And unsurprisingly, many of us feel uncomfortable with the idea of inviting friends or family along for such a purpose. So I can imagine there is more than a little ambivalence among the congregation this morning.

I want to start by asking, what are we inviting people to connect to? Are we asking people to connect to an institution composed of rosters and in need of money? Are we inviting friends to something we personally are a little embarrassed about, but which we attend out of a sense of duty? Or are we inviting them to connect to something which we really believe has made a genuine and positive difference to our lives, and which can do the same for them? Well I think the answer lies within the gospel for today, part of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The story of the possessed man in the synagogue is a classic example of Jesus’ healing ministry. It begins with Jesus teaching in the synagogue and astounding the congregation with his authority. It sets the scene immediately – Jesus confounds the expectations of those present. One can imagine they knew who he was, as not anybody could simply get up and teach in the synagogue, yet even though he was known as a teacher, the authority with which he unfolded the Torah amazed them. From this we can only guess that it was also compelling. Those who heard knew they were hearing authentic teaching.

Into this scene, where Jesus’ listeners are being drawn into the story he is telling, comes the possessed man. The possessed man is on one level a demonstration of the authority of Jesus which has already astounded those in the synagogue. Not only do the people recognize Jesus’ authority but even the demons do! But today I am not primarily interested in this episode as it demonstrated Jesus’ power and authority. I want to know about the man who was possessed. I want to know more about his story and what this encounter meant to him.

How did he come to be there, in the synagogue, for a start? As a person believed to have a demon, he would not have been a regular member of the synagogue, but would have lived on the fringes of society. So how did he come to be in the right place at the right time for him to meet Jesus? I wonder if someone else brought him along, hoping that Jesus could help him, or if he wandered in of his own accord.

However he came to be there, he must have been glad he did. What the man encountered through Jesus was healing and restoration. The unnamed man was freed from his demons and restored to health, to his own identity and to membership of the community. From the fringes he is freed to move into the centre of life again, to reconnect. For this man, that is what Jesus actions and words meant. For him, Jesus’ presence in that Capernaum synagogue was a very good thing. Who would have thought going to church could be so life-changing?

And yet isn’t that the whole point? Isn’t that why we come? Because we believe that the good news of Christ really does matter? For us it is not about numbers or money but a conviction that in the word and around the table we meet with the God who restores each one of us to a whole life.

Now a whole life looks like different things to different people. For some of us it is in the first instance about the friendships we form with others and the society that forms. For some it begins with the beauty of worship, the music or the visual beauty. For others it is the acceptance they find among strangers, someone to talk with over a cup of tea. I remember when my children were little I would often drag myself and them along to church because I knew we would always find an instant support network of friends, mentors and surrogate grandparents – a network which unquestionably maintained my sanity when I really needed to! It is through these human encounters that we hope also to meet God and find that life has become richer and more meaningful, and it is that discovery of meaning which makes us recognise the authority that these actions and events carry.

It is this new, meaning-filled life, then, that we are inviting people to connect with. Not an institution or a fundraising event. We are inviting people to meet with the God who transforms life and lives and restores us to wholeness. Surely that is something we would find it easy to invite a friend to?

Last Monday of course was Australia Day and I had planned to spend it cooking lunch for my mum and dad. The rest of the extended family were all busy, or so I thought. Then my sister called and said her plans had fallen through so could they come too? Then she invited her children and their partners along too. Then my brother heard about it and wanted to come along. Finally my daughter who was supposed to be at the beach rang to say they were on their way home and would be back for lunch. It was a lovely chaotic family gathering which everyone wanted to be part of simply because it was all about family and being together and feeling good. Nobody felt embarrassed or awkward about coming along or inviting someone else to the party. Why would they?

How is church different? Perhaps if we revisit our own understandings of church and what we are inviting people to, we would feel less strange about actually asking them. So while part of the challenge is speaking the words of invitation, perhaps our biggest challenge is to confront our own understandings of church and rediscover the excitement and promise that Jesus taught was what life with God is all about.

So on your way out today pick up an invitation or two, and think about who you might invite to Connect to Church, and just what it is you are inviting them to connect to. Then go and tell them to come to the party!

Gillian Moses, 1-02-09