'Image and Impressions' - transcript of sermon 22/10/2017 St Werburgh Kingsley

Mid Churnet Benefice - St Werburgh Kingsley

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

Isaiah 45.1-7  1 Thessalonians 1.1-10  Matthew 22.15-22

Who have you noticed being talked about this week, perhaps in the news or on social media?

What kinds of things are being said about people?

For the most part, if they are in the news, it will be because they have been up to no good and been caught out.

Or maybe they have made some policy announcement that we either agree with or even disagree with.

Or fired off another tweet!

Are people talking about you?

Maybe not in the public sphere, but around and about, where you live, or work or perhaps play golf, running club, WI or whatever.

What do you think people are saying about you?

What do you hope they are saying about you?

Last week a great Christian man called Paul Griffiths died after a very short illness.

Having being diagnosed with gall stones they turned out to be cancer and he sadly died in a matter of days.

Paul set up the ‘Ugly Duckling Company’ that produced some fantastic resources for sharing the Christian Faith.  Table Talk was perhaps the best known, but also Puzzling Question for those who are asking about the Christian faith.

www.theuglyducklingcompany.com

On Facebook knowing he had only days his friends and colleagues were asked if they would put up ‘tributes’ to Paul – to encourage him (and his family) in his last days.

Some of them were deeply moving tributes to an amazing man of God who had a passion to make Jesus known and at least twenty good ideas before breakfast.

What would people say about you?

Have you ever thought about your epithet?

In the story we heard from the Gospel there is one person who is mentioned who most certainly wanted people to remember him, talk about him and indeed worship him – Caesar.

Which put the People of Israel in a tight spot as their commandments stated very clearly that there was only one God and only Yahweh should be worshiped.

The other person being talked about in this story is of course Jesus.

Here it is the Pharisee’s and the Herodian’s who are talking about Jesus.

It is not hard to imagine the type of conversation they had either.

And they think they have come up with an answer to Jesus and his increasing popularity and influence.

Then as now if you wanted to catch someone out you might frame a question that would put them on the horns of a dilemma. Whichever way they answer would make them declare their hand or say something controversial.  The actual answer isn’t what is being looked for – it is a mere ploy to try and entrap someone.

The Pharisee and Herodian’s think they have such a question. 

And of course it is also good to begin with a bit of flattery, to entice the victim into the trap.

‘Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God with truth. You are not swayed by men because you do not pay them any attention.’

If only that were true, that they really believed this theatrical flattery and flourish used to help set the trap.

Then the question – hurled like a spear with the intent of causing as much damage as possible.

Whichever way he answered they have him – he will either be dragged off to face Roman justice, perhaps why the Herodian’s are involved. Or he will capitulate to the Roman occupation and then his popularity would quickly wane and his following diminish – job done. 

But they should have known they needed to get up a lot earlier to catch Jesus out.

The key to Jesus’ answer is in his asking for a coin with which to pay the tax to Caesar.

And they produced one – not knowing that they have just scored one of the biggest home goals in history.

On that coin was an image of Caesar. On that coin were the words, Tiberius, High Priest, Son of God.

One of the ways a conquering nation demonstrated its rule was by introducing their own coinage.

That was one of the reasons why the UK did not want to accept the Euro – we wanted to retain a sovereign UK currency.

By carrying the Roman coin they are in effect demonstrating that they have accepted the Roman rule and authority.  Therefore, logic demands that if they have accepted Roman rule and benefits, that they should pay for them through taxes.

So, Jesus’ answer is, yes, if this stuff belongs to Caesar, then give it back to him.

And give to God what belongs to God.

They were amazed at his answer – and we know people kept talking about Jesus, even more.

Are people talking about you – and if so what do you think they might be saying?

Might they be saying that you are known as a man or woman of God? 

Might they be saying that you are known for demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit – even if they didn’t use that language?

Might they be saying that you are a person who is kind, long suffering, forgiving, and full of joy, peace and self-control?

I was talking to someone recently and mentioned that people are a bit like radiators or drains – once you have been around them you are either warmed up or worn out.

What do you think people might say about you?

And what about this Community of Faith, the People of God at St Werburgh?

What might people be saying about you, collectively?

Paul tells us something about the Church in Thessaloniki and what was being said about them.

 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.  For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

If I was to go out into this community and ask people what they thought about St Werburgh’s, what do you think their answers might be?

Are people talking about you as a Church?

One Bishop famously quipped, ‘when Paul turned up there were riots, when I turn up they give me a cup of tea.’

Today celebratory cult prevails. On average 17 million selfies are posted on social media every week across the world.

There is an unhealthy narcissistic cult of wanting to be known and noticed.  

What are people saying about you as an individual and what are people saying about you as a Community of Faith?

Because it is into this self-obsessed culture that we can speak and demonstrate that our true selves find their fullest and richest expression when they are found in Christ.

What are people saying about us as those who seek to reflect Christ in and through our lives?

A few weeks ago I attended a presentation of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services to Staffordshire Young Farmers Club.

The presentation was made by the Lord Lieutenant for Staffordshire.

He was the Queen’s representative and therefore was given all the honour and dignity that Her Majesty would also receive.

You and I are Christ’s Ambassadors – representatives of the King of Kings.

Do people know that and do we demonstrate that each and every day and in each and every moment?

The coin to pay the Roman tax had an image of Caesar on it.

What image do we carry and what image do people have of us, both as 

individual Christians and as the People of God, the Church.

Because there is only one image we should seek to portray and only one image we should carry.

Paul speaks about this writing to the Corinthians…

‘And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.’

If the image of God you carry has become dull I would like to pray with you and for you. Catch me at the end of the Service.

If you do not know the Christ whose image we are charged to carry, I would like to pray with you and for you so that you may accept Jesus into your life and be filled with God’s Holy Spirit. Catch me at the end of the service.

Let us pray...

Finish then Thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav'n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.