Readings:
Acts 16: 16-34;
Psalm 97;
Revelation 22: 12-14, 16-27, 20-21;
John 17: 20-26

Collect:
Risen, ascended Lord, as we rejoice at your triumph,
fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,
that all who are estranged by sin may find forgiveness and know your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

Reflection

I don’t know about you, but I have thoroughly enjoyed and been challenged by the readings from Revelation over the last few weeks.  I know that we’ve often had the more positive bits from it and it’s intriguing that this week’s lectionary once again excludes some of the more challenging bits of the passage including, ironically, the one that warns that ‘whoever takes away words of the book of this prophecy’ will also forfeit their share in the tree of life and the holy city.  Sometimes in life we find we want to blot out the bad, disruptive bits and just focus on the nice bits.  Our politicians do this all the time, when answering challenging questions, they respond with the positive message that they want the headline writers and soundbite enthusiasts to pick up on.

For me there has been a comfort in these readings from Revelation of the hope of something new, where God is dwelling among her people.  The new heaven on earth will bring nations together and there will be no more pain or crying.   There will be healing, and all will be nourished and refreshed from the water of life that streams through the city.  We need this hope and inspiration.  We need this vision to not only look forward to but to become a reality here and now.  We’re exhausted by the challenge that we faced with COVID and as we limp out of the pandemic we are assaulted by new challenges of war in Ukraine and a major cost of living crisis.  It’s hard then for us to remain optimistic and be purposeful when many of us have just gone into survival mode.  This vision of John gives us something to hope for, just as the resurrection accounts give us hope and encouragement.  But…

…this utopian vision of John is achieved at the cost of excluding those who don’t fit.  And for me this is the challenge, this is where I struggle.  Throughout Christian history we have used the bible to justify policies of exclusion and division which to me is totally against my image of God and my belief about what we are called to be like as disciples of Christ.  So many times, Christ was the one who stood by those who were marginalized and excluded by society.  Even in today’s Gospel he is praying for his disciples and all who come to faith that they will come to have a relationship with God whose love for the people of God is eternal and expressed through Jesus with his command a couple of weeks ago to love one another as I have loved you.  So why do we continue to exclude people, both individually and as a society.  Just look at the government’s plans to remove all human dignity and power of choice from those who look to us for refuge as they ship asylum seekers to Rwanda.

I believe that as a church we are called to be inclusive, to speak out for the marginalized, oppressed and forgotten, to speak truth to power and to bring about this vision here and now where all can come together to be with their God.  And yes, that will mean things change.  We will change as we are shaped by those who join us.  Our church will change as we grow into a living  community where heaven and earth are one, and become a place of hope and inspiration to others.  Are we prepared to be changed and to become agents of change?  Are we prepared to work to bring about this vision? Or are we too comfortable with the way things are?   

We may feel exhausted, but I believe that God will give us the strength and encouragement to bring about the change that is needed and make this vision a reality – of God dwelling amongst her people here and now. 

One prayer has stuck with me over the last month and encompasses what I feel God has put on my heart and I offer it to you:

God, our shepherd, you gather us into your kingdom,
and into your loving arms.
You seek us out when we are lost.
You rescue us when we are in trouble.
You welcome us when we return home.
Make us – your church, your people –
into a sanctuary for all who are fearful,
a place of healing for those who are broken,
and a welcoming home for all who seek it.  Amen

Final prayer © 2002-2022, Roots for Churches Ltd

Mike Morris