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The Readings
Romans 12.9-end
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matthew 16.21-end
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
The Sermon
By Catherine, Reader at St Marys.
Our prisons are full. So some prisoners are being let out earlier than usual.
People are concerned, especially the victims of their crimes. If prisoners
haven’t served their time, has justice been done? Are they safe to be released?
Has there been enough time for rehabilitation? News stories like this can be
scary. How can we keep our communities safe? How can we ensure offenders
are sentenced appropriately?
I recently read of a pilot scheme running in two prisons, based on Scandinavian
methods. Things are being done differently on the selected wings. So, for
example, the walls of the wings have been painted a calming colour. There are
house-plants, a well-stocked library, a garden, a gym, a pool table and a café.
Prisoners can join a choir, take dance lessons or play the piano. When it’s a
prisoner’s birthday, they get a card from the staff. Staff and inmates get
together each week over a cup of tea to discuss how things are going.
Is this trial happening in low security open prisons with model prisoners? No.
It’s happening in Wandsworth and Pentonville, two of the most challenging
prisons. And the prisoners picked for the trial are chosen completely at
random.
I was reminded of this article when reading today’s passage from Paul’s letter
to the Romans.
The passage is a good summary of Christian discipleship: Paul tells the Roman
Christians to be genuine and generous with their love. They should do what is
good and hate what is evil.
Charity begins at home. They should support each other whether times are
good or difficult. They are to provide for each other’s needs, whatever their
social status.
Charity begins at home. But then Paul says “now look beyond your immediate
circle of fellow-believers. Care for strangers – people you don’t know, people
from other lands, communities or backgrounds.”
Charity begins at home. It then extends to (perhaps benign) strangers. But
then, Paul says: “Extend your love further still – extend it to those who have
actively done you wrong”.
A large part of this passage focuses on caring for this hardest group of people to
love. Don’t react with evil if someone has treated you evilly, but instead think
of what is best for the whole community. It is God, not you, who is the
ultimate judge. So, if an enemy is hungry or thirsty, give them food and water.
Paul uses a rather curious image of how doing so is like heaping burning coals
on the enemy’s head. Does this mean that providing food and water will be
killing the enemy with kindness, and that’s how they will be punished?
No. In a society where you need fire to cook your food and keep your house
warm, burning coals are a good thing. If your fire goes out, you pop next door
and ask for some burning coals to get it going again. Thus your neighbour
helps you to live and thrive.
So, by meeting your enemy’s basic human needs, you help them to live, to
thrive. You give them the chance to repent and become the best version of
themself they can be, the person, indeed, who God wants them to be.
Which brings me back to the Scandinavian approach being tried in Wandsworth
and Pentonville prisons.
Early results of this trial has shown nearly half as many assaults as in the rest of
the prison. Self harm is down by 57% and disorder by 62%. There has been
almost no problem with drugs. So it seems that the trials are working well in
rehabilitating the prisoners. And things are better for the staff too. Staff
sickness rates have halved and staff retention rates are much longer than
elsewhere in the prison.
And all this because someone thought it was a good idea to treat prisoners as
human beings.
So what can we take away from this today?
Well firstly, we should note verse 18. Paul says “If it is possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all”. There may be times when it is not
possible, or indeed, wise, to interact personally with someone who has caused
us harm.
But we can speak out for humane and decent treatment of those in prison. We
can urge our politicians to fund meaningful activities within prisons, so that
prisoners have the best possible chance of rehabilitation.
And we can support the work of organisations which provide alternatives to
prison. Indeed we are already doing this at St. Mary’s. The Community
Payback team currently provide regular help with our cemetery maintenance,
for example.
And in doing so, we play our part in bringing about God’s kingdom here on
Earth.
The Prayers
Prepared by Kath, Reader at St Mary's.
God our Father, hear us when we pray to you in faith.
We give you thanks for this day and the many gifts you give to us. Help us not to take any of these for granted. May we truly appreciate and care for our world and all with whom we share it both now and in the future.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for your church throughout the world, especially for our sisters and brothers in places where they are not yet free to worship you openly.
We pray for all here at St Mary’s, at St Mark’s and at St John’s, both lay & ordained who work so committedly to sustain our churches and to serve our respective communities. Be with us and look kindly on all that we try to do.
Father, we ask your blessing on our well dressing, our patronal festival and the Walkley Horticultural Show, all of which will take place here in the coming week. We pray that the well dressing will be a wonderful opportunity for people of all abilities to come together to share in gentle, creative work and conversation and that the end result will be enjoyed many people.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We continue to pray for our very troubled world, for all peoples, communities and nations who are going through dark and difficult times. Lord please do not let us lose hope that we can resolve our differences peacefully and make the world a better, more just and compassionate place for everyone. Especially we ask you to protect those who put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others.
At this time we pray for the people of Nepal and those visiting that country who are caught up in the terrible flooding and mud slides that have devastated such a large area and caused such great loss of life, homes and livelihoods. May they receive the help and comfort that they need.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer
Five years on from the Taliban retaking control of Afghanistan, we pray for the people of that country who are struggling to survive. Especially we pray for the women and girls who suffer ever greater repression. We pray for enlightenment and a change of heart by those in power so that all the people can live and flourish.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all children and people in education and training as they return to their studies after the summer break, especially the youngest children starting school for the first time. We pray also for those newly entering the world of employment. Father be with them as they find their place and settle into new roles, experiences and opportunities to grow in knowledge and confidence. May there be meaningful work for everyone who seeks it.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are ill or unwell at this time. May they be lovingly supported as they navigate the changes and challenges they face as a result of their illness. We pray also for those who will be alongside them that they too will be supported, cared for and appreciated. We pray for all who are lonely, that they may find the companionship they long.
In a few moments of quiet let us call to mind anyone known to us who is in particular need of our prayers and let us also bring before God our own needs and concerns.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We remember those who have died, some recently and some long ago. May they rest in peace and may all who mourn and miss them be comforted and find their own peace.
We give thanks for the life and work of Dolly Parton who used her own early struggles in life to help others overcome their difficulties and challenges. May her family, friends and fans be comforted and cared for in their loss.
Again in a short time of quiet we remember our own loved ones who are no longer with us.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
Amen
Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2010 The Archbishops' Council