17th March 2024 10.30am – 5th Sunday of Lent – Eucharist

The Readings

Hebrews 5.5-10

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you’;
as he says also in another place,
‘You are a priest for ever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.’

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

John 12.20-33

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’ Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.

‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

Scripture Quotations are from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 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 Joe, Reader at St Mary's.

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Please be seated.

Today’s reading from John presents us with a critical moment in
Jesus’s journey towards His passion – and in our Lenten journey
alongside of him. Previously in John 12, we’ve seen him raise Lazarus
from the dead, and come into Jerusalem for Passover on the back of
a young donkey. We’ve also seen how the news of this action
spreads amongst the people. And in the background, the Pharissee’s
who’ve been plotting how to get rid of this VERY turbulent priest, are
having to up their game.

Our reading from John begins with some Greeks seeking Jesus,
signalling that His message is for all humanity, not just the Jewish
people. Word of this great teacher has clearly spread outside Jewish
circles; one can see why the Pharisees are getting worried. But when
they’re introduced to Jesus by Andrew and Phillip, they must have
been surprised to find Jesus contemplating his own death. This
moment is a turning point, not only in Jesus' earthly ministry but also
in the understanding of what it means to follow Him. This passage,
alongside Hebrews 5:5-10, asks us to think on Jesus’ mission, His
obedience to God, and the path He lays out for His followers.
As is so often the case in His teachings, Jesus uses a parable; a grain
of wheat must fall to the ground and die before it can grow in to a
stalk of wheat bearing many, many more seeds. It’s a paradox;
through death comes life, through surrender comes victory.
Jesus says:

“Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in
this world will keep it for eternal life”

What does He mean here? I think He is telling us that if we love our
earthly life and all it’s trimmings, our possessions, our own way of
doing things – eventually all this will be lost to us when we die. But
should we choose to put less importance on our attachment to our
life in this world, we will benefit from the eternal life offered by
Christ’s teachings.

Jesus isn’t advocating some nihilistic dismissal of life; it’s precious.
But he emphasises a reorientation of priorities. Eternal life is to be
found in following Jesus, even if it leads to what the world considers
loss or even death.

When we ‘sign up’ to become a follower of Jesus, we are taking on a
massive commitment.

“Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will
my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will
honour.”

His followers were being asked to be with Jesus – where He is, they
will be. And we know that this will eventually lead to the Garden of
Gethsemane, to Calvary, and ultimately to eternal life.

But this – the way of the cross – is a tough journey. Today, we may
not necessarily be being asked to go to death, but we are being
asked to put our own will and desires to one side and follow more
fully Jesus’s teachings.

This call to discipleship is a call to the way of the cross—a path of
sacrifice, service, and ultimate glorification.

Jesus goes on to his followers, and the Greeks – sharing himself with
Jew and Gentile.

“‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father,
save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have
come to this hour.”

Jesus knows what is coming, and he has a natural human aversion to
suffering and pain. But He remains steadfast in His obedience to His
Father. The voice from heaven that follows – heard by some
unbelievers as thunder - is not just for Jesus’ reassurance but for the
benefit of his followers. They are also being assured that Jesus' path
of suffering, and by implication their own, is indeed the path of
glorification ordained by God. The ones who hear thunder are not
yet on the path of following Christ.

In Hebrews 5:5-10, Christ's obedience, learned through suffering,
becomes the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and
follow His teachings.

Jesus, though He was the Son of God, was also fully human and did
not find submitting to the will of God easy. It involved suffering,
humiliation and death which because of His humanity scared Jesus.
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and
supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was
able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his
reverent submission.”

But He did obey, and in doing so became the perfect high priest for
our salvation. Jesus met the requirements of God’s plans for our
salvation through His obedience, and showed us the deep love of
God for us, and what is involved in following Him – a literal or
spiritual ‘death of self will’.

Jesus has no illusions as to what fate befalls him.

"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to
myself."

The process of crucifixion starts with the cross on the ground and the
victim is secured to the cross, and then hoisted in to position. When
Jesus refers to his lifting up, he’s referring to the manner of his death
AND to His resurrection. This is the ultimate fulfillment of the
gospel's universal promise—the promise that in Jesus, all – jew and
Gentile - are invited into the family of God. It is no accident that
Greeks – gentiles – are specifically mentioned in this scripture.
Our readings today make it clear that being a disciple of Christ isn’t
easy.

Like the grain of wheat, we are called to die to ourselves—to our
desires, ambitions, and wills—in order to produce fruit in the
Kingdom of God by living lives of service, sacrifice and humility
following Jesus’s example.

Obedience to God often involves suffering. If the Son of God is
expected to suffer, we should expect nothing less in our own lives.
Like Jesus, we may be called to walk paths that are difficult and
painful – but that draw us closer to God, and allow us to share in
Jesus’s glorification.

As Christians, we need to be preaching the Gospel by the example of
our daily lives, to be seeds sown in the ground, dying to ourselves so
that we might bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.
It’s not easy; but it’s what we’ve signed up for.
Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by Kath.

God our Father, hear us when we pray to you faith. We give you thanks for this day, for our lives and the amazing world you have given us to live in. May we take the time to see and truly appreciate what we have. Help us to be good stewards and to look after it for this generation and the generations to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Father, we pray for your church throughout the world and for those of other faiths who worship you. May we find ways to live together peaceably and respectfully in your name.

We hold in our prayers all those who have suffered abuse within the church. For those deeply wounded and damaged by the actions of others and those whose faith and trust have been cruelly abused. Father, comfort all who suffer when old wounds are reopened and may they receive the kindness, patience and compassion they need to help them to heal.

We pray for all in our mission partnership giving thanks for the time, talents and gifts which our churches and communities benefit from. Today we pray for all here at St Mary’s as we undertake our APCM where we review what we have done and achieved over the past year and look to the year ahead of us. We give thanks for the work and dedication of all involved in the running of this church and our hall, especially members of the PCC, the various committees & groups and individuals who often work quietly behind the scenes to make St Mary’s the amazing place that it is. May they all know that they are appreciated.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our very troubled world and all peoples, especially those suffering because of wars, oppression, natural & human-made disasters, political & economic strife and great need for the basics of life. Father, guide us to know what is right and strengthen us to work together for it, so that everyone’s needs are met and we can live in peace. Bless all who strive for these things and support us in our efforts.

Especially we pray for people of all faiths in Gaza & Israel, the people of Haiti, the people of Nigeria and the people of Ukraine & Russia. Father, be with all who are courageous in standing against tyranny.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are ill and those who are nearing the end of their lives. May they receive the care, comfort and compassion they need. We pray for those who accompany them on their journey who also need to be supported.

By name we pray for Anne & Michael & their family, for Chris, for Rebecca and for Linda.

In a moment of quiet let us call to mind anyone known to us who is in special need of our prayers at this time and let us also pray for ourselves and our own concerns and needs.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember all who have died, some recently and some long ago. We pray that they are at peace and that those who love and miss them will be comforted and cared for in their grief. We give thanks for the lives of Alexei Navalny and Dave Myers.

Again in a short time of quiet let us remember those special to us 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.

St Marys Walkley

The Church on the Road: inclusive, eucharistic, a safe place to be with God

17th March 2024 10.30am – 5th Sunday of Lent – Eucharist