Blessed Attitudes

by Barry Pollard

(Based on Matt 5:1-12)

As I re-read the Beatitudes, I saw them as a checklist that I really couldn’t tick off! What was I supposed to make of them? What was I supposed to do about them?

Noted Anglican theologian NT (Tom) Wright once said in a sermon, “The beatitudes of Jesus tell us that all the wrong people are going to be blessed; they are counter-intuitive. God is turning everything upside down.”

The ‘Beatitudes’, verses 3-11 of today’s Gospel reading, are part of the Sermon on the Mount. Another commentator has explained that in this sermon Jesus is telling us how to be happy. Each of the verses we heard today start with “God blesses those who . . .” Some translations have recorded it as, “Happy are those who . . .”

To amplify that point, the Good News Bible translation lists the Beatitudes as follows:
* Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
* Happy are those who mourn; God will comfort them!
* Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised!
* Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!
* Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!
* Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God!
* Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!
* Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!
* Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.

If this teaching, the first that Jesus delivers, according to Matthew, deals with our happiness, does any of it make sense? What has persecution to do with happiness? How could it produce blessings?

Well, blessed are those who pay attention, for they will not be bored! Not in the Bible version, but a truth none-the-less!

Let’s run through each of these eight blessings and see what they mean and how we can benefit from them.

God blesses those who are poor and realise their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

This beatitude is referring to those who are poor in spirit. To be poor in spirit is not to lack intelligence or confidence; it is to know our need for God. It is to come with empty hands, without pretence, pride or self-reliance. In a world that prizes self-sufficiency, Jesus says the Kingdom belongs to those who know they cannot save themselves. This we can think about as the entry point into all the other Beatitudes: humility before God.

A Christian life, a faith walk, does not begin with strength, but with surrender.

Many of us value being capable, self-sufficient and not making a fuss, our Kiwi “she’ll be right” attitude. But being poor in spirit is the courage to say, like a farmer after a tough season or a small business owner after a run of losses, “I can’t do this on my own.” For us, faith often begins when we admit we need help, from God and from one another. We are opening ourselves, truthfully, to God.

God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Mourning includes not just personal grief but also sorrow over sin, injustice, and a broken world. Jesus blesses those who refuse to numb their pain or deny reality. God’s comfort is not some superficial reassurance; it is the deep consolation of God-with-us. In Christ, God enters our suffering and promises resurrection. Having faith doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine, it means bringing our fears, and tears, to God.

Look at what has been taking place at Mt Maunganui this last week. The various communities affected by the disaster have gathered at marae, schools, churches – and at the disaster site – to grieve together. Jesus blesses this honest mourning. God’s comfort is often experienced through shared grief, quiet presence, shared meals, and practical care.

God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

The humble are often described as the meek. But meekness is not to be interpreted as weakness. Rather, it is more like strength under control. It is a quiet trust in God, rather than in force or domination. The world encourages us to take power or gain the upper hand. Jesus says, trust God. And the humble inherit the earth because God vindicates them. As Christians we follow a King who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, not a warhorse.

Think of the best All Black you can. I bet if we analysed why we had each selected our choice, the common themes would include not just being respected for their skill or on-field leadership, but for their humility, discipline, and putting the team first. Humility looks like leadership that serves, not dominates. In God’s kingdom, quiet faithfulness often shapes the future more than loud power.

On this note, just so you know, I chose Eroni Clarke, named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the New Year honours.
I first encountered Eroni in person when he visited our school promoting reading, and a whole lot more! His impact with the children was huge. His message went much deeper than simply getting involved in reading. He offered encouragement to live worthwhile lives. Suffice to say, he moved me too!
Move ahead 30 odd years, and our paths crossed again when we attended Life Church in Manukau, where Eroni is one of the prayer team. A humble, quiet leader who serves God and his faith community, and I believe still shapes futures.

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

This is a deep craving for God’s justice, goodness, and righteousness in our lives, and in the world. It is not complacent faith but passionate desire. God’s promises do not bring frustration, but fulfilment. What we long for most deeply, God longs to give. So, we might ask ourselves, what do we hunger for most? Comfort, or God’s Kingdom? Maybe think over some of your recent prayers!

Many Kiwis have a strong sense of fairness, wanting everyone to get a ‘fair go’. When we grieve over housing and wage inequality, child poverty, or environmental damage to land and waterways, we are touching this Beatitude. Hungering for righteousness means praying and working for a society that reflects God’s justice and care for Creation, for all.

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Mercy is love in action. It is choosing forgiveness over revenge, compassion over indifference. Those who have received God’s mercy become channels of it. This is not earning God’s mercy, but reflecting it. After all, we can’t cling to grudges and still live freely in grace.

There have been several contentious issues in our town that have caused splits, within families and the wider community. We know in our small community how these conflicts can linger and fester for years. Mercy, then, may mean taking the first step toward reconciliation. It could be as simple as having a cuppa with someone, offering an apology, or choosing not to pass on gossip. These ordinary acts reflect God’s extraordinary mercy.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

Purity of heart is about integrity and focused devotion, not moral perfection. It is a heart aligned with God, rather than one divided by conflicting loyalties. Pure hearts see God not just in the eternal, but recognise God’s presence in the everyday, right now.
What competes for our deepest loyalty?  Life is busy. So many competing facets. Sport, work demands, screens intruding everywhere, family dramas. Purity of heart may be choosing faithfulness over our busyness, setting aside time for worship, prayer, and resisting the pressure to let success or comfort become our ultimate goal.

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Peacemakers do more than avoid conflict; they work for reconciliation, justice and healing. This is costly work, and it reflects the heart of God. Remember, Jesus made peace through the cross, and called us to follow. Have you been in situations where you are aware that tensions exist or are building? Did you think about high-tailing it out of there? Or did you try defusing the situation in some way? This is working for peace. Where might God be calling us to be bridge-builders and relationship menders now?

God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Living by Jesus’s values will sometimes (and you may say, ‘will often’) bring opposition. Opposition is persecution in this instance. Think about the Christians around the world who are not meeting in churches today, hiding out instead and living under threat, just like the followers of The Way we heard about last week.
Well, the Good News is, theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus repeats the first Beatitude promise. Faithfulness is the mark of Kingdom life. We are called to be faithful, not to be popular.

* * *

As we have whizzed through the Beatitudes, attentively of course, did you notice that God’s blessings, the things he says will bring us happiness, are found in character, not in possessions? Every one of the Beatitudes deals with something that is internal, not external; something you are, not something you have.

I said earlier, a Christian life does not begin with strength, but with surrender. If you, like me, are wondering how likely you are to receive the blessings the Beatitudes offer, this I believe is an answer. God never asks us to do or be something that is not possible. God never makes his Word, his promises, or his challenges unattainable. God never directs us into dead-ends. God always provides the means. But we must turn to him. You can’t practice the Beatitudes without God. These Beatitudes are not natural for us. We need God to instil them into us and direct us. We need to look to God to help us. And, through his grace, he will.

God prepares us for what lies ahead. Friday’s Word for Today provided a great explanation of how that works, and it fits well with our theme today. I’ll read it:

Every experience in our past prepares us for a future opportunity. God doesn’t redeem only our souls; he also redeems our experiences, both good and bad. He does it by refining our character, developing our gifts and teaching lessons we can’t learn any other way. We learn the most important lessons in the classroom of life through first-hand experience. The tests are challenging, but no curriculum is more effective. And how you pass the test is by growing in character, developing the gift or learning the lesson God is trying to teach you through that experience.

God is at work in your life. He is helping you get ready for your date with destiny. And he is doing it in ways that are practically imperceptible. David realised that slaying the lion and the bear prepared him to bring down Goliath (1 Samuel 17:37). And it’s not until you face your biggest challenge that God identifies how, when and where he prepared you. That’s when you realise that the battle was won long before you stood on the battlefield.

It was necessary for Moses to tend sheep for forty years before he could lead the flock of Israel. The disciples had to fish for fish before they could fish for men. A time of preparation precedes every divine appointment. And if we surrender to the preparation, God will execute his promise. If we don’t, he won’t. This is because God never sets us up to fail. The time you spend in the shadows is preparing you for the time when you will be in the limelight. The time you spend on the sidelines is preparing you to be on the front lines – and win.

On top of that, this week I came across these verses from Titus, chapter 2. The verses provide an excellent summary of how God’s grace helps us:

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Verses 11-14)

Don’t be fooled into thinking that we are being encouraged to do good works to earn these blessings. We should clarify that Jesus is not saying if we live like this, following these blessings (Beatitudes) as directives, that we will become good Christians (Christ-followers). That’s not how it works. What he is saying is, because you are a Christian, you can live like this. And the benefits will be happiness.

When Tom Wright said, “God is turning everything upside down,” he is not wrong. “Those who are first will be last and those who are last will be first,” found later in Matthew’s Gospel, emphasises that God’s kingdom reverses worldly, earthly standards of status and success. Humility, service, and spiritual faith are more valued than earthly power or wealth.
“The Beatitudes, in fact, paint a portrait of Jesus himself, and the sort of life he offers us. They don’t describe how to earn God’s blessing, but what life looks like when God reigns.
“His is an upside-down kingdom, where grace comes before achievement, where weakness becomes strength, and where the cross leads to resurrection.” (Dr Colin S. Smith, The Orchard Evangelical Free Church)

So, as I reflect on the Beatitudes from now on, I will hear and feel the words of Jesus, not as a burden but as an invitation. My prayer is that we all do.

In the Beatitudes Jesus is simply saying, “Blessed are you.”

A Matter of Trust

by Pat Lee

(Based on Matt 19:23-30; Jeremiah 1:4-10; Acts 9:1-22)

God tells Jeremiah that before he was born, he had been set apart and chosen to be his prophet. Jeremiah found this piece of news rather alarming, as he thought he was far too young for such as an important task. But God doesn’t take his protest as an answer, and tells Jeremiah that he needn’t be afraid. He gives him the assurance that he needs and tells him that he will have his protection; and then gives him his instructions for the task ahead.
I think Jeremiah might have found all this rather overwhelming. I know I would have. However, God does not call anyone to a task he/she cannot do, because he equips us with all we need to accomplish it. It’s just a matter of trust.

On to the passage from Acts.
First, a little background on Paul, or Saul, as he was originally known. The Apostle Paul (Saul of Tarsus) came from a devout, prominent Jewish family in Tarsus, the capital of a small Roman district (now in modern Turkey). He was of the tribe of Benjamin and was the holder of rare Roman citizenship from birth, which gave him significant legal rights. Raised strictly observant, he became a zealous Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” with deep knowledge of Jewish law. (Which prepared him uniquely for his subsequent mission to the Gentiles.)

When Paul set out for Damascus that day he had only one plan on his mind.
He had been to the high priest to get letters to take with him, intending to take them to the synagogues in Damascus to get their cooperation to arrest any of the followers of ‘the Way’, as Christians, or Believers, were referred to at that time. He just wanted to get rid of them. Remember, this was the same man who witnessed the stoning of Stephen, as written in the previous chapter of Acts, agreeing with his killing. You can almost imagine Paul standing there grinning with satisfaction as he watched on.

However, God had a different plan for Paul. So, as he was approaching Damascus, set on his mission, he experienced an amazing event. A light appeared and a voice spoke to him, Jesus’s voice. Jesus asked him, “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul did not know who was speaking to him, but Jesus told him who he was and what he needed him to do. His companions also heard the voice but didn’t see anyone, and they were speechless.

When Paul got up he couldn’t see, so his companions had to lead him to Damascus where he stayed for three days without eating or drinking. I can’t help wondering what was going on in Paul’s mind during that time. Did he wonder if Jesus was going to help him accomplish his lettered task? Well, if he was thinking that, he was certainly in for a surprise, because that plan was going to invert dramatically. He was about to change direction completely.

Someone else was about to have his plans changed as well. The Scripture tells us about Ananias, already a believer. In spite of having no mobile phone, social media or anything remotely similar, word about Paul had reached him. He knew that Paul had done terrible things to believers in Jerusalem, and that he was authorised to arrest anyone who called on the name of Jesus. Put yourself in Ananias’s shoes. How would you have reacted to being asked to go to this man and lay hands on him, to make him see again?

Once again we see that when called to a task, we will be supported and protected, and equipped to carry it out. Ananias did as he had been asked, trusting that Jesus would be on his side. He laid hands on Paul and affirmed to him that he had been sent by Jesus, so that Paul would regain his sight. And he did. Then Paul was baptised. Now that was definitely not in Paul’s original plan; nor was what followed a few days later when he started preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

What a dramatic change of plan that was.

It’s no wonder that all who heard him were amazed, because they also knew of Paul’s reputation, and that he had come to Damascus to arrest them, chain them, and take them back to the priests in Jerusalem.

God calls each of us to become believers in a way that best suits each individual. There is no right or wrong way, just God’s way.

My conversion was dramatic too, but not the same as Paul’s. I needed a metaphorical hit on the head with a four-by-two to get my attention. One beautiful May morning while sitting on my back porch having a cup of tea with a friend, my life changed completely and I made an about turn.

When I look back to that day, I can see how much I have changed from then until now.
I started a journey that I had know idea where it would lead, but I trusted that God would take me where he wanted me to be. It hasn’t been plain sailing and I know I’m still far from perfect, but my journey goes on.

My husband, Michael, knew when he came home from work that day that something had happened to me. He didn’t want a bar of it.
Those next few months were very difficult to say the least, but I hung in there. I believed that God would change his heart too, but didn’t know how long it was going to take.

Michael was transferred to another town with his work while I stayed back with the children to finish the school year. That gave him time to gather all the books he could find, including a Bible, to prove that my experience was not valid. He was an avid reader. God used that to show Michael that what had happened to me was definitely valid, and he too became a believer. That was the start of a completely new plan for his life, as well as mine.

Today’s Gospel reading follows on from the passage about a rich young ruler who wanted to know what good deed he needed to do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and follow him. The rich young man went away sad because he had many possessions. Jesus’s response to his disciples was to say that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.
Incidentally, the Eye of the Needle is a narrow passageway through the Jerusalem wall that was used after the city gates were closed for the night. Camels did not like going in through this very narrow, confined space.

So, the disciples asked, “Then who in the world can be saved?” Jesus answered, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Jeremiah thought it was impossible for him to become a prophet. The people of Damascus thought it was impossible for Paul to become a believer. Ananias thought it was impossible for him to go to Paul and lay hands on him without his being arrested and put in chains. Once I became a believer, I thought it was impossible for my husband to become one too. But as we all know, these things did happen because nothing is impossible for God. God can change anyone, and he can change our hearts toward anyone, and can do anything else if it is his will.

Some seemingly impossible tasks in the Bible include: God creating the whole universe and everything in it in six days, Moses building the Ark on dry land miles from any large area of water and with no rain in sight. The Israelites leaving Egypt, where they were slaves. A shepherd boy becoming king. A virgin giving birth to the Son of God. Ordinary people like you and me giving up their jobs to become the disciples of Jesus and, becoming his close friends. Jesus feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two small fish. Thousands of people being healed of their afflictions. The Bible is full of examples.

If you have not already chosen to follow Jesus because you think it’s too hard, think again. Anyone can, because God gives you the ability to do so and will support and equip you through anything he asks you to do. Just trust him. He won’t let you down.

Heavenly Father, we all don’t just become first-rate followers when you call us. We don’t always understand where you are leading us or how we are going to get there. But we know that no matter how many times we fail, you are always ready to give us another chance. Thank you for entrusting us in the ongoing work you have for each of us. Help us to remember that whatever the task is, you will enable us to complete it, because nothing is impossible for you. Amen.

Thoughts on Trust – and Childhood

by Liz Young

(Based on John 1:29-42; Isa 49:1-7; Ps 40:1-14; 1 Cor 1:1-9)

In Chapter 49 Isaiah writes, “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation shall reach to the end of the earth.”
In Psalm 40 the psalmist sings, “I waited patiently for the Lord … He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to my God. Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord.”
And in 1 Corinthians Paul writes, “God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord.”
Paul is writing to a group of friends who probably had to meet semi-surreptitiously, but this had not stopped them from helping Paul when he was overwhelmed by trouble.  And he admits that he had had a sense of impending disaster, but that he used that time and that fear, to learn to trust not in himself, but in God, a God who could raise the dead.

Do we have that trust? That faith that he, God, will provide the right answer, and the strength to overcome fear, and the wisdom to do what is right?

What other messages do we get from these readings? Both the Psalmist and Isaiah ask the Lord, give us a vision to hold on to, a vision that gives us hope for the future. As so often, and as in past times, today we seem surrounded by wars and greed – greed for power, greed for money. Let us in our worship today hope for a future where truth is honoured and not distorted; where we expect to receive and give kindness; where we trust in the Lord.

Apart from the visit to the Temple there are few stories of Jesus’s childhood: those years when children develop their moral compass, their understanding, their ability to share. In the Gospel story we are taken straight from infancy to manhood.
Many in this congregation have been teachers, who’ve had thirty different personalities to guide each year through ages 4-18, helping each child reach his or her full potential. What would you have felt if you had a Jesus child in your class?! Would you have realised his potential? How would you have nurtured him?
How easy is it to recognise a child’s adult potential in our own children?

John baptises Jesus in the river Jordan, a symbolic cleansing with water, and then says, “It is true I have not recognised him, but now I realise that here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he was before me’”.
It must have been odd for John to suddenly recognise Jesus, his cousin and probably his childhood play mate, as a teacher greater than him, and potentially the Messiah. Or perhaps he’d had inklings, even as a child.  I think I might have realised that Jesus was special, but I would have been too self- absorbed, to value him.  How often do we recognise a person’s adult potential, when we and they are children? When I think back on my happy childhood and playmates, it was not until I was fifteen or so that I made friends that I have valued, and who have lasted my lifetime.

One commentary I read focused on Jesus being the Lamb of God, a symbol of sacrifice, rather than a lion, the symbol of strength that we understand the Jews were hoping for at that time. The Lamb was a symbol of sacrifice, a foretelling of Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross. Three years seems such a short time, to make such a lasting impression. We wonder at how much love he showed to his friends, the disciples, nurturing them, while at the same time, healing the sick, the mentally traumatised, the ignored and the downtrodden over the three years of his ministry.

Paul must have studied Jesus’s life closely as he was persecuting his followers. (It’s important to know your enemy.) How frustrating it must have been for Paul to only hear stories of good. How was his subconscious reacting to these stories, preparing him for his conversion? That moment when his views of Jesus and his followers turned upside down?

Paul was called, invited or appointed to be an apostle, and he reminds us that not only was he called, but so are the non-Jewish Corinthians and spiritually hungry others, then and over the next two thousand years.

Fellowship here at St Francis, our little church, means trusting that our friends support us in our worship – when we swap rosters, when we preach in different styles, use different versions of the Bible – and that we trust our friends will support us when we are grieving, unwell or forgetful; but also when we share the joys of hospitality and happy conversations.
And we will continue to trust that God will empower us to follow his will … and to trust that children using the pontoon [in our local estuary – Ed] will look before they leap!

A Proclamation and a Pooh-like Response

[Attribution: Pooh Bear in Playhouse Disney Live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios by Jeff Christiansen]

by Barry Pollard

(Based on Matt 1:18-25; Isa 7:10-16; Ro 1:1-7)

We have journeyed through Advent reflecting on the hope, peace and joy that comes with Jesus. Today our attention turns to God’s love for us, particularly demonstrated by the gift of his Son, as our saviour and reconciler.
And don’t we love the Advent season! It is mystical and absorbing. Excitement builds as we contemplate the signs and wonders heralding the birth of Jesus. Our readings over the season have revealed the promises that God has made to us through his prophets and gospellers, creating a pattern of promise, followed by fulfilment, followed by proclamation.

Our readings today show that pattern of promise, fulfilment and proclamation in a nutshell. Our first reading from the prophet Isaiah is a major revelation in the Jesus story. In it, Isaiah foretells to King Ahaz (of the royal line of David), “the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” When Scripture says ‘God will,’ a promise is made.

In the second reading, from Romans, this promise is confirmed by Paul’s declaring, “God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line.”

And Matthew’s Gospel gives us the details of how Jesus was conceived and how the earthly situation of his earthly parents was reconciled. This points us to the impending fulfilment, the arrival of Jesus among us.

And, then, back to the Romans reading for the proclamation! “He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.  Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.”

God’s promised Saviour, Jesus, was foretold by the prophets, fulfilled in his birth and proclaimed in the Gospel. Theologically, this pattern is neat and tidy and deals with the nuts and bolts of the readings today. But let’s look deeper into what was going on and what it ultimately tells us about our God, and what this means for how our lives can be transformed today, two thousand odd years after the fact.

If we start again with Isaiah: King Ahaz was king of Judah, at the time when Israel and Judah were enemies and at war. Ahaz had heard the rumours that the kings of Israel and Syria were forming a coalition against Judah with the plan to install the Syrian king’s son on Judah’s throne. God’s prophet Isaiah was given explicit instructions to take a message to Ahaz, to explain that the perceived threat would come to nothing; but Ahaz was not convinced. Isaiah, in an effort to ease Ahaz’s fears, invites him to test the Lord on the accuracy of Isaiah’s prophesy by asking God for a sign. Ahaz refuses to put God to such a test, so Isaiah (and, I perceived, exasperatedly) tells Ahaz that God will provide a sign anyway – the sign will be a baby born to a virgin in the line of David’s royal family, Ahaz’s family. And the child will be called Immanuel (God is with us).

Despite fear and lack of faith, God reveals his faithfulness – he is promising to be with his people through thick and thin!
The prophesy had instant meaning for Ahaz – and Judah – but it also pointed to events yet to come.

Matthew provides details for the birth of Jesus. In a very straight forward manner, he outlines the predicament that Joseph and Mary find themselves in. An honourable man, Joseph finds his fiancé pregnant (by the power of the Holy Spirit) and doesn’t want to publicly shame her. He is working through breaking off the engagement when he is visited in a dream by an angel who explains that he has a part to play in God’s plan to give us a Saviour.

Emphasising the fulfilment of God’s earlier promise, Matthew records Isaiah’s prophesy, and concludes his account with Joseph awakening from the dream convinced to play his part in full.

Jesus is the “Immanuel” Isaiah had foreseen! He is God’s promised presence, made flesh.
His name, Jesus, means “the Lord saves”. He came to save his people from sin. Immanuel, “God is with us”, is no longer a distant God, but is God here among us, now. This is Good News!

So, Paul’s letter to the Romans deals with proclamation. It outlines plainly God’s plan for us, from the beginning. It goes like this:
1. God promised the Good News (Jesus) long ago
2. The Good News is his Son
3. His Son was born into King David’s royal line – fully human
4. He was shown to be God when he was raised from the dead – fully God
5. He is Jesus Christ, our Lord
6. God wants to spread this Good News to everyone
7. Because God loves us he calls us his ‘holy people’, making us his earthly family. (It is like joining the family business.)
8. He gives us grace and peace

What does it all mean for us today?
God has called us his holy people, his earthly family. As such, we are to take the Good News out into the world, by thought, word and deed. We have been equipped to do so by the character and gifts we have been given, and the grace we have received from God.

Notice, God never hinted that this will be easy. But think about the examples we heard from Scripture today. King Ahaz was fearful and God showed he is with us, even when we lack courage. Joseph was confused and uncertain and God showed guidance and purpose. And when we feel unworthy, weak or distant, God calls us to belong to Jesus. God wants us to trust his promises, welcome his presence, and receive his salvation!

God, who promised to come, has come: Jesus is Immanuel. The God who came is with us still, through the Holy Spirit. The God who is with us will come again, to make all things new! This is the Advent story!

Remember, I said at the beginning that many of us love the Advent season; that it is mystical, absorbing, and exciting.
Well, I find it also has a flip side. It can be unsettling, doubt-filled, even arresting. By way of example I’ll make a personal admission here: I love the Christmas carol, “The Little Drummer Boy”. But I have a problem singing it. I’m usually okay until I get to the lines, I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum, I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum, That’s fit to give the King . . . and then I cry!
I have spent time trying to work out whether I am overwhelmed by the majesty of our King, or by the inadequacies I perceive in my gift. Or, am I just feeling sorry about the whole situation that Jesus had to be born and nursed in squalor. I’m still working it out. And because I’m still not sorted on it, I doubt my effectiveness to do my bit spreading the Good News, to play my part.

So what can we practically do to share the Good News?
Attending a Sunday service, looking devout (you’ll remember, I have spoken before on those “Sunday Faces”), dropping a few dollars in the collection, and smiling as you enjoy a cake and coffee afterwards, isn’t quite what God has in mind for us.
To share the Good News, to proclaim Jesus to the world, is to move from a personal inwardly facing life to an outwardly facing one. It has to do with the big wide world. It is to be realistic, live sustainably (body, mind and spirit), and be faithful to the Gospel’s spirit, not just its words.

To help compile a list of actions we can take, I enlisted the services of AI. Asking ChatGPT, ‘What can we practically do to share the Good News’, I was offered ten things. I have selected a few from the list that I think are well within the grasp of all of us here today.

So, although the following words are largely artificially generated, the sentiments they express are very much in line with Scripture and our humanity, so bear with them!

The first is one of the most important and, in a way, the easiest. That is, to pray. Mission begins with prayer. Pray intentionally for yourself and others. Pray regularly for specific people, by name. Ask God for openness, timing, and courage. Pray with people when appropriate, not just for them.
Second, learn to explain why faith matters to you personally. Be ready to speak, simply and honestly. When opportunities arise, clarity matters more than cleverness. Use everyday language, not church jargon. A suggested simple pattern is to talk about what your life was like, how you encountered Jesus, and what has changed since.
Third, live the Good News visibly. Probably the most powerful witness to the Good News is a life shaped by Christ. Show kindness, patience, honesty and forgiveness in ordinary situations. Listen well and treat all people with dignity. Let your hope and peace in difficult times prompt natural questions. As the message of our patron, St Francis, is often paraphrased: “Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.”

Now, before I offer the fourth suggestion, I would like to digress a little into a child’s realm – that of Winnie the Pooh.

I came across an internet snippet recently explaining A.A. Milne’s description of Winnie the Pooh as a “bear of very little brain”. This phrase is used repeatedly throughout his stories, highlighting Pooh’s simple and natural character, as well as his tendency to fall into “ludicrous errors of judgement and comprehension”. The commentator suggested however that the Pooh stories actually present a wonderful contrast between brain (intellect) and a deeper, more intuitive form of wisdom. 
Pooh is aware of his own limitations, often stating, “For I am a bear of very little brain, and long words bother me”. But despite his lack of formal intellect, Pooh often exhibits profound emotional intelligence and an uncomplicated understanding of life, friendship, and happiness. His simple way of thinking often leads to surprisingly effective solutions in emergencies. (One such effective solution was when he helped rescue Roo from the river.)

Milne often contrasts Pooh’s ‘fluff’ with the supposed ‘brains’ of characters like Rabbit and Owl. In one notable exchange, Pooh observes that Rabbit’s intelligence might actually be a hindrance to understanding. In one such pondering, “‘Rabbit’s clever,’ said Pooh thoughtfully. ‘Yes,’ said Piglet, ‘Rabbit’s clever.’ ‘And he has Brain.’ ‘Yes,’ said Piglet, ‘Rabbit has Brain.’ There was a long silence. ‘I suppose,’ said Pooh, ‘that that’s why he never understands anything.'”

The essence of this is, while Pooh may lack what we would call conventional intelligence, he possesses an innate wisdom and heart that are ultimately more valuable. The stories imply that wisdom doesn’t always come from the most intelligent people, but rather from those who are humble and considerate. Perhaps we should take more than a little heart in this. Perhaps we shouldn’t regret being a little, or a lot, Pooh-like! God can use us all just the same.

And so, the fourth step: trust God. The Gospel story, the Good News, is likely best told by those who are humble and considerate, Pooh-like. The plan really is as simple as, give it a good and sincere go, and then trust God with the results. If we are taking up the challenge then our role is faithfulness, not control. As we are reminded in Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:6), while we sow, God gives the growth.

Small acts done in love matter!