Readings: Ezekiel 33.7-11; Psalm 119.33-40; Matthew 18.15-20
‘Do as you are told …. or else ….’ would appear to be
the stern message of this morning’s readings!
Is this what the gospel, what the Kingdom of God is all about?
Many out there in the world have sadly come to think so ….
Woe betide the preacher who does not warn of hellfire! shouts Ezekiel.
‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die!’
Then Matthew: ‘If the offender refuses to listen even to the church,
let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector’.
That is, let such a one be cast out of the community, the church.
A punishment almost the equivalent of death,
for in first century Palestine it was nigh on impossible
to survive on your own beyond the synagogue, outside your community.
Of course you know that I’m going to tell you, No, God is not like this.
Belonging in church is not like this: command and control. Full stop.
Belonging at Hampstead Parish Church is not to be told how to think,
what to believe, who to be, by your parish priests! Or anyone else!
Even Ezekiel as he calls the people of Israel away from sin,
Ezekiel proclaims that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked! But much, much more than merely this, we know, in the death of Christ,
that God not only takes no pleasure in destroying the sinful,
it is God’s will that we should live, all of us, and live in all abundance! That we learn how to let go, leave behind,
those destructive elements of our psyches which rob us of joy,
and rob those around us
of the abundance which is God’s will for all our lives.
For God is so much more than austere God of justice,
indifferently upholding a moral universe.
God’s justice is shot through with compassion and mercy –
with a passion to address the wickedness of humanity
by winning us over to love what is good. By transforming our hearts.
The ministry of the young priest Ezekiel,
spans the fall of Jerusalem and departure into exile.
He has fiercely warned the people of what lies ahead,
the destruction of their city if they continue in their scandalous ways –
and in a fashion at times to our ears, surprisingly lurid.
Carried away with them, in Babylonian exile his tone softens.
And by the time of our reading this morning,
he begins to foresee the possibility of redemption for God’s people.
And offers reassurance that although they are separated from the Temple,
the dwelling place of God,
in their trials this does not mean that they are separated from God.
There shall be a new Jerusalem, and a new Temple,
and blessing as never before for God’s people.
A resurrection indeed, famously charted in chapter 37 of Ezekiel’s prophecy,
that vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, slowly raised back to life!
A time when God will plant in his people a new heart,
a heart capable of following God’s Commandments, fulfilling the Law!
Here we find God recognising
that we cannot accomplish holiness on our own.
Which of course does not mean that we become God’s automatons!
Ultimately in the closing visions of Ezekiel,
the prophet is transported to a high mountain
where a heavenly messenger measures the symmetry of the new Jerusalem, complete with high walls and twelve gates.
The new dwelling-place of God
where His people will enjoy a state of perfect well-being
as recorded in the Book of Revelation,
It is within this light, these parameters,
that we should approach our gospel this morning!
Matthew is the only gospel to use the word ‘church’ –
siginifying a new Jewish sect
and a late date for this gospel’s final composition.
Those first Christians in Jerusalem were thoroughly Jewish,
worshipping daily at the Temple. And it is more than highly unlikely,
that Jesus himself had any notion of setting up a new religion –
with a new holy day, and its own congregations in its own buildings!
Thus we may safely assume that Jesus himself
did not utter these words which begin our gospel for today!
- not least because we know that one of his chosen inner circle,
the Twelve, is indeed a tax-collector!
Rather these are words regarding the vital matter
of the maintenance of church order. Whatever we might feel about it!
Please note, it is not hierarchical! Any member of the church
may go to a brother or sister, and question them regarding their behaviour. Of course we may have the argument
as to who qualifies to claim right on their side in a difference of view! The point here is to challenge privately. Such privacy protected.
The involvement of others escalates only slowly.
First speak to your friend alone. Then take one or two others with you.
Finally, if the whole church agrees with you,
but the ‘offender’ still refuses to change their ways,
then they have forfeited their membership of the community.
And Jesus in this text specifically gives his authority
to the church leadership to ex-communicate.
Immediately we are faced with the difficult reality
that while some behaviours are obviously wrong to all – exploitation, cruelty, physical or emotional, there are other areas where not all Christians
agree on their supposed offensiveness to God!
Different traditions, different denominations hold differing priorities!
Within the Church of England we continue to debate
the regularity of blessing same-sex marriages in church – with strong feeling!
As once there were debates over divorcees receiving communion –
let alone being ordained!
Canon Mark Oakley, Dean designate of Southwark Cathedral,
beloved friend of London Diocese
through his long ministry amongst us at St Paul’s Cathedral,
Mark concluded this year’s Lent addresses in the Church Times.
In his piece he referenced a memorial service
held in Washington Cathedral for a young Christian student Matthew –
an Episcopalian and a server at his church.
Out on the town one evening he found himself
carried away into the wilderness
by those who pretended friendship yet wished him deep harm.
Tortured he was strung up to a fence and left in freezing weather to die.
Many hours later, the police officer who eventually found him
reported that there was a deer lying gently beside him.
The deer looked as if it had been there all night long.
She said that when the deer saw her, it stood up, looked her in the eyes,
and then ran away. Something else, something extraordinary
had also happened. Matthew had not been alone.
His parents quickly and quietly held his funeral
to avoid as far as possible, further abuse from Christians.
Fearing desecration of a grave they chose not to bury his ashes.
Twenty years later in 2018 his ashes were buried.
The service in a packed cathedral. This year Washington Cathedral
commissioned his portrait, now hanging where he is buried
surrounded by messages of love and hope,
messages to encourage others who visit.
His portrait was dedicated with this prayer:
Almighty God, may the image of Matthew we dedicate this night
be a reminder of the love which surrounded him in life,
and the affection which holds his precious memory in the hearts of so many.
May this portrait be a teacher for those who have yet to learn
Matthew’s story, and a beacon of hope for those facing oppression.
May it be for all of us a symbol of the beloved community
for which we strive, the community where all your children
are accepted, embraced, and loved.
Matthew was of course gay. His tormentors knew this.
Here is why I am chary of the authorisation of expulsion
by groups within the Church such as we heard in our gospel this morning –
and its twin verse in the penultimate chapter of John (20.23).
This morning we hear our gospel reading out of context.
Immediately preceding it, is the parable of the lost sheep.
Immediately following our text, is Jesus’ response to Peter’s question:
How often should I forgive the one who offends me? Seven times?
No, says Jesus. Seventy times seven. In other words, always.
We need always to be wrestling together over such matters –
as our Church is doing at this time, pray and listen
with open hearts and minds to the moving of the Spirit for today.
To create the space for our dry bones to live again this day. Amen.