This morning’s Gospel hits us hard, perhaps particularly us here, in this beautiful well-heeled part of London. How shall we let it speak to us? With autumn upon us we are back into all the fervour of Downton Abbey on our television screens! Perhaps to coincide with the series, BBC2 has also been running these last few of weeks, a programme about ‘Servants’. Not quite the cosy warmth between upstairs and downstairs portrayed in Downton! Rather, an extremely long day, up to sixteen hours of heavy duty hard labour mostly for six and a half days a week! All in a strongly heierarchical community amongst servants themselves, communities where you were expected to know your place. Those at the bottom of the ranking were to be hidden from view, neither seen nor heard, almost ‘non-people’. By 1920 things had moved on, but it seems to me that a maid of all work on her own in a middle class household had a tougher and more lonely lot – indeed there were prayers written for servants offering an acceptance as God’s will that they should be lonely! Of course today many people employ the equivalent of servants, we just don’t use that pejorative terminology,
and mostly their working conditions are much better, their freedom much greater, and their status regarded rather differently.
How are we to think and feel about our wealth and status? The story of Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man – in Luke’s version of the story, a ruler, to whom Jesus instantly warms, this story challenges us profoundly. “Go, sell what you own, give the proceeds to the poor, then come, follow me and you will have treasure in heaven.” The young man is shocked as we are, and sorrowfully departs from Jesus. What I wonder, was it that drew him to Jesus in the first place? He had faithfully followed the Law, but something was still missing in his life. “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus’ disciples are also shocked and perplexed.
The ones we know most about have come from the relatively prosperous business class of Galilee.
In Jewish minds material prospering was the sign of God’s blessing and approval. And they do expect a reward of substance for their commitment to following Jesus. Jesus understands their aghast astonishment at what he says: “For mortals this is impossible, for God all things are possible.” Those who have left all to follow Jesus shall receive their reward, but, and its a big BUT, many who are first will be last and the last first. When we become Christians we receive and accept the status of ‘servant’.
So did Jesus mean this young man to follow his advice literally? Yes, I think so. When I started training for ordination twenty years ago, ordination only to the diaconate that is, feminist theology was the next big thing! By the time I was completing my degree the first women deacons were being priested! Though feminist theology has now rightly become absorbed into the mainstream, lest we forget, we are exploring the subject at the Women’s Bible Study group tomorrow evening.
Preparing, I have been reading Richard Bauckam’s ‘Gospel Women’. Formerly Professor of Biblical Studies at St Andrew’s University, he presents a deeply researched case for Joanna to be recognised as an apostle. She is listed by Luke with Mary Magdalene and Susanah as providing the financial resources for Jesus’ mission. Bauckham argues that Luke’s Joanna is the same person as Paul’s Junia, who in his letter to the Romans, Paul declares with her husband to be ‘prominent among the apostles’. Joanna is the wife of Herod’s financial steward, Chuza. As such she was part of the royal court in Tiberias. To follow this impoverished itinerant rabbi she has indeed, stepped down from high society. A huge transposition.
Chuza is a Nabotaean name from the area of Syria, though Joanna’s gentile husband has probably converted to Judaism. Bauckham suggests they are Paul’s Andronicus and Junia. Both having taken new Latin names, similar sounding to their original ones – not an uncommon practice at the time when entering a new arena. They have new names to pursue their missionary work in Rome,
work which has cost them time in a Roman prison. Yes, some did give up everything to follow Jesus. They stood shoulder to shoulder with the lowest of the low and shared their lot.
However, we know from elsewhere in the gospels that Jesus does not despise wealth. His seamless robe for which the soldiers cast lots at the foot of the cross, was a garment of the highest quality,
one not to be torn into shared pieces as would normally have happened. Jesus was invited to their homes and dined with the wealthy. It was Jesus’ unconditional friendship, which led the chief tax-collector Zacchaeus, to choose to give away his wealth. It is not wealth per se that Jesus is critical of. As ever, it’s how we hold it, what we do with it!
We all deep down, desire to be good, do good – even when we fail. Life is a subtle balance. And money is always a difficult issue for us wealthy Christians in the West. How should we manage our affairs? How much should we give away – how much should we keep? We need to both be true to ourselves, take the time and resources to address our own needs, to develop our own particular talents, God-given talents to be shared with the world – and we need to be contributors to our communities near and far. If we are willing to give ourselves to generosity of heart: actively seeking the good of others, then how much more shall we receive in spiritual wealth!
All of us could decide to give more. We might seriously think about what things, small or great, we could forgo in order to be more generous. If we value our Christian community here at Hampstead Parish Church we need to materially support it. As a community it’s vital that we are also looking outwards. We have a lively Social Action group. Do speak to Rosemary Loyd about areas where you could help. John Willmer has his fingers in several important pies – ask him about them over coffee. I am impressed that the church has signed up to ‘London Citizens’. I had never heard of it before I came to Hampstead, and it is so inspiring to see young people of Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith standing together on the same platform, together lobbying to give Londoners a better quality of life! Sitting down on a train one day, I inadvertently found myself beside Boris Johnson! It was a set-up to produce a campaign video! Though I was not the right person to be sat beside him, he did know all about London Citizens! He had been listening! Their lobbying – our lobbying – works! London now operates a policy of a living wage for all. This is why I’m also keen on Christian Aid. They seek not only to support practically those in need, but to change the social structures which cause poverty. Together Christian communities can – and have – moved mountains! How much do we truly want to be part of God’s story? What freedom might we find in truly serving one another?
I want to finish with a prayer of the Tudor naval captain, Sir Francis Drake which we heard yesterday in the service at Westminster Abbey following our pilgrimage for the feast of Edward the Confessor:
Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst For the waters of life;
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land, We shall find the stars. Amen.