Dedication Sunday Sermon 5 October 2014 – Jeremiah 7: 1 – 11; 1 Corinthians 3: 9 – 17
Jeremiah and Francis
“Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord’”
So says Jeremiah in a sermon delivered at the entrance to the Temple in Jerusalem. In this sermon he goes on to prophesy the destruction of the Temple. Later on in Jeremiah we’re told that his words were so shocking that the priests, prophets and people gathered around him as one and threatened to lynch him. Not the sort of thing one expects at Evensong – though I’ve got my eye on the door just in case!
Jeremiah lived through turbulent times for the small nation of Israel in the late 7th and early 6th century B.C. It was always a precarious position to be a small state on the edge of these great empires. Now the balance of power in the region shifted from Assyria to Babylon. In 701 B.C., apparently miraculously, the Temple and city of Jerusalem had not been captured by the Assyrians. This supported the view of many in Israel that God would never allow the Temple or the Davidic line of the Kings of Israel to be destroyed. However, 100 years later, at the battle of Carchemish Babylon defeated Egypt and its Assyrian allies. Judah was the remaining southern part of the nation of Israel by this time. There was a sizeable faction among the governing classes who supported Egypt. Judah rebelled several times against Babylon, resulting in the destruction of the Temple, and the city of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. About five years later all the prominent inhabitants were taken off into exile. Jeremiah witnessed the deportations and was later forced to flee to Egypt.
Jeremiah’s sermon is placed part way through these events, so there is real substance to his warnings. The people cannot trust in their ‘special relationship’ with God if they don’t behave in the way that God expects of them. It’s no good relying on their Temple worship if they continue to act unjustly – to immigrants, the poor and the underprivileged. If they continue to break the ten commandments and to put other Gods in the place of the Lord. If they do these things they will have broken their relationship with God. They can’t assume that they’re safe. Despite the miracle of 701 B.C. they can’t assume that God will never allow His Temple and His city to be destroyed.
They’ve made a big mistake. They haven’t understood how much bigger God is than His Temple, His city or even His chosen nation.
As I’ve already mentioned, in 587 the Temple, the great symbol of God’s presence with His people, and the city of Jerusalem were destroyed, and the entire understanding of God’s special relationship with Israel was brought into question. For Jeremiah, and others who lived through them, these events must have seemed utterly disastrous.
As well as thinking about Jeremiah this week, I’ve also been thinking about St Francis of Assisi whose feast day is 4 October. Like Jeremiah, St Francis was a preacher. And like Jeremiah he was also something of a prophet – a rebel, and a thorn in the flesh of the establishment. He didn’t just preach to animals and birds – the religious order he founded grew rapidly and is still highly significant today. He also travelled to Egypt in an attempt to convert the Sultan and put an end to the crusades. His preaching seems to have been thoroughly lively. He drew huge crowds and called himself ‘God’s jester’. It was said that he made his whole body speak – and that he sometimes danced while preaching. I’m afraid I’m a bit short of space up here! He seems to have been full of life and full of fun – and certainly not overawed by authority – ecclesiastical or worldly. I’ve been reading a set of monologues written by Dario Fo which attempt to capture something of his spirit. 1
Francis heard God’s call in the following words: “Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins.” To begin with he responded by going and repairing ruined churches. However, this was also a call to the reformation of a church which had become worldly.
His preaching and his lifestyle of absolute poverty and simplicity were so threatening to the established church that after his death there was a systematic attempt by the then head of the Franciscan order to destroy all authentic accounts of him. He was just far too radical for comfort.
Like Jeremiah, Francis knew that God is much bigger than even our greatest Temples or churches. God is always calling us, not to institutions, not to rituals, not to rules or respectability, but to a risky adventure with Himself. In the end, as our second reading this evening reminds us, it is we who are God’s temples, we who are the dwelling place for His Spirit.
On this dedication Sunday, as we commit ourselves anew to the love of God, the service of Christ and to life in the Spirit, let’s listen to some words from the first Rule of St Francis:
“Let nothing hinder us, nothing separate us, nothing disturb us. Let us all, everywhere and always, daily and constantly believe in [God]him sincerely and humbly. Let us enshrine the most high, supreme, eternal God in our hearts; let us honour, adore, praise and bless, glorify and exalt, magnify and thank him who is Trinity in Unity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, creator of all things, and the Saviour of all who love, hope and trust in him…
He is worthy of all blessing, praise and glory, exalted, sublime, sweet, lovable, full of delight, and to be desired above all things for ever and ever.” 2
Amen
[1] Francis, the Holy Jester, Dario Fo, www.beautifulbooks.co.uk
[2] From the Fathers to the Churches, Daily Spiritual Readings, Collins