Homily on the 20th Sunday after Pentecost on the Gospel of the day:
Luke 7 :11-16.
One thing that is all too easy to do as a Christian is to solely focus on the negative side of our nature and all that this could entail. Whilst it is true that sin is a reality in our lives – it is vital to remember that our Lord and Saviour Christ came in to the world to redeem all. Therefore, we Christians must remember that our faith is to be a faith of joy and not a faith filled with dread and fear. I have met many people in my life as a Christian and a priest who have developed unhealthy obsessions with sin making their lives not lives filled with joy but rather lives filled with fear and negative emotions – hardly a healthy way to live one’s life. How did these people come to see the Holy Trinity and his church in such a terrible light? In part it has to do with the messages we the Church of Christ have portrayed to the world through our words and deeds – who has not seen the stereotypical depiction of Christians in the media! Whilst it is true that there are many good and loving Christians it is also true that there are some that reduce the path of salvation to rules, canons, and traditions (in much the same way as did the Pharisees!). Whilst there is a need for some form of regulation in the Church there are some who take this need for regulation to extremes causing alienation and not communion amongst the Body of Christ. Remember, Christ is clear in John 15: 1-17 that He is the true vine and every branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off by the Father – let us the Church remember that it is our responsibility to work in the vineyard and by our works bear fruit for the kingdom. How does one bear fruit? One bears fruit through one’s faith, love and deeds - not through pharisaical rules! Therefore, as the body of Christ we are called to have compassion for people; as it is by this compassion we will be able to attract many to Christ, also fulfilling Christ’s commandment to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
I remember many years ago when I was a student I was at a service and this lady came into the sanctuary crying – she was absolutely distraught! I watched her move amongst the congregation and what really struck me was not a single person went to comfort her, not even the Bishop who was officiating at the service. Finally, the master of ceremonies acted and kicked her out of the church so the service could continue uninterrupted. This incensed me so I followed her outside and began to talk to her - what followed broke my heart! This poor lady had just been informed that her son who was working on a ship had died in a freak accident. Needless to say, I was upset with everyone in the church - all that needed to be done was for one of them to take her aside and comfort her! In the end she gave me a big hug and thanked me for taking the time to just sit there and be there with her. I am not telling this story to show how good a Christian I am - rather I tell it as it highlights how important it is for us Christians to show compassion towards people. Let us not be cold and uncaring; sometimes just to be there is to show the love of Christ to that person.
How is this relevant to today’s Gospel? In today’s Gospel we have Christ entering the City of Nain in the Holy Land to find himself present at the funeral of a young man. Any funeral is sad but this one was particularly so as the young man was the only child of a widow - in the time of Christ any elderly person who had no family to look after them was often forced onto the street to beg. However, when Christ sees how distraught the widow is it makes him feel compassion for the poor woman and he brings her son back to life. Christ in this Gospel is showing us that it is vital for us Christians to have compassion for others and help in any way we can – even if it means we just listen or pray with another person.
Let our prayer be today that the Holy Trinity will guide us and teach us the compassion and love that we are to show to others. Let us also pray that we the members of Christ’s body the Church may truly love one another as Christ loves us.
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