Peace and Remembrance

Rev Indrea Alexander

Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8

Today we pause in the midst of Christmas preparations to remember those who are absent this year. Those who have died, and those from whom we are separated by distance or circumstance.

For me it is timely. Yesterday was the anniversary of my mother’s death. Somehow it is now 14 years since she died. She was in her mid-70s. We had known she was terminally ill for 18 months before her death, and family members had taken the opportunity to do some wonderful memory-making with her. Mum also sought out special friends from the past, and shared treasured old memories together. I think of her often.

In October my cousin’s son was diagnosed with aggressive cancer at the age of 30. He asked people to pray that God heal him completely or “take him home”. I don’t know how many 30 year olds have that faith—the faith that God can heal, and the faith that death is a home-coming. He died three weeks ago. His funeral was a witness to the God he trusted, a celebration of his life, and an acknowledgement of the grief of those who loved him.

We probably all have experiences of death and grief that are part of our story, part of our life. Memories and experiences that shape who we are and what we think and do today.

Often at funerals I encourage people to learn from the life of the one who has died. We may admire a family member or friend as a role model with qualities and attitudes we would like to have in our own lives. Thankfully it is never too late to add good things into our lives.

As well as learning from their strengths, we also have the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and failings. There may be sadness at the bridges they burned or the attitudes they held that inhibited their ability to love generously or enjoy life fully. It is never too late for us to set aside our own bad habits and poor attitudes, and determine to be the people we would like to be. We may have left rubble in our wake, some of which may never be rebuilt, but we don’t have to continue living resentfully, destructively or defensively.

In todays New Testament reading from 2nd Peter it said, “what sort of lives should you be leading? Lives of holiness and godliness.” Holiness and godliness. What does that look like? Well, holiness is to set our lives on the purposes of God, and godliness is to reflect God. That means we will strive to live lives of peace, justice, love and creativity. Lives of forgiveness, reconciliation and hope. That requires wholeheartedness and determination, because those things aren’t easy. But they are what Jesus lived out, and they are what we are called to when we hear his voice say “follow me”.

We are to make the most of the time we have, live as Jesus showed us, repent, turning from all that is unworthy, and look forward to meeting Jesus face to face.

In the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah pointed forward to the promise of a new future. Todays Gospel reading from the beginning of the book of Mark points back to Isaiah’s promise and says it is beginning to be fulfilled. Another prophet like Isaiah has arisen—the prophet John, known as the baptiser, or John the Baptist. He is calling people to repentance, to turn back to God, and the people flock to him from town and country, and are baptised, with the water symbolising the washing away of their past and their sins.

For the coming year our Bible readings in church will focus on the gospel of Mark, allowing that book to reach across nearly 2000 years to continue sharing with us the good news Mark knew about Jesus. That good news didn’t come to Mark as a finished orderly account of Jesus’ life, instead it was gleaned from the story-telling and preaching of Jesus friend Peter. A story here, a recollection there, as Peter responded to the needs of the first Christian communities. Stories that offered encouragement, explanation, inspiration, hope.

So how did Mark choose to begin his orderly retelling of the gospel story? With this simple statement – “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Well, that’s clear. What next? In good story-telling form Mark then reaches for something with which his hearers and readers may be able to connect… he reaches back into the shared faith story of the Hebrew people “it is written in Isaiah the prophet,…” he says. Oh yes, the audience nod, it is written in Isaiah… Mark evokes the past to heighten a sense of expectation about what is still to happen in the future.

“It is written in Isaiah the prophet, `I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way… a voice of once calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, Make straight paths for him’.” And it is in this way that Mark introduces John, who came baptising and preaching repentance, before Jesus began public life. Our introduction to John is quite descriptive – a rugged looking character wearing clothing of camel hair, and a leather belt, who would probably have been quite at home at a wild food festival.

And once Mark has shown the prophet Isaiah pointing to John, he then shows John pointing to Jesus – “After me will come one more powerful than I….”

Jesus – powerful. That word is a bit of a contrast to the 64 Christmas nativity scenes on display in the chapel and at the altar today. A baby in an animal’s feed box in a barn is not exactly an overt expression of power. But John says “after me will come one more powerful than I… ” John can offer forgiveness and a fresh start through baptism in water, but in Jesus there is better yet to come.

If you have ever had a profound experience of God’s forgiveness, you’ll realise that to be told there’s something even better is pretty amazing. Because forgiveness in itself is amazing. To be freed from the grinding weight of sin—that’s enough to move many people to tears.

But John the baptiser says there’s more and it’s better. “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me, I am not worthy to untie his sandals, I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit”. We have access not only to the forgiveness, but can have the presence and power of God in our lives by the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is strengthened by the Spirit that we can seek to live godly lives.

Jesus responded to the needs around him. What are the needs around us? There’s the big stuff - like war between Israel and Gaza, and Russia and Ukraine. There are the ordinary sadnesses and challenges of life—people grappling with bereavement, ill health, and unwelcome change. And there are the completely unacceptable needs such as a lack of food and safety and housing. It’s sobering stuff, and has the potential to be overwhelming. But all we need to do is take the first step.

One act of kindness, one visit, one phone call, one letter, one apology.

One donation to the foodbank. One question about inequity. One challenge to racism. One stand against prejudice.

We can each take one step to respond to the needs around us. We can probably take a second step too.

The promise of Christmas is that life with Jesus is better than life without Jesus. Through him we can learn that God cares infinitely for us and those on our hearts. And we can learn that change comes not by power of force, but through a baby with the power to change hearts.

This Christmas season, let us open ourselves again to Jesus, allowing his Holy Spirit to comfort, transform and empower us. May his hope, peace, joy and love be the gifts we receive and the gifts we share with others this Christmas.