October 4, 2020

Helen Jacobi

St Francis' Day     Psalm 148     Matthew 11:25-30

Video available on YouTube, Facebook

We are carrying a lot of burdens at the moment. The world is carrying a lot of burdens. Covid 19 of course, watching the death and the grief around the world. But also the isolation. The curtailment of plans to spend time with family or friends. The loss of jobs and income and futures. And then political burdens; watching the US presidential debate makes us fear for our world. Seeing the climate crisis and other urgent needs being sidelined while we focus on covid is worrying. And we have choices to make in Aotearoa which are challenging – the election and two referenda.

Compared to the rest of the world we are doing incredibly well but that doesn’t change the reality of loss of jobs for some and rising anxiety for many. If you are a student missing your final prize giving or a university graduate missing graduation and your OE; or a hotel worker with no job; or a person with all their family on the other side of the world; the fact that we are doing better doesn’t really help your sadness and disappointment.

Burdens.

Jesus says to his disciples that his burden is light – if they stop trying to be like the know it all Pharisees – and become like infants – and trust him, they will find rest for their souls. Sounds fabulous – like a walk on the beach, or sitting in hot pools – whatever helps you relax and forget your worries.

But is that real or just a short respite and then all the burdens come rushing back at you?

St Francis was someone who got rid of his burdens – he followed the instructions of Jesus literally – the one about only having one garment and to carry nothing with you (Mk6:8) – and around the year 1200 he gave away all his wealth and founded a community of people who lived very simply and humbly.

People still follow his rule of life today – monks and nuns and lay people who belong to the third order of St Francis. Their rule of life of prayer and service gives them a framework within which to place their burdens and lighten them.

Our faith gives us a framework within which to live. Our church, its traditions, our life of worship, when at their best, help us to live well in God’s world. When faced with challenging times like the Covid era or challenging choices such as the upcoming elections we look to our faith to guide us.

After church today we are having a discussion about the referendum on the End of Life Bill. We are blessed to have a group of medical practitioners in our parish and so last year we had a conversation with them, and today we are having another. We will be listening and learning from each other in order to help us with the discernment we have to do in order to cast our vote. We are seeking to lighten the burden that we may carry as we make a decision. We will most certainly not be telling you how to vote, that is up to you.

It is unfortunate I think that church leaders including our own bishops have chosen a strong stance against the Bill and have chosen to tell us how to vote. As far as I am aware there has been no consultation with the church at large about how we might come to a common mind or even to agree some common questions we would like to ask together.

There has been an assumption we will all think alike and the bishops in signing two different letters to the public have aligned themselves with some very conservative churches who are more used to telling their people what to think.

We have a couple of resources to share with you later and one is from the staff at Trinity Methodist College.

They say there is no one single ‘biblical’ answer to the question of assisted dying, so there is no one ‘Christian’ response, either. But as Christians, we are called to search our scriptures, tradition, experience, and tikanga prayerfully, critically, and in pursuit of compassionate justice, love, and healing, allowing these insights to shape our response as we come to cast our vote. [1]

We believe life is a gift from God, and know that death is inevitable for us all. We also believe though that death is not the end, that we remain in God’s love forever. We are given human skill and intellect which have created the miracles of modern medicine which heal and enhance our lives. We are all acutely aware now of the way simple public health measure also save lives. Most of us will have stories from our own families of people dying “good” deaths and those who suffered too much in their dying.

We now have the opportunity to vote on the End of Life Choice Bill – please be sure to read the material sent by Election Commission and to read what the Bill actually proposes. A while ago we sent out links to a video of our Diocesan Chancellor explaining each provision of the Bill [2]. It was straightforward and clear. Take the time to be informed.

Know that people of faith will vote yes and people of faith will vote no. Each we hope will have come to their decision with prayer and reflection. If the Bill passes no one of course has to avail themselves of it. Some might choose to. Whichever way the vote goes our doctors and hospices will continue to give the best palliative care they can to their patients.

We have choices to make too in the general election – candidates and parties. As we discern that vote I think the biblical imperative is a little clearer – the question is not what will be best for me, my life, my tax rate, my wellbeing; but what will be best for those who have less than me – the OT writers have a summary term “the widow, the orphan and the stranger” which we might translate to “those with no income or protection, those without families to love them, and the foreigner or refugee”.

Who do we trust to care most about those in need and to care for the earth, God’s creation. Today’s psalm set down for St Francis Day – psalm 148 – is a good one to read when we are thinking – as we have been – about climate justice and the protection of creation. It finishes with “praise from all your servants, from the people close to your heart.”

If we are close to the heart of God, like St Francis and like Matthew, the far from perfect tax collector who is our namesake, we can lay our burdens down.

We can seek the companionship of Jesus who promised to reveal God to us.

We can take upon us the yoke of Jesus, and seek the gentleness and humility he offers.

With that mind we cast our votes and we seek to carry on serving our community in the name of Jesus as best we can.

[1] https://trinitycollege.ac.nz/

[2] https://www.selwynfoundation.org.nz/promotions/information-for-the-general-election