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In touch
Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues
Waiting for the Spirit
In the liturgical time between Ascension Day and Pentecost, we pray ‘Come’ (Revelation 22.17).
Context
During the Covid lockdowns, many of us made promises to ourselves about building back better – we would appreciate life more, and take care of our planet. Now, as we limp out of the pandemic, many of us feeling exhausted, we are assaulted by a new series of challenges, from the war in Ukraine to rising prices. It’s hard to feel optimistic or purposeful, simply surviving becomes the goal. No wonder there’s a mental health crisis, including among children.
Ideas for sermons or interactive talks
The book of Revelation presents a fantastical picture of what is going on ‘behind the scenes’, in heaven. In the final chapter – this Sunday’s lectionary reading – Jesus utters the comforting words that, no matter what chaos is happening on earth, he is ‘the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 22.13). All is held in God’s hands. We sense the longing behind this vision – the longing, then as now, for the ‘water of life’ (22.17), for hope, inspiration, and the reassurance that all will be well. Such refreshment is vital, if we are to do our bit to love those around us, cherish the beauties of nature, and contribute positively to a society which is struggling.
The lectionary reading picks out the consoling, uplifting verses and omits the disturbing description of the ‘sorcerers, fornicators, murders, idolators…’ excluded from the new Jerusalem (22.15). This is ironic, given that the other omitted verses warn that whoever ‘takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy’ will also forfeit their share in the tree of life and the holy city (22.18-19). And there are questions to be asked about who is being labelled in this way and described as ‘dogs’ (Rev 22.15). We need hope and inspiration, but not at the price of religious and cultural amnesia. Revelation’s vision of a heavenly utopia is achieved at the cost of excluding those who don’t fit. And there have been shameful episodes in Christian history when such a policy has been imposed on earthly societies.
Three weeks ago, a Service of Repentance and Commitment was held at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, on the 800th anniversary of the 1222 Synod of Oxford, which forced English Jews to wear an identifying badge. England was the first country in Europe to impose this measure on its Jewish population – seven centuries before the Nazis. And in 1290, England became the first country in Europe to expel its entire Jewish community. Before we feel complacent that such things would not happen today, let us remember that our government is planning to remove all human dignity and power of choice from those who look to us for refuge, and ship asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Let us take hope and encouragement from the uplifting verses of Revelation. Let us pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit to refresh and inspire us, to give us faith in the power of love. And let us have the humanity and humility to resist the polarising forces which seek to exclude those who are not like us.
Questions for discussion
- Given your current situation, what is the ‘water of life’ that you long for?
- How does society protect itself from people who are a genuine threat, in ways that are humane, fair, and non-discriminatory?
- Who do you imagine will be admitted to / excluded from the new Jerusalem?
Ann Conway-Jones is Chair of the Birmingham Council of Christians and Jews.
Check-in
Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
This time of year sees many, many people taking exams. For some, it’s their first foray into the world of exams with GCSEs or Scottish National 5s; for others, it’s the culmination of their academic careers with finals. Each exam, at whatever level, comes with a sense of moving onto the next thing – whether that be the next school-based set of subjects, a subsequent university year, some vocational training or entry to the world of work.
We are set up in our education culture to always have an eye to the future – the next thing – and perhaps a longing to get to that point. And with that longing often comes a sense of insecurity – of not quite knowing how these exams will pan out and just what the future might look like. For those not taking exams, we are well and truly immersed in the final school term of 2021/22 and longing to get to the end. With all the disruptions of the last couple of years, this school year seems never-ending and many pupils and staff are beginning to find themselves to be weary. We can almost taste the summer holidays but we are not there quite yet.
In this week’s passage, we see Jesus speaking to John in the book of Revelation. Jesus reminds John that he was before all things and will continue well after. He knows what the future holds and he wants to reassure John that those who follow Him will be kept safe forever. John is given a picture of what things might be like when that moment comes but he doesn’t know for sure. What he does know is that Jesus keeps His promises and his response is “Yes, Jesus – bring it on!”
For our young people in the midst of exam season and for others making key transitions, Jesus’ promise is the same – they will be kept safe forever in Him, even though they might not know for sure what the next bit of the journey holds. How can we help them to say, “Yes, Jesus – bring it on!”?
Jenny Cheung is a choir leader, writer and missionary pioneer with a side hustle of Jesus-centred yoga.
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