Message: Abounding Hope
For 80 year’s Christian Aid has been recognising the value of all human life and seeking ways to reach out, help and share the stories of others from around the world, those who share our faith in Jesus, of all faiths and of none. Our faith inspires our love in action and how we follow Jesus when we hear the call to care for others and creation and to serve to make life here and now better for those who need. Our actions, our giving and our lives are a witness to who Jesus is and who we are becoming through following him. Christian Aid Week invites us to reflect on the stories and lives of people we may not ever have met or hear of otherwise. We hear of how other people live, hope, and love in other parts of the world and are helped to live more fully through what we are able to share. This year we hear Aurelia’s story and reflect on her abounding hope through the encouragement, support and skills she has. There are numerous others in her community and throughout the world whose stories matter and are just as important but today we hold her story as one among many that connect us to who we are called to become as followers of Jesus. (see Christian Aid daily devotional for Aurelia’s story)
We know only in part but through God’s love we are connected with others throughout the world and with God through Jesus Christ and the blessing of the Holy Spirit. Our stories and lives are known and cherished by God just as the lives and stories of all of creation by our creator.
As we reflect on the work of Christian Aid through the particular story of Aureila this year, we recognise that there are many other stories we will never hear and names we may never know. Our scripture reading from Acts also highlights the story of one among the thousands whose lives were being changed and influenced by the risen Christ and those who followed his Way. In Acts chapter 9 we have the account of Tabitha (aka Dorcas) who Peter prayed over and she was raised from death. Her name is recorded for us to read 2000 years later while the names of her mourners are not. Her life of charity, handiwork, and good works carry on as a faithful disciple who received new life and was restored to her community. How many others learned of Jesus’s love and way from her life before and after this little snapshot of her days? We may never know fully the impact of one’s life story until we see clearly and are fully known in God’s eternal life, yet we hear through the actions and interactions of others the glimpses of abounding hope and overflowing grace in the stories of faithful followers living the Way of Christ, following Jesus.
Jesus said in the gospel reading today, ‘my sheep hear my voice and follow me.’ I know being called a sheep most often is an insult for just following or going where one is told or along with the crowd. In the bible are many references to sheep, shepherds and the imagery of lambs. In our area of the world, in Scotland at the moment, our fields are filled with sheep and lambs, some foolishly wandering into danger, others bleat to find their mothers and being herded into fields of green grass by shepherds and their sheepdogs.
Even in our modern experience of sheep, there remains an understanding of what Jesus says about listening and following as sheep who are under the care and watchful tending of a shepherd. Much in our language and life experience has changed over the last 2000 years and all the nuance and cultural specificity may have fallen to the wayside, the heart of meaning of Jesus’s words and ways that have been passed down through generations of believers as well as through the Holy Spirit’s inspiring of those seeking to follow Jesus. We do not know every detail of every story of every miracle of every parable but the glimpses and glimmers of hope we have heard told and heard in the stirrings of our hearts remind us of who it is we seek and who we follow.
Jesus’s life, death and resurrection show us God’s abiding love and the scriptures along with the firsthand experiences of the followers of Christ down through centuries show us glimpses and glimmers of who we are called to become in the days we are given. Jesus showed those who hear his voice and follow him not only the Way to life everlasting but also to life in all its fullness here and now, no matter the obstacles, hardships, joys, sorrows, blessings or burdens. The Way of Christ invites us to follow knowing we are loved and called to do what is right and good, love God and our neighbours, and to help others. Our stories are not isolated and while they may never be remembered for all time by future generations, God knows us, loves us and calls us to be known as his followers and beloved children through our words, actions and lives. Like Tabitha and Aureila may others learn of God’s love through our lives and how we share our knowledge and what we have with others. May our abounding hope be in God’s presence showing us the way to live and share our life as we follow Jesus no matter what we may face.
From Christian Aid worship material:
A follower of Jesus (Saint Augustine) once described hope as having two beautiful daughters: anger and courage. Anger at the way things are and courage to see that they do not remain as they are. We’re going to use that idea in our prayers. So, we’ll hold out one hand when we think of
things that make us angry and the other when we need courage to do something about them. We’ll then bring our hands together as in prayer to show that we can have hope because Jesus is always with us.
So, hold out one hand as we think of the many millions in the world today who don’t have enough to eat and yet there is enough food for everyone.
Now hold out the other hand as we think of all the organisations like Christian Aid who try to help but also the many people who ask our world leaders to ensure that the world’s resources are shared fairly. Now bring your hands together and we’ll be quiet for a moment to ask God to bring
hope to those living in poverty.
Hold out one of your hands again as we think about how the climate crisis is affecting most badly those countries who did the least to cause it, such as Guatemala. Droughts, floods and storms cause dreadful devastation, while oil companies make huge profits from the burning of fossil fuels.
Now hold out the other hand as we think of organisations, including Christian Aid, as well as individuals who are working to make the polluters pay for the damage that is caused and to support people living in those worst-affected countries.
Now bring your hands together and in a moment’s silence, let’s ask God to bring hope and love to replace greed.
For the last time, hold out one hand and think of something that concerns you that needs the darkness to disappear. It could be to do with someone or a situation you know. It could be at school, or in your community.
Now hold out the other hand and think of how that concern could be helped by something you could say or do.
Now bring your hands together and keep them there while I say:
Thank you God that you invite us to pray and that you hear the concerns we have. Please bring your hope and love into the situations we have prayed about so that your hope fills us and helps us work for a better world.
Amen.