A Community Returning to Flourish (Part 1)

As we start to reflect, let us possibly consider what we look like today – possibly with a face mask.

For many, the face mask can be a uncomfortable addition to living today. But it has its use.

Holy God, as I put on my mask, let it be a filter. For my words to pass through as well as my breathing. Let through only those words which are helpful breathings of love and stop those things in my speech that will be harmful to others. 
Protect me also, O God, from the harmful things others may say to me. Help me to realise that I may be a carrier of bitterness, thoughtlessness, judgement and prejudice without realising. Help me to be prepared to adapt and be brave and transparent so that all may have the chance to hear.
O God, be a mask to my mouth and pin my ears forward for listening.
Amen  (© RevCBeckett)

Our local community is looking at the passages from the Book of Nehemiah, reflecting upon how the Jewish people returned from Babylon and Egypt. The people returned to flourish.

Nehemiah 2:1-9

Now we’re returning to our 1^st day of school and we’re having a history lesson where we look back at stories from the past and what we can learn from them today.  So lets begin by going back to Nehemiah Ch 1 where it says

In the month of Kislev, in the 20^th year, in the citadel of Susa.

Now Kislev in our calendar would have been the end of Nov/Dec, so it’s like our winter time and Susa was a winter residence.You have many places in Scotland whose names I’m not even going to attempt to pronounce. I love being out at the washing line and hearing the chatter of the school children as they run by our fence. I can catch the gist of the conversation but cannot pick out every word despite having a Scottish sister in law. So having an explanation of historical places is useful and I’m looking forward to learning about the local heritage from you over the coming months. So here we have Nehemiah in winter and he is a cup bearer to the king. He has spent many days mourning, fasting and praying that God will forgive the people and allow him to go and help rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah wants permission from the king and a letter of authority to get the materials to do the job. He wants in a sense to lay aside his royal role and support people in need to rebuild the walls and relationships in his community. 

How does that apply to us?

During lockdown many people have been and continue to be out of work. They may have occupied their time by joining a group of volunteers delivering food, prescriptions and running errands for people in isolation. 

So in a sense there maybe similarities between Nehemiah doing alternative work and some of us supporting others in need too. Communities have pulled together, supported and encouraged each other in this time of crisis. The people returned to flourish.

Nehemiah wept over the state of the walls. We too may have wept over the state of our world, the health and the sorrow of people we know and love, including ourselves. What’s important to note is that Nehemiah’s sorrow. This led him to act, to pray and to find the courage to go to the king, receive permission to build and begin the task of rebuilding the walls.  

Sometimes we get stuck in that cycle of sorrow and despair. That’s the time to pick up the phone and ask a friend or organisation for help.

It’s not always easy making that phone call but it’s the beginning of healing. Sometimes we find that the person we ring needed help too but was just too afraid to ask. We can turn to God for the strength and the courage to resume some of our life. We can then support other people to do that in the process.

and Jesus?

Our second reading today is from the Gospel of Luke. Jesus has just been baptised in the Jordan. He then went out into the wilderness: here he declares that “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him”. Jesus then returns to a place he knows well.

Luke 4:16-21

So, we have heard of the start of the return from exile from Babylon and Egypt of the Jews, or at least some of them, to their homeland, to the city of Jerusalem. 

So where does this passage from Luke come into that?

Everyone has gone to the synagogue, as was the custom. Well not for us recently with the return to a form of lockdown. Here they find Jesus taking the stage as it were. Reading from one of the many scrolls and he has selected a particular passage. It’s about the poor, releasing the captives, enabling people to see the travesties of the past and present, and letting those denied freedom that freedom. Jesus has also added a line, departing a bit from Isaiah 61, about giving sight to the blind. There are many parables about giving sight, speaking openly about the lack of awareness from the Pharisees. Really hard hitting stuff.

He then sits down. The leaders of the synagogue, expecting something ordinary perhaps, weren’t too sure. But everyone else was really impressed especially since this was Joseph’s son.

Are we returning to the building?

All of what has been said today echoes possibly our own experience from lockdown. To this slow emergence into hesitant stuttered release during this pandemic. Some are content to get back to normality – whatever that might be now. Whilst others are very cautious, wary of going out, having been safe for so long in their homes – why should they risk anything now? 

To return to Church, is a sign of the Church, that body of people, is looking to return to normality. The people returned to flourish. To begin to worship God back in the building some of you have grown accustomed to over many years no doubt is great…but. Just as Nehemiah asked for a letter to be granted passage to Jerusalem, not all ventured back; however, whether they returned or not, they were still part of God’s kingdom. Whether we return to this physical building for worship, whether we take the transcript sent by post or email, whether we listen to the YouTube service, we are all part of God’s Kingdom here in Strathclyde.

So what is the call to return about?

I think Jesus has described it beautifully. It’s not oh stay in the synagogue: it is all focussed about relationships. Relationships with others. There were initiatives to help those shielding during the weeks of the lockdown,. But there are many in our community, perhaps you might be thinking of them now, who are poor – not necessarily financially but desiring a friendly welcoming opportunity to chat. What of those who desire to be set free from this captivity from this pandemic, whose world has closed down, but seek companionship – albeit at 6 feet separation. That old question “how are you?” has never been so powerful an invitation to allow some people to start talking. Listening is such a blessing, it really is. It’s outcome is that the community can flourish.

I bring to you those last two lines of the prayer said earlier:

Help me to be prepared to adapt and be brave and transparent so that all may have the chance to hear. O God, be a mask to my mouth and pin my ears forward for listening.

Revd C Beckett

And when we have such a perspective, we may see that the Church’s walls have, contrary to Nehemiah’s dream, come down! The limitations imposed by such physical structures have been wiped away. Think of those struggling with employment, their world changing drastically as more people get laid off, but in God, in Jesus’ church, there is hope, there is love, there is welcome. Think of our community, who may also have seen struggles, unable to meet up with family, in God, in Jesus’ church deployed where we all live, there is hope, there is love, there is welcome.

What can we takeaway from all of this?

The call from Jesus today is about allowing all that we have learnt over the many years, over the past few months, to become real in terms of our faith. So we can be that vessel, that opportunity to be God’s hands, feet, eyes in our community. To be willing to speak with another and hear of their story. To talk over the garden fence (weather permitting), perhaps in the back garden, in a house (not currently in Glasgow) and build bonds of relationship with each other. So that others may see for themselves of what drives us forward, of the strength we might find in our church community.

We can speak of the faithfulness of our God as we describe, using words which we can all understand. This is a continuation of the journey of God’s people in Strathclyde, where we push boundaries, to allow others to know of God’s love. So that the people can return from this pandemic and flourish. What a privilege, what an opportunity.

And I encourage us, let’s go and do it. Amen

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Cover Photo from here.