Arise,
shine -for your light is come!
My
father spent some of the happiest days of his life as a serving
officer in the Royal Navy, and so it was that in childhood my day
always began as he put his head round my bedroom door offering a passable imitation of a Bosun's pipe before declaiming
“Wakey
wakey. Rise and shine”…
And
I knew, somehow, that, whatever the day might bring, the force of his
love for me meant that I’d always shine, someho, in his eyes.
His
faith in my abilities was absolute.
Of everyone that I’ve known, he would probably be the least surprised that I’ve ended up here – something that was a far cry from my own imaginings when I finally stopped running away from God’s call to ordination and set out in reluctant obedience. You see, I know that I’m really deeply ordinary...Nothing wrong with that, but it does mean that all the lovely things that have happened to me along the road have come as joyful surprises. Daddy, perhaps, might have claimed to see them coming (and sometimes I’m still sad that he died without even knowing I’d be heading to the university of our dreams…)
Of everyone that I’ve known, he would probably be the least surprised that I’ve ended up here – something that was a far cry from my own imaginings when I finally stopped running away from God’s call to ordination and set out in reluctant obedience. You see, I know that I’m really deeply ordinary...Nothing wrong with that, but it does mean that all the lovely things that have happened to me along the road have come as joyful surprises. Daddy, perhaps, might have claimed to see them coming (and sometimes I’m still sad that he died without even knowing I’d be heading to the university of our dreams…)
However,
- there’s nothing worse than a preacher who goes on about
themselves...though I guess most preachers find ourselves engaging
with the words we most need to hear as we prepare...But – that’s
not the point.
It’s
all about rising and shining today.
Your
light has come
Such
welcome words in these dark cold days when January bites.
Though
the galaxies of fairy lights may have vanished, the decorations have
been returned to their boxes, nonetheless we continue to celebrate
The
light is come
The
light that shines in the darkness – while the darkness cannot even
comprehend it...
And
– the dawning of that light means that we too are called to shine.
Not
simply to bask in its transforming glow but to SHINE...and to
recognise that
“The
glory of the Lord is risen upon you...” and in that light, the
whole world is transformed.
That's
what an Epiphany does. It helps you see things differently.
Simply
put, it's the moment when God is revealed.
It’s
that instant of “Aha!” when you can say with confidence that this
experience is nothing less than a real live encounter with our real
live God – and after that nothing will ever look the same again.
“Lift
up your eyes and look around”...
This
is not the same place that it was before...
These
people are more beautiful...
They
reflect that light which has dawned...and so do you
“You
shall see and be radiant. Your heart shall rejoice!”
Epiphanies
change everything.
How
we see the world – and how we see ourselves.
The
Common Worship liturgy for this season invites us into a season of
marvels .
“Three
wonders mark this holy day.
This
day, a star leads the wise men to the Christ child.
This
day water is made wine at the wedding feast.
This
day Jesus is reavealed as the Christ in the waters of baptism.
Wonders
that show us, and all humanity, something of the truth of God with
us...
A
birth story, a baptism and a wedding. What a wedding!
I
have to say that, as one who has spent a fair bit of time involved in
the fine details of wedding arrangements, I find them very nerve
wracking affairs. So much seems to ride on the success of the day,
there is such a longing for “perfection”, that the risk of
disappointment feels enormous.
It's
bad enough if the clouds gather, or the florist fails – but I would
really really hate to be too close if the wine ran out.
But,
of course, this is exactly what happens at Cana of Galilee.
A
wonderful day of celebration is transformed, not by the radiant light
of an epiphany but by the looming clouds of family shame and
disappointment.
Such
disaster!
Despite
the best planning, the many attempts to ensure perfection, a roomfull
of guests is faced with the exciting choice of water or water.
Human
resources have failed.
But
luckily that bride and groom whose names we'll never know had the
good sense to invite Jesus to be part of their celebration – and in
doing so, had, against all their expectations, brought God directly
to their marriage feast.
Lift
up your eyes and look around you!
So,
when all they could offer was water – Jesus intervened and turned
it into wine – and not just supermarket plonk but the finest
vintage ever tasted.
How
did it happen? I can't help with the mechanics of the miracle, and
sadly I don't know how to replicate it, but at the most basic level
it happened because someone had the sense to ask for help....a useful
reminder for all of us. God is waiting, longing to bless us – but
too often we try to struggle on, claiming our independence even as we
fall flat on our faces again and again.
The
God who in Jesus took the ordinary things of life and made them
extraordinary is the same God who takes ordinary people – you, me
and the lady down the road – and blesses us to be signs of God's
kingdom.
Pablo
Picasso, who knew a fair bit about being gifted, I’d say, once
wrote
“The
meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give
it away”
And
that’s exactly what you do, - each of you splendid volunteers, who give of your time and
energy, talent and skill to God through the work of this Cathedral.
Be you singer or ringer, musician, verger or server, reader, welcomer, steward, Blitz museum host, archivist, guide, teacher, caterer, coffee maker, bread maker, polisher, weeder,
filer, copier, editor ,Night shelter host or Work Club advisor, intercessor, prayer minister, or planner, embroiderer, committee member, small group leader, pastoral visitor,f- or a host of other roles…
You give of yourself – and we are deeply and truly grateful – not
just today when we voice our thanks, but on each and every day of the
year.
You
give of yourself, and God uses you as a gift to bless others.
Yes
each one of us is fundamentally quite ordinary...As we wander through
Broadgate, there’s nothing to make anyone take a second glance and
yet.........and yet, we can and will be transformed by God, if we can
only find the courage to ask God to work with us.
The
meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose is to give it away.
Arise.
Shine. For God knows that you can...and will..shine for God.
The
water that we bring, our everyday lives, our time, our
being is blessed and transformed into wine..so that we too can be a
sacramental sign of God's presence – for that is what the church is
called to be.
But
the thing is – those servants who poured out the contents of the
water jars as directed had NO idea that a wonder was occurring. They
had to act first – and one can well imagine how it felt to approach
the MC with a cup of – well, they knew that the jar had held
water...they'd filled it themselves...
There's
something for us to learn here, isn't there?If we don't actually RISK
trusting that God can do amazing things....if we don't attempt the
extraordinary for God's sake ….then we will never discover what God's
grace can accomplish.
Yes
– even in me.
Even in you.
Even in you.
Arise. Shine.
Truly,
this is the season of wonders, as we continue to celebrate God with
us, - in the simple things of everyday, - in water, bread and wine
and in men and women, giving of their gifts of energy, time and
talents.
For all this and so much more, thanks be to God!
For all this and so much more, thanks be to God!
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