A sermon preached by the Rev’d Dr Daniel Dries Pentecost 9 Christ Church St Laurence – 17 July, 2016 May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight: O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy. So said the late King George VI, reflecting on the contrasting character of his two young daughters – the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose. A father delighting in the dramatic differences between two young princesses; differences of character, which as history showed, would continue throughout their lives. In Luke Chapter 10 we encounter two sisters who are also quite different in terms of their priorities, behaviour and general approach to life. In Martha and Mary, we see the stereotypical behaviour of a responsible older sister, compared with an impulsive younger sibling. For minor New Testament characters, that is, those who are not part of Christ’s inner-circle, Martha and Mary make a significant number of appearances. They are depicted at least three times in the Gospels, and even when they appear in different Gospels, their respective behaviour is relatively consistent. Martha and Mary feature in the very dramatic death and raising of their brother, Lazarus, in John Chapter 11. The sisters also appear in John 12, when Mary covers Christ’s feet in costly perfume. However, in today’s Gospel – Luke Chapter 10 – we see their unique characters revealed in a dinner party debacle. Martha establishes herself as the consummate hostess; she becomes completely distracted by her many tasks – which was precisely what would have been expected of the eldest female in the family. Even in many contemporary Middle-Eastern families ‘oldest daughter syndrome’ is an accepted convention. The eldest daughter is trained by the mother in household duties, and in the raising of the younger children. Indeed, even in our own society, going back a few generations, the eldest daughter in a large family would often adopt the role of a deputy mother. As a young woman without parents, Martha would have held a position of great responsibility in the family home. There’s every reason to think that Martha accepted this responsibility joyfully, that is, until she witnesses her younger sister’s shocking behaviour. As Mary sits at Christ’s feet, listening to his every word, she is breaking a number of accepted social conventions. Apart from anything else, it was not a woman’s place to be taught by a man. Mary’s behaviour was simply embarrassing; it was consistently impulsive and emotional. In all three of her three primary appearances in the Gospels, Mary is at Christ’s feet. Weeping uncontrollably, she throws herself at Christ’s feet when Lazarus is dead; later, she anoints his feet and dries them with her hair. In today’s Gospel, she is simply sitting at his feet, eager to learn. Of course, Martha is right to be annoyed; she is working hard, while Mary is only thinking of herself… Well, perhaps Mary is thinking about someone else entirely. Today, with many other Anglicans of our tradition, we celebrate Oxford Movement Sunday. On 14 July 1833, The Rev’d John Keble preached a crucial sermon in Oxford that is generally acknowledged to have started the Oxford Movement. Calling for a reinstatement of ancient liturgical practice and a more Catholic theology, the Oxford Movement completely reformed the Church of England and the Anglican Church across the globe, although it can be a challenge to detect its influence in our own part of the world. The liturgical reforms of the Oxford Movement did not call for Anglicans to return to Rome, although Page | 1
some did. However, the Oxford Movement did encourage an appreciation of ancient liturgical traditions and it encouraged the emphasis of beauty within worship. The idea that we can worship God in the beauty of holiness clearly captured the hearts and minds of our forebears in this parish. For the first hundred years or so, Christ Church St Laurence, steadily climbed up the candlestick; discovering the powerful reality of worshipping in the holiness of beauty. While those of us who love this place have no issue with candles, elaborate vestments, beautiful music and clouds of incense, we have to acknowledge and accept that our tradition is not without its critics. In the eyes of some, Anglo-Catholicism is nothing more than theatrical and self-indulgent escapism. Certainly, as AngloCatholicism thrived in the slum parishes of London, and perhaps even Sydney, it could be argued that high church Anglicanism provided the poor with a degree of escapism. This can still be seen in Africa and other places of great poverty, where Anglo-Catholicism continues to thrive. However, for most of us here today, our worship is not simply a means of escaping from reality. As Mary frustrates and embarrasses her sister, our elaborate and emotional worship is the way that we throw ourselves at Christ’s feet, offering all that we possess – heart, mind and body. As we use all our senses, we hold nothing back as we worship the living presence of God. The Oxford Movement is not the only significant event that we celebrate today. 50 years ago, our very dear friend, Fr Ron Silarsah was ordained to the priesthood. Fr Ron was ordained into an Anglican Church greatly influenced by the Oxford Movement. Like all clergy and laity, no doubt Fr Ron’s ministry has included countless good works and deeds – we are all called to be ‘Marthas’ at times. As we know that Fr Ron is passionate about statistics, I should point out that a priesthood of 50 years has included 2,600 Sundays (with many, many more weekdays in between). I’m sure I speak for Fr Ron and for all clergy of our tradition when I say that nothing we do is as humbling and as important as the worship we offer. Celebrating the Mass, presiding at the altar, is the greatest privilege of the priesthood. Of course, worship is not only the privilege of priests. All the baptised are called into a fellowship of love and service. We are all called to worship God in our lives. But as we strive to live out our unique vocations, nothing will ever be as important as the worship we offer. While we can all busy ourselves with endless tasks, throwing ourselves at the feet of Christ in worship strengthens and sustains us. It guides us; it opens our minds and leads us to use our lives as God intended. Of course, our worship must be emotional, intense and extravagant. How else can we express our love of God; the one thing that matters most in our lives? But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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