We’ve now come, once again, to that time of year in the lives of our parishes that we could call ‘APCM Season’. Over the last couple of weeks the various notices and nomination forms for the APCMs have been displayed in our churches and today, St Mark’s holds its APCM with St Gabriel’s due to hold theirs in 2 weeks’ time. So, whilst I’m sure they haven’t been chosen for that reason, today’s readings are very fitting.
In our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we read the story of Matthias being chosen to replace Judas as an Apostle. Now, before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I’m in no way implying that those who have held posts in the Church and have retired, resigned or for any other reason need to be replaced as officer holders in our parishes should in any way be equated with Judas and regarded as traitors and betrayers of the Lord. Rather, this reading makes it quite clear that the Church coming together to choose and appoint people from amongst its membership to hold office in the Church and on behalf of the Church, is a custom and practice that is as old as the Church itself. Older perhaps, because Matthias was chosen before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and we usually regard that as the birth of the Church.
And if our first reading is fitting because it assures us that we’re on very firm ground for what we do at our APCMs, our Gospel reading is equally fitting because that tells us what those who are chosen, elected or appointed to hold office in the Church, need to be about.
We know that, in the world, those who hold office don’t always act in a manner appropriate to their office and position. For example, we call our politicians ‘public servants’ but we know that very often, our politicians use their position to be self-serving. That’s the root of the political scandals we hear about so often in the media. But that’s the world’s way, and in this morning’s Gospel, Jesus makes it quite clear that whilst we, his disciples, are in the world, we called to be not of the world. In other words, we are called to do things differently than they’re usually done in the world. And Jesus calls on the Father to sanctify, or consecrate his disciples in the truth, the truth that is God’s word. So what does that mean?
Well, to sanctify or consecrate means to make holy and, as I’ve said on a number of occasions in the past, to be holy means to be called and set apart from worldly affairs, to serve God. And if we’re called to be sanctified or consecrated in the truth that is God’s word, we’re called to become holy by our observance of God’s word and our obedience to his word. In other words, we’re called to become holy by doing things God’s way rather than the world’s way. But there’s more to it than just that.
In the prologue to his Gospel, St John calls Jesus the Word made flesh. And Jesus himself said that he was the way, the truth and the life. So, if Jesus is God’s word and truth, to be made holy in the truth of God’s word, is to become holy by our observance of and obedience to Jesus’ words and example. And, of course, that is the calling of all Christians, it’s why we’re called Christians, because we’re followers and imitators of Christ.
That is the calling of all Christians, but it’s especially important that those who are chosen and appointed to office in the Church are true to that calling because they are called to represent and serve the Church and its people. They’re called, if you like, to be the public servants of the Church. And there is very often a wider public aspect to holding office in the Church too. Those who hold office in the Church are usually known as Christians in the wider community and because of that, it’s especially important that they’re not like so many of their public service counterparts in other areas of life. Political scandal can be very damaging to those involved, but a scandal in the Church impacts the whole Church, each and every one of us who profess to be Christians. Most people in our society may not come to Church and they may not have much time for the Church, but they know that Christians are supposed to do things differently than other people. A scandal in the Church says that we don’t. It says that we’re no different to anyone else. If people think that, why should they take any Christian, or the Church, and what we say seriously? And if our actions bring the Church into disrepute, what are we saying about the truth of God’s word? At the very least we’re saying that we don’t take the truth of God’s word seriously, and how then can we ever hope or claim to be made holy in the truth of God’s word?
I don’t want to put anyone off offering themselves for office in the Church or to decline the offer it they’re asked, but to stress that with office in the Church comes responsibility. Responsibility to our fellow Christians, both in our own parish and in the wider Church. It also comes with responsibility to Jesus and to God. That might sound frightening, but it doesn’t need to be. We can use those responsibilities as an incentive and encouragement to be true to our Christian calling to be consecrated in the truth of God’s word and his word made flesh, Jesus.
We know that we often fail to live up to our calling as well as we should but, as long as we don’t deliberately neglect or reject our calling, as Judas Iscariot did, we always have the reassurance that Jesus himself, our heavenly advocate and High Priest, will plead to the Father for our forgiveness. And as Jesus, God’s word and truth said, he will watch over us to make sure that none of those who are called are lost, unless we ourselves choose to be lost.
Amen.
The Propers for the Seventh Sunday of Easter can be viewed here.
Parish Church of St Mark Chadderton 