If we cast our minds back some 18 months or so, to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ll probably remember that, when the scale of the pandemic began to dawn on us and we realised how much our lives were going to have to change, at least for the foreseeable future, people were wondering how we’d all react to this. The question was asked whether the pandemic would bring out people’s better nature and whether it would show that, despite appearances to the contrary, when it came to the crunch, people were much more public spirited, caring, and willing to help others than they often appear to be. And I know that many people did think that this would be the case. But what has actually been that reality of life with Covid-19? What has the pandemic revealed about people?
We have to say that many people did indeed rally to the aid of others. Many people helped those who were particularly vulnerable to Covid by shopping for them and, in so far as they could, keeping in touch with them to make sure that the vulnerable were not so isolated and alone as they might otherwise have been. Our health service workers went above and beyond the call of duty to care for those who were ill because of coronavirus. In fact, I’m sure we can all think of people who really have shown true concern, true Christian love we might say, for others during the pandemic.
But if many have shown their true colours by helping others, we have to say that many have shown their true colours in a very different way because I don’t think there can be any doubt whatsoever that the coronavirus pandemic has shown many people in our society to be crass and selfish.
How many people have we heard say that it was wrong to impose lockdowns to try to limit the spread of coronavirus? How many people do we know, or know about, who ignored the calls, and even the legislation to socially distance and limit their contact with others? How many people do we know, or have we heard, who’ve said that we were making a mountain out of a mole hill and that Covid-19 was no worse than flu? How many people do we know, or have we heard, who were, and still are, adamant that they will not be vaccinated against this virus? I know quite a few people who’ve said and done all these things and who’ve criticised me and argued with me because I followed the advice to shield at the start of the lockdown, and was vaccinated. I even know some who’ve said and done all these things whilst at the same time criticising others for saying and doing them. People who’ve tried to act as though life was normal, as though Covid-19 either wasn’t real or wasn’t serious, whilst criticising others for doing the same, and acting as though everything was normal. And in the early days of the pandemic there was that other sign of people’s selfishness and lack of concern for others, one which we’ve been reminded of in recent weeks, panic buying.
I said that these things are a sign of people’s true colours, and I said that because I thinks it’s true. Crass selfishness is something that we see so much of in the world regardless of the cause, or reason, or excuse. And because it is so common and so widespread it’s a massive problem for all of us, regardless of who we are or where we live. We’ve seen it during the coronavirus pandemic, and we’re seeing it again now. This time, various excuses are being given for it; supply chain issues, shortage of workers, especially drivers, the energy crisis; take your pick. And all this is still because of Covid, or is it Brexit? But whatever the excuse people use for the way they behave when there’s a problem in the world, time and time again, they behave in the way they do because of crass selfishness, a self-centred attitude towards life and an un-thinking, insensitivity to the needs of others.
Today, we’re having our Harvest Thanksgiving services and so it’s a day when, in addition to thanking God for our food, we remember where our food comes from; that it’s the produce of the earth. And so, as our food comes from the richness of the earth, it’s a day when we should remember and give thanks for the earth, the good earth that God has given us stewardship over. And yet, as we give thanks for these things, we do so in the knowledge that we’ve been bad stewards of the earth; we’ve not cared for it as we should have done and now, the earth is in trouble, and because of that, so are we. And yet, don’t we see and hear the same kind of attitude towards the problem of climate change as we have done towards coronavirus during the pandemic? Don’t we hear people denying that anything is wrong? Don’t we see people carrying on with ‘business as normal’ despite the damage that business is doing to the environment? And what lies behind all this except crass selfishness? People are making too much money to stop what they’re doing. People are too comfortable with the way things are to change. And, of course, someone else is always to blame and it’s always someone else’s problem isn’t it.
I think perhaps these things can be summed up by some comments that were made during a conversation I had about climate change some time ago now. A group of us were discussing the problem and talking about what changes we’d like to see and what changes we’d be prepared to make ourselves to do something about the problem. Some people said they weren’t prepared to do anything because it won’t make any difference what we as individuals do, governments and big business had caused the problem and so it was up to them to do something about it. And one person said they weren’t going to make any changes to the way they live because of climate change because, and I quote, “it’s a problem for the future and with a bit of luck, I’ll be dead by then.” It’s not my problem, why should I do anything about it? How crass, how self-centred can anyone be about anything, let alone a problem that affects each and every one of us, and will do for generations to come?
Isn’t it just that kind of attitude though, that Jesus warns us about in our Gospel reading this morning? At St Mark’s this morning we heard the parable of the Rich Fool, a man who was happy and content with the way things are. And why not, he’d done well for himself, thank you very much, so why should he want to do anything other than enjoy what he had. Why should he want to do anything but eat, drink and be merry? He was a man who already had enough but wanted even more and, when he got it, he wanted to keep it all for himself. Why should he care about those who didn’t have as much, or even enough? That was their problem. (Does this sound a bit like panic buyers by the way?). We have a saying based on the parable of the Rich Fool, don’t we, ‘Eat, drink and be merry because tomorrow we die.’ But for the man in the parable, tomorrow never came, he was to die that night and so he never got to eat, drink and be merry as he’d hoped to. But his bigger problem was that he now had to answer for his crass selfishness, for his greed and lack of concern for anyone but himself. And that’s a lesson that so many people today need to learn. The problem is, of course, that so many people today don’t seem to believe they ever do, or will have to answer to anyone, for anything they do.
And in our Gospel reading at St Gabriel’s this morning, Jesus urges us to stop worrying about earthly matters; to let go of our obsession with earthly riches. To stop thinking in terms of how much can we have and get and instead to strive for God’s kingdom and his righteousness. To put all our efforts into living as God wants us to live. And if we do want to live that way, there can’t be any room in our lives for the crass selfishness that so many people seem to show in their lives. Because to live as God wants us to live means that we must think every bit as much about others as we do about ourselves.
Harvest Thanksgiving is a time when we’re reminded of the importance of doing that. It’s a time when we give thanks to God for our food, for the riches and richness of the earth, and for all his goodness towards us. But it’s also a time when we are asked to think about others and our Harvest gifts are a sign and symbol of that. So, let’s make this Harvest Thanksgiving a reminder of our need to show our true colours as Christians. Not just at Harvest Thanksgiving time, nor at any other time or day of the year, but all the time on each and every day of every year. To show that we’re not rich fools but people who strive each and every day of our lives for God’s kingdom and righteousness.
Amen.
The Propers for Harvest Thanksgiving can be viewed here.
Parish Church of St Mark Chadderton 