This is a page from a 600 year old document known as the Voynich Manuscript. For centuries it has fascinated scholars mainly because no one has the faintest idea of what it says! It may well contain the greatest wisdom ever written but if no one can understand what it says it simply becomes a historical curiosity.
This Sunday we celebrate the 1,992nd birthday of the church (give or take a couple of years). Let us pray that the church never becomes a historical curiosity.
A headline in an online newspaper this week: ‘Aussie sacked and replaced by AI’.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the hot topic these days as pundits debate possibilities from doomsday predictions to a scenario where an AI is tasked with procuring you a reservation to a popular restaurant and ends up shutting down all the mobile phone networks and traffic lights in order to prevent other patrons from getting a table!
More measured voices point out the risk of AI is less apocalyptic and more philosophical (and, I would argue, theological) with AI altering the way people view themselves and degrading abilities and experiences that people consider essential to be human. One writer suggests ‘AI is good at accomplishing goals but dangerous because it won’t necessarily align with the moral values of its creators’. Does that sound familiar? Hasn’t it always been this way and AI is just another iteration of a perennial issue: In trying to be more than human (in trying to be god-like) we make ourselves less than human.
How different God’s way is from ours! God’s way is to be human; to give up what we regard as power and prestige and control and become human, with all its limitations! And, surely that’s what God wants for us too: for us to be content to be human, for us to find joy in being human, for us to discover, even, what it is to be human.
There’s no doubt about it, we human beings are creative, determined, independent, resourceful. All those things are positive traits to have. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made! But, there are limits. The self-help life has its limits. To creative, determined, independent, resourceful people that sounds like bad news, and it is. But, when the self-help life reaches its limit the ‘life-without-limits’ life of Jesus begins. How does that sound?
Are you an insider or an outsider? We may consider ourselves as insiders in our congregation, or indeed with God. The stark truth is that we all began life as outsiders from God. Our sin, both original, and actual, disqualified us being part of God’s kingdom, and we faced the future of a life separated from God, and estranged from each other and God’s good creation.
The early church’s ‘Aha’ moment is a word of life and hope for you and me. We are on the inside with God because has also granted to us the ‘repentance that leads to life.’ This wasn’t because God looked at us and determined that we met the criteria for kingdom membership. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Rather, it’s only because of the grace that he has shown us in Jesus Christ. Jesus has transformed us from outsiders into insiders through his cross. He came to live in this world as a human being. God’s insider became an outsider to carry our sin and to suffer the holy anger of his Father against all sin and evil, and taking on himself the sentence of death. The grace of God has turned us inside out.
Scientia potentia est. Knowledge is power.
An explorer returned from an exotic far-away land to her own people who were eager to know about the place she had been. The explorer could easily describe the incredible beauty of the place, with its thundering waterfalls, beautiful foliage and extraordinary wildlife, but how could she put into words the feelings that flooded her heart when she heard the night sounds of the forest, or sensed the dangers of the rapids, or experienced the warm hospitality of the local people? So, she tells them they simply must go to the place themselves, it’s the only way for anyone to really know it. To help them with their journey the explorer draws them a map.
Well, immediately the people pounce on the map, they make copies so everyone has access. They frame the map for their town hall and their homes. They study the map and discuss it often. They have debates and arguments about the best route to take; and before long they consider themselves experts on this wonderful place! After all, don’t they know the location of every waterfall, every bend in the river, every mountain range? But no-one ever goes.
Scientia potentia est. But, there’s knowledge and then there’s knowledge.
“If you are the Messiah,” said the Jewish leaders to Jesus, “tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me”
What is the biggest group that you've ever sung with? For those less musically inclined I would anticipate your answer is something like your church congregation. For the more musically involved, maybe it's on the order of hundreds of people. It could even be that you've attended a large concert and sung with thousands of people. But what if I told you that our Revelations reading for this week and the liturgy of our Divine service says that, actually, we regularly lift our voices in worship with not just those around us, but with thousands upon thousands and myriads upon myriads of angels?
In our Gospel reading today, we hear Jesus use the phrase “peace be with you” three times, but in different contexts. First, to the disciples' fear, bringing joy; second, to Thomas’ doubt, inspiring faith; and third, to all believers as they are sent into the world to share this peace through forgiveness. Through His wounds, His presence, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus not only offers peace but equips His followers to carry that peace into a broken world.
Lost connections and unfamiliar histories are revealed as celebrities trace their family trees. That’s the tagline for the popular television series Who Do You Think You Are? now into its 21st season. What makes the series so watchable, I think, is that people aren’t just given a list of facts about a particular ancestor, they are also presented with a story. And, it’s the story that brings the person to life, both the ancestor and the celebrities who invariably become animated (= instilled with life) as they hear the story of their ancestor. The story gives life.
When the women arrive at the tomb on Easter morning what they are confronted with is not a body, but a story. An amazing story: “He is not here, but has risen! Remember how he told you.” The women don’t get to see Jesus right away, but they are animated by the story as they remember Jesus’ words. It’s a story they just have to tell others as they too become part of the story, this life-giving story which we hear and tell again this weekend. This story that becomes our story too.
Eventually the women do see Jesus, and so will we.
The share-market has been in the news a bit lately. Sounds like it has been a rollercoaster ride for investors and retirees as they watch their nest eggs diminish by the day. Maybe you’re a little nervous too? It’s enough to make someone want to pull all their money out and stick it under the mattress where it’s safer. Which may well be a good strategy for some, but for most people by playing it safe they will lose out, and even go backwards. There’s always a risk in investing. Even in Jesus. You see, you could play it safe and not talk at all about Jesus. That may well be a good strategy for some, but for most people it means you will lose out on the full benefits of a relationship with God, and even go backwards spiritually. Worse than that, others will lose out by not hearing about Jesus. There’s always a risk in investing. Even in Jesus. But, there’s also rewards. Big rewards. Why not have a crack?
* The above comments should not be taken as personal financial advice. Before making any decisions I recommend you obtain your own advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide. However, I take full responsibility for any perceived spiritual advice and recommend it heartily. Unfortunately, yours and my past performance is a reliable indicator of future performance which is why it’s worth investing in Jesus. He’s a good saver.