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Lord, may we learn from your Word, and rejoice in our unity.
It's a privilege to be able to welcome our German visitors and to see in action that Unity which we have read about in the Gospel.
In this Ascension time it is particularly wonderful to feel the positive joy, the achievements - the successes. All that has happened in Germany since my mother came to England in 1932. . . And indeed the two readings today are about the necessity and urgency towards the unity that is brought to us by love - powerful strong love, more powerful than the violence we expect today.
The media, the films, the news stories and our travel all bring us in touch with the power of violence these days - in fact the power of power itself. Might is right and we take what we want and need. And that's just the Shepherd household!
The wonderful story from Acts is all about the Power of Love, it seems to me, and as
such is not only a fantastic adventure story, but goes against a lot of the expectations
of the world these days.
Painted in bright colours - the Eagle used to use cartoon strip formulae for these
amazing stories.
Like the most exciting thriller adventure. It's got everything - human violence, the
violence of the physical world, chains of imprisonment, and a near suicide. It happens
in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia. You can see the headlines: Disturbances
caused by two renegades. Shares in profitable astrology business dropping like stones.
Earthquake shakes province: Dramatic prison rescue and later Roman citizen flogging
shock horror. Soothsayer tells the truth. Freed prisoners stay put.
The story: Paul and his gang rescue a trafficked girl. She was a slave being used as much as any girl nowadays - threatening someone's profit margins, and dared to recognise the goodness of Paul. Something in them reached her and she realised the truth. There follows a terrible beating, and prison - you could be thrown in without a judge. . .Then - high drama! A well-placed earthquake that busts the chains - then a distraught jailer about to shoot himself.
In films though we might expect the bad guy who is in prison, to be busted out. Violence pays.
Here an incredible story of awful violence turned to love. Suddenly we go from a gangster movie to a family film The jailer is so moved by the fact that his prisoners are still all in situ that he imagines there's something terribly special about Paul and Silas - as there is! His first idea is, how can I have what you've got? Suddenly from violence and cruelty - for the jailer was the one who'd shoved them into the prison and put them into the stocks - he is transformed. They go back to his house - hot water, first aid, the whole family involved - the whole family baptised, and the evening rounded off with a hot meal. The jailer no longer has fear of what the authorities can do. Love has transformed the situation. Not what we are used to!
It's rather satisfying to read on to the end of the story, where Paul refuses to go quietly, and makes sure the magistrates realise their mistake! This protects the church there of course. They have to make a written apology practically. Headlines now -'Oh man! They're Romans' 'We shouldn't have beaten them, say shamefaced police.'
In no other religion is weakness seen as strength. From the example of Jesus, and here of Paul, we see that submission, allowing things to happen, is sometimes the right way.
No wonder religion is not so popular these days. We believe that we're special, that what we want is important, and that we must assert ourselves and worry about 'me' time. Because we're worth it, and we deserve it. Was there a moment when Paul and Silas wondered whether they should take their heaven-sent opportunity and abscond?
This world has believed in violence so long as the answer - might is right, that we find it hard to believe that imprisoned people would not move to save themselves. Paul knew that love was stronger. Did he know that the jailer would be in danger? Or that the truth needed to come out - he had been wrongly beaten, as a Roman citizen. His fear was gone, because he had seen Christ crucified become the Living Lord for him. What is more likely to take away fear than the idea that your God, a victim of horrific violence, has prevailed?
We might be tempted, and often are, to feel that there is so much violence in the world, that love CAN'T win.
The history of our countries might make us feel sad and may be pessimistic: the last century was so particularly marked by violence - reconciliation is hard to achieve. The British Empire led to jealousy, other countries wanting their share 'ein Platz an der Sonne' said Kaiser Bill. Then war, and the idea that Europe could solve its problems through armed conflict.
And now we see what are miracles really - the EU with its determination to have
cooperation - where the border is hard to find!
And recently, the two archenemies in Ireland sitting down together. Gerry Adams and
Rev. Paisley actually wanting the best for Ireland - wow! East Timor has won
independence - we fought for that when I was in Christian Aid. Many fledgling
countries slowly making it as independent, in Europe too.
And when I was a child, there were posters up in Germany deploring the division -
'Drei geteilt? Niemals!' But no-one truly expected the Wall to come down and the
posters disappeared. Then in 1989 - what a miracle. And it's one Germany again.
People realising that violence, though the world's way, is NOT the final answer.
Slowly, sometimes imperceptibly, right wins through.
My mother who suffered from the hatred between her two countries, would never have thought that a sermon would be preached in German - yet that has happened twice In Worcester Cathedral. And our friendship with Wolmirstedt is well established and is being cemented every year, with our regular prayers and regular visits. In Christ we can be brought to 'complete unity', leaving behind the differences, the misery, the resentment, the desire for revenge and for justifying ourselves.
Paul and his fellows didn't take their obvious chance, the escape that would give revenge and wreck the jailer's life. Instead, he and the others did what the thrillers and films never do: waited, and did what was right. So from being suicidal, the mailer became a committed follower and took his whole family with him. Love, though it may look weak, is strong. The power of love can, and will, prevail.
Lord, give us faith in the power of your love to transform and redeem our world. Amen.
Christine Shepherd
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