HELLO! are you OK!

19^th July 2009

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

HELLO are you all OK?

I’m not a habitual reader of these magazines.  But... if there’s one lying around... I can’t resist the chance to flick through.

Nearly all of us love to be the centre of attention occasionally.  But can you imagine what it must be like to be so famous, so well known, that people follow you around with cameras.  Is celebrity status really that great?

Well not from what’s in these magazines it isn’t.  Living your life in the public gaze.  Questions and speculation about your intimate relationships, family life, financial problems.  Always having to look physically perfect.  And looking older is something you should fight with all the resources that science can give you.

Jesus seems to be suffering a bit from celebrity status too.  He is not being given a moments peace.  His concern for his hardworking disciples prompts him to take them off to a quiet place. 

The crowds recognise him, and race around the shoreline of the lake to be there before him, spreading the word as they go. If Mark’s account is correct, then as Jesus and his friends reach the shoreline, there’s a crowd of 5000 waiting for them.  No paparazzi with cameras, no autograph hunters, but undoubtedly a few spies in the crowd just waiting to catch him out in something he does or says.

Ah, but here’s the big difference though, Jesus’ life is not built on the shaky foundations of a modern day celebrity.  People are not attracted to him for his good looks, singing ability, or how much wealth he has.  They come for his patience, compassion, and love.  As the loving shepherd he understands what they need.  The disciples may well have been irritated to find so many people at the very place they were to get some rest.  But Jesus just walks in amongst them and begins to talk.

Wherever Christ was, people would gather.

 Gather to hear the good news and to see it in action.  The good news of God’s love, for each and every one of us.  No matter what you look like, what you do, who you are, whether you’re 6 months old or 90.  Unlike us humans, who tend to look only upon the outward appearance of someone; God’s love sees straight to that part within all of us which is beautiful.  I think these words from St. John of the cross say it better than I can.

When you looked at me
your eyes imprinted your grace in me;
for this you loved me ardently ...

and left in me grace and beauty.  

If we dare to open ourselves up to that love it will leave us changed forever.  For like mirrors, we will then reflect God’s love to others, and who knows where that will lead?

Where Christ is, people will gather.

And isn’t that just what we are doing this morning.  Here we are gathered all together in the love of Christ.  Christ will be at the centre of our Eucharist.  His Spirit will be in the waters of baptism.  His love will be amongst as we celebrate not one, but two Ninetieth birthdays after the service.

Where Christians gather together Christ is at the heart of it.

For we are all celebrities in his eyes, and we don’t need beauty, wealth, possessions or to appear on the front page of a magazine to prove it.   AMEN