HOMILY ON 1ST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
1 Samuel 21: 1-15
Luke 11: 14-28
I sometimes think the homily or sermon might be more helpful if it came before the readings. You may agree with me that this evening is a case in point! Or having heard the homily, may think the opposite!
Our readings taken on their own and out of context are hard to follow.
What can David, fleeing from Saul say to us today? And what about Jesus’s discourse on Beelzebub – and his words “a house that is divided cannot stand?”
Both readings, if time allows to place them in context, are incredibly rich.
In the Luke reading, Jesus cures a person that was mute. At that time, sadly, those who were handicapped, were believed to be possessed by evil spirits.
In the Samuel reading, David is fleeing from King Saul who suffers from bouts of madness, also seen at the time as possessed by an evil spirit, – Saul, who having loved and promoted David, becomes jealous of his protégé – ever since David using guile, had slain the giant Goliath of Gath and followed this up with victories over the Philistines.
Saul has made a number of attempts to kill David, or have him killed.
David is on the run from the wrathful King Saul. I suggest that should you re-read tonight’s first lesson, do so with the knowledge that Ahimelech the priest and King Achish of Gath (which is where Goliath came from) knew exactly who David was, why he was on the run and were very cautious of him.
At all times, David is alert and always thinking on his feet, the master of ruse. David is a man of many huge qualities and like many successful leaders has his flaws.
“Cometh the time, cometh the man,” so it seems. For the story of Israel at this time is of a people who pay lip service to the word of God, who think that having possession of the Ark of the Covenant is enough, as opposed to living out the word of God.
They take the Ark into the battlefield with them, and when they lose it have to fight battles to reclaim it. Eventually a king will be crowned (King Solomon) who will dedicate his rule to the Lord and build the Temple, God’s permanent house.
“Living out the word of God” is perhaps the most powerful message that comes from our two lessons.
In Luke, when the woman lifts up her voice and exclaims: Blessed is the womb that bare thee”
Jesus immediately deflects these words of praise, we might say words of worship, away from him (and this is so apt as we celebrate the Holy Trinity) deflects them towards the Father:
“Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” This is what Israel had not been doing.
As we feel increasingly fed up with “lock down”, as impatience builds with the Government, with the slowness of the Grenfell enquiry, as we are pulled up short as we reflect on our past, this is the time when we need encouragement.
Study of the word of God provides huge encouragement. The gift of encouragement reminds us that on Friday the church celebrated the life of St. Barnabas.
John Kiddle, the Archdeacon of Wandsworth writing about Barnabas puts it like this:
“Without Barnabas, the newborn and scattered Church might well have foundered. His ministry of grace, loyalty and generosity was fundamental as it found its feet. His gift of encouragement was vital as it navigated new and unchartered territory.”
Let us hear the word of God and keep it. And let us this week, follow the example of St. Barnabas and make special efforts to be sources of encouragement to those we meet on the way.
Father Peter Wolton
14 June 2020