Sentence: Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Matthew 10: 40
Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.
Just to keep you all updated whanau. Te Wairua Tapu will not be open for use until the renovations are completed. At this stage we are hoping it will be August but I will keep you informed. In the meantime, I will continue to post my weekly kauwhau on our church Facebook page.
Over the past couple of weeks, the focus of the gospel has been on mission. The verses from Matthew today come at the end of Jesus’ korero to his disciples (10:5-42). Up to this point, Jesus has been talking about what the disciples should do and the difficulties that they will face and what others will do to them because of their witness for Christ. Jesus then teaches them about hospitality in the context of discipleship. These verses speak about hospitality as receiving and welcoming strangers.
I was talking to a friend the other day, and we were sharing how privileged we were to grow up in small but tight rural communities. Every home was our home, every meal in any of those homes was our meal, we played together, got hidings from each other and our parents, aunties and uncles. What was theirs was ours and what was ours was theirs. We were taught hospitality by people who lived it. Of course, the community wasn’t perfect but we learnt the essence of hospitality and everybody contributed to giving life to the community. They lived out their theology. Their relationship with God was real! Even strangers were felt welcome, invited into our homes and shared in a meal, it wasn’t a feast but they got a feed and a bed for the night, even if it meant you getting kicked out of your bed and you had to share with someone else or a couple of others. Took me a lot of years to work it all out but I understand the lesson. What you give is what you get back. Don’t give if you expect something back, you’ll be waiting a long time. And when you do receive, watch out, it may not be what you expected, it will be more than you can imagine. However, we both agreed, times have changed and life is no longer like that but for us we will maintain the same values and principles. Why? Because hospitality is God given so why change?
In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that discipleship is a privilege and a huge responsibility. He tells us that we represent him before others and the reverse is also true: that others represent him before us. Jesus assures us that he is present in our lives when we welcome others into our midst, especially strangers, and he is also present when others do the same for us. In other words, we bring Christ before others in our homes, in the church, at work, out socialising and anything else we do in the world. What would happen if, every day, we were always conscious of this truth and did our best to put it into practice? Rather than just on Sundays! When we offer and receive hospitality, Jesus is made present. This is the most precious gift we could give to anyone!
Most of us probably don’t find it hard to offer hospitality to our family and friends, but what about the stranger, people we don’t know? How often do we welcome them? Do we give them the gift of Christ’s presence? Or do we say to ourselves, they’re all good, they got their own people who take care of them? Hospitality is risky business. An open heart and an open home or church is a target for unpleasant experiences. We all know how people can take advantage of others hospitality and generosity: bring nothing, give nothing, take everything! But that’s okay. God knows, so let it be. That’s the thing about hospitality. It isn’t only about showing it or being it at home but going some place and quietly hoping that the receiver of our hospitality will see Christ in us but when we arrive, we realise Christ is already there, in them, waiting to greet us. This is where we need to acknowledge that as followers of Christ we are special and unique but so is everyone else. Don’t ever believe you or we are the only ones serving Christ, you will only end up disappointed.
You see, the real meaning of discipleship hospitality is found in inviting someone into your space who cannot repay you and someone who is unfamiliar to you. Why? Because Christ is the hospitality of God toward us. God invites all to the great banquet, the feast which none of us can repay. God gives to us fully in his son Jesus Christ and God also fully receives us and accepts us as we are. To be faithful disciples and to represent God, we need to push the boundaries of what we find comfortable and easy. Strangers will always make us uncomfortable but with God’s help it’s not impossible to reach out to them. So the next time you give or receive hospitality, remember to just rejoice in the other person’s presence; not judge them. Remember that it may very well make all the difference in the world to the person who receives your hospitality. And remember the reverse is also true; someone may be the very presence of Christ for you in an unexpected time and place. Amen.
Collect: God of hospitality, even a glass of water given in your name is rewarded beyond measure. So fill our hearts with love that we welcome all in your name, For you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
The Venerable Kaio Karipa Chaplain The Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
Readings: Genesis 21: 8-21 Ps 86: 1-10, 16-17 Romans 6:1b-11 Matthew 10: 24-39 Sentence: ‘Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’ Matthew 10:36
Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.
Relationships. That’s the core of today’s gospel reading whanau and Jesus highlights the most important relationship we will ever have and that’s with him. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” In the first relationship there is Jesus, us, and our mother and father. In the second there is Jesus, us, and our children. Of course these are not the only relationships in our lives as they can involve anyone or anything.
However, in every relationship it confronts us with two questions. What is your most important relationship? And, whom do you love the most? After hearing Jesus’ words it’s not hard to figure out it’s him. But the answer is never that simple or that easy to define. It takes time to work it out. I would like to think and say with heaps of confidence that Jesus is my most important relationship, as I am sure some of you would acknowledge, that he is first and he is the one you love the most too. However, as you know, relationships are places of struggle and conflict. They are never cut and dried. We are either always right, never wrong, or we are always afraid of doing something wrong or hurting and letting someone down. We fear failure. And our relationship with Jesus is no different. So who do you choose? Do you choose Jesus over your parents, children, wife, husband, partners or siblings? Big call aye! As hard as it may be that’s what Jesus said you and I must do. If you want to follow me, then it’s going to cost you. And it’s a lot more than you think. Surrendering, giving up or letting go is never easy but the end result is amazing.
If Jesus asks us to love him more than our own parents and children, our own whakapapa (flesh and blood), then he also demands it with everything else in our lives. There can be only one relationship in our lives and Jesus says it’s to be with him. His demand is not just limited to our parents or our children. It’s over everyone and everything in our life. Our love of work, power, reputation, money, politics, agendas, ideology, friends, beliefs, values, rituals and the list goes on. Jesus says, whoever loves self more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever loves anyone or anything more than me is not worthy of me. So, what is your most important relationship? Whom do you love the most?
Today’s gospel holds before us and confronts us with the many loves in which we all live and struggle with. But it demands we make a choice. Does that mean we must reject our parents, our children, our spouses, and all other love interests? No, that’s not what Jesus is saying or asking. Jesus is not demanding he be exclusive. Instead, he is demanding he be our first priority. Jesus refuses to be just another one of our many love interests.
Jesus demands he be our first priority because it’s for our own good as well as the good of all our other love interests. We can only ever have one primary relationship. That one relationship gives us our identity, meaning and direction in our lives. It becomes the lens through which we see the world, each other, and ourselves. Jesus is the foundation on which we build our lives. He guides the choices we make, the words we say, and the ways in which we act and relate. He sets a true path for our lives and determines how we love. Why then would we want it to be something or someone other than Jesus, especially when he is God embodied in human life, whakapapa (flesh and blood)?
So how do we pick Jesus over our children, our spouses and our parents? How do we look at them and say, “I love Jesus more?” Easy, when you love God more, everyone and everything else becomes easier to love. No one or anything is left out, excluded, or rejected. God, not you or I become the source and origin of our love. This is the love by which we take up our cross and choose to follow Jesus, the same love with which Jesus loves us. Amen.
Collect: Caring God, even a sparrow is protected by you. Imprint upon our hearts, that because we belong to you, no one can pluck us from your hand; and because we fear you, we need fear no other. Through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
The Venerable Kaio Karipa Chaplain Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu www.tewairuatapu.com.au
Readings: Genesis 18:1-15 Ps 116:9-17 Romans 5:1-8 Matt 9:35-10:23 GREEN
Sentence: ‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’ Matthew 10: 16
Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.
Well whanau, you can sense everything is returning to some normality in Sydney. More traffic on the roads, more people gathering in one spot and more freedom to move about, unless you want to protest, that’s a no-no! But people are still choosing not to listen. While all this is happening, I am being asked when we will return to Te Wairua Tapu and at this stage it could possibly be early next month depending on work getting completed on the church. So not just yet.
Therefore, we have been given more time to consider what we need to do before our return. And in today’s gospel from Matthew, ‘Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. So he says to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ Isn’t this what we have all been waiting for? The whole reason why we have spent so much time in isolation? To prepare us to re-engage with a world that has changed dynamically forever. Where everything is no longer white, black or gray. Everything that was sure, certain and even uncertain, is gone. Structures and institutions are trying to hold onto power while they are being de-constructed at the same time because people no longer trust anybody or any concept and idea that is being presented to them. Instead, they are asking more questions and, the more answers that keep coming, the more questions are being asked. The world we knew and the world we thought we understood is gone. All knowledge, power and control is under seige and people want it all torn down. That is the world we now face.
But like I have said since writing this series of kauwhau. Be still, be patient and wait, be at peace, have faith and trust God. Nothing has changed. When we choose to follow Jesus, we choose to listen and live out his teachings. So Jesus tells us today that when we engage with the world we are to show compassion no matter where we go or whom we encounter because there will be many harassed and many helpless. We are, therefore, called not only to see the pain and suffering of others but to do something about it. But the paradox of the gospels is that Jesus always challenges our thinking and when we think we got it, we don’t and everything is not clear or definitive, yet it is. When we think we know which group or individual we are supposed to help, someone or some thought comes along and we have to alter our thinking and our being.
The other point Jesus states, if you think or expect others to simply follow you, then forget it. There’s plenty of work to do but only a few end up doing it. I’m sure you know what I mean and this resonates with many who understand the sacrifice and commitment required to do any job. The problem when we take up our own cross, we expect everyone else to carry the same cross and do the same thing and bear the same burden. It just doesn’t happen like that. It takes time. And it’s in God’s time not human time. Many are called but few are chosen. So those who are chosen must learn to share the load. Each one must identity where they belong in the picture. Some think they can do everything and don’t need help, others believe they are chiefs but really they’re not and others think they can cook but really they can’t, others say they can do anything but only end up getting in the way. A couple of weeks ago, I alluded to identifying one’s gifts. Have you figured it out for yourselves whanau? Jesus names his twelve disciples. Are you one of the twelve Jesus is calling today? I don’t know. But Jesus is saying, it’s time to move and you better have clarity on what and where you can best serve the church and it’s mission.
Jesus is clear about the mission; As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the message we are called to deliver to the people and don’t expect the people to receive it with their arms opened wide. In other words, God has come through his Son Jesus Christ and therefore your words and your actions have to be real and authentic, if not, you’re in for a hiding to nothing. Why? Because God is the ultimate target that humanity really wants to tear down and destroy. But That’s okay. Our job is to continue planting the seed of God’s love in our little corner of the world at Te Wairua Tapu. And that love is in and through Jesus Christ. That’s all we have to do but we also know it’s not going to be easy. But that’s okay too. Amen.
Collect: Bountiful God, with a generous hand you sow the seeds of the Kingdom. Grant us the grace to cultivate your saplings, that all might find shade in the forest of love. Through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
The Venerable Kaio Karipa Chaplain The Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
Readings: Genesis 1:1-2:4a Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 Matthew 28:16-20 WHITE Sentence: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ Matthew 28: 19
Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.
Today the church celebrates Trinity Sunday. It’s the day when I am supposed to explain what it all means. In short, the Trinity equals God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. That’s it. I’ve learnt over the years that when it comes to thinking about God and trying to explain how God functions is something that an individual must discover for themselves. Why? Because today, every person has their own understanding and perspective about God. Some only believe in God, not Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Others believe Jesus is God, therefore, there is no need for God or the Holy Spirit. And then those, who believe we only need the Holy Spirit to lead us to God not Jesus. And the list goes on.
I recall a cousin visiting Sydney about 30 years ago and she came with me one night and she asked, ‘Where are we going?’ It was about 9.30pm and I replied, ‘A whanau has asked if we could go to their whare and have karakia’. My cousin quickly answered, ‘Ea, you’re wasting your time. God won’t hear your prayers, he’s gone to sleep!’ Simple theology but effective and she never went to a theological college like I was privileged to do five years later. Of course, I disagreed with her but didn’t tell her as she would’ve slapped my ears! Then I’ve heard on numerous occasions that we all believe in One God and worship the same God. Seriously? Look around, is all what is happening in the world okay because we worship the One and the same God? People are tired of listening to theological concepts devised by other people that don’t culturally and socially fit with their community. Is my opinion really that important to explain how the Trinity is constructed and how it works? Google Trinity and you will get hundreds of interpretations much better than mine!
For me, when you see people holding bibles and others saying open them up, that’s okay, but the problem is they all need to read what is written inside. And once you have read what is written you apply it to your life. Simple. Well, obviously not. We are constantly told by others this is what it says but remember my job is to interpret scripture not live by it. You see, we were given the Bible and told this is what’s contained inside, you can’t read and you’re not smart enough so we will train and indoctrinate people to teach you about what‘s inside but whatever you do, you can’t think for yourself okay, because you’re not smart enough and you’ll be wrong. So, how’s that been going for you, me and the world?
Whanau, part of my role as a priest is to teach. So I will always challenge and encourage you to think for yourself, especially when it comes to God and your faith. The simplest way I can explain the Bible today is that it’s made up of three sections: 1. The Old Testament (God’s story) 2. The Gospels (Jesus’ story) and 3. The Epistles (The Holy Spirit’s story). And everything that goes on in all three stories is interconnected and all about God’s unconditional love for all creation throughout time and space. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. That’s the Trinity.
I’m assuming you’ve read the readings for today but in case you haven’t, here are three passages taken from them for you to ponder on. Firstly, (God’s story) In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3) Secondly, (Jesus’ story) Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:16-20) Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Thirdly, (The Holy Spirit’s story) Brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. (2 Corinthians 13:11-13)
The Holy Trinity is not a concept to be explained, a numbers game to be calculated, or a problem to be solved. It’s a life to be lived and love to be shared with others. In other words, stop thinking about God and live the life you are called to be and share the love we have received from God. Amen.
Collect: Blessed Trinity, we know you as a community of love. Grant us such worship of you that we are transformed after your likeness; to be creative, caring, life enriching people. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love. This we ask through Christ our Mediator. Amen
