Sermon: The Tenth Sunday after Trinity

Preacher:

Date:

Sunday 4th August 2013

Service:

Choral Evensong

Readings:

Genesis 50

1 Corinthians 14

For those of you who know the musical “Joseph”, you’ll recollect that it ends with the following reprise:

May I return to the beginning
The light is dimming, and the dream is too
The world and I, we are still waiting
Still hesitating, any dream will do.

Give me my coloured coat,
My amazing coloured coat.

That amazing coloured coat is a symbol of the corrosive effect of covetousness; something which Paul knows of within community; he knows how important words of encouragement are in the face of disappointment or fear; he knows how God’s grace, mediated in human lives, can offer comfort, hope and renewed promise.

To begin with Paul: he is extremely critical of the Corinthians’ emphasis on the gift of tongues, and in a sense he positions himself well to challenge them because he acknowledges his own gift in this area. To able to speak in tongues was a highly coveted gift and was therefore extremely dangerous. It might induce spiritual pride resulting from the admiration of others; it might induce waves of deliberate hysteria arising from the desire to possess it. Speaking in tongues enriched the spiritual experience of the individual. However, without interpretation it was not understood by anyone else. It did not have a positive impact on the whole congregation.

Paul contrasts this with the gift of prophecy – which, understood biblically, is about communicating God’s message; making known his will. It sometimes meant setting out alternative visions of the future – set aside God’s commandments, and disaster would follow; obey them, and human lives would flourish. Prophecy is something that can be understood by everyone; it enriches and builds up; it encourages the community of faith. Paul then goes on to use several illustrations to make his point: contrasting musical harmony with cacophony, clarity with confusion, and understanding with gibberish.

So back to Joseph: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical leaves us with a reprise about the amazing coloured coat. The coat which became so coveted by Joseph’s brothers, with the extravagance, favouritism and preferential treatment it represented. It became a source of pride and jealousy. Added to which, Joseph begins to have dreams (those most private of revelations of our subconscious fears and longings) and his interpretations only increases his brothers’ resentment.

In his youth, Joseph’s precocious self-confidence and his comfortable place as favourite reveals the same spiritual dangers that Paul is alert to. His gifts arouse envy. His interpretations do not build up the family or wider community. He learns how to use his gifts for many over his life time. In slavery and imprisonment, in positions of power and in being reunited with his family he grows in wisdom and insight. His experience has revealed to him something of the truth of God; and has taught him humility and concern for others.

It is as if, in Paul’s phraseology, he has learnt to speak and interpret with his mind as well as spirit. Paul thought it better to speak a few intelligible sentences that to offer an overflow of unintelligible sounds. So his interpretation of dreams enables Egypt to be governed with wisdom ensuring stability in the wake of famine; his understanding of his own position becomes one of responsibility and service, which is far removed from his youthful arrogance. In maturity, he has known grief, loss, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Tonight’s text in a sense draws the familiar narrative to its conclusion: Jacob dies, there is a time of mourning with the combined households joining in a great and sorrowful lament. The loss of the head of a household can sometimes engender anxiety about who’ll keep the sibling rivalries in check; or concern about how as adult orphans you inhabit that role for the sake of future generations.

All of that is there in Genesis. The brothers worried that Joseph still bore a grudge and they fabricate a story to protect themselves. However, Joseph responds: “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do me harm, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people as he is doing today. Have no fear; I will provide for you and your little ones”.

He recognises his humanity. He looks back at the past and sees it through a different lens. God has used his gifts to bring his family, and a nation, out of famine. What was a vision of youthful arrogance and conceit becomes a vision of provision, stability and care for the next generation.

Joseph’s gift of being able to interpret dreams becomes an example of prophecy: people are built up, enriched and encouraged. The musical takes us right back to the beginning of the story – capturing the moments of dreaming, feelings of fading hope and fear, expressions of hesitancy and fragility.

Yet at the end of Genesis we hear not only of words of kindly reassurance in the present, but also a renewed expression of hope in the future. As he faces his own death, Joseph boldly returns to God’s promise. His descendants will be brought out of Egypt to the land promised to his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He speaks of God’s faithfulness; he sets out a vision for the next stage of their journey; he shares the hope of liberation, which is as pertinent now as then.

Paul is also acutely aware of the need for gifts to strengthen the church – individually and corporately. There are times when we are in need of encouragement. Dreams sometimes fade; our most sustained efforts can sometimes deliver disappointing results; we become aware of our own fragility, failures and inadequacies. Preaching and prophecy, praise and praise is not just about building up an understanding of the substance of our faith, but also offering us encouragement as we live it out. We are to set that within the broader context of the biblical narrative – looking forward to a time when justice and mercy reign; when God will be all in all. Or as in the words of Psalm 85 ‘Salvation is at hand for those who fear him that his glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky”.

Meanwhile, building up, encouraging and comforting are all expressions of God’s grace – as it works through us. We are all called to use those gifts in being attentive to each other as well as to God. What is it from our own experience that might illuminate others, as we share the challenges and delights of our discipleship? Two of the most inspiring conversations I have had recently have been with two groups of people about prayer: clergy and theologians, and our Sunday school leaders. In both contexts we shared our struggles, our ideas and influences and were enriched by that honesty and engagement. How does what we say reflect compassion? We have to lay aside ambition and covetousness; and seek instead justice and liberation from all that dehumanises.

Joseph offers comfort and encouragement by reminding his family of God’s story and their place in it. They like us had experienced grief, uncertainty and weariness. Joseph offers a practical outworking of Isaiah’s vision of those things being exchanged for the oil of gladness and the mantel of praise. In their care for one another they find something that is hopeful. We like Joseph are to build others up in faith and hope and love.

Joseph has to learn that there is no place for selfishness and ego in the use of his gifts; Paul reminds the Corinthians of the same thing. Worship is not a place for selfishness or the imposition of one’s own preoccupations. Both readings remind us of the importance of what we do being for the sake of the other; and for the sake of God’s purposes being revealed. Joseph's dreams faded, but their interpretation reshaped the lives of those around him. Paul's speech in tongues enriched his spiritual experience, but it is his teaching that continues to challenge and inspire us.

Paul roots all that in worship. The purpose of worship is to draw us closer to God – listening, waiting, being who we are in all our complexity and allowing his love and grace to permeate our bodies, minds and spirits. Praise has no utilitarian purpose; it expresses our creatureliness before the creator: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. However, that said it does draw us closer to each other too in that gathering of lives and attention. Our worship should be intelligible in order that our hearts might be comforted and our minds satisfied; in order that what we grasp with our mind might give strength to our lives. Echoing the words of this evening’s anthem: it is a singing with the Spirit that opens us to an understanding of our heavenly Father’s will; it is a singing with the Spirit that equips us to follow Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!