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Epiphany 2
SERMON - 10.15am, Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Sunday 16th January 2005
Revd. Matthew Vernon
The tsunami has moved off the front page of our newspapers.
Instead,
• at least in the SCMP yesterday,
• we have a foolish British Prince upsetting people with his choice of fancy dress.
The tsunami is off the front page,
• but it's still the headline, the front page, the middle pages, the editorial and the back pages
• for the millions of victims.
In our media, the tsunami now joins the many tragedies and disasters of our world
• that we hardly hear about,
• but which continue every day
• and could easily fill our newspapers many times over:
• child labour in Asia;
• poverty in Africa;
• corruption in South America.
I actually think the SCMP does a pretty good job at covering these terrible things.
But even it has a limited number of pages.
They need to sell copies.
And it's hard for us, the readers,
• hard emotionally and practically
• to follow all that happens in the world.
Imagine what its like for God.
Having other stories on the front pages does help but the tsunami in perspective.
Particularly if we remember the many other terrible events that happen in the world on a daily basis.
Particularly if we remember how many people die in painful circumstances on a daily basis:
• of AIDS or cancer or malaria;
• or suicide bombs or military offensives;
• or smaller natural disasters and accidents.
The scale of events like the tsunami captures our imagination in a fearful way,
• but the dark truth is 150,000 people dying is just part of the global picture.
This is not to undermine the scale of the tsunami tragedy,
• but just to highlight the reality of global suffering.
Amidst all this suffering,
• we continue to remember,
• we continue to celebrate the birth of a baby.
A birth in tough conditions that involved great suffering.
A birth that began a life that was meant for suffering on a cross.
According to Matthew's Gospel,
• after Jesus' birth and the visit of the wise men
• Herod went on a genocidal rampage in Bethlehem,
• killing all male babies 2 years old or younger.
As we heard in this morning's Gospel,
• Joseph, Mary and Jesus escape to Egypt,
• having been warned of Herod's intentions in a dream.
They joined the list of countless poor souls who have been refugees.
Like refugees today, forced to flee persecution or poverty in their homeland.
Despite our cosy Christmas card images,
• the Gospel accounts tell us Jesus was born in difficult circumstances.
Whether according to Matthew as we've seen,
• or according to Luke who says it happened among the animals
• "because there was no place for them in the inn".
At Christmas, I'm used to having a warm, comfortable time at home with my family:
• relaxing,
• enjoying special treats,
• having some time off;
• eating and drinking plenty.
One of the reasons the tsunami has disturbed me so much is it shattered that cosy Christmas experience.
And more deeply it has reminded me that suffering, poverty and death are central to the Christmas story –
• though not part of a normal Christmas for me.
This week we've had Tung Chee Hwa's policy address.
That's not an introduction to a joke!
The good news is "helping the poor and needy" will be a priority for the Government.
Children of poor families will be particular priority.
Mr Tung will establish a commission to alleviate poverty,
• which will "explore practical ways to assist those how suffer from poverty due to old age, disability or single-parent family, particularly those in low-income employment."
As Christians, we should support this,
• for people in need are our priority.
And throughout Hong Kong, Christians work to alleviate the needs of people who are poor and less fortunate.
• The St. Barnabbas Soceity for homeless people was set up by former Emmanuelites.
• The St. James Settlement began as a Cathedral outreach programme.
• The Anglican Social Welfare Council runs welfare centres and centres for the elderly.
And, wonderfully, there are many other programmes run by other Christian denominations and other Faiths.
During Epiphany,
• when we remember the visit of the wise men,
• this Christian priority is emphasised.
We often think that Jesus was born in poverty.
But if we look at the stories it's possible they tell us otherwise.
Mary and Joseph were planning to stay in the inn, so they could afford that.
The wise men brought their strange gifts:
• gold, frankincense and myrrh have never been cheap.
What did Mary and Joseph do with the gifts?
Then they fled to Egypt
• which suggests they had some resources.
Traditionally Mary is on a donkey
• which suggests a level of comfort.
We can't know for sure what the circumstances of Jesus early life were like.
But we do know that as an adult he said the poor are blessed by God.
He made friends with the poor and outcast.
If Jesus had grown up reasonably comfortable
• and turned his back on that as an adult,
• then that is particularly challenging for us who have comfortable lives.
And similarly, the wise men.
They found an ordinary family in temporary accommodation struggling with a new baby.
Not the young prince in a palace that they probably expected.
But they still gave their expensive gifts;
• leaving them in a poor, lowly stable.
So the wise men ask us something.
We,
• who like them can afford gold, frankincense and myrrh,
• what gifts will we give to the poor, the homeless, the refugees,
• the victims of natural disasters?
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