Whit Sunday

Abstract

241set. Jesus here has just been talking about doing something for others-and not just talking but acting it out. And his disciples are watching and wondering. Yes, they think, this is the way of life for me ; giving and not getting, serving rather than being served is the Christian way ; now we know. And Jesus said : If you know these things, happy are you if you do them '. Happiness is doing what you believe.Have you ever thought how much of our unhappiness is simply the result of not acting up to what we know ? On the crudest level, if I know that oysters disagree with me and yet can't resist swallowing a plateful some interior unhappiness is bound to result. But worse than a pain in the stomach is the pain in the conscience that comes with refusing to do what we know to be right. How many thousands are seeking psychiatric help across the country because they are suffering from a constant depression which may very well be caused by a refusal to act up to what they know to be right ? Conversely, aren't the happiest moments we know those in which we are conscious of having really responded to the way of life we know to be best ? We are expert in finding excuses for not following through on our beliefs, but the happiest people-and the happiest churches-are those who are really trying to close the gap between the things we believe and the things we do. ' If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.' Well what things do we know ?i . First, we know-don't we-what the disciples knew as they watched the Master wash their feet: that Christianity means serving others in their need. A Christian is committed to a way of life in which selfishness gives place to compassion, and all our time, our talents, and our treasure are held in trust from God to be used as he directs. A church is not a religious club to which we pay our subscriptions in order to receive certain benefits, but a community that exists to offer the Gospel with all its healing power for body, mind and spirit, to everyone we are able to reach. We know this, don't we ? We know this is the Christian way.We believe in a Lord who gave himself-his body and blood-for others, and who calls on us to be givers too. ' If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.' Happiness is doing what we believe.2. Then we know-don't we ?-that the worship and ministry of the Church must have a priority among the many interests, duties and enthusiasms of our daily life. We believe that Jesus is our Lord and Master, and that nothing matters more than being his active disciple. Here at the Table we confess that he is the centre of our life, that, as the Heidelburg Catechism puts it, ' I belong-body and soul, in life and in death-not to myself but to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ '. So the support of his Church is not just one obligation among many, but an integral part of that loyalty we have for him. As we watch so many heart-breaking things happening around us to-day-the corruption, the crime, the cruelties and injustice, the apparent hardening of hearts and cynic...