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Homilies by Rev. Andrew Collis unless indicated otherwise.
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Epiphany 7, Year C
50th Anniversary of the Ordination of the Rev. Robin Trebilcock
South Sydney Uniting Church
February 24, 2019
Genesis 45:3-11,15; Psalm 37; Luke 6:27-38
‘Not just any dream will do’
Two dreams. The dream of reconciliation. The dream of peace (non-
“I am Joseph,” says the teary dreamer whose story is all about dreams, covenant promises coming to fruition. “I am Joseph,” says the dreamer to those responsible for his suffering. “I am Joseph … I mean you no harm … I desire your happiness, your wellness.”
“Love your enemies,” says the teacher-
Joseph and Jesus speak boldly. They also risk bold action. The invitation is for us to take our own risks.
In regards to family and political violence – both within view – the texts are illustrative and not prescriptive, yet no less compelling for that. The dream is the call. The dream calls us to “make love happen” (as we sing), to make the impossible possible, to embody the divine.
Joseph and Jesus speak and act with reference to a God of compassion, with reference to abundance and forgiveness (Joseph artfully discerns the hearts of his brothers – the moment to reveal/expose his vulnerability, humanity, dignity), with reference to providence, what we might call big-
The dream produces a certain poetry. “God sent me before you to preserve life … Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good …” “Love your enemies … lend/give … expect nothing in return”, which may also be rendered, “do not give up on anyone” (the Greek text is richly layered).
Theopoetics inspires theopraxis. Do good. Bless. Pray. All of this in the context of creativity – the experience of Creation as giving, giving first, for-
“I am Joseph.” “Love your enemies.” “This is my body, given for you.”
The mystery of faith entails a grateful receiving/taking (appropriating, incorporating the gospel), but most deeply a thanksgiving (eucharist). As Jesus says, “The amount you measure out [give] is the amount you’ll be given back.”
Scholars ponder this and other “hard sayings” of Jesus. These are, indeed, bold words. Sacramental. It seems to me that fundamentalism of whatever kind assumes a passivity when it comes to faith – a passive or consumer religion. Jesus, like Joseph before him, reverses this. His gospel is not about answers, slogans or doctrines readily consumed, so much as evocations, provocations, vocations – bold invitations to for-
To join with Joseph, saying, “I am Robin” … saying, “I am Norrie … I mean you no harm …” To join with Jesus, the Lamb of God committed to breaking cycles of fear, blame and retaliation.
We have another artwork by Sister Corita today. “Hope” in the Spirit of a God who reverses expectations of rough or retributive justice. I really like the words (a quote from poet and educator Ned O’Gorman) reversed out of the orange: “The secret is to risk disaster, hope for triumph, and describe the forms of the Incarnation.”
The dream is the call. Faith is risk/adventure. Salvation is “yes” to invitations to love. Making the impossible possible. Embodying the divine. Inter-
And not just any dream will do.
French Cistercian Father Christian de Chergé, kidnapped and murdered by Islamic fundamentalists, had long encouraged Islamic-
Three years before his martyrdom in Algeria in 1996, Father Christian wrote a letter “wholeheartedly forgiving whoever [his] killer might be” and praying “may we meet each other again, happy thieves, in paradise, should it please God.”
The dream of reconciliation and the dream of peace, God’s dream, invites our full participation, for Christ’s sake.
It will mean something like turning the other cheek in the sense of reversing expectations of retaliation, revenge. It will mean daring to face an abuser (daring to expose/reveal a common vulnerability, humanity, dignity) – an accurate paraphrase of turning the other cheek – though not in every situation, and rarely, if ever, on one’s own.
Reversing expectations of revenge, making love happen, describing the forms of the Incarnation – all this we are called to do together. “I am with Joseph. We mean you no harm. We desire the happiness and wellness of all.”
On this Josephite note, and on behalf of all of us here at South Sydney Uniting Church, formerly Mount Lachlan Methodist Church, it is an honour to welcome the Rev. Robin Trebilcock, his wife Marilyn and son Simon … with friends from the Port Adelaide Uniting Church … and to invite Robin, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination (in this very parish) to share a reflection on ministry as dream, call, risk, hope, adventure, love.
Robin, thank you for sharing this day with us … Amen.