LoginHome » Ministers' resources » Worship Resources » Preaching Kits » Year C Luke » Kit 5 » Pentecost 3
Pentecost 3
20 June 2004
Written by the Rev Dr Philippa Horrex of Wanganui
Theme: Hope for dark times
There is a tendency for some Christians to believe that they should always be happy; that it shows a lack of faith if depression and hopelessness overwhelm them. Today’s readings are pointers to the reality of the human psyche but offer the assurance that God is always available to help us cope with those inevitable dark times if we but ask.
1 Kings 19: 1-4, (5-7), 8-15a
Elijah the Prophet had just organized one of the greatest public displays of the unique power of the God of Israel. And yet, as soon as the demonstration is over, Elijah is running for his life. Jezebel, the evil queen of Israel, is intent on killing Elijah for the undoing of the Ba'al cult that she had established among the Jews. Elijah flees to the wilderness convinced he has failed to communicate the truth about God. Overcome with depression, he prays to God to end his life. God does not desert Elijah – angels/ “messengers” are sent to feed him, and he is instructed to stand on the mountain, some believe in the same place Moses had generations before received the ten commandments. Elijah can be expected to have assumed he was going to receive an overwhelming revelation that would convince him of God's power. But he did not find God in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. Elijah did not even come out of his cave to witness those things. It was the sound of sheer silence that drew Elijah to a point where he could finally respond to God.
Psalms 42 & 43
Within these psalms we find both retrospection and introspection, common features of a loss of hope and a feeling of depression. However total despair is not to be found in these psalms – despite the disquiet and foreboding there is a longing for God, and a conviction that God’s grace will keep the psalmist going.
Galatians 3: 23-29
There is the suggestion in this reading that the promise of God is available for all, and that through faith in Christ, all become the children of God. This offers hope to all, including the lowly and lost, such as the man possessed by demons.
Luke 8:26-39
It is not easy to address the concept of demons in today’s scientific world. We do not usually talk about demon possession or unclean spirits in a literal sense, although it has to be acknowledged that there are Christians who do accept the existence of such supernatural beings. An approach many people find more comfortable with, is to speak of demon possession as the ancient understanding of mental illness; or to talk about evil or destructive powers that dehumanise and destroy people.
Within the context of today’s theme the story of the man possessed by demons could be used to illustrate the total despair of one overwhelmed by their personal “demons” who comes to a place of inner peace through the healing love of Christ. Note that the word in v. 36 translated “healed” in NRSV, is sozo in Greek - a word that is frequently translated “saved.”
However it is not just the demon possessed man who attracts our attention in this story – the “fearful” people of v37 raise some interesting issues. Why were they afraid? One suggestion is that the people were fearful of change; that the healing of the possessed man disturbed their comfort zones. Jesus threatened the status quo through his actions and the thought of the changes that Jesus could bring about in the people of this region led to the request for him to leave.
Sermon thoughts:
There would be few people who have not at some time been weighed down like Elijah with depression and despair, or who have not faced some “demon” or another in their lives. Jesus told the healed man to “declare how much God has done for you.” (v.39) – the sermon could become a personal tale about what Jesus has done for me at such times, or an encouragement for people to consider what God has done for them, especially during bad times.
Recognition that Christians are not immune from depression and stress could include references to John Gray’s book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, in which Gray describes the male tendency to go into their “caves” to cope with stress. Both Elijah (literally!) and the possessed man are prime examples of this behaviour. A reminder that no cave is immune to God’s presence leads to the reality that while we might escape from the world we cannot escape from the love of God.
An examination of the “demons” that plague human beings could be valuable – for example greed, lust, drugs/alcohol, misuse of power, dishonesty to name a few. The demon possessed man cried out for release – to change. How willing are people to change and turn away from those demons possessing them? Who do they cry out to? Who are the “messengers” who help those in despair?
God does not necessarily work in a showy way in our world. More often than not it is the small, still voice of God which comes in the silence that is of the most comfort to us. Recognise however that when we are in crisis and most need to pray, it can be difficult to be patient, or even to still ourselves enough to hear what God is saying. Encourage an active prayer life in the “good times” so as to be able to turn readily to God when depression or stress threaten to overcome us.
Prayer
Use the song “As the deer pants for water” or the hymn “As pants the hart for cooling streams” (With One Voice 29) as a sung prayer in response to the Psalms.