Luke 13.10-17. Leviticus 25.1-12
Lent 5. Time to Liberate.
Who is brave enough to own up to having worn a liberty bodice?
There wasn't much liberty there was there?
On Tuesday, I went to the Woodcraft Centre in Stannington. I tried to be clever and avoid the City centre and ended up on Liberty Street. There didn't seem to be much "liberty" there either! It was very dilapidated.
Rousseau say's the "man was born free and everywhere he is in chains."
3 Key words ---Freedom. Jubilee, Resolution.
FREEDOM
A clip was played from the film, "The Shawshank Redemption."
" Andy Dufresne- wrongly imprisoned in the unrelentingly brutal Shawshank prison for a murder he didn't commit - serves almost 20years before effecting a cleverly planned escape that involves gradually tunnelling through the wall of his cell. Emerging through a sewage pipe into the outside world, Andy begins a new life."
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In some Christian circles you could be forgiven for missing that Jesus is into Freedom and Liberation!!
READ Luke 4.18-21 He's quoting from Isaiah 61. He's in to liberating captives and bringing good news to the poor!
He liberates a crippled woman from physical bondage and the stigma of disfigurement.
He "gets it in the neck" from the synagogue officials, because He does it on the Sabbath. --- so He challenges their short- sighted obsession with rules, and shows them that the Sabbath is about freedom from bondage or "untying"!--- [ your ox!]
Now, in our film clip, as well as liberating himself, Andy has redeemed/ liberated, so to speak, Shawshank. He has set up a good library. He sent records of the corrupt practices, and fiddled accounts, to the police, as he escapes. The evil Governor shoots himself and a new Governor is appointed. the corrupt warders are brought to justice. Red [ Fixer] his friend is released and joins him in Mexico.
The Sabbath is about freedom from bondage and untying.
and ----JUBILEE
Sabbath is for the well- being of whole communities and the land, as well. Sabbath principles affect farming, working practices, family life, the treatment of the poor and issues of justice and peace.
In Leviticus 25 were told about the one year in seven rhythm of agricultural practice that rests the land and also provides for the marginalized in society during this Sabbath year.
Then, there is the Jubilee principle -- after seven sets of seven year cycles [49 years ] there was the fiftieth Jubilee year ---named after the Hebrew trumpet or yobel which would announce it's arrival ] when the land would be left fallow, slaves freed, debts cancelled and property restored.
The jubilee mission of the church is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit those in prison -- Mtt 25.31-40. as well as to rise above prejudices of race, class, gender or appearance.
READ James 2.2-4.
and --- READ Isaiah 58.13b --- so honouring the Sabbath means choosing to act unselfishly.
Cherie Blair, in last Sunday's, "Christianity, a History," program, mentioned the Christian , Bonhoffer who spoke out against the Nazi atrocities and racism, and was hanged!
Sabbath keeping leads to justice keeping which leads to peace keeping!
RESOLUTION
In the millennium year, much was made of the principle of jubilee, with the Jubilee 2000 campaign calling for the cancellation of debt in the world's poorest countries.
Governments were asked to "break the chains of debt"
The momentum of this campaign and "Make poverty history" [launched in 2005] and the growing awareness of "Fair Trade issues have put Sabbath principles of Liberation and Shalom on societies agenda.
You have probably noticed that our Church uses Fairtrade tea and coffee.
The millennium Resolution adopted by the Christian Church in 2000 reinforced this commitment to Sabbath Principles.
It was:-
Let there be respect for the earth
peace for it's people,
love in our lives,
delight in the good,
forgiveness of past wrongs, and from now on, a new start.
The "Make Poverty history" web site in April 2005 said "The gap between the world's rich and poor, has never been wider. Malnutrition, AIDS, conflict and illiteracy are a daily reality for millions. But it isn't chance or bad-luck that keeps people trapped in bitter unrelenting poverty. It's man-made factors like a glaringly unjust global trade system, a debt burden so great that it suffocates any chance of recovery and insufficient and ineffective aid."
In these times of "Credit Crunch" there are warnings against "protectionism" which will prevent third world counties from recovering.
Perhaps, also, as an aside, bearing in mind all the recent TV programs about Darwin -- many of them championing atheism, I would like to observe that one doesn't usually hear of atheistic groups being in the forefront of aid and humanitarian caring in our world!
If you take responsibility for the Sabbath liberation of others, your lifestyle and values will be challenged.
As you experience individual Sabbath liberation you will find yourself involved in global liberation.
You'll find it cutting across
- Oppressive political and economic regimes and practices that "tie people up"
- self - interest.
- a shallow definition of rest and relaxation as private individualistic pursuits.
- and religious observance with no social conscience
Sabbath pausing, celebrating, resting, playing and liberating, will mean that rules of Sabbath keeping are
re-examined, re-evaluated, and re-selected, if appropriate.
Life would be chaos without rules, so lets make sure that they are appropriate and liberating.
It would seem a good idea to come to Worship when others are available, if at all possible. Coming when one felt like it, may mean that you drop in on weight-watcher's or "Peek-a-Boo!"
READ Hebrews 10. 23-25a
---- encourage one another to remember, as we sang, that "To the lost, Christ shows his face,
to the unloved, He gives his embrace,
To those who cry in pain or disgrace,
Christ makes with his friends a Touching place.
So, Lets fix our eyes on Christ, and make him Lord of our heart--- We'll sing-----"Be Thou my vision"
But as I close, can I use the greeting the Jews use to wish one another peace, wholeness and well-being on the Sabbath! "Shabbat Shalom" |
