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A love story
I was midway through the third of my three points in the sermon at a recent wedding (Yes! I do have a three point sermon for weddings!) when a door slammed in the chapel. It was loud! A terrific bang. Suddenly my mind switched from my favourite wedding sermon to Pentecost. I said automatically in the language of my oldest Bible 'the sound of a mighty rushing wind, …thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it comes or whither it goeth'. It flashed through my mind how dependent we are upon the Spirit of God. How can we make belief – it is impossible. Yet there is a growing openness in the wider community to things Christian. The election revealed a kind of values thirst. Some journalists have referred to it as a 'religious revival'. In addition, we have been made aware of the rise of fundamentalisms of all kinds – Christian, Moslem, Hindu and even secular fundamentalism with its call for no absolutes but the truth that there is no absolute truth, and its intolerance of everything but tolerance. It seems to me that the wind of the Spirit is blowing gently at Scotch. Was the door slam a harbinger of something stronger? There is evidence of thirst for a faith that works for justice and peace; that pursues healing for the hurts of the human family and is unashamed of the agenda of Jesus, even with his demand for personal allegiance and embrace of demanding discipleship. Then I realised the chapel was very silent. The bride and groom were waiting. Behind them was a chapel full of guests, all silently attentive. Where was I actually? I had reached the third and most beautiful of the things I wanted to share. What was it?! My mind was blank. I looked at my scant notes. Nope, it sure wasn't there. I advised the waiting congregation that this might take a minute, just hang on. They laughed. I wasn't so sure it was funny. I loved this bride and groom. I didn't want to stuff up their wedding service. Oh, what had I been saying? Quietly the bride whispered to me “you were explaining, through a glass darkly”. What an amazing moment. The bride, not only gorgeous and gracious, but beautifully attentive, had actually been listening! She was able to set me right. The light flooded back in. It was like a theophany! I returned to that great central theme of the Bible which, in the darker patches of our lives, we struggle to see clearly; the pledged love of God, symbolised in the burning bush, actualised in the self giving of Jesus who inaugurated a new and better covenant when he said 'This cup is the new covenant, sealed with my blood'. Who loves like that? I finished my exhortation with an invitation to worship; an invitation which those who truly love can understand. Why not join us to celebrate the love of God in Christ at our Carol Service in the Memorial Hall, 6 December 2004 at 7.45 pm
Graham Bradbeer
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