Hugh Perry

Readings

2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

The lectionary gives us snippets of a growing and continuing power struggle within the royal household and within the nation.  Such struggles are not uncommon among feudal monarchies, wealthy families and corporations and indeed democracies. Although the violence is more subtle or hidden in the contemporary world.  The consequences of David’s lifestyle began to work themselves out and violence erupts among the king’s children. Absalom conspires to kill his brother Amnon, because he raped their sister, and eventually Absalom is led into open revolt against his father David.  The carnage of the resulting civil war eventually puts Bathsheba’s son nearer to the throne.

John 6:35, 41-51

This section begins with verse 35 from last week’s reading to remind us of Jesus’ claim that he is ‘the bread of life’ and to clarify, for us, that we are still dealing with John’s communion theology begun with the feeding of the five thousand.

Jesus’ sermon continues to build his theology using rebuttal from the crowd as a prompt for Jesus to continue his argument, first by pointing out that God directs people to Jesus.  The connection between the manna in the wilderness and Jesus feeding of the five thousand is made along with the idea that eating sustains the body, scripture feeds the soul and generous hospitality in remembrance of Jesus acts as support for those who have been called by God.

Sermon

The two examples of scripture we read this morning give a contrast between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God.

Furthermore, the Second Samuel reading is very significant at this time when there is once again brutal fighting between people who see themselves as children of Abraham.  In that context I recently saw a comment from a Jewish scholar who said that her reading in the original of the Hebrew Text did not promise the land to the escaped slaves.  The scholar claimed that the Hebrew Text told the fleeing slaves that if they followed the ethical laws that God had given them they could live in the land with the other people who lived there.

That aligns with a comment I read when reading about Jewish Refugees from World War Two.  A wise old grandfather was asked how the Jews could be God’s Chosen People when there were so many other people in the world. His reply was that they were not chosen to be the only people, they were chosen to be an example to all people.

Throughout history people have felt more secure if they are living among people who are like them.  However, even my addiction to crime novels tells me that isn’t true and my memory of reading Shakespeare confirms that fact.  More specifically Rev Dr Margaret Mayman told me that when she did her PhD thesis, she discovered that 70% of the murders in the Unites States were committed within intimate relationships.

I have suggested that figure to people who work in Aotearoa rescuing women from violent relationships and they say our figures are about the same.

What we read in our news reports focuses on young people robbing dairies, boy racers or gangs intimidating ordinary citizens.  We like reading those reports because those crimes are committed by people who are ‘other.’  They are stories that sell advertising without frightening readers with uncomfortable truths.  But all those authors from Agatha Christie to Ann Cleeves are correct, people harm each other in families and get into deadly disputes about inheritance.

As Maurice Andrew says in the in The Old Testament in Aotearoa New Zealand ‘The Old Testament is Realistic’.

Yet even in amongst the deadly struggles of David’s family there is recognition that humans live best in community.  However, fear drives them to first seek the community of their relatives, then to rule that community and eventually to rule others. Continue reading Sunday 11th August →