Go, Francis, and Rebuild My Church - 18th Sunday After Trinity
The revolutionary call from Jesus on the cross to St Francis, praying in a derelict chapel. Francis later realised that this was far from a call to rebuild with stones, but something much greater.
In 1967, the academic Lynn White wrote an influential essay called ‘The Historical Roots of Our Ecologic Crisis’ in which he laid the blame for environmental degradation solely at the door of Christian tradition. Think ‘subdue the earth’ (Genesis 1) – subdue turns to exploit.
St Francis, however, teaches us to befriend the earth as if it were a sibling. Siblings may come at odds or struggle to share their possessions and goods, but their existence and growth run in parallel. As is our relationship with God’s holy church.
Last Sunday, Christians from our Benefice came together to celebrate 50 years since Cotham Parish Church was formed. The Sunday Eucharist and subsequent lunch sent me home with two thoughts:
1. A great deal of Christian good has been created and lived out during the past 50 years (highlighted in much detail between moussaka and pudding!)
2. We know that God is continually working his purpose out, but we also need to be ready to receive this purpose in whatever form it takes. A ‘church Jubilee’ is a stark reminder that we are little more than short-term custodians of a church which Christ himself established for us here on earth.
We build churches, we build communities, we build ethos and mission. But who are we building for?
One lesser-known story about St Francis is that he visited the Holy Land during the Crusades, but not as a crusader. Francis went to visit the Muslim Sultan (sovereign ruler). The two men spent a long time discussing together and came away with a deep understanding and respect for one another, with a friendship and realisation of a God far greater than and beyond their differences.
As Francis’ great hymn tells us:
Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise him, Alleluya!
Josh
