Meditation: A SOCIETY OF FRIENDS by John de Gruchy

A SOCIETY OF FRIENDS

John 15:12-17

"You are my friends if you do what I command you."

A friend of mine in the United States, Charles Marsh, has just published a fine biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer entitled Strange Glory.  Charles dedicates the book to his wife Karen  whom he describes as his "most fierce and loving advocate."  I rather like that description and think it admirably describes Isobel as well.  A "fierce and loving advocate" certainly sums up her loving welcome to me when I returned home from Toronto this past weekend.  "Congratulations on getting your sixth doctorate" she said in admiration, but then characteristically added, "pity you can't even cure ingrown toenails!"  Well, I guess that is true, but at least the hood I received is quite spectacular!

The weekend prior to the graduation or convocation I was the guest of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in downtown Toronto where a former Canadian student of mine and friend of Volmoed, Bob Faris, is now the associate pastor.  On the Saturday I conducted a workshop on the Sunday I preached at the morning service.  During the weekend I met some fine people, many of them engaged in various forms of ministry amongst the poor and homeless.  I also met members of the Canadian TRC which is dealing with issues affecting the First Nation peoples or Native Americans.  The rest of my time was spent at Knox College in the School of Theology at the University of Toronto, the College that gave me an honorary doctorate.  I am telling you all this partly to save having to repeat myself later at coffee.  But I know it is all a bit ego-centric and I fear that my fiercest and most loving advocate might have something to say to me later in the day.  But it does provide a platform for what I want to share with you this morning.  Aside from the convocation the nicest part of my trip as always was meeting old friends, and making new ones.  So when I read the gospel for today in which Jesus calls his followers "friends" I knew that this had to be the theme of my meditation.

Normally we think of Jesus as "Lord" and "Master," "Saviour" and "Redeemer," and of our relationship to God as "sons and daughters," and to each other in the church as "sisters and brothers," rather than friends.  But Jesus' use of the word "friend" changes our understanding of these terms and of our relationship with him and one another.  A clue to its meaning is found in the book of Proverbs. "Some friends play at friendship," we are told, "but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin." (18:24)  A true friend is not just a playmate, nor a brother, sister, father or mother even though parents and children do sometimes also become friends.  But we don't choose our siblings, parents or other blood relations, whereas we do choose our friends, and true friends stick by us through thick and thin.  We don't have to do this; we choose to do so. 

When Jesus is described as the "friend of sinners" he is being paid the highest compliment.  He is not only their Lord and Master, their healer and saviour, but the one who chooses to care deeply for them.  In calling his disciples his friends, Jesus is taking their relationship as disciples or followers onto a new level, into a new. more intimate relationship that carries with it a freely accepted obligation to care for and support each other in tough times as well as good ones,  for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. Love at its most profound within a marriage is not about passion but  the flowering of friendship that arises out of our choice of and commitment to a partner.  How sad it is, then, that sometimes couples don't allow their first love as playmates to deepen beyond attraction into friendship.  And how sad it is that sometimes friendship seems to flourish only after a divorce rather than in the marriage itself.  Friendship is not a lesser form of love; it is a way of loving, Just as friendship can grow into love; so love reaches maturity in friendship when someone becomes your fiercest and most lovable advocate who stands beside you in thick and thin.

Bonhoeffer goes to the heart of the matter in a deeply moving poem on friendship he wrote from prison for his friend Eberhard Bethge.  It is a long poem, but let me read some extracts from Isobel's translation:

... not from earth’s solid soil,

but from the desire and yearning

of the spirit,

freely chosen,

without the sanction of earth and law,

is the friend to the friend....

Alongside the field of wheat,

plowed and tilled by human hands

to provide our food,

where the farmer offers up the sweat of his brow,

and, if need be, his very blood,

alongside the field of our daily bread,

the lovely cornflower is left to bloom...

Rarest, most precious blossom of all,

sprung in a blessed hour

from the freedom of a playful,

daring, trusting  spirit,

such is the friend to the friend.

It is not surprising, then, that  Bonhoeffer regarded such friendship as central to the renewal of the of church.  Friendship freely chosen, expressed and shared is a mark of the true church of Jesus Christ.  Of course, such friendship also exists outside the church.  How could it be otherwise for friendship is part of being truly human and not all my friends are Christians. But a church that is not a society of the friends of Jesus who care for each other, is a pale shadow of what the church is meant to be. 

Of course, not all friendships within the church reach the same depth of relationship aided by a natural inclination.  But Christians should care for each other and for others beyond their immediate circle of those to whom they are naturally attracted.  The church is not meant to be a clique, a closed circle of friends that excludes others, but a community of friends that seeks to include others even if it means loving enemies to do so.  This church, this society of the friends of Jesus, is  tangible, it is real, it is the church I believe in,  the church I experienced for a brief moment in Toronto. It is the church that gathers here at Volmoed every Thursday to share in this Eucharist.  You are my friends, Jesus told his disciples, if you love one another as I have commanded you.  Thanks be to God for true friends who enrich our lives and stand by us in our hour of need just as they share with us in our times of celebration and joy.  They are our most fierce and lovable advocates.

John de Gruchy

Volmoed 22 May 2014

Meditation: PRESIDENT & ARCHIBISHOP by John de Gruchy

PRESIDENT & ARCHBISHOP

Matthew 22:15-22

"Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's."

I had already written my meditation for this morning on the Parable of the Good Shepherd, and was focussing on final preparations for my trip to Canada this evening, when Isobel drew my attention to a comment made by President Zuma about Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  According to the news report, Zuma told Tutu to keep out of politics.  Church leaders, said the president, should pray for politicians, not criticise them or tell the public they would not vote for them!  "We've heard that before!" exclaimed Isobel. "That's what P.W. Botha said to Tutu!"  Yes, indeed, and we could go back in history to many other times and places where presidents and emperors told priests to mind their own business but welcomed with open arms those religious leaders, as Zuma and most  world leaders do, who give them uncritical support. 

My  meditation on sheep and the Good Shepherd now seemed rather tame, and with the elections on the front page and in our minds, was immediately ditched.  But I wondered nonetheless whether I could change direction and focus on the spat between the archbishop and the president when some if not all of us are all sick and tired of all the electioneering rhetoric we have been subjected to in recent weeks.  Would you not all like sheep, get up and leave the sheepfold for an early coffee break?  Such thoughts went through my mind.  But I could not resist changing tack when a biblical text often quoted but equally often misunderstood, came to mind. "Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's."

What rightly belongs to the emperor, or we could also say the president, and what belongs to God?  It is a trick question and Jesus knows it, but many who quote his reply often miss the point and assume that he was telling his followers not to criticise the government!  But he was actually saying that while we should pay our taxes to the government, everything belongs to God, even the president and the money we use to pay our  taxes.  We pay taxes not because we like or dislike the president, but because this is our God-given civic duty. So the president and government, as servants of God and the people, must use our taxes for the common good, and it is our God-given responsibility to hold them accountable. 

Yes, of course we should not confuse the church and the state.  There is the need to keep them separate especially in a democracy such as ours.  But this does not mean you can separate Christianity and politics into two disconnected compartments as if they had nothing to do with each other.  After all, politics is about our life together in society, the way we take care of our resources, pursue justice, look after the weak, the sick and the poor, engage in industry and labour, educate the young, relate to other nations. Politics is about people and the common good, about reconciliation and the restoration of justice.  And all  this is equally the concern of Christians and the church.  Our responsibility to God as Christians is to be socially responsible.  Neither we nor the archbishop can separate our faith from the way we vote or behave as citizens. For the archbishop not to speak truth to power about how what belongs to God should be used, would be a dereliction of his duty. 

We didn't have to be a prophets to forecast the results of this election.  Even though the leaders of all parties, from KISS to Agang, and the PAC to ACDP claimed that they would be crowned king or queen, none of us believed them.  Nor did they believe themselves, unless they are living in cloud cuckoo land.  While we may not have been too sure about the provinces, we could all safely forecast that Jacob Zuma would be elected president and that the ANC would form the government for the next five years even if not until Jesus comes again.  In fact, after 1948 we could always predict that the National Party would win.  So we are old hands at predicting with certainty.  But the fact is, the NP did not rule until Jesus came and neither will the ANC or any other party.  That is why the Psalmist says that God has a good laugh when he hears them making such claims. Let's never forget that. even if rulers too often make them! 

Yes let's not forget that once upon a time Prime Ministers Verwoerd, Vorster and P.W. Botha wagged their fingers at church leaders, banned opponents, and incarcerated Nelson Mandela and at least one future archbishop on Robben Island.  En kyk hoe lyk hulle nou!  But  let us also not forget to give thanks to God today that South Africa has come a long way since we were the pariah of the world and the vast majority of the population were oppressed in their own country.  We can also give thanks that during the run up to the elections there was so much vigorous debate, that representatives of the parties could engage one another in frank discussion on TV, the radio, and in public gatherings, that we all have the right to have our say whether we speak sense or nonsense, and to place our cross where we choose whether we think it will make any difference or not. So we can be thankful that Tutu and others can speak their minds without fear of being arrested and sent to goal.  And even when there was strong disagreement and sharp words spoken these past weeks, we can be thankful that there is such widespread and genuine concern across much of the political spectrum to find a way forward into a better future.  And, now, we can also thank God that the election was remarkably peaceful, despite a few very isolated acts of violence and glitches.  Not many new democracies can boast of five consecutive elections that have gone so smoothly. Yes, we have come a long way since 1994 and a very, very long way since 1910 and 1948.  

But there is a longer way yet to go before we have full justice, reconciliation and peace in our land.  And that is why we are not only called to pray for those in authority,  or vote once every five years, but to be concerned and responsible citizens as Christians concerned about the common good.  Our circumstances may be such that we cannot do too much to make a great difference, but none of us is beyond making some difference where we live and work, and especially here in Hermanus.  If we are going to give to God what belongs to God, then we have to  do what we can to promote justice and reconciliation, resist corruption, show compassion and support those in our communities elected to govern, to do so well and make good use of our taxes.  That is giving to God what God's requires and therefore living in hope for a better future, and at least for the next five years if Jesus hasn't come by then!

John de Gruchy

Volmoed 5 May 2014

MAY 2014 NEWSLETTER

May 2014

Dear Prayer Partners,

I was sitting thinking about Volmoed and decided that it has many facets – like a diamond – and each facet is extra special with its own ministry. It was wonderful on Easter Monday that one of our friends who comes each Thursday to our Morning Prayer time, joined us and experienced another of these facets that she did not know existed.......our 28th anniversary with a thanksgiving service in the Chapel with about 120 people attending and even the drizzle did not dampen spirits! 

There are things in life that touch one and stay close to one’s heart and one’s memory. Every Easter Monday this memory comes back to me.

Tommy Cozett who played the sax in the band on Easter Mondays sadly was not with us this year. He celebrated his 80th birthday on the 12th April and is battling with cancer so could not make the trip. But, we still had the band with Dick who is 86 on his guitar; Ronnie who is 69 on his guitar (recovering from a triple by-pass!) and they were accompanied with another guitarist and two on banjos. The drummer was a star! He was Matthew, Dick’s young grandson of 13 and he was excellent due to his Grandpa’s training!

Ever since I first heard Tommy sing this song it has become a tradition that he sings it each Easter Monday. I wondered who wrote the song and found it was John W. Peterson who was an air force pilot. During his long, lonely flights when he flew the China Hump he had the opportunity for prayer and meditation and felt the Lord was very near – perhaps there is no greater display of God’s power and handiwork than flying over the Himalayan Mountains. Observing these and the glories of the heavens above, he was overwhelmed by the love and power of God and suddenly the words and melody of the song began to form in his heart. I love the song and words so I am going to share with you.

IT TOOK A MIRACLE

My Father is omnipotent and that you can’t deny,

A God of might and miracles: ‘tis written in the sky. Chorus..

It took a miracle to put the stars in place;

It took a miracle to hang the world in space.

But when He saved my soul,

Cleansed and made me whole,

It took a miracle of love and grace!

Though here His glory has been shown, we still can’t fully see the wonders of His might, His throne till eternity Chorus ..

The Bible tells us of His power and wisdom all way through; And every little bird and flower are testimonies too. Chorus .... It took a miracle …

We give God grateful thanks for the miracle of Volmoed – His place which He set aside for the His healing ministry. We give grateful thanks for all the many miracles we have witnessed over the years at Volmoed – in peoples’ lives, in the blessings of gifts, protection for Volmoed, knowledge when needed in circumstances and many many more. We had a letter of sincere gratitude from the group from Grace Pentecostal Church that stayed for the Easter weekend. They had an awesome time in the presence of the Lord – the atmosphere was electrifying and each and every member enjoyed the comfort and stillness of the environment. Volmoed brought quietness, peace and tranquility to their souls.

In our Morning Prayer times we are reading from a book which I have quoted from before – “Running over Rocks” by Ian Adams. The chapter titled “Discover your thankfulness” spoke to me especially as I had recently witnessed the gathering of the swallows. I was sitting drinking my morning coffee on our stoep and suddenly the air was filled with swallows swooping on a feeding frenzy getting ready for their migration back to the northern hemisphere and warmth. I sat in wonder and awe watching them.

In the book Ian writes ....”A blur of dark blue, white and a splash of red. A pair of swallows swoop low over the Aune estuary, flying through the wooden posts that mark the route of the road when it’s covered at high tide, diving for insects low over the water. Their undulating flight is one of the quiet summer wonders of this part of the natural world. Following the movement through binoculars is almost impossible. Better just to see with the naked eye, to marvel, and to laugh along with the joyful nature of their work. Their flight is full of thankfulness. And when we begin to recognise this we may come to see that the flight of the swallows is just one shining tip of the whole cosmos that seems to be giving thanks. Thankfulness is bursting out from every wing tip, every mottled pebble, from every bright flower, every welcome breeze, and even from every hard rain. I want to suggest that thankfulness is part of our natural state of being. It’s waiting within us, longing to surface. But the demands of life can suppress our thankfulness, constrict it, and even flatten it. So we may need to (re) discover our thankfulness, release it and nurture it. We need to discover how to become thankful people again!”

After our Easter Monday service and everyone had picnicked and had a walk about, we all came together in the chapel. We danced joyously round and round with open hands, singing and waving colourful flags to the

gift of music from the band. A time of worship and praise. his words about “Dance Hands Open”. He says .....”Dancing through life with open hands means learning to carry lightly whatever we possess or care for. Our responsibilities and possessions are gifts, not our identity, nor our reason for being. Dancing with open hands keeps us humbly open to receiving the generosity of others, to receiving the benevolence of a cosmos pregnant with divine gift. Dancing with open hands also keeps us reaching out towards others. The things that come our way as possessions become gifts to be enjoyed, shared and passed on. Dancing with open hands ensures that we are open to joy.” 

I feel the message that I am hearing loud and clear for myself, and maybe for you, is not to take anything for

granted but to marvel at everything in creation and to give thanks. I must try not to stifle my thankfulness but to let it out! I must also remember to open my hands and not hold on too tightly or not be open to blessings that come my way. In the busyness of life I know I often forget these simple truths for which we can be so greatly blessed.

VOLMOED HAPPENINGS IN MAY

1st - 4th        Long weekend with individuals
7th               Voting Day - no visitors with us today!
9th - 11th      Gayle Barichievy's Group
9th - 11th      Disable People of South Africa Group
12th - 14th    YWAM Muizenberg Group
16th - 18th    Christ Church Kenilworth - Ladies' Group
19th - 23rd    John Frye & Graham Chevalier's Group from Fish Hoek
23rd - 25th    Invia Congregation with Gerda von Benecke
26th - 29th    O'Neil ladies retreat
30th - 1st      Hepzibah Group with Ansie de Kock

Give special thanks with us that we are BUSY!

So, dear friends, have FUN – go run in the rain, kick up the autumn leaves, dance with open hands, marvel at the gifts of nature around you and say loud hallelujah’s in praise and thankfulness! Thank YOU for your loving support. 

God bless and love from us all, Jane