Call
and Response: Being Led by God
Sermon
for Choral Evensong at Girton College Chapel, Cambridge – Sunday
19th
January, 2020.
Today's
Bible readings:
1 Samuel 3:1-21; John 2:1-12.
Speak,
Lord, for your servant is listening. May the words of my mouth, and
the meditations of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O
Lord our strength and redeemer. Amen. Please be seated.
Good
evening, everyone. It is a real privilege and a pleasure to be here
today, opening this series of sermons preached by Alumni of Girton
College Cambridge - in this, the College's 150th anniversary year. It
is wonderful to be with you celebrating our heritage, our
anniversary, and our future together today. I'm especially grateful
to my former Chaplain, the Reverend Malcolm Guite, for so generously
inviting me to preach today.
Girton
College is a place - indeed, a home - where, at first, I'd never have
thought I'd be able to come. As some of you may know, my Father died
in 1999, and my Mother died in 2008. Being orphaned by the age of
thirteen, I'd also not been to school until that time. Less than ten
years later, I graduated from Girton College with a 2:i in Theology;
all set for my Master's at King's College London, my year of parish
work in Croydon, my ordination training now at Westcott House here in
Cambridge, and all with many, many friends. Girton - thank you.
I
love my friends. I'm incredibly lucky and grateful to have so many
wonderful friends in my life. Friends here; friends who are not.
Friends from all around the country; around the rest of Europe; and,
indeed, across the whole world.
I'm
very interested in keeping up with what my friends are doing in life.
I always like to keep in touch with them, and to meet up with them
too for, say, a run; a walk; a meal out; a drink (or two); of just to
enjoy some time in fellowship being busy doing nothing (because
that's okay too). To take an example, I'm very grateful for all of my
friends in Girton Choir - although when I was in Choir here I hope
they enjoyed my company a little more than my puns!
In
my free time, I have a packed social life. One of my friends from
King's College London remarked at "what a wild social life"
I lead! I also love parties; these are just as great an opportunity
to meet new friends as they are to see friends I've known for longer.
I often think of others not as "friends and strangers," but
"friends who I have met and friends who I haven't yet met."
Now,
there was one evening recently when I found myself very kindly
invited to two different parties - in different parts of London -
and, planning my evening to the minute, I found a way of attending
both of them! At the second of these two parties, one of my friends
from Cambridge described me as a bit of a party animal - and that I
should write my ordination dissertation on "The theology of the
sesh"! I'm actually doing my dissertation on something else, but
I guess some of the content of my sermon today might act as a form of
that dissertation.
Jesus
loves His friends - and, as we can see from today's Gospel reading,
He also liked His parties. Calling people we'd expect to be His
friends - and calling those we might not so soon expect. Yes, Jesus
calls - and leads – and loves – all of us. Going so far as to
serve the best wine last, when everyone at the party was already
drunk - when most people would serve a less refined wine last, when
the guests might not be able to appreciate its taste to the full.
But
Jesus goes even further than that. He - the Son of God - gives us His
very self, on the Cross at Calvary - His very own Body and Blood,
which we may receive any time we attend the Mass - and, all-lovingly,
offers the gift of eternal life to all people, having been raised
from the dead. Whether you are happy, sad, well, unwell, certain or
uncertain about things, and regardless of any aspect of your
identity. God's love knows no limits.
What
did you do when you last met up with friends? Perhaps you were
studying together, sharing a meal, going to a society, party or other
social occasion, or here singing in Choir in the Chapel. Our time
with others is valuable, and God teaches us to love one another as
well as loving Him – in times of joy, sorrow, thanksgiving, grief,
celebration, and more.
Are
you okay? You are; good, that's great. Usually I am too. But are you
really sure you're okay? Or are you putting on your best face, or
playing "#InstaFine", as another friend of mine once said?
Because that's okay too - and, I think, quite common. What even is
being "okay," or - perhaps better put - being "normal?"
There's no such definitive thing, I don't think – it is all
relative. I'll be honest, my relationship with my mental health has
been quite changeable at times. Maybe you might feel your own mental
health has, too – and that's okay.
Take
a break. It is okay to look after your mental health and wellbeing –
for by looking after ourselves, we are more able to look after
others. Here are just some ideas you might like if this rings true
for you (and even if it doesn't). Read a book. Eat that treat – but
also eat and drink healthily. Practise yoga. Go for a walk. Go for a
run (it is relaxing, honestly!). Phone a friend or a family member.
Go to Chapel or Church more often. Paint a picture. Take a picture.
Sing or play music. Enjoy music. Enjoy life. And it's okay to let
others help you in your wellbeing, too.
It's
okay to not be okay. And it's okay to be okay. Because we are all
working towards our own definitions and destinies of being okay.
Being called and being led by God, whether we consciously know it or
not, to be the people - His children, who He so dearly loves - He
wants us to be.
God
calls us all. How might we best respond? Let Him lead us. Be open to
the Holy Spirit. God works in mysterious - and wonderful – ways.
And
I for one am incredibly lucky and grateful that God continually calls
and leads me throughout my whole life, in good and in difficult
times, and today as I journey towards the Anglican priesthood. This
is such a remarkable journey, and I could not do this without the
help of God, my friends, and my family. God works and leads us
Himself - and through others.
I
think this can be said for many of us. Samuel is led by Eli, in our
first reading; and Jesus is led by His Mother, the Blessed Virgin
Mary, in our second reading. Before I recognised my calling to
ordination, God led me in the encouragement of the late Fr Francis
Dobson OSB at Ampleforth, who with the assistance of God spotted my
vocation a whole five years before I did. God made my life possible
at a time it really didn't feel all that possible at times - by
giving me the family, friends and support at and from a time of
desperation in my life. And a few years on, God led me through
Malcolm Guite the day he gave me this very magazine, the very same
day back in December 2015 I first articulated my sense of being
called to the priesthood to someone - to Malcolm, here present. And
God leads me in my heart. God leads us all in our hearts.
God
leads me. God leads us. Sometimes I can really feel where and how God
leads me - yet, at other times it is harder to discern. But God knows
when we find it easy - and also, thankfully, when we do not. God
calls us all, and God calls me - a work in progress, who tries his
very best - and I pray that I may always respond by continuing in His
ways as best as I can. I also greatly appreciate your prayers too.
God
has brought me here; to this place, to this point in my life, and
will bring me to my destiny as He sees and knows it. My journey with
God is so, so exciting. What is your journey with God like? Is it
exciting? Peaceful? Pained? Joyful? Curious? A rollercoaster?
Several, none, or all of these things?
What
is your journey with God like? Sometimes we may know; and sometimes
we may not. But He always knows; He always loves us, and - if we let
Him - He leads us. He has led all of us here; where is He leading us
next? He calls us all, in all kinds of ways to all kinds of
vocations, careers and journeys; let us therefore always respond by
doing our best to love Him and our neighbours, and to let us be led
by Him to our destinies, fulfilling our God-given vocations and
callings with fitting responses. In the name of God, who is Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
