Homilies
Worship Worthy of God
Holy Spirit take my words and speak to each of us according to our needs.
Now, I don’t want to spark a debate about how early is too early to mention the ‘Christmas’ word, but one of the things I love about that time of year is being able to give the ones I love something that shows how much I love them.
Gift giving is my love language. If you aren’t sure what is meant by a ‘love language’, then in short, it is the way we prefer to express our love for others. Five love languages were identified by Gary Chapman, a Baptist Pastor in his 1992 book. Some people use words of affirmation, others do acts of service, some people give gifts, others prefer spending time with people or having physical touch.
I enjoy gift giving, not because I get to go shopping but because I can take time to think about what I know about the person or what they really love and then reflect that knowledge in the gift I choose for them. It’s not about spending money, it’s about reflecting their worth to me in something meaningful to them.
One year, when I wasn’t working, I didn’t have much money at all but I did have a cupboard full of craft supplies so I handmade useful and meaningful gifts for my immediate family. My Brother-in-law was a Doctor, so I made him a cushion with an artistic, yet anatomically correct diagram of a heart, backed on the other side with the family tartan fabric. My sister-in-law enjoys sewing and knitting, so I made her a pin cushion (again in the family tartan fabric), my other sister-in-law loves cats so I made her a cushion in the shape of a cat out of a cat patterned fabric. You get the idea, I’m sure. The point I’m trying to make is that for me, a gift reflects the measure of what we think of something or someone.
The scribe's insight in the Gospel reading today, that love is "much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices" underscores this idea. Can burnt offerings and sacrifices adequately reflect the love, compassion and greatness of God?
What could serve as a better reminder to prioritise genuine love and ethical integrity over mere outward religious observance than God giving us his greatest gift…Jesus. A true reflection of our worth in God’s eyes.
You see burnt offerings and sacrifices do not engage the whole person with head, heart and soul and they do not change hearts. The offerings are partial and there remains a disconnect and a distance between God and the worshippers. So how can we address that?
All offerings will fall short and seem unworthy to the worth of God if we, as individuals, try to get to God. Following only rituals puts the wrong emphasis on worship worthy of God. This is particularly evident in the Old Testament where time and time again, after people had messed up, God had forgiven them and they started afresh only to mess up again. The questions often asked of their leaders were - Why do we do this? What do we get from doing this? What has God done for me? This is precisely the reversal of what worship should be. It is making God serve our needs; looking for benefits and rewards for behaving well. In other words, hearts have not been changed and the cycle continues.
Jesus, shows us a new way. In meeting God in Jesus, we no longer have to lift ourselves up to God. Jesus came down to us to become that sacrifice which is worthy to honour God. Jesus closes the gap between God and people. Hearts are changed by his self-sacrifice on the cross and we are given a fresh start in baptism. Not with water, which had to be repeated each time our hearts got dirty but once and for all, with the Holy Spirit.
The unworthy burnt offerings and sacrifices of ritual religion lead to guilt, trying harder and doing more without any change in outcome. Jesus replaces all that with forgiveness, acceptance, grace and the joy of being in God’s presence.
Hearts are changed. Hearts of stone are replaced by hearts for love. The Holy Spirit rests upon us. We are all made in the image of God.
To love our neighbour is worship worthy of the greatness of God.