Homilies
Safeguarding through the birth pangs of a new creation
Holy Spirit, take my words and speak to each of us according to our need.
In my last sermon I asked how early was too early to mention Christmas. Well I am past that now I have discovered the radio station Heart Xmas. I love how music can evoke memories and transport us right back to a situation or event and the emotions still feel real.
I remember when growing up that my parents had a double LP album of Christmas songs in a blue sleeve with a pop up winter scene in the middle when opened. One of my favourite songs on it was Jonny Mathis singing When a Child is born. I liked that particular version because it had a spoken monologue in the middle of it, which of course I had to memorise. It went like this:- And all this happened because the world was waiting, waiting for one child. Black, white, yellow, no-one knows. But a child that will grow up and turn tears to sadness, hate to love, war to peace and everyone to everyone’s neighbour and misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten – forever.
The whole feel of that song speaks to a deep longing in the human heart—a longing for peace, for change, for something good to enter into our world of chaos and struggle. “When a child is born, a silent wish sails the seven seas…” “all this happens because the world is waiting.” Waiting for hope, waiting for redemption, and in faith, waiting for a new beginning. This “waiting” echoes in our scripture today and reminds us of a vital part of our Christian calling: supporting and encouraging or as the other theme of this week suggests - safeguarding one another as we journey through the birth pangs of a new creation.
In Matthew 24:8, Jesus tells us “All these are the beginning of the birth pangs.” He spoke about troubles in the world, describing events that might frighten us. I try and avoid the news in all forms because of its bleakness but it still gets through and it is challenging to be part of such a world that has become so radically different from the kingdom that Jesus preached. But he uses the image of birth pangs to suggest that something new, something transformative, is on its way. And as followers of Christ, we are not only witnesses to this new creation but are called to play an active role in protecting and nurturing it. This work is what we often refer to today as “safeguarding.”
To safeguard, in its simplest sense, is to protect something valuable, to guard against harm. In the context of our faith, safeguarding takes on a profoundly spiritual dimension. It means creating a safe and loving environment where all of God's creation can flourish, where the vulnerable are shielded from harm, and where justice and compassion become the pillars of our communities.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. It’s not just for the named officer and it’s not just about reporting concerns. It is about loving your neighbour, putting the needs of each other as our main concern and looking out for signs that may indicate successes to be celebrated or situations needing support and protection. It is a constant conscious ‘wokeness’ at all times and in all places. Speaking out against injustice, speaking up for those without a voice and sometimes it means being prepared to stand out, to stand up and be counted. For ‘we shall be known by love’
We see God’s heart for safeguarding throughout the whole Bible, not just with Jesus in the New Testament but in passages like Isaiah 11:1-10, which paints a vision of peace and harmony where even predators and prey lie down together, and where a little child can safely lead them. This prophecy foresees a world in which harm and violence are replaced by unity and care—a vision that challenges us to strive for justice and peace in our communities.
In Romans 8:22-23, Paul speaks of creation “groaning in labour pains” as it waits for redemption. This “groaning” reflects both the pain and the anticipation of a world that has yet to be made fully whole, a world awaiting transformation. In this period of “groaning,” we are called to watch over and care for one another, actively participating in the redemption process. The approaching season of Advent is categorised primarily by it being a time of waiting and anticipation.
Jesus’ words about the “beginning of birth pangs” call us to view the upheavals around us not as signs of hopelessness, but as labour pains heralding something new. Birth pains are intense, but they are purposeful; they signal that something life-giving is about to emerge.
Regardless of the widespread and varied opinions about Donald Trump, he effectively used this idea in his celebratory speech when he said ‘God has spared my life for a reason - to make America great again.’ Difficult times herald the coming of change and ultimately a chance for something better to emerge. Sayings like ‘you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs’ show how ingrained into human life this idea is and it is this perspective which should shape our understanding of safeguarding.
When we protect, nurture, and care for one another, especially the vulnerable, we are midwives to this new creation. We take part in the birthing of God’s Kingdom on earth. But we also recognise that birth pangs come with difficulty, discomfort, and fear.
Often, safeguarding requires confronting difficult truths, addressing injustices, and taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of others. It requires being awake and aware, ready to act with compassion, wisdom, and courage. Jesus calls us to “stay awake” (Matthew 24:42), not only in anticipation of His return but as vigilant guardians of His people. Although the term ‘woke’ has developed some negative connotations, it is precisely what we are being called to be. WOKE – awake to current imbalances and injustices going on around us. It amuses me, but not in a funny way that people coming to Britain to escape terrible lives in their home countries are called immigrants and are often treated in a less than human way, but when the Brits choose to go and live in colonies in countries like Spain for example, for the benefits that country brings to them, then they are considered to be Ex-Pats, a more noble term suggesting some entitlement and pride in their roots and identity.
God created each person with immense value and dignity, in His image. Every child, every person, every member of society is precious in God’s eyes, and He desires each person to live in safety and well-being. When we safeguard, we honour this divine image. Protecting the vulnerable, lifting up the oppressed, and advocating for justice is, therefore, an act of worship. It reflects God’s own love and care for His people.
In the Gospels, we see Jesus as the ultimate example of safeguarding. He goes out of His way to protect, heal, and defend those whom society neglected or dismissed. He welcomes children, speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well, and calls Zacchaeus, a tax collector, to repentance and healing. Each of these acts demonstrates the heart of God for safeguarding. Jesus’ ministry was about creating a space where people could encounter God’s love without fear of rejection, harm, or condemnation. We are called to emulate this love but no-one said it would be easy. It may be costly and Jesus paid with his life.
Becoming Co-labourers with Christ Safeguarding requires us to be proactive, not just reactive. It’s not enough to respond to harm after it happens; we must be vigilant in creating environments that prevent harm. In the birth pangs of a new creation, our calling is to be co-labourers with Christ. We are not passive observers; we are participants in His Kingdom-building work.
Here, in this church, in this town, in this Ministry Area and this Diocese we can begin with small steps. Probably one of the smallest things to implement with a huge impact is a GOOD WELCOME.
We should be engaging with cultivating a culture of welcome and acceptance. When someone walks through our doors, they should feel safe and accepted or in other words, secure and loved. As Romans 15:7 reminds us, “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” A welcoming space is one where each person feels valued and free from harm.
God has a special place in His heart for the vulnerable. Psalm 82:3-4 reminds us, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy.” We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, actively working to defend those who cannot defend themselves. In practical terms, this may mean supporting policies that protect children and vulnerable adults, advocating for the marginalised, or ensuring that our church policies prioritise safety.
Just as Jesus brought healing to the afflicted, we are called to create spaces where healing can take place. This may look like setting up pastoral care teams, offering support for those who have experienced harm, and making our communities places of refuge and renewal.
You might not recognise the name Pastor Martin Niemöller but he wrote a very famous poem which exemplifies the need and importance of safeguarding for everyone. He wrote: First they came for the communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a communist. Then they came for the socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me And there was no left To speak out for me.
Returning to the song, “When a Child is Born,” there is the line: “And all this happens because the world is waiting, waiting for one child…” The world waits because it knows that there must be something better than the suffering it currently endures. This waiting though is not passive; it is filled with the hope that new life brings. For Christians, we wait not only for the child born in Bethlehem but for the fullness of His Kingdom and the redemption of all creation.
The birth pangs of this new creation may be painful, yet each act of safeguarding, each gesture of compassion, brings us closer to that vision. When we safeguard, we answer the world’s waiting, we bring hope into the dark places, and we nurture the seeds of a Kingdom that is growing, among us. We are called to be more than witnesses to this new creation; we are called to be actively involved. Our task is to be vigilant guardians of all of God’s creation.
As we protect the vulnerable, welcome the stranger, and care for each other, we respond to this calling. We proclaim through our actions that God’s Kingdom is coming, that hope is alive, and that His love will transform all our suffering and mistakes into something new.
So let us go forward, with eyes open and hearts vigilant, ready to safeguard His people as we await the fullness of His Kingdom – to look for the ray of hope and a time where misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten, forever.