SUNDAY 3 JULY 2022

Ephesians 2.19-22 & John 20.24-29
Both our readings this Sunday talk about faith.

• Thomas who doubts, and then reaffirms his belief.
• Whilst our reading from Ephesians talks about what it means to have faith.

 
Leilani and Rufus are today taking the first steps of an amazing journey of faith. They are to become, as our reading from Ephesians says, citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
 
So, people of God I ask you what does it mean to be a Christian? Now we will be professing what we believe collectively about God in a moment, but Christianity is not primarily an intellectual exercise in doctrine and dogma. What I am asking is what does it mean to be a Christian? Practically. At home or at work. What virtues do we ascribe to as Christians?

And many others perhaps.
 
Two questions then follow…
 

• First, where do we get these virtues from? It’s great that we have this list, but anyone could have just made up this list if they wanted to. Why is humility important to being a Christian? Why is Patience? The answer is scripture teaches us. It teaches us about the nature of God and of his son, Jesus Christ. It teaches us the importance of these virtues and equally warns us about their opposites, the vices. So, this is part of what it means to be a Christian. To be striving to be more like Jesus, to be loving, prudent, patient, humble, honest, gentle, and kind.

 

• Second, do we always get these things right? Are we perfect all the time? Do Christians exercise a supreme amount of Patience all the time? Are Christians the humblest people you would ever meet? No. Certainly Thomas in our Gospel reading has got it wrong, but then doubt is part of the human condition, and we need to be honest with ourselves that we will doubt, we will get things wrong, we are not perfect!

 
So, we are also therefore people who seek forgiveness when we mess things up, and we are also people who should be forgiving. As it says in the prayer that Jesus taught us… ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’. So, this is also a part of what it means to be a Christian, we are people who say sorry when we get things wrong and try, with Gods help, to grow and do better. Which is why we pray, to build relationship with God and ask for his help in our growth as a person. As we acknowledge we are incapable of doing this by ourselves, in our own strength.
 
If we have faith, then we have trust in God. We have as our foundation what the apostles and prophets show us by their example and what they teach us about Jesus Christ, our cornerstone, who we have chosen to build our life around. So, Leilani, Rufus, their parents, and godparents this is what is being signed up to in baptism. It is what all of us sign up to as Christians. To pray and read scripture to get to know about God, and to grow in virtue and be more Christlike with Gods help. Most importantly remembering to seek forgiveness and be forgiving when we get things wrong. This way we grow into a holy temple and become spiritually a dwelling-place for God. Amen.
 
The Revd. Gareth Morley, Curate