Maundy Thursday 28 March 2024: Chrism Eucharist in Gloucester Cathedral
2 Corinthians 3:17 – 4:12 and Luke 22:24-30
‘Mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of us all’ – I’m sure we are all familiar with that line of the wicked Queen in Snow White.
For those disciples in our gospel reading, the mirror question was about who was the greatest of them all.
And of course in our lives there are many mirrors we look into. For example the mirror of those social media feeds, or the mirror of other people’s expectations.
We live in a world where issues of identity and significance and greatness are ever present, whether it be about leaders or groups or nations: Whose power is the greatest? Who is and is not deemed significant?
And when you look in the mirror what do you see? Perhaps there is a sense of not being recognised or rewarded in ways you think you should have been. Or perhaps when you look in the mirror there is anxiety about not quite making the mark as you compare yourself with other people? Perhaps there’s even a sense of shame or failure.
Well, I have the privilege of standing here and looking out and seeing many unique individuals, and I know snippets of many of your stories. I see so many different callings into many different vocations and roles, in the Church and in wider society.
Each one of us here today is equally precious, unique, loved and called by God. And I want to say an enormous thank you for the privilege of sharing in ministry with you. Because of course we come as individuals who each see something different in the mirror, but we are not called to individualism …
We are called to be equal members together of the body of Christ, the Church, ‘summoned to witness to God’s love and to work for the coming of God’s kingdom.’ We heard those words at the start of this service, taken from the introduction to the ordination service, reminding us of our collective calling as a royal priesthood – lay and ordained; children, young people and adults. All called to ‘declare the wonderful deeds of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvellous light’. This is about every one of us, and it is about us joining in with God’s transforming work, and the coming of God’s kingdom already here, and yet not fully yet.
And then those words of the ordination services go on to say that to serve this royal priesthood, God has given a variety of ministries. And in that context, the calling of deacons, priests or bishops is then outlined – and each of those ordained ministries are about enabling the church to BE the church every day in the different contexts of people’s lives, and always remembering that it begins and ends with God whose Church and kingdom it is.
Today in the different words of commissioning and in the renewal of vows we will speak as individuals before God, but we will also speak with others as members together of the body of Christ, as we recommit ourselves to witness to God’s love, holding before us that vision of the day when all will be reconciled to God, and perfect relationship will be restored – with God, with one another and with all creation.
And being engaged in that ministry sounds so life-giving and beautiful, but so often our calling feels so hard, not least for those here today looking in the mirror of the ordinal.
As I listen to St Paul’s words to the church in Corinth about being afflicted, perplexed, struck down, I am aware of just some of the resonances with the stories and lives of people gathered here. And then as the Church, there are all the differences and tensions within us and between us which can lead to us feeling afflicted and perplexed, and more.
So, back to the mirror – individually and together.
St Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth: ‘And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another’. When we look on Christ – in prayer and in the reading of scripture; in worship and in the eucharist; we see the glory of God, and the light of Christ is reflected back on us as when a mirror or glass catches the light – and in that light we are changed into the person we are called to be – the Church we are called to be – and perhaps we better understand what it means to lose our life to find it.
It is not about losing our identity and sense of Self but rather it is about becoming ever more like Christ; ‘becoming’ our true selves ever more fully as we seek to live and share Christ’s life in all its fulness.
In our gospel reading Jesus Christ tells his disciples that he is among them ‘as one who serves’ – yet in serving he knew who he was.
Many of you have heard me speak of Christ as servant, particularly revealed in his washing of the disciples’ feet. And I love to speak of the fact that in John chapter 13 we are told that Jesus knew who he was and only then chooses to take a towel and wash the disciples’ feet. And Christ asks us his followers to do the same. We can only truly serve and make Christ-like choices if we go on discovering our identity in Christ, as individuals and together as the Church.
But it is not easy. We are those who struggle and weep as well as dance and laugh. We are sometimes afflicted, confused, perplexed, yet with Christ’s love, light and life within us we are not crushed; not driven to despair; not forsaken or destroyed. The hope and life of Christ’s resurrection cannot be undone – God’s love is unending, and the darkness will never overcome the light of Christ, whatever we are facing.
St Paul writes ‘But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.’ We can dare to look in the mirror and see our brokenness and be honest about the truth that we are clay – ‘that to dust we shall return’ – yet we carry the treasure of the love and light of God’s glory, and mysteriously have the joy of joining in with God’s transforming work.
Yet, sometimes just as we look in that mirror and wish we might be someone else, sometimes I think we try in vain to be treasure collectors rather than allowing God to fill us with treasure.
When we look in the mirror and long to see someone who is treasured, how easy it is to try and collect that treasure – search for that affirmation, that reward, that metaphorical badge which comes from succeeding. Perhaps that is what sometimes causes us to live unhealthy rhythms in life, perhaps even whilst blaming the expectations of other people because that has become our mirror rather than looking into the face of Jesus Christ. And that looking in the mirror, which is about comparison, shame or not feeling ‘enough’ can very quickly lead to us turning in on ourselves, and the neck of our jar becomes ever narrower as we strive to shape our self-made identity – and it becomes increasingly difficult to allow God to pour in the treasure.
Amazingly, God does not ask us to strive to collect treasure which proves our worth,. Rather God invites us to receive God’s immeasurable love and grace, as we say yes to being holders of the treasure within our flawed and broken selves.
The thing about Middle Eastern pottery jars is that the clay was often flawed – cracks easily appeared – but if you put a lit flame within the jar then it became a fabulous lantern because the light would shine through the cracks and holes and thin places.
Today as many of us renew our vows and as we all say yes to participating in the transforming work of God in us and through us among the people and places of our daily lives, we acknowledge that this is God’s work which is why our response to the questions put to us is ‘with the help of God I will..’ For those who are ordained, remember those words at ordination: ‘You cannot bear the weight of this calling in your own strength, but only by the grace and power of God’.
Over these next three days as we go to the foot of the cross and follow on to the empty tomb, may we hear anew those words of Christ in our gospel reading: ‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom.’
In this Eucharist and in the oils we will carry from here to use in ministry, the future fulfilment of the kingdom of God and the promise of all being made new, is drawn into the present and meets with all that God has done in the past through Jesus Christ.
So today may we be renewed and restored in our identity in Christ as precious individuals and equal members together of the Body of Christ, as we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ once more; opening ourselves afresh to the love of God and the pouring in of God’s treasure; and may we be sent from here renewed in our calling to witness to God’s love and to work for the coming of God’s kingdom.
Thank you for you. Shine on!
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