Sermon at ‘Love makes a way’ – St David’s Cathedral Hobart, Sunday 21 December 2014. The audio version is, here.

A Service of Hope: Christians together for Asylum Seekers

Bible readings: Matthew 2:13-18 (the Holy Family’s escape to Egypt) & Revelation 21:1,3-5

The flight of the Holy family into Egypt (Mt 2:13-18) shows the drama of God’s love for this chaotic and damaged world.

The angels have sung praises to God for his extravagant love and yet human evil causes the flight of that Love. Emmanuel, God with us is forced to flee persecution!

God’s love in the Incarnation, in the birth of the vulnerable Baby of Bethlehem, is of course quite extraordinary, indeed, quite outrageous!

A sincere non-Christian said to me of the Incarnation, “Bishop, it’s crazy!”

I agreed with him, “Yes, I agree. If I was God I wouldn’t have done it!”

But, God did do it. God in love lived among us.

This is truly awesome! God: Creator, Sustainer, Majesty on High, Lord, King of Kings, Sovereign Ruler, God of all glory. All this speaks of God’s greatness and glory, and yet God decided to not just live with us, but to become one of us. This is truly awesome and we rightly worship God.

For our each one of us, gathered here in this afternoon: what does this mean?

What does the Incarnation, God born as human, mean for us?

Firstly, the Incarnation gives dignity to humanity.

The Incarnation demonstrates that each and every girl and boy, man and woman, is dignified, is honoured, is precious, is worthy of respect, and is of the uttermost value.

And this dignity is given to everyone.

Unfortunately, at times we are tempted to consider that some people are less worthy than other people.

Do you recall to whom God sent the angel choir on that Christmas night? Yes, it was the shepherds!

In those days shepherds were social outcasts.   Australian scholar Leon Morris says it this way, [L Morris, Luke, IVP London, 1974, p.84],

“As a class shepherds had a bad reputation. The nature of their calling prevented them from observing the ceremonial law which meant so much to religious people. More regrettable was their habit of confusing “mine” with “thine” as they moved about the country. They were considered unreliable and were not allowed to give testimony in the law-court. . . . they did come from a despised class”

But God in love sent the angelic choir to these social outcasts; not the Village mayor. Not the Governor but to those on the margins of society.

We are to treat all people with honour, worth, dignity and respect. And that includes people fleeing from persecution! Each and every person is precious to God. Each and every person should be precious to us, and our Government, also.

Firstly, then, the Incarnation gives dignity to humanity.

Secondly, the Incarnation is invitation: God’s invitation to “Come home!”

In the Incarnation, God puts up His ‘Welcome’ sign.

God takes the risk of inviting us all into the safety, security and sustenance of His embrace, His eternal home.

God took the risk of inviting us into His family.

Can we follow God’s way of invitation, of welcome and let love make a way for asylum seekers?

Love carries risk, and it is the risk that the Divine Lover takes.

God took the risk of becoming human that we might experience true love but sadly we humans have not responded well to the divine invitation, to God’s welcome.

Indeed at the very birth of the Baby of Bethlehem, there was welcome neither in the Inn nor in the Holy Family’s home province.

Fleeing persecution, the Holy family sought asylum in another country: in Egypt.

In the face of problems did God withdraw His invitation to us? No, God’s invitation continues to be extended to us, even amidst difficulties and disappointments.

Can we follow God’s way of invitation, of welcome, and let love make a way for asylum seekers?

Can risk-taking love prevail in Australia tody? – Of course it can, and we are here today to make it happen! We commit to pray and work for love to make a way for asylum seekers.

Today we will ring the Cathedral bells to sound out God’s love in Christ.

Today we will ring the Cathedral bells to sound out the dignity of asylum seekers.

Today we will ring the Cathedral bells to sound out Christians’ invitation and welcome to asylum seekers.

Today we will ring the Cathedral bells to sound out that love makes a way. Amen.

John Harrower, Bishop of Tasmania

NOTE: There is no Temporary Protection Visa in God’s kingdom. God’s invitation and welcome is to an eternal home.