Sunday 11th February 2007 2nd Sunday before Lent

It is said by some that a verse out of context is a pretext. And while I might challenge those who seek to justify some theological point on that particular basis, I have no hesitation today in using the 24th verse of our Old Testament reading set for today and reflecting for a moment upon it. For while marriage as we know it today, has been formalised in the church, with its own liturgy, and elsewhere, with words of commitment, both of which are legally binding, our understanding of it should be no different whether those marriages take place here in St. Andrew’s Church, below this pulpit, or under the Gothic Temple in Painshill Park. For it is all about a couple, who are man and woman, making a decision to spend the rest of their lives, as the Old Testament says, as ‘one flesh.

This past week, the Archbishop of Canterbury at the launch of the 10th National Marriage Week, which runs from the 7th to the 14th of this month, spoke with what one newspaper editorial described as ‘forceful eloquence’.

And in doing so, the Archbishop referred to the fact that married couples helped to create the stable society so many still enjoy. He also went on to say that the committed relationship of a husband and wife in marriage, indicated to the children that ‘it is quite possible to live as a human being, not afraid that at any moment you are going to be let down, abandoned, left to yourself – someone has actually committed to be there for you.’

Yesterday in the Church Gate House Centre, we held our annual Marriage Preparation Day led by David and Judith Robinson, when the opportunity for those who are to be married here in St. Andrew’s was made available for those couples, to come and explore for themselves, what we as the church considered important issues - issues, which in some cases, had never previously been discussed, by the couples themselves. Some years ago in one of the sessions in which I was involved, when couples were carrying out a particular exercise, the question of children was raised. The man said ‘Oh yes we are going to have children.’ The woman said – ‘Hang on, we haven’t talked about that yet!’

Marriage as a lifetime partnership is what the church continues to proclaim, although past recent legislation does allow a further marriage in church, where a previous marriage has failed, and certain criteria are satisfied.

And we here at St. Andrew’s have witnessed and shared in the joy of celebrating a number of Golden Wedding Anniversaries over past recent years.

I have also been requested to hold services of thanksgiving here in church on a number of occasions, for couples here in our local community, who wished to give thanks for significant milestones in their marriages.

But those services of thanksgiving do not need to wait for the significant milestones. Last year a couple who were married in this church and now live elsewhere, asked me if I would hold a service of blessing for them following a difficult period in their marriage, through which they had come. And together that couple, here in our Memorial Chapel, on their own, reaffirmed their marriage vows in the sight of God. The church remains committed, as does the Mother’s Union, to supporting and upholding marriage and Family life.

In a judgement made last year relating to marriage, (1-08-06) Sir Mark Potter, president of the Family Division said –

‘It is apparent that the majority of people, or at least of governments, not only in England but Europe-wide, regard marriage as an age-old institution, valued and valuable, respectable and respected, as a means not only of encouraging monogamy but also the procreation of children and their development and nurture in a family unit in which both maternal and paternal influences are available in respect of their nurture and upbringing. This form of relationship is the one which best encourages stability in a well respected society.’

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, as our leader has spoken, and it is for us as Christians, while acknowledging the difficulties some may face in their married relationships, to continue to witness to the importance of marriage and family life. That is equally so for all those within the other faith communities as it is for those of no faith.

But it is also in the teachings of Jesus that we as Christians seek to model the whole of our lives. Not only in respect of marriage, which may well not be the choice of all. And as we look to the four Evangelists writings, we are reminded of them in the reading from the book of Revelation.

The four living creatures mentioned in that second reading are said to be on each side of the throne, and they are here in St. Andrew’s for us all to detect, and some of you may already be aware of their location. Perhaps as you come up to the altar this morning, look at the figures of the evangelists in the bottom of the East window and the small red roundels by them. The creature with a human face, the lion, the ox, and the flying eagle, of the New Testament reading, remind us that we are in God’s presence and invite us to respond accordingly as we come together to share in worship.

Matthew the 1st Evangelist is symbolised by the Human form. The emblem of the ‘Divine Man’ was assigned to St. Matthew in ancient times because his Gospel teaches us about the human nature of Christ. Mark is recognised by the symbol of the Lion. This symbolises the Gospel written under his name, which informs us of the royal dignity of Christ. Luke can be recognised by the figure of an Ox, as his Gospel deals with the sacrificial aspects of Christ’s life. And, the Eagle represents St. John the Evangelist. The ancient symbol of the rising eagle assigned to John, is because his gaze pierced further into the mysteries of Heaven than that of any man.

The Humanity of Christ, the Kingship of Christ, the sacrifice of Christ, and the mystery of the Eternal Christ remind us of Christmas, Epiphany, Good Friday and Easter as revealed to the world by the writings of the four Evangelists.

In the storms of life we may well cry out, as the disciples did on that storm tossed lake of Galilee – ‘Master we are perishing!’ Without the Gospel of Jesus Christ that may well be the reality for our world today.

But we must never doubt that he who brought peace to the disciples on that storm tossed lake, will give that same peace to each one of us.

As we have prayed today in the collect – may God help each one of us to discern God’s hand in all his works – and his likeness in all his children.

© Revd Peter Vickers – 8th February 2007)