RESIDENT ALIENS

The Greek philosopher, Socrates, believed that a wise person would instinctively lead a frugal life. He himself would not even wear shoes; yet he constantly fell under the spell of the marketplace and would go there often to look at all the wares on display.
When one of his friends asked why, Socrates said, ‘I love to go there and discover how many things I am perfectly happy without.’

Today’s Gospel reading is all about priorities. It’s asking us some very fundamental questions about where our hearts truly are. Being a follower of Jesus Christ makes considerable demands on us; through baptism we have become citizens of the Kingdom of God. Theologians have characterised this citizenship as making us resident aliens in the world. It’s an interesting phrase, on the one hand it describes our living, we are resident in our world, in this country, in this community, but we also are citizens of another kingdom, we owe allegiance to a higher authority, that makes us aliens in this world, this country and this community. So there’s a tension. As residents we have a responsibility to the community in which we live, to our friends and neighbours. We also have a responsibility to this world. However, we must never forget that we are members first and foremost of the Kingdom of God. That is our true home, our true identity.

So as resident aliens our attitudes, priorities and ways of living are rather different from those of the society in which we live. Now if we were living in a country where the predominant religion was not Christianity, we would see quite a contrast between the Christian way of life and the culture of those among whom we live. But our own culture is shot through with the values of Christianity. That means that it’s sometimes quite difficult to discern what a life lived as a resident alien really looks like. Today’s readings can give us some pointers.

In the Old Testament we read that “the Lord brought Abram outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.” It seemed totally impossible to this aging, childless man that he would ever have an heir, but he believed God’s promise even though it seemed totally farfetched. And he didn’t just believe, he staked his entire way of life on this promise, leaving his ancestral home and lands in favour of a nomadic life which gave the promise of a new country for him and his descendants to inhabit. He put his life-style where his belief was.

The reading from Hebrews underlines this. The thread by which this promise to Abraham was fulfilled was a very slim one, one son, Isaac born to Abraham, two sons, Esau and Jacob born to Isaac of whom only one, Jacob was chosen to receive the birth-right. After two generations there was still only one heir and he had quarrelled violently with his brother and fled into exile. But Jacob believed and lived out his belief, returning to be reconciled with his brother, and wrestling for blessing with God himself on the night before he crossed into his brother’s lands. Jacob also lived out his belief, risking his life in the process.

So a citizen of the Kingdom of heaven sits lightly with the things of this world. Treasure is very different in the heavenly economy. It doesn’t consist of great wealth or fine clothing it consists of daily acts of kindness here described as the giving of alms. Matthew’s gospel expands this to include feeding the hungry and giving a drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and those in prison: simple acts of kindness and love towards friend and stranger alike, looking out for the opportunity to serve others, valuing that service above the accumulation of wealth and possessions. The touch stone comes through the answers to some very simple questions: where is your heart? What do you really care about? Where is your real security? If the Kingdom of heaven is where our hearts are, if we care most about Jesus Christ if he is our ultimate security then our lives will have a different shape to those of the community in which we live.

And this kingdom way of life involves watchfulness and vigilance. We are called to be ready for the return of the master, always on the look out, ever ready in our preparations. I’m reminded of those monastics who would have a skull on their desks to remind them of the temporary nature of this world. That doesn’t mean that we are to shun all the pleasure that this world can give. We read plenty in the gospels about Jesus enjoying the company of his friends, enjoying feasting with them, taking part in their celebrations. Our incarnate God created a world which is to be enjoyed, but that is to be balanced with our membership of the kingdom of heaven. We have a very particular set of priorities.

We sometimes hear the phrase “Life’s not a rehearsal” as a way of encouraging us to grasp everything that life can give. Well, I’d like to suggest that on the contrary, life is a rehearsal, we are rehearsing for our new roles in the heavenly kingdom. We are practising a way of living which puts the treasures of heaven above the treasure of earth. And the wonderful thing about a rehearsal is that we can get it wrong and try again…and again…and again.

And we are not alone in our efforts. The slaves waiting for the return of their master from the wedding banquet were waiting together. They were keeping each other awake, keeping each other prepared. That’s the job of the Christian community, helping each other to grow into the likeness and image of Christ, helping each other to practice his ways, helping each other to discern his priorities.

I end with a story “Once upon a time,” the story goes, “ a seeker went from land to land to discover an authentic religion. Finally the seeker found a group of extraordinary fame: They were known for the singleness of their hearts and the sincerity of their service. ‘I see all of that,’ the seeker said, ‘and I’m impressed by it. But, before I become your disciple, I have a question to ask: Does your God work miracles?’ And the disciple said, ‘Well it all depends on what you mean by a miracle. Some people call it a miracle when God does the will of people. We call it a miracle when people do the will of God.’

Penny Sayer
St John the Evangelist, Pevensey Rd, St Leonards on Sea