During the last World Cup the National Centre for Domestic Violence ran awareness campaigns with the headline ‘If England gets beaten so will she’ overlaid on the image of a woman’s bloodied face. Reported cases of intimate partner violence increased by 38% when England lost and by 26% when they won or drew. We are shocked by the unprovoked rape and murder shown by a policeman to Sarah Everard and the stabbings of the two daughters of Archdeacon Mina Smallman as they celebrated a birthday. Two policemen photographed themselves with the dead bodies, showing utter disrespect. Empowered men felt they could do what they liked. Murder of women by relatives rarely makes the headlines because it is commonplace. In the UK a women is killed by someone they know, roughly every three days.Sexual abuse and harassment of girls has become frequent, “normalised” in British schools and colleges. Many feel they have to accept it as part of growing up. Our use and discard culture has been reflected in the behaviour of both our Prime Minister and Matt Hancock, our now former health secretary. Hancock’s apology was for breaking the social distancing rules he had implemented, not for the damage he has done to his wife and children. Johnson has at least six children, has had three wives and countless affairs and is the only British Prime Minister who has lived with his girlfriend in office. The British public and Conservative party clearly support his “Jack the lad” lifestyle through voting him in. He insists on keeping his personal life private. Personal behaviour is never a private matter. It either strengthens community or weakens it. When wives, mistresses and children are treated badly, it is not only their lives that are blighted. Those they rely on for support suffer. John the Baptist spoke against Herod Antipas’ adultery with Herodias because their sexual sin was a misuse of power. Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, was born into an utterly ruthless, family. He was one of nine sons and five daughters born to Herod the Great, the King who attempted to put baby Jesus to death and massacred all the baby boys of a similar age. Antipas was one of the more fortunate sons. Three of his half brothers were executed by their father along with one of his ten wives. Antipas grew up in an atmosphere of fear, knowing that if he didn’t please his father, the consequences would be disastrous, not just for him but also for his mother and full brother, Archelaus. His father was in love with power and himself. He didn’t lavish love upon his children. He was insanely jealous of them. Herod the Great, a convert to Judaism totally ignored the laws regarding marriage using his money to win popularity bringing grandeur to the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Antipas was born into a family where immorality, incest, hypocrisy, and extravagant decadence were considered the natural trappings of money and power. Herodius, the villainess responsible for the execution of John the Baptist was also born into this frightening family. Her father Aristobulos was one of Herod’s murdered sons and her grandmother Mariamne, one of Herod’s wives, was also executed by him. Without a Father and grandmother she was at the mercy of family abusers. It was not surprising, therefore that she married within her complex family. She was the niece and a blood relative of both her first husband, Herod Philip and her second husband, Antipas. Herod Philip, unlike Antipas inherited none of his father’s dominions. He lived as a wealthy private citizen in Rome with their daughter, Salome who danced for her step father in the passage today. Herod Antipas went to Rome to seduce Herodius who was both his niece and sister in law. To marry Herodias he had to divorce his first wife Phasaelis, the daughter of the King of Nabataea which led to a disastrous war when her father avenged his daughter’s honour. Many died as a result of Herod Antipas’ incest and adultery. Sin always affects others. Those who sleep around and do not nurture faithful, lifelong partners rarely consider the consequences of their actions; children with no father in the home and no clear understanding of their heritage or identity; the breakdown of family life, poverty and the weakening of society. Humans, often women are objectified, damaged and demeaned. When tempted we must learn to resist our impulses. Faithful, committed love is an act of will. John the Baptist was imprisoned in the dark, dank dungeons of the castle of Machaerus, a grim fortress. For a man who had preached and lived in the open air, this must have been horrendous. The iron hooks by which prisoners were bound to the wall are still there. His ministry in calling the nation to repentance was over. Alone and depressed he needed to know the news his disciples brought that God was healing and setting people free through Jesus. While John was suffering for speaking truth, Antipas and his court were enjoying a banquet where there was plenty of food, drink and entertainment. Far from suffering for his sin, Antipas was enjoying a booze up on his birthday with his family, courtiers and leaders of Galilee. Herodias’ daughter, who we know was called Salome from Josephus a historian of the time, was forced to dance seductively for her step-father. Encouraged by her mother, she behaved like prostitutes of the time. Poor, damaged, manipulated Salome! Antipas didn’t take advantage. Instead, pleased with what he saw, he made a stupid promise. He would give Salome whatever she asked for, up to half his kingdom. Drunken men make stupid promises they usually regret when sober. His offer was an unsuitable gift for a young girl. Salome, understandably, didn’t know how to respond so she asked her Mum who saw her opportunity to finally get even with John who she felt had publicly humiliated her. John was truthful and lived a holy life. Antipas had a guilty conscience fearing both John and the wrath of God. Salome’s request for John’s head on a platter, mediated through his wife was bloodthirsty and vindictive. Antipas should have repented, expressed outrage and refused to make good his promise. It meant losing face, admitting he was wrong and turning from his destructive lifestyle. In front of friends and family Antipas didn’t want to be humiliated. He was deeply mired in evil. How could he put things right with his first wife, with those families who had suffered as a result of war and with his brother Herod Philip? What should he do with Herodius and Salome? He was now responsible for them. So Antipas took the easy way. Grieving, he sent a guard to behead John and bring the head to him on a platter which he gave to Salome who gave it to her mother. He was a coward. He didn’t go to John. He sent someone else to do his dirty work. Salome, already damaged by horrendous parenting, was faced with greater horror. She repeated the sins of her parents, marrying her father’s half brother, another Philip, probably for the power it gave her as he like Antipas also inherited part of Herod the Great’s Kingdom. John never touched alcohol and lived a simple lifestyle whereas Antipas and his court revelled in luxury. John showed strength and courage in speaking the truth, whereas Antipas failed to make a stand even when the request from Salome was so tragic. John was willing to decrease and die so that Jesus could fulfil his ministry whereas Antipas was frightened of losing face amongst his courtiers and family. John looked towards Jesus, who he called the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world for justice and freedom. Antipas remained troubled by his conscience and spent his life seeking the title of an earthly King. Antipas’s conscience continued to trouble him. After the death of John, Jesus and his disciples continued to call people to repentance showing greater power than John casting them out demons and healing the sick. Antipas believed Jesus was John raised from the dead. He still didn’t repent. Whereas Antipas brought a gift of death to his stepdaughter, Jesus invites us to come to him to receive forgiveness through his shed blood. He lavishes his riches and spiritual blessing on us. He is the best parent. He adopts us as his children and pours out his life-giving Holy Spirit enabling us to be holy and blameless before him in love. May we like John and Jesus speak truth to power even though it is costly?
During the last World Cup the National Centre for Domestic Violence ran awareness campaigns with the headline ‘If England gets beaten so will she’ overlaid on the image of a woman’s bloodied face. Reported cases of intimate partner violence increased by 38% when England lost and by 26% when they won or drew. We are shocked by the unprovoked rape and murder shown by a policeman to Sarah Everard and the stabbings of the two daughters of Archdeacon Mina Smallman as they celebrated a birthday. Two policemen photographed themselves with the dead bodies, showing utter disrespect. Empowered men felt they could do what they liked. Murder of women by relatives rarely makes the headlines because it is commonplace. In the UK a women is killed by someone they know, roughly every three days.Sexual abuse and harassment of girls has become frequent, “normalised” in British schools and colleges. Many feel they have to accept it as part of growing up. Our use and discard culture has been reflected in the behaviour of both our Prime Minister and Matt Hancock, our now former health secretary. Hancock’s apology was for breaking the social distancing rules he had implemented, not for the damage he has done to his wife and children. Johnson has at least six children, has had three wives and countless affairs and is the only British Prime Minister who has lived with his girlfriend in office. The British public and Conservative party clearly support his “Jack the lad” lifestyle through voting him in. He insists on keeping his personal life private. Personal behaviour is never a private matter. It either strengthens community or weakens it. When wives, mistresses and children are treated badly, it is not only their lives that are blighted. Those they rely on for support suffer. John the Baptist spoke against Herod Antipas’ adultery with Herodias because their sexual sin was a misuse of power. Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, was born into an utterly ruthless, family. He was one of nine sons and five daughters born to Herod the Great, the King who attempted to put baby Jesus to death and massacred all the baby boys of a similar age. Antipas was one of the more fortunate sons. Three of his half brothers were executed by their father along with one of his ten wives. Antipas grew up in an atmosphere of fear, knowing that if he didn’t please his father, the consequences would be disastrous, not just for him but also for his mother and full brother, Archelaus. His father was in love with power and himself. He didn’t lavish love upon his children. He was insanely jealous of them. Herod the Great, a convert to Judaism totally ignored the laws regarding marriage using his money to win popularity bringing grandeur to the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Antipas was born into a family where immorality, incest, hypocrisy, and extravagant decadence were considered the natural trappings of money and power. Herodius, the villainess responsible for the execution of John the Baptist was also born into this frightening family. Her father Aristobulos was one of Herod’s murdered sons and her grandmother Mariamne, one of Herod’s wives, was also executed by him. Without a Father and grandmother she was at the mercy of family abusers. It was not surprising, therefore that she married within her complex family. She was the niece and a blood relative of both her first husband, Herod Philip and her second husband, Antipas. Herod Philip, unlike Antipas inherited none of his father’s dominions. He lived as a wealthy private citizen in Rome with their daughter, Salome who danced for her step father in the passage today. Herod Antipas went to Rome to seduce Herodius who was both his niece and sister in law. To marry Herodias he had to divorce his first wife Phasaelis, the daughter of the King of Nabataea which led to a disastrous war when her father avenged his daughter’s honour. Many died as a result of Herod Antipas’ incest and adultery. Sin always affects others. Those who sleep around and do not nurture faithful, lifelong partners rarely consider the consequences of their actions; children with no father in the home and no clear understanding of their heritage or identity; the breakdown of family life, poverty and the weakening of society. Humans, often women are objectified, damaged and demeaned. When tempted we must learn to resist our impulses. Faithful, committed love is an act of will. John the Baptist was imprisoned in the dark, dank dungeons of the castle of Machaerus, a grim fortress. For a man who had preached and lived in the open air, this must have been horrendous. The iron hooks by which prisoners were bound to the wall are still there. His ministry in calling the nation to repentance was over. Alone and depressed he needed to know the news his disciples brought that God was healing and setting people free through Jesus. While John was suffering for speaking truth, Antipas and his court were enjoying a banquet where there was plenty of food, drink and entertainment. Far from suffering for his sin, Antipas was enjoying a booze up on his birthday with his family, courtiers and leaders of Galilee. Herodias’ daughter, who we know was called Salome from Josephus a historian of the time, was forced to dance seductively for her step-father. Encouraged by her mother, she behaved like prostitutes of the time. Poor, damaged, manipulated Salome! Antipas didn’t take advantage. Instead, pleased with what he saw, he made a stupid promise. He would give Salome whatever she asked for, up to half his kingdom. Drunken men make stupid promises they usually regret when sober. His offer was an unsuitable gift for a young girl. Salome, understandably, didn’t know how to respond so she asked her Mum who saw her opportunity to finally get even with John who she felt had publicly humiliated her. John was truthful and lived a holy life. Antipas had a guilty conscience fearing both John and the wrath of God. Salome’s request for John’s head on a platter, mediated through his wife was bloodthirsty and vindictive. Antipas should have repented, expressed outrage and refused to make good his promise. It meant losing face, admitting he was wrong and turning from his destructive lifestyle. In front of friends and family Antipas didn’t want to be humiliated. He was deeply mired in evil. How could he put things right with his first wife, with those families who had suffered as a result of war and with his brother Herod Philip? What should he do with Herodius and Salome? He was now responsible for them. So Antipas took the easy way. Grieving, he sent a guard to behead John and bring the head to him on a platter which he gave to Salome who gave it to her mother. He was a coward. He didn’t go to John. He sent someone else to do his dirty work. Salome, already damaged by horrendous parenting, was faced with greater horror. She repeated the sins of her parents, marrying her father’s half brother, another Philip, probably for the power it gave her as he like Antipas also inherited part of Herod the Great’s Kingdom. John never touched alcohol and lived a simple lifestyle whereas Antipas and his court revelled in luxury. John showed strength and courage in speaking the truth, whereas Antipas failed to make a stand even when the request from Salome was so tragic. John was willing to decrease and die so that Jesus could fulfil his ministry whereas Antipas was frightened of losing face amongst his courtiers and family. John looked towards Jesus, who he called the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world for justice and freedom. Antipas remained troubled by his conscience and spent his life seeking the title of an earthly King. Antipas’s conscience continued to trouble him. After the death of John, Jesus and his disciples continued to call people to repentance showing greater power than John casting them out demons and healing the sick. Antipas believed Jesus was John raised from the dead. He still didn’t repent. Whereas Antipas brought a gift of death to his stepdaughter, Jesus invites us to come to him to receive forgiveness through his shed blood. He lavishes his riches and spiritual blessing on us. He is the best parent. He adopts us as his children and pours out his life-giving Holy Spirit enabling us to be holy and blameless before him in love. May we like John and Jesus speak truth to power even though it is costly?
When Jesus returned to his home town of Nazareth he could do no deed of power there other than curing a few sick people. How frustrating for his disciples and the crowds who expected to see something spectacular! Families and churches should be the places where we are encouraged, nurtured and given opportunities to grow and develop. We look to parents, siblings, teachers and church leaders for approval. They should be cheering us on. In our home context we should feel safe, able to try out new ideas. We should know we are loved so much that we have freedom to fail. Sadly some homes are places of criticism where it is difficult to meet our family’s expectations. Sometimes they have been places where we have failed because we haven’t been given the opportunities we need to grow or others have tried to fashion us into the sort of person they think we ought to be rather than the person God created us to be. Jesus did not meet the expectations of his family or local community. When he taught in his local synagogue, many were astounded asking where he got the wisdom from. Jesus was judged for his lack of education. He hadn’t been to the most prestigious rabbinical schools. He probably hadn’t been given any further education at all. Instead, he was trained by his step father Joseph to be a carpenter with the expectation he would earn his living this way. Many of us have not been able to develop the way we wanted to because of lack of educational opportunities, poverty or even our gender. For my parent’s generation there was the need to go out to work as soon as possible because of the deprivations caused by the Second World War. For me and many in my generation, we were divided by the eleven plus. Those who went to grammar schools were educated to lead and those who went to Secondary Moderns were expected to be practical. More opportunities and grammar school places were allotted to boys. Boys were educated in sciences and technical drawing while girls learnt sewing and cooking. Whilst in today’s society we are told we can be anything we want to be and are told to aspire to excel, that is not true. From the moment we are born we are surrounded by cultural expectations and expected to fit particular moulds. Jesus also struggled in his home town because of his family background. Those in the synagogue thought Jesus was behaving above his station in life. He has separated himself from his mum, Mary who was a widow and his sisters who needed his support. As the oldest, Jesus should, in their eyes have lived at home supporting them. Jesus was different to his brothers, James, Joses, Simon and Judas. Jesus was without honour in his home town within his family, community and synagogue. As a result, he wasn’t listened to and they did not believe in him. I wonder how many of you were held back by parents. My parents were newsagents and expected me to take on the family business. When I moved away and trained to teach they expected me to both teach and manage the shop. They were lovely parents and though they were disappointed eventually accepted that it wasn’t possible. All of us are treasure troves of talents and possibilities waiting to be nurtured, enabled and given the opportunity to be what God has called us to be and do what he has called us to do. This is particularly true of our children and young folk. As I look at you I see potential, hear pearls of wisdom; I benefit from your pastoral care, your skills in music, gardening and administration and so much more. You bring the treasure within you into our church, to all those you love and to our needy world. The great power Jesus exercised came from God. Constantly in fellowship with his heavenly Father and guided by the Holy Spirit, Jesus ministered eternal life to those trusted him. With God within us our possibilities are endless. We find success in him. Our Lord Jesus Christ forgives us, cleanses us, enables us to have a relationship with God, and he is the one who one day will call us to live with him in his home in heaven. He is the one who makes us whole again, the one who pours his Holy Spirit upon us and enables us to do his work in the world Instead of welcoming the gift and ministry of Jesus, the synagogue members took offence. Their arrogance and familiarity with Jesus prevented them seeing what God was doing through him. They couldn’t think of him outside the box they had put him in, unwrap the gift and receive his healing and life. In contrast to those in his home town, Jesus nurtured and developed his disciples. He sent them out in pairs so they could support each other, without money and worldly gifts but with authority, not just to use their own gifting, but also to use the power of the Holy Spirit that God had put within them. “So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” The word repents means to change one’s mind by turning to God and trusting in Jesus who died for us. When we do so we receive the Holy Spirit who enables us to live holy lives and do what Jesus wants us to do. We constantly need to turn from the things we do wrong, from our unbelief and trust Jesus. The disciples cast out many demons. We need to get rid of all which inhibits us and stops us being the people God has called us to be, whether it is hate, fear, pride or just a poor use of our time. The disciples anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. Oil is a symbol of Holy Spirit, a sign of God’s anointing in ministry. Priests and Kings were anointed, not sick people. We are made whole and healed, given dignity and authority by Jesus to enable us to do the work he has called us to. We all work at some time in our lives, whether paid or unpaid, but we do not necessarily fulfil our calling. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we become more than we can be. Jesus calls us to fullness of life and to bring that life to others. Here at St. Leonard’s we do not want to make the mistakes the synagogue Jesus grew up in made. May our church be somewhere where all are valued, nurtured, enabled developed and encouraged in their God given gifts.
When Jesus returned to his home town of Nazareth he could do no deed of power there other than curing a few sick people. How frustrating for his disciples and the crowds who expected to see something spectacular! Families and churches should be the places where we are encouraged, nurtured and given opportunities to grow and develop. We look to parents, siblings, teachers and church leaders for approval. They should be cheering us on. In our home context we should feel safe, able to try out new ideas. We should know we are loved so much that we have freedom to fail. Sadly some homes are places of criticism where it is difficult to meet our family’s expectations. Sometimes they have been places where we have failed because we haven’t been given the opportunities we need to grow or others have tried to fashion us into the sort of person they think we ought to be rather than the person God created us to be. Jesus did not meet the expectations of his family or local community. When he taught in his local synagogue, many were astounded asking where he got the wisdom from. Jesus was judged for his lack of education. He hadn’t been to the most prestigious rabbinical schools. He probably hadn’t been given any further education at all. Instead, he was trained by his step father Joseph to be a carpenter with the expectation he would earn his living this way. Many of us have not been able to develop the way we wanted to because of lack of educational opportunities, poverty or even our gender. For my parent’s generation there was the need to go out to work as soon as possible because of the deprivations caused by the Second World War. For me and many in my generation, we were divided by the eleven plus. Those who went to grammar schools were educated to lead and those who went to Secondary Moderns were expected to be practical. More opportunities and grammar school places were allotted to boys. Boys were educated in sciences and technical drawing while girls learnt sewing and cooking. Whilst in today’s society we are told we can be anything we want to be and are told to aspire to excel, that is not true. From the moment we are born we are surrounded by cultural expectations and expected to fit particular moulds. Jesus also struggled in his home town because of his family background. Those in the synagogue thought Jesus was behaving above his station in life. He has separated himself from his mum, Mary who was a widow and his sisters who needed his support. As the oldest, Jesus should, in their eyes have lived at home supporting them. Jesus was different to his brothers, James, Joses, Simon and Judas. Jesus was without honour in his home town within his family, community and synagogue. As a result, he wasn’t listened to and they did not believe in him. I wonder how many of you were held back by parents. My parents were newsagents and expected me to take on the family business. When I moved away and trained to teach they expected me to both teach and manage the shop. They were lovely parents and though they were disappointed eventually accepted that it wasn’t possible. All of us are treasure troves of talents and possibilities waiting to be nurtured, enabled and given the opportunity to be what God has called us to be and do what he has called us to do. This is particularly true of our children and young folk. As I look at you I see potential, hear pearls of wisdom; I benefit from your pastoral care, your skills in music, gardening and administration and so much more. You bring the treasure within you into our church, to all those you love and to our needy world. The great power Jesus exercised came from God. Constantly in fellowship with his heavenly Father and guided by the Holy Spirit, Jesus ministered eternal life to those trusted him. With God within us our possibilities are endless. We find success in him. Our Lord Jesus Christ forgives us, cleanses us, enables us to have a relationship with God, and he is the one who one day will call us to live with him in his home in heaven. He is the one who makes us whole again, the one who pours his Holy Spirit upon us and enables us to do his work in the world Instead of welcoming the gift and ministry of Jesus, the synagogue members took offence. Their arrogance and familiarity with Jesus prevented them seeing what God was doing through him. They couldn’t think of him outside the box they had put him in, unwrap the gift and receive his healing and life. In contrast to those in his home town, Jesus nurtured and developed his disciples. He sent them out in pairs so they could support each other, without money and worldly gifts but with authority, not just to use their own gifting, but also to use the power of the Holy Spirit that God had put within them. “So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” The word repents means to change one’s mind by turning to God and trusting in Jesus who died for us. When we do so we receive the Holy Spirit who enables us to live holy lives and do what Jesus wants us to do. We constantly need to turn from the things we do wrong, from our unbelief and trust Jesus. The disciples cast out many demons. We need to get rid of all which inhibits us and stops us being the people God has called us to be, whether it is hate, fear, pride or just a poor use of our time. The disciples anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. Oil is a symbol of Holy Spirit, a sign of God’s anointing in ministry. Priests and Kings were anointed, not sick people. We are made whole and healed, given dignity and authority by Jesus to enable us to do the work he has called us to. We all work at some time in our lives, whether paid or unpaid, but we do not necessarily fulfil our calling. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we become more than we can be. Jesus calls us to fullness of life and to bring that life to others. Here at St. Leonard’s we do not want to make the mistakes the synagogue Jesus grew up in made. May our church be somewhere where all are valued, nurtured, enabled developed and encouraged in their God given gifts.
