No Separation

NO SEPARATION

(Preached Remembrance Sunday 2001)

As the smoke from the burning autumn leaves curls upwards to the sky, it seems as if death is the theme of the month of November.

First of all, we observed the Feast of All Saints – those numberless and nameless ones who have completed their earthly pilgrimage, leaving the world a better place than they found it, and whose contribution is known is God alone.

Secondly, on All Souls Day, we commemorated the faithful departed, during which we recalled the names of those who have died during the past year and whose funerals the parish clergy have conducted, together with the names of those loved ones handed in beforehand.

When I started this service some ten years ago there were some twelve people present. Last Sunday there were over 90 people present. It is obvious that this service meets a real pastoral need in the lives of parishioners.

And finally, today, on this Remembrance Sunday we have also recalled those who died in two World Wars and subsequent international conflicts. In particular, we recalled by name those who died from our local community, serving our country, and whose names are recorded on our War Memorial.

Hence I said that, as the autumn leaves fall from the trees, it seems as if death is the theme of the month of November.

This is further reinforced by our second reading this evening from Paul's Letter to the Christians living in Rome about 60AD. He was writing this letter to Christians who were suffering, or were about to suffer persecution for their faith, some of whom would pay the ultimate price of discipleship with their lives,

Others would obviously be tempted to desert the Christian church and abandon their faith for fear of the consequences, whilst others, remaining steadfast in their commitment, would nevertheless be fearful of the future.

So Paul writes to build up the confidence of this small fragile Christian community and to assure them that their present suffering, be it physical or emotional, will not go unnoticed by God.

Possibly the one thing they feared most was possibility of death. The great unknown.

The bad news about death is that we become separated from those whom we love.

However, the good news about death is that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

As St Paul reminds them: "I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth. nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God."

These are not just glib pious words of a preacher but rather words spoken out of the fiery furnace of his own personal experience of suffering in this world.

Elsewhere he reminds his readers: “Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I have been beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was at adrift at sea: on frequent journeys in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters in toil and hardship through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked.”

That is a pretty exhausting list of personal sufferings which could easily shatter a person’s faith in God. Yet despite all this, his faith in the loving purposes of God remains steadfast.

Hence he is able to say that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God".

Now of course we are saddened that death separates us from those we love. There would be something wrong with us if that was not so. The pain of separation can last for an awful long time, whether or not we believe in God.

As one parishioner wrote this week: “Thank you for the lovely memorial service last night. Your sermon described our feelings so well, and although I was so very sad, I was glad I made myself go". And she goes on: “For the moment I am still too emotional and missing dear………more each day”.

Yes, the pain of separation hurts.

However, we can begin to turn that pain into joy if we recall that, though we are separated from our loved ones, they are not separated from God. His love for us is constant in this life and in the next and therefore we need not be fearful.

There is a wonderful story in the Old Testament about this steadfast love of God. It is to be found in the Book of Hosea.

The prophet Hosea was told by God to marry a prostitute. Although she tried to settle down and be a faithful, loving wife, alas she was tempted by other men whom she chased after.

Despite her unfaithfulness, Hosea continued to love her, even when she did not deserve his love. He continued always to show what in Hebrew is called ‘Hesed' i.e. steadfast love.

Now that is a parable about God’s love for us, It remains steadfast both when we deserve it, and when we do not deserve it. His love never changes, like, alas, our love for him. And furthermore, that loving bond cannot be separated even by death.

Yes, November is a sad month as the nights begin to draw in, the autumn leaves fall from the trees and we celebrate All Saints Day, observe All Souls Day, and today remember those who have died in two World Wars.

Our Christian faith cannot deny the reality of death but it can help to transform the pain of separation by recalling that great affirmation of St Paul that “I am convinced that neither death nor life...... will be able to separate us from the love of God".