“Fearless Truth Telling”

Rev Dr Cathie Lambert 14/08/2022

Readings - Isaiah 5: 1-7, Luke 12: 49-56

Introduction to the Theme – Uncle Jack Charles and Truth-telling

Many of you may know of Uncle Jack Charles. In the recent NAIDOC week, Uncle Jack was presented the Male Elder award. I want to show you a short video that was made at this time that gives a small insight into who he is and what he is passionate about. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miHI1HyE4rg ) Uncle Jack Charles has been a truth-teller on behalf of the indigenous community for many years now. I had the privilege of meeting him briefly a few years ago. He is a very endearing man; funny, warm, approachable. But he’s also straight to the point; says it how it is, doesn’t mess around. His passion is palpable, but he has had his fair share of opposition. In April this year the Victorian Government began listening to the stories of aboriginal people. Uncle Jack Charles was the first to share his story with the Yoorook Justice Commission. Truth-telling does not bring contentment and peace. Instead, it disrupts, disturbs and upsets the status quo. This is what our readings for today are about. Uncle Jack Charles is a prophetic voice in our country. Today’s readings highlight the need and the disruption of the prophetic voice. If you are here this morning in order to leave feeling content and comfortable – I’m sorry – the Gospel message today is challenging and disruptive.

Message

I will be honest. When I first read the lectionary readings for today, my immediate reaction was – I’ll find something else. I have learnt over time, however, that this is often an invitation to take a closer look and see what my resistance is to the topic. I guess the reality is I would much rather sit on the fence, keep the peace and live a comfortable life – but this is not the message we hear today.

We know that the message of Jesus was, and still is, counter-cultural. And yet we are still surprised when we hear Jesus say “I have not come to bring peace, but division”. The reading from Luke today takes us beyond a “feel good” Christianity. Jesus’ passion for love, change, justice and renewal is evident in and through his story. He brings a vision that stands in direct conflict with those things that the society valued – wealth, possessions, culture and religion. His message is disruptive and disturbing. It offers an alternative reality that will upset many people’s sense of harmony and comfort.

The voice of Jesus joins a long line of prophetic voices through the centuries. We don’t need to read too deeply in the prophets to realise that they are not the dominant voice. They have no armies or great weapons and are often ostracised. Being a prophet, a voice of dissent, is not easy. It is costly and requires imagination, energy and creativity. Walter Brueggemann, in his classic text “The Prophetic Imagination” says, “The task of the prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us.” It is a message very few want to hear, because they are comfortable with the status quo, content with how things are.

So, Jesus’ claim that he does not come to bring peace but division, is an acknowledgment that his prophetic message is so radical that it is bound to bring division. It is not that he wills or hopes for division, but for those who catch his vision, God’s vision, it is inevitable. In the reading from Isaiah, we read the poetry of the prophet. It begins as a love song. The owner of the vineyard, God, tends the vineyard, prepares the soil, does everything possible for the vines to produce good fruit. But alas, despite the love and attention, the vines produce only sour grapes. This passage from Isaiah says much about God’s concerns and hopes for us. God’s desire for Israel is for them to produce fruit of justice and righteousness, but in their contentedness with their own lives and their blindness to the plight of others – their fruit is only bad. The literal translation from the Hebrew is “stinking fruit”. The prophet, Isaiah, speaks this difficult truth to the people in a creative way. I am sure his message was not popular. Let’s face it – who likes to be called out in such a cutting way?

Now, you may be sitting here thinking – that’s okay for those called to be prophets in this world, but that’s not me. I can only say this because I know it. I don’t have the personality to be a person who leads protest rallies or enter into debates about justice issues. The thought of this petrifies me. But my reflections in recent weeks have led me to wonder how I might find my prophetic voice. Change requires people to speak the truth and call out injustice. Jesus was all about transformation and change. He was a man of fearless truth-telling, fierce hope, and offered an alternative reality. He held firm to this even to his death. So, who am I to shy away because it is too hard?

And so, what I share with you now is a work in progress and a personal reflection that perhaps will speak into your life in some way. I share this with some hesitation, as I realise there are people here who are much further along in discovering their prophetic voice than I. But perhaps for those of us who struggle it is helpful to know we are not alone.

There are three things that stop me from using my prophetic voice. The first is the problems of the world and the injustice I see around me seem far too big for me to make a difference. Who am I to say anything or do anything about this? The second is painful experiences from the past. I can think of one in particular that affects me and it happened in the church. I remember attending a Synod meeting a few years ago now. It was at the time when the church was having discussions about broadening the understanding of marriage. In previous years, I had been mentored by Kay Dowling, as General Secretary, in how to have my say in these meetings. She taught me how to put together a proposal and the correct processes.

At this Synod meeting I was passionate about putting forward a proposal to acknowledge the hurt being caused during these discussions. I considered it a simple, non-controversial proposal that came out of love for those most affected by our discussions. I was handballed from one person to another until I was told the proposal would have negative repercussions and was advised not to submit it. All my passion bubbled up, I dissolved into tears and felt humiliated and silenced. Why would I do that to myself again?

The third thing that stops me is the fear of division. They do say you shouldn’t talk about religion or politics at the dinner table, right? I know, in some situations, to speak the truth, to call out behaviour, to be the prophetic voice will break up the party – so to speak. I like to be in good relationship with people. Why would I jeopardise that? I could say I completely understand Jonah. I get why he ran away.

And so, in the last few weeks as I’ve been in the prophetic belly of the whale reflecting on what this means for me, I have gained some insights. My first realisation is that God has been preparing me for this moment. While doing my PhD, I sometimes wondered what on earth it was all about. More than the thesis, the gain for me has been courage, a finding of my voice and a new sense of confidence. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by people during this time who have encouraged my voice and provided a safe space to gain confidence.

The second insight is that God doesn’t ask me to be a prophetic voice like other people. I don’t have to be the one up the front of the protest rally or bringing arguments before political parties. I need to find what my prophetic voice looks like. For me, this will be quieter, perhaps more creative, and certainly authentic to me. I discovered this week that my calling is to be a quiet disruptor. I have always struggled to bring together my desire live a contemplative life and the passion to speak prophetically. I am beginning to realise it doesn’t need to be an either / or. I can hold both together and be a quiet disruptor in my own way.

I’d like to finish my reflection by playing a song by Sinead O’Connor. It is from her album “Theology” which puts into song different Scriptures and her own reflections on the life of faith. The song I will play for you is titled “If I had a Vineyard”. It is based on the words of Isaiah 5 that we have heard today. I have watched a couple of videos of her performing this song live. Before she begins, she simply invites people to consider the song from the perspective of contemporary Israel and Palestine. She doesn’t make any political arguments or long speeches. She simply offers her song as a prophetic voice for those who will hear.