Address to retired clergy

Luke 9: 10-17

Peter Johnson

Is not wisdom found among the aged, asked Job. What a great guy he must have been! Does not long life bring understanding, he said. Thank goodness for a man who saw that in us. How intelligent he was to see that, with so much industry behind us, we, the elderly and retired have become so wise. I always knew Job would come in handy one day.

Of course, others discovered the same thing the hard way. The major work of Moses came in his later life. Abraham really got down to brass tacks as an older man; and Sarah got a big surprise in her dotage. After the story of his call, and a few battles thrown in, the most we hear of Samuel starts: ‘Now when Samuel was old...’ And, it all continues to happen. Job was right. But not just in reference to characters from the deep past, nor just those limited to the scriptures.

Michelangelo was 72 years of age when he was asked to design the dome of St Peter’s Rome. He’d done an awful lot of good things before that; his name was known and his fame assured. He’d given lasting pleasure to the world and throughout history. But he wasn’t to be allowed to leave it at that. He was to go on. Hippocrates, that doyen of medical correctness, was getting on in life when he lit the fires of Athens to rid that city of the Plague. It wasn’t his first great deed, and it wouldn’t be his last. And, more recently Adolf Hitler, you may remember, was only 56 when he shot himself, whereas Winston Churchill didn’t become Prime Minister until he was 65.

Is not wisdom found in old age? Does not long life bring understanding?

I was going to call this short address, ‘Whither the retired clergy?’ But there was a problem, you see there had to be a question mark at the end of that phrase, or it meant having to decide how many ‘aitches’ to put in the word whither. But, you see, this is the whole point isn’t it. How we are to spell the word ‘whither’, in each of our lives, is for each one of us to decide individually and for ourselves.

And what I’m sort of suggesting is this. We may be called retired clergy. We may sometimes, and in our simplicity, think we’re retired clergy. Some of us may even try to behave as though we really were retired clergy. But it’s an illusion, for each of us who thinks he or she really is retired is bound to be wrong. Bishop John may have other ideas about the matter. I really do believe that God most certainly has.

And with this in mind, I really do love St Luke’s account of the feeding of the five thousand, for there’s a nuance in what St Luke writes that other accounts miss. There’s this something extra. There’s this something so very special. There’s this something that calls out to us individually and corporately; and, for good measure, it’s repeated so that we can’t possibly put it on one side or in the too hard basket. It talks directly to us. And, of course, the point is that it includes us even when we’re over the age of 65 or whatever. And I know that most of us are over whatever. But there’s this wonderful sentence, and it’s in so many forms. It seeks out our faith. It challenges us. It’s an invitation to us. It’s a command to us. And it’s an encouragement all wrapped up in a promise that’s addressed to each and every one of us.

‘On their return, the Apostles told Jesus what they had done.’ This is, perhaps, us, and what a long catalogue of accomplishments this gathering could offer. But then there’s this fascinating little sentence in this gospel reading from St Luke, and here it is. Confronted with the apparently hopeless task of feeding such a multitude, and having sort of told Jesus it was a waste of time even trying anyway; here is his reply. ‘You give them something to eat.’ You give them something to eat. And there we have it.

Now, of course, the disciples were, not unnaturally, quite nonplussed. I mean, the problem was obvious and the solution impossible to their human minds. And they said so. We’ve only got five loaves and two fish. And, any way where would we buy enough for all these people. And, are we to add, and for goodness sake we’re over sixty five; or whatever?

But, as always, Jesus knew the problems that faced the disciples. Jesus knew the solution that escaped the disciples. Jesus knew full well what he would do with the disciples. Just as Jesus knows our problems too, and our limitations, and our strengths and our weaknesses; and uses each of them. Yes; he even uses our weaknesses. And he still turns to us, of whatever age, and with whatever pasts, and continues to say; you give them something to eat.

Well of course, when he’d said this to the disciples, they didn’t. And, of course, they couldn’t. But what was it that let them down? Was it their abilities? Was it, indeed, their age? No. In our eyes, they were lost in the same way that we sometimes feel when we look in a mirror.

They had forgotten that they were in the presence of God. God the almighty. God the all wise. God who cares. God who always provides. God without whom we are nothing. But God, with whom there is nothing we can’t do.

But, in this, St Luke’s account, it’s not just a matter of that one sentence, ‘you give them something to eat’ that sets it apart. It’s repeated. And it’s repeated in a particular way. And, as such, it’s repeated to each one of us; and to all people.

‘Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each’, said Jesus. And they did so, making them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish Jesus looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the bread, and’ - and here it is - ‘And gave the bread to the disciples to set before the crowd.’

You give them something to eat. They couldn’t. But then Jesus brought those same disciples back into the scene.

You see, have you ever wondered why Jesus involved the disciples at all? After all, he did all the work himself. But there are these two sentences. Firstly, when the problem was set before him Jesus said this to the disciples, ‘you give them something to eat.’ And then, having got them out of their mess, Jesus sent those same disciples out to distribute the food that he’d provided. And what a story that is. And get ready, because it’s already happening to each and every one of us here. Jesus involves us, and this is one of the great truths of the Church. It’s made quite clear that the disciples are helpless without Christ; but it’s also made clear that Jesus, the Christ, uses human beings in his mission to humanity. Jesus did not hand out the bread and the fish himself; he called on his disciples to do that. Jesus is not going to do everything for us we are to be involved. The disciples were not left as bystanders witnessing God’s largesse. Instead, they were to witness to it. Hopeless by themselves as they were; they were included in his mission. And he expects exactly the same of us. But we are, of course, entirely dependent upon him; and accepting that is part of the journey we all have to tread.

Well, that’s fine, but were we any less dependent on God before we hit sixty five, or whatever? What a silly thought. Of course we were not. And remember, we have this advantage. Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?

The truth is that the faith that we have takes us out of ourselves and puts us into Christ, just as much as it puts Christ into us. The faith that we have enables us to rest all our hopes and trust in the Lord, and that at all times and in all ages.

The faith that we have accepts, without reserve, not only that God has a purpose for us, just as much now as in our earlier days, but also that he will sustain us in that purpose, and do so at all times. And the faith that we have holds the Lord's outstretched hand without reserve, knowing that he will lead us, not only in the way that we must go; but also whenever he chooses.

We are to trust God as well as to trust in God. We are summoned to trust God even when things may come to us from unexpected directions. But, most of all, we are to allow God to have his way.

And this last is so important, because, oh dear, I do seem to have forgotten to complete the words that Job actually spoke.

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.

We just have it on loan.