Ad Clerum (August 2008)
My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ
What a blessed and glorious Service of Repentance & Reconciliation we shared on Sunday 20 July 2008. We could not have asked for a more perfect day, the kind of winter's day that can only be experienced in the Highveld. The warmth of the winter sunshine, not too hot or too cold, a gentle and pleasant breeze enjoyed by the estimated five and a half thousand Anglicans gathered on the Mitchell Field of St John's College, to ask for God's forgiveness. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond, as he gazed upon that wonderful scene, whispered to me and said: "Isn't this a most wonderful sight in such a perfect setting." I knew then without a doubt that this Service was a blessing; and we would all be blessed because of our obedience to God who called us to repentance for what we, as South Africans, had done to the people who have come to us seeking refuge.
Why do we need to repent because of the xenophobic outbreaks that occurred in our country? I was asked this by someone when the notice of the Service of Repentance and Reconciliation was first announced to the Diocese. This is my attempt at answering that question, especially in the light of the wonderful Service that it turned out to be.
In Luke's Gospel 13:1-5 we read:
"At that time some people were there who told Jesus about Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. Jesus answered them, ‘Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all the other Galileans? No indeed! And I tell you if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did."
When it is reported that Pilate has engineered the massacre of some people while they were offering sacrifice, Jesus is quick to respond that that did not mean they were worse sinners than anyone else. He rejects outright any notion that there is an equation between suffering and sinfulness; still more he repudiates false ideas about God: the God he speaks about is not out to punish but rather to help us to do what is in our own best interest.
A sensitive awareness of sin in my life, a recognition that I fall short of my high calling as a son or daughter of God, is not indulging in some kind of neurosis but rather facing up to reality; and that is a blessing, provided that it is accompanied by the awareness of God's abiding love for me, his readiness to forgive, whatever my failures.
Of course there are many ways of opening ourselves to God's forgiveness: for example, the Eucharist, an act of contrition, or a Service of Repentance and Reconciliation to all refugees and to all victims of crime and violence in all its manifestations. But at this time in the life of our Diocese it might be worth considering making the sacrament of Repentance and Reconciliation a part of our daily worship.
The sacrament of Reconciliation is not some terrible burden imposed upon us, but a unique privilege offered us; an opportunity to confess before all in our wonderful rainbow country that we have failed in this way or that, for after all, our sins harm not only ourselves but also the whole Church. It is the sacrament in which we meet Jesus as friend of sinners, rather as we meet him in the Eucharist as Bread of Life, and receive the assurance that our sins are forgiven.
It is an opportunity for us to show that we take sin seriously, as God takes it seriously. Above all it's an opportunity to show we really do believe on the one hand in the utter holiness of our God, and on the other in his endless mercy and compassion. The true centre of this sacrament is the Lord, not ourselves.
Let me share with you some of the comments that I have received on behalf of the Diocese since our Service of Repentance and Reconciliation"
Dear Gerard,
Our sincere thanks and congratulations to you especially, and to your team, for an extremely well organized, and very meaningful service yesterday at St John's College. You led it all with great dignity and warm sincerity.
I have no doubt that it will be very significant.
May God bless you
Jerry and St Luke's
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13 Frere Road 21st July 2008
Parktown West
Johannesburg
2193
Dear Gerard
You will, I know, be receiving praise from much higher quarters than this for the magnificent service yesterday morning, but that doesn't stop me from putting in a word or two myself!
I must confess that I was anticipating the service with a degree of trepidation. Too long? Too cold? Too - dare I say it? - chaotic? Too much responsibility with coping with three people from Park Care on unfamiliar territory? In the event, all my stupid fears were totally ill-founded. The service wasn't a minute too long, the weather was perfect and my Park Care passengers enjoyed it all. I am so, so glad to have been there.
Everything was so tremendously well-organised and enormously professional and I know that doesn't happen without lots of forethought and careful planning. You and your team (and I was, of course, delighted to see such strong St. George's representation!) deserve huge congratulations.
I have admired - and defended - Archbishop Tutu for years but, even so, I was totally amazed and impressed by the way in which he captivated and inspired so many of us yesterday. What a truly remarkable man and how wonderful that he was able to come and talk to us.
The ashes are washed off my hands but the memory of the service will live long with me - the music, the Liturgy and above all, the people. I feel really blessed to be part of such a wonderful Diocese and I appreciate your faith and courage in organising a function which could, I think, have been difficult and perhaps disastrous. What an example to anyone else thinking of a mass gathering!!
Once again, you - with your customary grace - and your team, deserve the thanks, congratulations and admiration of the whole Diocese.
Lots of love to all
Gilly
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Dear Mr Dean and Vicar General,
You all excelled yourselves and did a splendid job on Sunday. Well done. I'm in Kalamazoo and didn't get to my laptop early enough to wish you and Pearl a happy wedding anniversary yesterday. Happy anniversary better late than never.
I did want to congratulate you as an outstanding leader of a superb team. Do let them know that I'm proud of them as a former dean and bishop of the diocese! I believe there was good coverage on TV.
Love and blessings,
Arch
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Dear Gerard
Just a short note to say thank you for the service on Sunday. It was very well organised, obviously Spirit-led, and a joy to have been part of. Working in a busy Parish I have some idea of what went in to organising the service, so thank you, and may God bless you.
Shirley
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Dear Gerard
Our congratulations to you for leading your organisational team and putting on a magnificent, memorable and poignant service. It was all so well organised, thought out and prayed about (and dear Desmond Tutu DID turn up on cue!).
Thank you from us both - it was a service we shall always remember.
Kenneth & Hilary Owen
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Dear Gerard
On behalf of the people at Holy Cross we wish to thank you and the team for preparing such a wonderful and great service this past Sunday. It was really blessed of God and did edify God's people in this diocese. Please pass our thanks to all the members of the team for job well done.
Greetings.
Steve
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Hi Rodney,
This is a very belated email to thank you and everybody else involved in last Sunday's service at St. John's. It really was a wonderful service, everyone from St. Martin's who was there has been raving about it. It was very slick and my children even managed to last until communion.
Thanks for all your hard work - I hope this week has been a bit quieter!
Regards
Jo Tatalias
St. Martin's
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Is this not just such a wonderful testimony to a loving and caring God who, when we show such obedience and commitment to his Gospel, blesses us in so many ways?
May I take this opportunity to thank the Diocese for turning up in such great numbers and for coming to share in the Service as a family. To my fellow clergy I want to thank you most sincerely for your support, your prayers and for your encouragement as we prepared for the Service and especially for your presence which represented a wonderful testimony of unity in the Diocese of Johannesburg.
May our Lord Jesus Christ continue to pour out his blessings upon us.
May God's healing and reconciling love be visible in us, God's people.
Gerard Sharp
VICAR-GENERAL