28.1.07 Presentation of Christ

1 Cor 13 and Lk 2:2-40 West Pinchbeck

Love: A Grand Design

One of the television programmes that Leanne and I like to watch is Grand Designs.

The Channel 4 presenter Keith McCloud follows the trials and triumphs of some of Britain’s most ambitious and astonishing building and conversion projects.

With seemingly enormous budgets, people build amazing properties to suit their lifestyles. Most (if not all) the designs could be described as out of this world.

If you’re like me, though, such grand designs are a nice idea, but in budgetary terms, are out of the question.

Like me, perhaps, you need to stick to the house you’ve got. If so, then you’re more in the league of some other programmes, like:

60 Minute Makeover

Changing Rooms

If you’re desperate then you might even need to try “House Invaders” where the BBC Renovation team can invade your property and impose an innovative design on a shoestring budget.

Or perhaps you’ve started some renovation or redecorating yourself and got into deep water: so you need Houses Behaving Badly or DIY SOS where victims of disastrous home improvements are saved.

Of course if your house is of historic or heritage value – try for a spot on the ‘Restoration’ programme - and apply for some money from English Heritage. Good luck!

Maybe your house is in such a state you’d prefer to get out altogether and opt for a “Garden Makeover” instead.

Or, for a total evacuation altogether (if it’s that bad) perhaps you’d better appear on “Build a New Life in the Country”, or seek “A Place in the Sun”.

I don’t mean to sound cynical – in fact I enjoy watching some of these programmes –

they speak of the creativity and innovation of designers, architects, homeowners

and their attempts to create/restore buildings that in many cases otherwise would be in ruins shows creativity, foresight and courage

Buildings and gardens and other material things in our care need

Attention

Maintenance

Renovation/restoration

Make over

….to make sure they meet the needs of the families and communities that use them

There’s nothing worse and more depressing for the spirit than a shabby, run down, unloved building that isn’t able to meet the needs of those who occupy and use it.

A friend of mine ran a garden maintenance firm called TLC. TL happened to be his initials and C stood for consultancy. It was of course a play on letters - TLC, tender loving care. Gardens, like buildings and people, need tender loving care.

We all know the transformative power of love.

“Christians”, wrote Evelyn Underhill, “are those who have been devoured and transformed by love”

“Love Changes Everything” according to a popular song.

If you’re looking for a real

Makeover

Change

Restoration

New direction

New image

New life

Then it is to be found in and through love. Because it is love, above anything else, that can bring about a lasting change in my life or yours.

In our theme for today we are reminded that: “Love endures in a way that no particular gifts do and is therefore to be given the highest value…”

Of course the theme is picking up on the Epistle reading 1 Cor 13: Paul’s discourse on love.

There are lots of important things writes Paul. But not everything is eternal: So he’s drawing an important distinction here. The eternal, lasting things, are Faith, Hope and Love. Over and above all important things, these are the things that will remain. And of these the greatest is love.

The Christians at Corinth were guilty of factionalism. There was conflict within the church. Some factions stressed

eloquent speaking and the speaker’s ability in the use of argument and language

some stressed the need for observing the traditional Jewish law

Each group had it’s own set of gifts which they thought to be the most important.

Life must have been very uncertain and confusing – for the average Corinthian Christian, not knowing which way to go or what to believe. For these and other Christians at Corinth, Paul stressed the importance of the union of the Christian and Jesus Christ.

For Paul, in his life, he was so united in Christ that the life of Christ lived in him. “It is I that live, but Christ that lives in me”. He acts, speaks, thinks and suffers “in Christ”.

This union with Christ is important for these factional Corinthians not only because it will bring them closer to Christ, but closer to one another as well.

And in all this, love has the highest value as a gift in their life together.

If anything can help them bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things…it is love. If anything can make them patient, kind, not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude…it is love.

Perhaps in their situation most importantly – love does not insist on its own way, it rejoices in the truth. Love therefore is the gift that leads to the unity which they desire.

So the Corinthians need a makeover. In fact they need more than a 60 minute makeover; more than a Changing Rooms, a DIY SOS, a House Invaders: a lot of the changes effected in these programmes are superficial, dodgy, not lasting.

No! What the Corinthians need is a Grand Design!

They need something out of this world to transform them. They can only be transformed by love.

Love, not of this world; love of God which is eternal, enduring, remaining – will lead them to unity with Christ and each other.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. This Jesus is presented in the Temple and Simeon and Anna recognise in him someone who has the transforming power of love. This love in him will reveal the inner thoughts of many. Many hearts and souls will be pierced by his truth.

This “love of God in him” will transform the world and peoples’ lives.

We thank God today for the various gifts that we have, and ask that we might use them not for their own sake, or to defend our own position, but to glorify God, and bring people to a knowledge of this enduring and transforming love of God.