Sermon on Acts 9:36-43 (Christian Aid week)

Sermon on Acts 9:36-43 (Christian Aid week)
Given on 12 May 2019 at Studley Centrepoint

 

Jebbeh is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. She has a warm smile and motherly touch. But her life has been incredibly tough. Recently, Jebbeh’s sister, Fatmata, was pregnant in a village nearby. When she went into labour there were so few ambulances that Fatmata had no choice but to walk for three hours, under the baking sun, to the nearest hospital. The road was long, and she struggled to keep walking. With every step, Fatmata feared for her life and the life of her baby. Jebbeh told us: ‘My sister was crying out with hunger. She died on the side of the road. She never gave birth.’

No woman should die in childbirth. But for Jebbeh, this wasn’t just any woman. This was her sister – her strength, her comfort, her own. Jebbeh herself is heavily pregnant. As her baby grows, it’s not joy that fills her heart, but fear. Pregnancy should be a time of joy, not a time of fear. But instead of buying new baby clothes, Jebbeh has gone to her sister’s burial. Instead of excitement and joy, she feels pain and sorrow. She cries, and we cry with her.

Jebbeh’s story is one of sorrow and grief, just as Tabitha’s story begins with sorrow and grief. Tabitha, who was also called Dorcas, was a kind, gentle, and caring woman. She is described as being full of good works, a charitable woman. When she dies, her death leaves a hole in the heart of her community. The people are devastated.

After her death, two messengers are sent to Peter to ask him to come urgently. It is not made clear what the messengers actually hope to achieve. Perhaps they hope Peter can pray a special blessing over Tabitha before she is buried the next day. Or perhaps, they have heard of the other miracles, and they come because they have hope he can bring Tabitha back to life. Whatever the case, Peter goes to Tabitha, and soon, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the tears of sorrow turn to tears of joy.

Through Christian Aid, and our efforts today, the same can happen for Jebbeh. Her tears of sorrow can turn to tears of joy as she holds her healthy baby in her arms. Now some people might look at Jebbeh, see that she is from Sierra Leone, and say that charity begins at home. Yes, charity does begin at home, but not the way you might think.

A few weeks ago, our Franklin celebrated his fourth birthday, and we decided it was time for him to earn an allowance by doing some basic chores. The first week he had some of his own money, we went into town and Franklin saw a charity box. He asked me what the box was for, and I explained it was asking for money to help children who were less well off than us. Franklin unblinkingly reached into his purse to take out a few of his hard-earned coins and put in the charity box.

I’m not sure that I should take all the credit, but this is how charity starts at home. I am proud that my four-year-old has learned in his home the heart of what it means to be charitable. In the same way I remember learning in my home that Jesus loves ALL the little children…red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves every single person in this world regardless of their post code.

So this Christian Aid week, let us remember that charity is not about a big event on one day raising a few quid, it is a lifestyle. It is something that is expected every day of every Christian. Just as Tabitha was full of good works, each of us should also be kind and charitable to all of our brothers and sisters whether they are our next-door neighbour, or they live on the other side of the world. Just as the lyrics to God of Justice, “We must go, stepping forward keep us from just singing, move us into action, we must go”.

I say to you, as Peter said to Tabitha, “Get up!”, and as Jesus said to his disciples, “Go!”

Because we must go. We must be moved by the Holy Spirit to turn the tears of sorrow into tears of joy. Amen.