Words for Worship

Ministry Today

John 18.28-38

Titus 3.1-7

 

Legend says that Charlemagne asked to be buried sitting on a throne. He wanted a crown on his head and a sceptre in his hand. A royal cape would be draped around his shoulders and there would be a book lying open on his lap.

That was in A.D. 814. About 200 years later, another emperor decided to see if Charlemagne's requests had been carried out. He had the tomb opened. The body was found in the position that Charlemagne had requested. Now, however, the crown was tilted and there were moth holes in the cape. The open book was still there-the Bible that Charlemagne had asked for-and a finger pointed to Matthew 16:26, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?"

 

But who was this Charlemagne, what role did he play in Christian history and did he indeed forfeit or find his soul?

 

Well, last week we started to chart the church’s history from the time of the fall of the Roman Empire in the west to the reformation. Centuries where the old skills of civilisation had been forgotten and often a barbarous hegemony reigned across Europe. This was also time when the known world split itself up into ever small fiefdoms ruled by despotic rulers out entirely for themselves.  But it was an era too when the church saw itself as the central moral authority. The very the city of God which would be the foundation stone of Christ’s more just kingdom. Yet during these years, the church’s constant compromises to survive made it corrupt, sullied and often utterly profane. Apart then for a few oasis of Christian goodness in general these were indeed dark ages.

 

However, one of those brief respites was ushered in none other than the aforesaid Charlemagne or Charles of the Franks. As the grandson of the king who had halted the Saracen invasion of the west, he was a strong ruler and probably a ruthless grabber of land. Yet to the very fibre of his being, he felt genuinely commissioned by God.  And so, the church itself beset with a sea of problems, decided to crown him as the temporal head of a new pan European Holy Empire on Christmas Day of AD 800. Needless to say, this domain was a pale imitation of what had gone before. However, manful, Charlemagne set to on the work of recreating a reasonably moral, justice and spiritual state. And he was not without some success for historians today name his short spark of light in the barbaric darkness the Charlemagne renaissance – the rebirth of Christian living.

 

 

Well, that was history but what can we learn for today?  

Probably the most famous court of law in the land is the central Criminal Court in London more commonly called the Old Bailey. Featured in Dickens and the Rompole series, the current edifice is surmounted by Pomeroy's statue of lady Justice. Now she is often depicted as being blind to indicate the impartiality of the law. No one however, could consider Christ’s trial before Pilate as anything more than a cynical exercise in self preserving partiality. So too it was in the dark ages, for most rulers did as they pleased for themselves and their supporters. Yet Charlemagne after his coronation tried to return impartial law to his lands. Because in his famous speech to his Knights he said:  

 

 

 

Dukes, counts and judges should be just with the people and merciful to the poor. They should never sell justice for money, and never allow a personal hatred to lead them to condemn an innocent man. They should always have these words of the Apostle in their hearts:

For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged’

 

Unfortunately today, we see a dark age in many places around the globe where partial law if not thuggish injustice rules. And it is to those states’ governments we must appeal for their institution of honest legal process as  civilisation’s foundation. So too we must lobby our own politicians to ensure no pockets of unfair preference remain darkly lurking in our nation. Just as importantly, we also cannot stand ideally by when we see local partial treatment or but must speak up for a equal baseline for all. Since to do anything less is to join with Pilate in saying cynically – what is truth?  Yet to do anything more is to join Christ in saying – listen to me – my kingdom is coming – and that is the truth.

 

Oh but we say – who would listen to me my voice is so small!

 

I have to say the Internet is a great resource. For when I was researching this sermon, I came across a legend about Charlemagne. It was just before he attacked superior forces at…. Unfortunately, the story was in Spanish – not one of my strongest suits. However, by putting it into a relevant translation website – a sort of English emerged. For it seems that Charlemagne was feeling daunted at the huge task ahead of him. But it was then Saint James appeared to him and said in at least this spanelish translation

 

Now, then, march the sooner you can, that I will be your helper in everything; and by your works I will obtain of the Gentleman in skies a crown to you, and until the aim of the centuries it will be your praised name.

 

I think you get the drift. But hopefully you also get the message that if we do return to building God’s Kingdom in any way we are guaranteed not just human help but supernatural help having our voice heard and obeyed. Not least, the help of the church which as a fortress is well able to withstand the counter attacks of any age, which as an army is ever ready and eager for the fight and which as our saviour’s throne promises us a new empire. One built not upon wrongs but the very rules of  civilisation that Titus was instructed upon. The very principles of peace, honesty and humility that always leads to rebirth and renewal. For that is the power of salvation offered by Christ’s bride not just to Charlemagne but to each and every age no matter its darkness.

 

Because, I like another story historians about Charlemagne.

After his death, a tremendous funeral procession left his castle for the

cathedral at Aix.  When the royal casket arrived, with a lot of pomp and

circumstance, it was met by the local bishop, who barred the cathedral

door.

 

  "Who comes?" the Bishop asked, as was the custom.

 

  "Charlemagne, Lord and King of the Holy Roman Empire," proclaimed

  the Emperor's proud herald.

 

  "Him I know not," the Bishop replied. "Who comes?"

 

  The herald, a bit shaken, replied, "Charles the Great, a good and

  honest man of the earth."

 

  "Him I know not," the Bishop said again. "Who comes?"

 

  The herald, now completely crushed, responded, "Charles, a lowly

  sinner, who begs the gift of Christ," -- to which the Bishop

  responded, "Enter! Receive Christ's gift of life!"

 

The point, of course, is that in God's eyes, we're all equally in danger of loosing our souls for a world of self. That was true of Augustine, Charlemagne, Mother Teresa, you and me.  

 

Since none of us alone are strong enough to build the kingdom of justice.

 

Yet within the church we are made not just strong enough but good enough as well. For it is only here we have the Lords table. And we come before it all equal before God – all timid in need of inspiration – all weak in need of backbone - all beggars in need of affirmation. Yet it is here too in the unjustly broken body of Christ we have our righteous thirst restored. It is here in sacrificial gift so free given we have our holy commission reborn. It is here in these regal seeds of a better world we are bestowed our rulers’ crowning glory.

 

Amen

 

Offering

 

Hymn………………….