I don’t watch a lot of Television but did catch a glimpse of “A Current Affair” one night this week. One of the stories was about a couple who had rented out their home for a period of time, but at the end of the lease the tenants refused to move out. The owners were forced to live in a caravan until they could reclaim their home. Other homeowners, I know of, have returned to their homes only to find that the tenants have trashed them.

The ACA program, combined with the fact that I am writing on the Feast of St Michael and All Angels, remind me of a fable about the Angel Gabriel who has just come from surveying the earth and its inhabitants when he reports to God. “Lord, it’s my duty to inform you that you’re the possessor of a choice piece of real estate known as planet earth. But the tenants, you’ve leased it out to, are destroying it. In another few years, it won’t be fit to live in. They have polluted your rivers. The air is fouled with the stench of their over-consumerism. They frequently kill one another, and all the prophets you’ve sent to them calling for an accounting have met with violence. By any rule of sound management, Lord, you’ve got but one option.” Then raising his trumpet to his lips, Gabriel asked, “Shall I sound the eviction notice now, sir?”

And God said, “No, Gabriel! No, not just yet. I know you are right, but I keep thinking if I just give them a little more time they’ll quit acting like they own the place!”

The gospel for today (Matthew 21:33-46) tells a similar story. This reading is about our own response to the Son of God and to God’s blessings on our life. Will we ever learn? Can we change? The problem is that when the question is asked it is also accompanied by finger pointing. If only “this group” would stop fighting! If only “that group” would stop polluting! If truth is told, we only have the power to change the actions of one person in the world… and that is ourselves.

Love and Blessings to you all.

Rev Shan

PS… What a great gathering we had at St Paul’s today (Saturday the 1st October)! A group of about 60 people gathered for a “Cursillo” Ultreya – or encouragement day, of shared worship, witness, prayer and food. Colourful, uplifting and encouraging… Thanks be to God!