‘Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus’

It’s not the most straightforward start to a sermon. But it was the start of the reading given by the Mayor.

‘Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus’

I don’t know if you have ever been to Athens. Sadly, I haven’t. If you have, you are probably in a better place than I am to imagine St. Paul standing there – in that city of learning and sophistication (just like Ripon). He was giving one of the great speeches of history. This has sometimes been regarded as one of those great speeches which have changed the course of world history.

Now, the Areopagus is the rocky hill which literally means the Rock of Ares – the Greek god of war. That raised rocky outcrop was the place where one of the leading councils of the city would meet – it also became known as the Areopagus and issued judgements and sought to safeguard good moral conduct. Now, it’s not a perfect parallel, but we might imagine that if Paul were taking the same initiative in Ripon today, the Mayor’s reading and my sermon could have started ‘Then Paul stood in front of the city council’.

Now, to make sense of this, we have to realise that Paul was a changed man. Perhaps some of us have experienced radical change for the better in our lives. Perhaps some of us would like to do so. Perhaps some of us have converted to Christianity. Perhaps some of us would like to do so, or know more about it.

When St. Paul was still his old self, when he was still called Saul, he used to go around collecting up Christians and putting them to death – because of their faith in Christ. Such is the lack of progress in the affairs of humanity that there are still Christians, and people of other faiths, who are persecuted and killed for their religious beliefs. It is as wrong and deplorable now as it was in St. Paul’s day, including when it is Jews in Britain.

Paul was a changed man. He had seen the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, and he came to put his whole trust in Christ and to encourage others to do likewise. He was keen to appeal to those who were not Jews, people who were not ‘the right kind of people’, people who were different and who had hitherto found themselves as outcasts. Jesus’ life transforming love is for everyone, without exception.

And Paul, brilliantly in this speech, managed to make a connection with the people of Athens. They had an altar to an unknown God, and he uses that to tell them about the God of creation, without whom nothing would or could exist, the God whose undying love was seen in Jesus Christ – who was crucified and rose again. The God who can change lives and the world for the better. This is still the Church’s message today.

So, how would Paul present this message to Ripon City Council today? How would he present it to you 21 Royal Engineers, and to the cathedral chapter and congregation, and to your average Riponian?

‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way…’ Could Paul say that to us today? ‘Riponians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way…’ Could he say that to us? If not, perhaps this city needs to change? I’m only saying… asking the question!

‘I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship…’ In Athens those were lots of altars to many gods – including an unknown god. What would they be in Ripon? What do we worship? What are the things held to be of essential and lasting value for the people of Ripon. What are the things that give us purpose and meaning?

Well, I’ll leave you to ponder all the possible answers – what are the altars at which we in this city worship? Perhaps some of the false gods we should move on from might include – and I suspect this would be no different for any other community across the nation – social media – being used to divide people and misrepresent truth, they might include a lack of confidence in the future which leads to an un healthy clinging on to elements of the past… we could all have a go at providing a few suggestions of the false gods of our age.

But I would like to think, I am confident, Paul would also be able to find helpful links between the God of heaven, who revealed himself in Jesus Christ, and aspects of this city today. Perhaps the worship offered in our cathedral and churches, perhaps the impressive way in which countless people give of themselves in the service of others. Paul could point to the ways in which charities and charitable endeavours flourish in this city – not least in this Christian Aid Week. He could point to the ways in which partnership working has strengthened considerably over recent years – and enabled us to put in a bid to become the UK Town of Culture 2028. Now, don’t be pedantic, we know we are a city – but for the sake of £3m we are willing to be flexible. I believe Paul would be able to look at the city council and recognise people keen to serve the city’s wellbeing, keen to see it flourish. And, on a good day, I can imagine that the majority of people in this city are proud to be a cathedral city, valuing the Christian inheritance which is a living reality in this place and which has helped shape our nation hitherto. In the case of the 21 Engineers, I am sure Paul would recognise a professionalism, a commitment to service, a willingness to risk one’s own self for the peace and wellbeing of this nation and the world. I am sure he would recognise Ripon’s desire and intention to be a fully inclusive community, and how it has received refugees.

Paul stood before the city council, and the 21 Royal Engineers, and the cathedral community, and the whole city and said, ‘Riponians, I have been through your city and seen all these good works and intentions among you. See in these things the activity of the living God, put your trust in him, and for heaven’s sake don’t make the mistake of trying to build a better city, a better world, without seeking God’s guidance, his grace, his unfailing love and protection.

Riponians of old knew the wisdom of this. In his speech in the council chamber on Wednesday evening, our new Mayor celebrated the return of the Town Hall to the control and management of Ripon. And he recited those words clearly seen on it, those immortal words of Psalm 127, also sung and recited in this service,

‘Except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it.

Except the Lord keep the city; the watchman waketh but in vain.’

I suspect Paul, standing before the city council, would report that he had noticed those words. And I suspect he would be encouraging us all to heed them.