The University of Chichester conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity on Archbishop Richard Moth (Bishop of our Diocese 2015-2025) yesterday. Canon Jonathan Martin attended the celebration; speaking last night he said:

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“It was a pleasure and privilege for me to be at the graduation ceremony in Chichester Cathedral. The young graduates radiated so much joy, and their families and friends were clearly so proud of them all.”

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After the graduation ceremonies, Archbishop Richard preached at Choral Evensong, in the Cathedral, reflecting on the day's graduations and the Lesson read during Evensong, Mark 11:27-33, and the chief priests' question to Jesus, "By what authority are you doing these things?":

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"Dear brothers and sisters, the Gospel reading that we have heard proclaimed this evening places us in the presence of Jesus at a time when his authority is being questioned by the leaders of his day. Jesus' authority is not like their own, and they recognise the challenge that his presence brings to them. Jesus' question places them on the horns of a dilemma: rejection of the truth or the ire of the people. Had the priests, scribes and elders acknowledged the truth about the baptism of John, had they accepted the one standing before them as the Messiah, their power base would have been removed.

"This dilemma is one perhaps that some of us have faced. It is certainly a dilemma that is faced by society and particularly by those in power. History is filled with instances where power has been chosen over truth and where clinging to worldly power has led to a divorce from reality.

"Today, here in this beautiful cathedral, we have been celebrating the graduations of those students at the University of Chichester who have achieved their degrees in teaching and in education. This will lead many of them to the wonderful vocation of teaching, of enabling those in their care to discover a little more deeply, day by day, the wonder of learning. Together, teacher and student make the journey of discovery.

"As our students make new friendships, widen and deepen their knowledge, they grow in understanding of themselves and the place they are called to have in society and in the wider world. At its deepest level, this journey is an encounter with the divine.

"The student is also a disciple. For the disciple is one who learns. Jesus' disciples were more than just followers. They listened and they learned from the Master. As Jesus tells them, recorded by John, ‘If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciple. You will learn the truth and the truth will set you free.’

"Is not this the high point of learning? Listening to the word who is life, finding our home in him, being at ease in his presence where we are nourished and find rest on our journey. It is in him that we find truth and therefore we find a freedom that no power on earth can take from us.

"For the Lord writes this truth on our hearts. It is there he dwells, enabling us to speak his word guided by the Holy Spirit.

"The journey to truth may be for some of us a circuitous one. It may even take many years. But it is the pearl of great price, the treasure in the field. Being called to be a bearer of truth, a bearer of Christ, is to be one who, like St Paul, knows that we are simply earthenware vessels carrying the treasure.

"Recognising this reality will ensure that we do not obstruct the view, as it were, do not get in the way of the encounter with the truth, who is Christ.

"The Lord calls us to make our journey with him. He is the way. He calls us to the highest learning, the learning that comes through being his disciple, for he is the truth. It is through living in him and walking in his way that we come to the complete freedom of life in him.

"We are often faced with the horns of a dilemma. Open to the Spirit's gift of courage, may we choose truth for Christ, who is the truth, has first chosen us. It is through this choice that we become the body of Christ, grow ever more faithful in our discipleship, bringing the light of truth to the world."