Reflection for Sunday 31st August 2025

The Eleventh Sunday After Trinity

Proverbs 25.6–7, Hebrews 13.1–8, 15, 16, Luke 14.1, 7–14

Jesus watches people jockey for position at a banquet and gives a gentle, challenging word: take the lowest place. Let God do the exalting.

This runs against everything our culture values — self-promotion, recognition, status. But Jesus invites us to live differently. To choose humility, generosity, and hidden service. Proverbs says the same: let others lift you up; don’t lift yourself.

Hebrews closes with a beautiful vision of the Christian life: keep loving each other, practise hospitality, care for the suffering, do good and share what you have. These are acts of real worship — perhaps more precious than any hymn or sermon.

In our quiet village churches, it might feel like we’re unnoticed — but these are exactly the kinds of places Jesus treasures. Hidden service, humble faith, generous hearts — these are the seeds of the kingdom.

Blessings and prayers,

Emma