Our story today is from Luke (6:27-31)

Jesus said “I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

We all know what it’s like when people are mean or unkind to us or who take our stuff. We might feel like getting our own back on them. But that isn’t what Jesus asks us to do. He asks us to love them anyway. That isn’t easy is it?

It doesn’t mean we allow them to keep hurting us! It does mean letting go of the desire for revenge, and always doing the right thing ourselves even when other people don’t.

Some of the people who followed the teaching of Jesus in the 2000 years since he lived have been remembered as saints ever since because they did do the right thing.

Others were inspired and influenced by the good things that they did. If you look around, we’ve got some of them in the church! Patrick, David, Andrew, George (who is missing now because he needs repair) and Peter are on that side. The apostles and others who followed Jesus are depicted on the story windows in the side chapel and on the main window of the Ascension. And there are four saints on the reredos behind the high altar: With Peter we have St Nicholas, St Cecilia and St Catherine of Alexandria.

If you look into the stories of these and all of the people remembered as saints you’ll find that each one was different. None of them was perfect, and yet they inspired others by their example of Christian service. They didn’t aim to make themselves famous. They simply and humbly served and used their God-given talents for the good of all.

Every one of us is different. We’ve been given talents too, to be used for the good of all. We all have a calling to serve God in one way or another. 

So let’s join the saints. Let’s try to follow the teaching and example of Jesus. 

Let’s do our best to love everyone and to do the good things he asks of us for the benefit of all people.

Amen.

Julie Rubidge, Lay Minister