In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is outraged to find that a work of healing is a cause for division. When the community leaders point out his “error”, Jesus in return points out the error arising from banning works of healing for people in the community whilst acts of mercy towards animals was allowed. He called it out for what it was – hypocrisy. Fancy that, the worshipping community getting all hot under the collar over what is, and what is not, allowed to be done on the Sabbath day.

The basic problem was that the worshipping community had made keeping of the Sabbath one of their distinctive markers; to mark them out as separate from the rest of humanity. Keeping the Sabbath was one way which they used to make themselves appear special.

What the writer to the Hebrews points out in the section of his letter allocated to us today, is that Christians are not expected to make up reasons to divide themselves off from the rest of humanity.

The reason for this is that we are all part of the kingdom of God, and in God’s kingdom there are no divisions. Christ was faithful to God in his life and death, and by his resurrection everyone and anyone is allowed to worship God, and to live faithfully within the love of God.

Whatever our background, colour, race, gender, or life-style there are never any reasons for any of us to make up rules that require people to comply with our idea of how God wants life to be lived. There is only one requirement: that is for us to live faithfully within the love of God.

Being in the Kingdom of God is a cause for celebration not division.

The Revd Malcolm France