Scripture & Reflection: Second Sunday after Trinity Sunday, 29th June, and for the week ahead:Scripture:Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. (Galatians 5: 19-23) Reflection:When children and young and struggling to make sense of the world, parents and carers, alongside teachers and other family members, do their best to teach them right from wrong. This can be simple to begin with; don’t hit your brother, don’t snatch things from friends, share your toys. However, it doesn’t get any easier. Trying to explain a white lie to a child is a challenge. As is trying to shield them from all the wrongs in the world in an effort to protect their innocence, yet knowing that they will have to face the world one day. How many of the works of the flesh from the first list have you crossed off? At least one for many people, as no-one is perfect. But we don’t need to wrestle with our failings, we have the perfect antidote. The second list shows us where we need to be putting our attention and efforts. When writing this, it was tempting to only take the second list as the point for the reflection. But only when we understand how low we can go as humans do we really begin to grasp the incredible gift of grace that we’ve been given. We are invited to come to the Spirit just as we are, because we’ve already been saved. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t practice and share the gifts of the Spirit in our daily lives. Which one can you live out best this week? Victoria Bray
Scripture & Reflection: First Sunday after Trinity Sunday, 22nd June, and for the week ahead:Scripture:To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8.6)Reflection:We can’t avoid thinking about ‘the flesh’ – all the aspects of our physical life – but is that all that our minds are set on? If so, says Paul, we are doomed to be thinking about what is time-limited.‘The Spirit’ however is the breath that keeps renewing life, the animating spirit of love, hope,and all the graces. If we ‘set the mind on the Spirit’, he says, we will find refreshment.David Harmsworth
