Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 17th August - the Ninth Sunday after Trinity - and for the week ahead:Scripture:He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12 54-56)Reflecton: Jesus understood just how adept people were at recognising the subtle changes around them, especially where the weather was concerned. His listeners were likely to be highly sensitive in that respect especially as they were not informed by technology - No TV forecasts in those days. Whether it is the weather, or indeed politics or society, it requires knowledge, experience and skill to interpret the signs around us. It means paying close and patient attention to tiny details, whether that is in the behaviour of small creatures or shifts in public opinion or attitudes. However, interpretation and prediction are no use unless they lead to understanding, action and transformation.Are you prepared to look at the signs, ask what they mean and live a transformed life with radically renewed priorities? The kingdom is coming and indeed is here - do you need to wake up, look around and get ready for a new chapter?Lyn Hayes ALM
Scripture: ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’ (Luke 12:32-34, 40)Reflection: We may have heard of preppers; people who prepare for an apocalypse characterised by pickling food and creating underground, liveable environments. They are worried about the state of the world and taking steps to ensure they could survive, no matter the environment around them. We ourselves may be focussing on how best to prepare for the future, whether investing in pensions or property, stocks or shares. We may wish to have children to carry on our legacy, however we define that. Or we might just want smaller versions of ourselves. The scripture reading has a very different message; sell your possessions and give money to charities. This is against a world concentrated on consuming and being presentable. If we sell what we have, where will our focus be? How will we be different from or better than everyone else? How will we be distinguished? Probably exactly by doing that. Another way of viewing this is to focus on the last verse about being ready. We are all trying to live longer, be healthier, chasing the secret to eternal life. But to be ready for what? Why do we care about that? We need to put more effort into making our hearts ready to see Jesus, exactly as we would want him to. So, what possessions can you sell, or what charity will you give to today? Victoria Bray
Scripture:You must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! (Colossians 3.8-11)Reflecton: The Collect for this Sunday asks God to ‘increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same’. In a world full of conflicts between religions about ancestry, dress, diet, language, modes and routines of worship and so much more, it’s refreshing to find St Paul encouraging people in just the same situation all those years ago to focus on what really counts. What is true religion about?Our daily bread is having all our basic needs met. And in asking God to forgive our sins we also promise to do likewise to those who have hurt us in any way. A tall order, but a fair one. The ‘time of trial’ is the testing that we may not withstand, and so we ask God to spare us. By praying this Prayer we can shape our lives, always turning towards God who is pure Goodness, knowing that we will both have our material and spiritual needs met by our loving Father in the light of God’s eternal Kingdom.David Harmsworth
