Reflection for Sunday 20th July 2025

The Fifth Sunday After Trinity

Genesis 18.1-10a, Colossians 1.15-28, Luke 10.38-end

Have you ever felt like things are changing faster than you can keep up? Like the old rhythms of church life, the familiar routines, even the very shape of the Church itself, are slowly slipping away?

In our reading from Colossians, Paul writes to a young and uncertain church. They were beginning to feel pressure—from outside and from within—to doubt, to question, to wonder whether their faith in Christ was enough. Paul writes to reassure them. He doesn’t demand more effort or louder prayers. He simply reminds them of who Christ is: the image of the invisible God, the one who holds all things together, and who now lives in them.

Sometimes, in times of uncertainty, we need to hear that again. We need to be reminded that Christ is not only the centre of our faith—but the centre of everything. And when the world feels like it’s shifting, we don’t cling to old certainties, we cling to Him.

In Genesis, Abraham shows hospitality to strangers and is unexpectedly visited by the presence of God. And in Luke, Mary simply sits at Jesus’ feet while her sister Martha is busy doing. Both of these stories invite us to step away from frantic activity and make space for presence—for stillness—for faithfulness.

We may be a small church. We may be tired. But we are not forgotten. Christ is with us, and Christ is enough.

Let’s not underestimate the quiet strength of simply being faithful: of coming to church, of praying when we’re unsure, of caring for others even when it feels like no one notices. Paul would look at us today, as he looked at the Colossians, and say: “You’re doing better than you think. And Christ is already bearing fruit in you.”

Hold on to that hope. Hold on to Him.

Blessings and prayers,

Emma