“This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;

in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.”  Mark 7 : 6 - 7

Readings this week :  Deuteronomy 4 : 1 – 2, 6 - 9; James 1 : 17 - end; Mark 7 : 1 – 8, 14 – 15, 21 - 23

Thought for this week

At the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics this week, Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organising committee, told the Paralympians they were revolutionaries. “When they told you 'no', you continued," Tonight, you are inviting us to change our perspectives, change our attitudes, change our society to finally give every person their full place. You have no limits, so let us stop imposing limits on you."

In our Gospel reading Jesus speaks of those things that can defile a person, and can limit us as human beings. He gives a catalogue of vices and evil desires that have been true of humanity since the beginning. Theft, murder, lust, envy, and many more. Yet Jesus has come to offer us rescue. To live a new way, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Not to be defiled from the desires that come from within, but to be holy.

It is often our tendency to live by what we see and our impulses that work from the senses that restricts us, tempts us, causes us to sin. Yet in Jesus our hearts can change and we are made free.

I believe change in us can only come from faith in Jesus and the power of the HoIy Spirit. What do we need to ask Him for help with today?

Rev Paul

Prayer for this week

Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence:

give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Merciful God, your Son came to save us and bore our sins on the cross:

may we trust in your mercy and know your love,

rejoicing in the righteousness that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

People to pray for

Our schools as they return this week

For those looking for work or further opportunities

For our brothers and sisters in Christ in the troubled places, especially Gaza and the Middle East, the Sudan and Ukraine