11th after Trinity Readings: Proverbs 25v6-7; Psalm 112; Hebrews 13v1-8&15-16; Luke 14v1&7-14. Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. A Word: In the readings today we hear the call to be careful about who we think we are and what we do in relation to others. In Proverbs we are warned not to think too much of ourselves. For it is better to be invited into the presence of the nobility than to push our way forward and be sent back into a less honourable position. A warning that is echoed in Jesus’ teaching in Luke. For whilst he was at a meal, he saw how some of the guests were pushing themselves into seating places considered to be of more honour. In response, Jesus taught three really important things. The first is that when we are amongst others we should not be arrogant or pushy and the second to be modest and unassuming. The third is that when we open up our doors, we are to welcome into our midst people who are unable to repay what we are able to do for them. I believe that these two readings are an invitation to consider where we stand and what we do as the body of Christ. Are we a pushy body who think too much of ourselves or are we so humble that we cannot see what God wants us to contribute to the world? For both of these positions are bad because they leave the Church with a distorted picture of itself. With those too pushy thinking they are better than others and those too humble underestimating what God knows they can contribute. I believe that this is something that the scriptures are telling us that God does not want. For God needs all of his people to be truthful, precise and accurate about who they are and what they can contribute so that each and every part can find its true place in God’s work and witness and mission. For as we hear in Hebrews, we are called to follow Jesus and be God’s people, the Church. A people who live lives of love. A people who do good in the world in which we find ourselves. A people who share what we have with others. A people who pray for Church leaders and all those who shared their love of God and his son Jesus with us. A people who are pleasing to God because through them: marriage is honoured; strangers are cared for; and prisoners and tortured people remembered. So, let us each take an accurate account of who we are and what we do. For God needs us to truly know who we are and who we are not. But, as Jesus warns in Luke, some of us may find this journey painful as we learn that we are not as important or significant as we thought we were. Meanwhile, others may find out and unexpected surprise, as they learn they are so much more important in God’s mission than they could ever have imagined for themselves. For as we hear in the psalm the Lord will shine a light in the darkness through everyone who holds the Lord in reverence. For through the Lord’s people and their descendants, the earth will be blessed by acts of compassion, justice, generosity and righteousness. Meanwhile the wicked will perish. Let us Pray: Almighty and most merciful God, you show your power to us by taking away our sins and granting us pardon and peace. Preserve us from all wrong thinking and wrong doing, help us to stay firm on the foundation of the gospel, guide us so we live our lives in line with your commandments, for you have welcomed us to join in the work of gathering your sacred treasure. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
10th after Trinity Readings: Isaiah 58v9b-end; Psalm 103v1-8; Hebrews 12v18-end; Luke 13v10-17. Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. A Word: In the readings today we hear about the Sabbath Day. In Isaiah we hear that the Lord wants to rebuild and restore his holy people by keeping the Sabbath and honouring it as a sacred day. The Lord says he will hear, help, guide, strengthen and satisfy us if we do his bidding. The Lord’s bidding is to do two things: to turn away from being evil; and to help those in need. I believe that we can only keep the Sabbath if we also do the Lord’s bidding, which means we need to take stock of how we live and take action to live as the Lord asks of us. In the psalm we hear that we are called to bless the Lord who is full of compassion, mercy and kindness; and to call to mind everything he has done for us. For the Lord crowns us with love and compassion by: forgiving our sins; healing our infirmities; restoring our lives; satisfying us with good things; and implementing upright decisions for the browbeaten, exploited, broken and demoralised. I believe that blessing the Lord is something we can do on the Sabbath and as we bless the Lord we need to keep in mind all that the Lord does for his people. In Hebrews we hear that as we gather together in worship we draw close to the living God who is the judge of all and an all-consuming fire. We also hear that as we worship, we do so alongside innumerable angels and the congregation of the firstborn who are already enrolled in heaven. These are the spirits of the righteous, those who have been made perfect. Hebrews also warns that if we want to survive the final judgement that we should offer down-to-earth, modest and simple worship. For if we do, when all of heaven and earth is remade, we will become part of all that remains and will be gathered into the heavenly Jerusalem. From these readings, I believe that we are being called to consider how we keep the Sabbath. For as we hear in Isaiah, we will be blessed by the Lord if we keep the Sabbath sacred, and in the psalm we are called to use the Sabbath to bless the Lord. Then in Hebrews, to remember that as we worship we join in the worship of heaven. For the way we keep the Sabbath is important because as we hear in Luke, it is all too easy to make errors about what the Lord requires. For surely the leader of the synagogue was in error when he reprimanded Jesus for healing a woman on the Sabbath. I believe this because Jesus defended his action by reminding the leader of the synagogue that lots of good things were permitted on the Sabbath day, before saying that healing and setting people free were suitable acts for the Sabbath day too. So, as we review how we keep the Sabbath, let us be careful what we teach is allowed, permitted and acceptable, because one day Jesus may challenge us too. Let us Pray: God of our pilgrimage, you keep the gate of mercy open for all who trust in you. Keep us on the pathway of life and prevent us from wandering away. Hear our prayers and guide us to ask for the things that please you, for the sake of our saviour Jesus. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
9th after Trinity Readings: Jeremiah 23v23-29; Psalm 82; Hebrews11v29-12v2; Luke 12v49-56. Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. A Word: In the readings today we are warned to be careful what we say about and how we represent God. In the book of the prophet Jeremiah, we hear that God has been let down by false prophets who tell lies, mislead God’s people and turn them away from God and God’s ways. God tells Jeremiah that he has seen and heard all of the misrepresentations, inventions and fabrications and is displeased. God warns Jeremiah that his word is strong like a hammer, is able to break rocks and like a burning fire. God goes on to say that the true prophet is one who has God’s word and tells God’s word to the word faithfully. I believe that prophecy is a reminder for us to be careful who we trust to lead us. Whether that be in the Church, or the state, or the workplace, or any of the organisations we may belong to. For we must be certain they are leading in the right direction, a direction in line with God’s word, something we can only be sure of if we discern the ways of God and judge whether the people who are in place to lead us are doing so in line with God’s ways. For God’s ways are so different to human ways and I believe that we see evidence of this in Luke. For as Jesus is getting ready to face the cross he is telling his disciples that he came to bring God’s fire, a fire that divides people into those who are Godly and those who are not. Something that his disciples are warned to be mindful of as they read the signs of the time they are living in. For as the psalm tells us, God is coming to judge the earth because people in power have not done what God called them to do. For they have not defended nor rescued the weak, the needy, the poor, the humble or orphans from the wicked. Instead they have walked in darkness by being unjust and showing favour to the wicked. I believe that in our time, we are to read the signs of the age we are living in and decide whether those who lead us are following God’s ways because wickedness only continues to thrive when people in power allow it to do so. In Hebrews we hear a long list of God’s faithful people and what God did for them because the faithful turned to God. However, in spite of everything that God has done down the ages, there is a very long list of those who suffered at the hands of powerful ungodly people. For bad people do bad things and good people suffer because of them. I believe that this is a call for us to open our eyes and ears to see and hear what is going on all around us, and then to follow the guidance we read in Hebrews. For the writer of Hebrews, encourages God’s people to persevere no matter what we face, so that we become just like the great crowd of witnesses who lived and died in earlier times . And, as we persevere, we are to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, for Jesus died to save us and is now risen and seated at the right hand of God. Let us Pray: Almighty God, holy Father to us all, thank you for your Holy Spirit that brings light and life to your Church. Pour into our hearts the riches of your grace, as we gather at the table of your Son, Jesus. Bring forth the fruit of the spirit in our lives. Gather people from the four corners of the world to share in the eternal banquet where we share in the new world with the whole household of God. A place where you show to us the fullness of your peace. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
8th after Trinity Readings: Genesis 15v1-6; Psalm 33v12-end; Hebrews 11v1-3&8-16; Luke 12v32-40. Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. A Word: In the readings today we hear the call to show that we believe and trust in God by daring to follow his call to live our lives by trusting in him and his promises. In Genesis we learn about a time early in the life of Abraham, when he was still called Abram. Abram is speaking with God and complaining that he is childless. In response God, promises that one day Abram will have not only have an heir of his own, but also will have as many descendants as the number of the stars he could see in the heavens. Abram believed what God was promising him, so God counted Abram’s faith as righteousness. If you read on in Genesis, you will hear that God fulfilled his promise by giving Abram and his wife Sarai a son named Isaac. It was because Abram believed and trusted in God that he was renamed Abraham, the forefather of the Israelites and everyone who has faith in God. In Hebrews we hear about the remembrance of Abraham. Abraham is remembered for trusting God so much that he followed God’s call to go and live in another place. Abraham is remembered for trusting God’s promise to give him a child and many descendants. Abraham is remembered for his faith and trust in God that God counted to Abraham as righteousness. The faith and trust that Abraham had in God is important because in the psalm we hear that God watches over everyone who puts their trust in him. For we have a God who pours out his loving kindness on his people by delivering their souls from death, that is by counting their faith to them as righteousness. In Luke, we hear Jesus asking his disciples to put their faith and trust in God by selling what they have without fear and giving the money they raise to support charities. For Jesus wants them to store up treasure for themselves in heaven because wherever their treasure is, is the place that their hearts will be found. Jesus then goes on to use a parable to explain that believing and trusting in God is the way we are all called to live each and every day of our lives. For we are to be just like the servants in his story. Servants who are always up and ready for the master’s return. Servants who will be blessed when the master returns, if they are up and ready when he comes. For the master will return and can do so at any time. Let us Pray: Almighty Lord, everlasting God, strengthen us for your service. Guide us so we can dedicate our hearts, souls, minds and bodies to the task of following the ways set out in your commandments. Protect and defend us from the deceit and noise of this world. Under your protection, we ask you to set us free to sing your praise and glory, with honesty; and to live lives refreshed with the fullness of your life. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
