14th after Trinity
Readings: Amos 8v4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2v1-7; Luke 16v1-13.
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 Amos we hear that the Lord knows and will never forget the deeds of the wicked who crush the needy and destroy the poor. In the psalm we hear that the Lord is worthy of praise because even though our Lord is high above the heavens, He watches over the poor and the needy and the desperate. I believe that these readings are a warning to us here as we deal with the problem we meet who are sleeping rough. For we should be asking how and why the world has come to this. Why is there nowhere for those without rooves over their heads to live? We also need to be careful as we try to connect and help those we find living outdoors, because we may be making matters worse. As a general rule we should not be offering money but things we can do include: being polite, donating to homeless support charities, passing on contact details for organisations who can help the homeless, sharing a sandwich or a drink. helpful and consistent because God is watching what we do and will not forget how we treat others.
In Timothy, we hear that Paul calls us to be a people of prayer. A people who pray all kinds of prayers, prayers said for all sorts of people, and especially prayers for those in power asking for them to enable us to live peaceable lives. Paul also reminds Timothy that we have a God who wants everyone to be saved and Paul is certain that the only mediator for this is Jesus, because Jesus gave himself as a ransom for us all. I believe that this letter is a call for us to turn to God and pray about everything. For those we love and care for, for those who God is calling to be saved, for those in need and the poor, for guidance on what God wants us to do to make a difference in the world, and for those in local, national and worldwide power to do God’s bidding to them in the world. For God hears and takes our prayers and does with them God’s will.
In Luke we hear Jesus teaching about taking care how we live our lives because it is too easy to go wrong by focusing on things that divert us from God. I believe that this is a call to stop and take stock of how we are living our lives. Maybe we will find we are on track, but maybe we will find we need to make some changes. Whatever we find, whether we are living lives focussed on God or lives in need of change of some sort, it is good to stop and check every so often. For when we take the time to stop and check we are more likely to keep our lives in line with God’s bidding.
So today, as we think about how we treat the poor and needy, as we pray for all manner of things, and as we take stock of how we live our lives – we do all this to grow closer to being God’s people in the world.
Let us Pray: Almighty God, the source of truth and love, whose only Son opened up the way for us to enter into your presence. Give us hearts and desire to worship you. Keep us faithful to the apostles teaching. Draw us into committed and lifelong community with other believers. For the sake of Jesus who died for us. Amen
Thanks for joining us today.