3rd Sunday before Lent Readings: Jeremiah 17v5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15v12-20; Luke 6v17-26. 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: I believe that today’s readings tell us what happens to humankind after this life is over and raises the question: do we believe in an afterlife? In the letter to the Corinthians we hear what Paul has to say to the people of his time who did not believe in Jesus’ resurrection and the afterlife. Paul is certain there is an afterlife and points out that: if there is no afterlife and all we do is perish when we die then his and our faith is futile. Paul is certain of the afterlife and sure that Christ was raised from the dead because Jesus met with Paul on the road to Damascus. In the gospel of Luke, we hear Jesus’ teaching about the afterlife. Jesus says that in the life to come that God blesses the poor, the hungry, those full of sorrow and everyone who is treated badly because they serve the Lord. For in the afterlife, they will receive: a place in the Kingdom of God; food at God’s feast in heaven; joy in the kingdom to come; and reward beyond measure in heaven. I believe that Jesus is encouraging those who are suffering now in this world and whose lot in life is difficult by assuring them that the afterlife is a much better place. I also believe that in Jesus is warning everyone who has enough of what they need to use what they have to serve generously in the world, or else God will set his face against them. Like the rich in goods and possessions, like those who have plenty to eat, like those who have nothing to do but live fun-filled lives and like all those who spend their time being admired by this world. As a Christian, I believe that Jesus is teaching and warning that after we die we will end up in one of two groups. This is echoed in the psalm which tells us that: God’s people are those who delight in God’s law, bear good fruit and are blessed by God; whilst those who do not bear good fruit will perish. It is also shared with us by the prophet Jeremiah who warns that: people who do not turn to God will be left out of all of the wonders that God promises to those who turn to him; and everyone who trusts in the Lord will be blessed by God and bear much fruit in the world. I believe that the message in these readings is a call for all of us to take stock of how we live our lives, using all that we have, in the service of God. For God calls us to use what has been given to us ,in order to benefit others. This is a most amazing calling because it makes a positive difference in the world. I also believe that this is a calling we need to respond to because it is what God put us on this earth to do, in his name. Let us Pray: Almighty God, our merciful father, who gave Jesus so all humanity can be drawn by faith and love to you: give us the grace we need to leave our sinful selves behind; help us to fix our unworthy hearts on you; and at the end of our lives bring us to the table in heaven where we may find true joy as we feast with Jesus the bread of life. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
4th Sunday before Lent Readings: Isaiah 6v1-end; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15v1-11; Luke 5v1-11. 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 psalm we hear that people bow before God in praise and thanksgiving when they become aware of God’s love and faithfulness. For God watches over us and is present with us in our troubles. For we have a God who saves and preserves us. A God who hears and answers our desperate calls. A God who the kings of the earth will one day praise. A God who watches over the modest, the deprived and the meek. A God who will stretch out his hand against the enemies and make good his holy purposes. But how will people become aware of God’s love and faithfulness? In Isaiah’s vision of heaven, Isaiah sees God sitting on his throne in his holy temple, with six winged angels called Seraphs attending to him and singing words of praise. At this awesome sight, Isaiah is overwhelmed with his sinfulness and how much God’s people have fallen short of the holiness of God. Yet even though he knows himself to be a sinner, Isaiah has looked upon the face of God and lived. As a repentant sinner, Isaiah is cleansed of his sins and invited to become God’s messenger to take the word of God to a people who the angel warns will not listen until God’s holy seed breaks forth into the world. I believe that this prophecy tells us that if we are called to take God’s message to his people that we must take the message, even if those we are sent to do not listen, because one day they will. In Luke we hear Jesus calling messengers for his time. First Jesus commandeering a fishing boat belonging to local fishermen, Simon, who would be renamed Simon Peter, James and John. Jesus asked them to take him out onto the water so he could teach the crowd who were following him. After teaching the crowd, Jesus guided the fishermen to go out into the deeper water where they caught a huge number of fish, a number so numerous that the nets threatened to break, with the weight so great the boat was beginning to sink. This was such an extraordinary occurrence that Simon knew he was in the presence of someone holy so he fell on his knees before Jesus and like Isaiah, acknowledged his own sinfulness. In response Jesus told Simon, James and John that from that day forward they would be catching people. And, once back on land, the fishermen left everything behind and followed Jesus. What we learn from these readings is that God speaks to us in all sorts of ways: through visions, through what we hear in the scriptures, through the word of God’s messengers, through the teaching we receive and through what we ourselves witness. What we learn though our lives is that God helps and saves us then calls us to serve him in the world in which we are placed. Like Isaiah who was sent to take God’s message to his people; like the psalmist King David, who shared his witness testimony through the many psalms he wrote; and like the fishermen that Jesus called. Now, in our generation, God needs messengers, people who will take God’s word into the world. For all of us are called too – even if we think we are not worthy enough, or too sinful, or not clever enough, or too ordinary – for God has a part for us to play in his salvation plan. And the message we are called to share is what we hear in Corinthians, which is that we are saved from our sins because Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose back to life again. A miracle that was foretold through the scriptures and witnessed by: Simon Peter (also known as Cephas - the Rock), James, all of the apostles on more than one occasion, five hundred followers of Jesus, and even Paul himself on his road to Damascus. For Jesus came into the world so all people can come to him and be saved. Let us Pray: Almighty and ever-living God, you know that in the dangers and temptations of life we need your help. We pray you will strengthen us to stand up when we fall down; to protect us during times of danger; and lead us away from all that tempts us away from your ways. Merciful and loving God, go before us to guide us in all the works you call us to do, so we may glorify you and receive the gift of everlasting life. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
Readings: Malachi 3.1-5, Psalm 24.1-10, Hebrews 2.14-18, Luke 2.22-40Let 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. AmenA word from Lucy: On the 2nd February, it will be forty days since we celebrated the Nativity, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and this is the date of the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, also known as Candlemas. It is customary in the Church to celebrate this feast day and traditional to move it to the nearest Sunday. This feast day is a reminder that in Jesus’ time it was a deeply rooted custom to present first-born sons in the temple, with a sacrifice, and to carry out purification rituals for the mothers. In our time, a vestige of this custom remains in the BCP practice of “Churching of Women”. However, on this particular day, when Jesus was brought to the temple, God sent two old and devout worshippers to meet the promised Messiah, their Lord and their saviour. Simeon and Anna were their names, and both found and recognised who this child really was, both gave thanks and praise to God, both shared prophesies about what was to come because of this child, and both gave witness that this was the promised one that God’s people were waiting for.Today, we know that Jesus is the one who was foretold by the prophet Malachi: the Lord who came to refine and purify us so we can be made pleasing to the Lord at the time of judgement. Today we know that Jesus is the one with clean hands and a pure heart spoken of in the psalm who was able to bless us with the gift of salvation. Today we know that Jesus is the one that the letter to the Hebrews tells us destroyed the power of death and our fear of it by making one final and everlasting sacrifice for the atonement of all sins for us. In the celebration of the Feast of Candlemas, we bring this to life as we change our attention and focus away from the crib of the nativity and turn ourselves towards the cross of our salvation. Then, as we put away our advent candles and Christmas tree, we prepare ourselves for the forthcoming season of Lent.Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us and present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God, and ours. Amen
Sunday next before Lent Readings: Exodus 34v29-end; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3v12 to 4v2; Luke 9v28-43a. 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 Exodus, an ancient scripture, we hear that Moses met with God on Mount Sinai where he was given the covenant to share with all the people of Israel. These people were the ones who had been rescued from captivity in Egypt and were now wandering in the dessert as a landless and itinerant people. What we learn from this reading is that when Moses met with God, his face shined so brightly with the glory of God, that it disturbed the people, so he chose to wear a veil over his face when he was with them. In Luke we hear about a series of amazing events – an echo of what we hear in Exodus – witnessed by the disciples Peter, James and John. For when Jesus went up a mountain to pray he met with God his father and shone so brightly with the glory of God that the whole of his being and clothes became intensely luminous. The three disciples also saw Jesus speaking with Moses and the prophet Elijah before finding themselves overshadowed by a great cloud and hearing a voice instruct them to listen to Jesus because he was God’s son, the chosen one. After this they went back down the mountain with Jesus and saw him being asked to help a boy who had convulsions. Jesus responded to the request and the disciples saw Jesus cast out the cause of the boy’s illness and healing him from having convulsions. What do you make of all that we hear in these two scriptures? Well, from these readings, I hear that some people meet God face to face, like Moses and Jesus; and others hear the word of God as a voice, like the disciples of Jesus; whilst others see signs of God, like the bright radiance seen on Moses’ face and in Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain top. What I also hear from Corinthians, is that we have a veil that clouds our minds and obscures our vision of God. A veil that will be set aside when we turn to Jesus. For when we turn to Jesus we are set free from our sins by the Spirit and begin a journey of being changed and transformed from what we are now into what God would have us become. A hope that Paul proclaims we can all share in through Jesus – the hope of having our minds set free to connect with God. For we have a glorious God who wants us to connect with him. A God that the psalm calls us to worship, exalt and bow before. For the Lord our God is holy, a mighty king, a king enthroned in heaven, high above all peoples. A king who loves justice and equity. A king who brings fairness and morality. A king who is the same Lord who spoke to and was followed by Moses, Aaron and Samuel. The Lord who can be trusted to hear and answer his people’s calls. The Lord who pardons and forgives his people’s offenses. For we have a God who is there with us in the clouds of life. A God who is worthy of our worship and praise. A God who is worth listening to and following, wherever he may wish to take us. A God whose glory is reflected out into the world through all who connect with him, a light that shines in the darkness, everywhere we go; pouring out God’s glory and hope into the world. Let us Pray: Holy God, Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty, grant to us the grace to become aware of his glory and to see your glory in the face of Jesus. Strengthen us for all that life presents to us and help us to speak and act in ways that accurately mirrors Jesus and presents him in the world. May all of us and all we share Jesus with, know his power to save and change us into his likeness. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
