5th after Trinity Readings: Genesis 18v1-10a; Psalm 15; Colossians 1v15-28; Luke 10v38-end. 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 learn about the tradition of welcoming others. In Genesis we hear about the ancient tradition of those who lived the nomadic life. For when they met other travellers, they offered the gift of welcome. This included a place to stop, a place to rest and a place to take refreshment. This is what we are hearing about as Abraham goes out to greet the three men, as Abraham bows down as a sign of friendship, and as Abraham invites them into his camp. Then, after the invitation was accepted, Abraham, his wife Sarah and their servant got on with preparing food and drink for their guests. Later, when the visitors were eating with Abraham, one of them told him that when they next met that his wife Sarah would have a son. Later scriptures tell us that even though Abraham and Sarah were very old that Sarah did go on to have a son and that son was named Isaac. It is from this account and others like them that the custom of always welcoming strangers, because they just might be angels is based. For to Abraham, these three men were angels who came with a message from God. A message that was fulfilled even though it seemed impossible. A message that God had many years before promised to Abraham, when God foretold that he and Sarah would be the parents of as many descendants as the stars in the night sky. In Luke, we hear about another time of welcoming visitors. This time it is when Jesus and his disciples were visiting Jesus’ friends: Lazarus, Martha and Mary. When they arrived, Martha got on with the work of fulfilling all that was expected of her in the welcoming of visitors. Meanwhile, Mary sat listening to what Jesus was saying. This so upset Martha that she complained to Jesus and asked him to send Mary to help her, but Jesus did not. Instead he told Martha to stop fussing because Mary had chosen the better thing. This reading has often made me wonder about the tradition of welcoming others in Jesus’ time. I wonder whether it had become a complex and onerous task. Maybe like having to put on, at the last minute, an unplanned and unexpected feast? I also wonder if Jesus’ instruction to stop fussing was simply telling Martha that she was doing too much? Maybe Jesus expected her to do less so she could sit down with her guests? These thoughts about what Jesus meant have been the inspiration for me to do simple things when unexpected guests arrive. Such as giving cold water or diluted squash with ice in it on hot days or a warm drink of whatever is to hand on cold days. With a few light snacks made up of anything we have available at the time, maybe a few biscuits, a sandwich or even a fruit salad made up of the fresh fruit left over in the fruit bowl. This custom of welcoming is one that continues to be a part of the work of the church . For not only can we offer some of what we have to hand, but we can also fulfil what is says in the psalm. For in our dealings with others, we must always: do the right thing, speak the truth, not mislead others, do no wickedness, not ridicule others, not go back on what we say we will do, not take bribes to harm the innocent and also lend to others without charging interest. For in doing these things, I believe that the psalm is simply asking us to act in ways that are kind to others and avoid doing them any harm. A way of behaving that the psalm tells us is a pure way of living, a way of behaving that honours the Lord, a way of behaving that saves a place for us in God’s kingdom. For even though we are a flawed and sinful lot, God wants us to join Him in His kingdom. For as Paul explains in Colossians, through Christ’s death on the cross there is a way back to God for sinners. For all sinners can be presented before God as righteous and innocent, because of all that Jesus has done. But in order to benefit from the cross of Christ, Paul says we must stay loyal to the faith, steadfast in hope and dedicated in the love that has been shared with us. For Christ is: the image of God, the firstborn of all creation, the creator of all things, the head of the Church, the first born from the dead, the one in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and the one through whom God reconciled all things to himself. Today as we do what we can to welcome visitors and share what we have with them, I pray we will keep in mind that Christ is the centre of our faith, our hope and our love because he has opened the way for us to be presented to God in heaven. Let us Pray: Almighty and eternal God, who governs and blesses the Church, may your world be governed by leaders obedient to you and your ways, so that your people may serve you in sacred tranquillity. We pray that all your people will fulfil the vocation to which you call them. May your people accomplish the ministry to which you have appointed them. Help your people to serve you with sincere devotion and true integrity, so your name is glorified in worship throughout the whole of the earth. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
4th after Trinity Readings: Deuteronomy 30v9-14; Psalm 25v1-10; Colossians 1v1-14; Luke 10v25-37. 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 learn much about the ways of God and our calling as God’s people. Through Moses God told his people that if they obeyed him by turning to him with all their heart and soul he would allow them to prosper. For if they obeyed this, God would provide many things that would help them to thrive. From this we learn that we are a people called to turn to God with all our heart and soul. In the psalm we hear a prayer asking God for protection from enemies, asking for sins committed to be forgiven and asking to learn and know the ways of God. For God is gracious, upright, compassionate, loving and merciful. The one true God who keeps his promises and pledges. From this we learn that we are a people who can turn to God in prayer and to ask for what we think we need. This may include many things, such as protection from enemies, but should also include us turning to God for forgiveness of our sins and asking for the help we need for us to know God’s ways. In Luke we hear that to inherit eternal life, Jesus confirms that we are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our body and all of our mind, as well as to love our neighbour as ourself. Then in the story that Jesus taught, we learn that our neighbour is everyone we meet in life, whoever they are. And the love we are to show them is the love we would want for ourselves. The love that is offered to us even when we are a stranger. The love that is merciful to us when we are in need. The love that is gentle with us when we are broken. The love that makes provision for us when we are not able to help ourselves. From this we learn that we are people called to put the love of God at the centre of our lives and to show love all people. All of this asks much of us but is something that we can grow into. Just like the early Christians did as we hear in the letter to the Colossians. For Paul describes them as a people who have grown because of the gospel they have received. A people rescued from the power of darkness, a people forgiven of their sins, a people with a share in the inheritance of the saints, a people who now belong in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. A people who have already grown in the fruit of God’s kingdom because they have faith in Jesus and love all the saints. A people who will continue to grow because they have the hope of a place in heaven and are being prayed for by Paul, Timothy and Epaphras to be filled with a wise and spiritual understanding of God’s will and to bear fruit in every good work. From this we learn that we are a people Jesus died for to save us from our sins and to open up for us the kingdom of heaven. A rescued people who belong to Jesus and are called to love other Christians. A people who are to bear good fruit by growing as God’s people. A people called to share the good news with others and to pray for them. For we are all a people in need of prayer. Let us Pray: Almighty and eternal God, our protector and comforter. In you, we are made strong and holy. In your mercy, be our ruler and guide. Heal us when we are broken. Feed us with hope. Teach us the ways of gentleness and peace. Guide us as we pass through life so we hold firm to eternal life and share with the world the kingdom of your son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
3rd after Trinity Readings: Isaiah 66v10-14; Psalm 66v1-8; Galatians 6v1-16; Luke 10v1-11&16-20. 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: The psalm is a song of praise calling all the earth to worship, praise and bless God. For we have a God who is awesome. A God whose enemies will one day bow down to Him. A God who is wonderful in how He deals with humankind. A God who opened up the sea so his people could pass to the other side on dry land. A God who watches over all people. A God who holds our souls in life. A God worthy to be the centre of our lives. This is the God who calls us to be His people. A people called to carry God’s message of love into the world. For as we hear through the prophet Isaiah, God’s servants benefit from all that God is doing to bring in his reign of comfort, joy and prosperity. As God’s servants, Paul’s letter to the Galatians tells us that those who have received the Spirit of God are to fulfil what God requires by resisting temptation, helping one another and gently restoring sinners. For one day we shall we shall reap what we sow. And, if we want eternal life, Paul says we must do what is right and not give up, by carrying whatever load that God gives us, by putting to the test only that which we ourselves have done and by not thinking too highly of ourselves. For, as Paul warns, it is all too easy to think we can save ourselves by trying to keep the law. However, as this is just an illusion, we must avoid being misled and keep our focus on the cross of Jesus because through Jesus we are made into a new creation. Finally, as God’s servants some of us are called to go out into the world to call in others. In the gospel, Jesus sends those he has appointed to go out into the world in pairs to visit the places that he himself will be going to. And, as he sends them, Jesus gives his appointees the authority and power to do as he instructs. In this mission, those appointed are told to travel light, be gentle like lambs and accept whatever support they are given with humility and grace. The Lord tells them to carry His message of peace and to say to those he is sending them to that the Kingdom of God is close by. For the names of all those who respond to God’s call are written in heaven. Jesus also tells his appointees that if they find themselves among wolves, they must still be like lambs, because anyone who rejects the message of peace will only be hurting themselves, because they are rejecting the God who is calling them into his kingdom. This message is important for all of us here, because it tells us about the part that we can play in God’s mission to save and serve the world. Let us Pray: Almighty God, beautiful beyond what we can imagine, powerful beyond what we can understand, the Father of us all, the one who has broken the oppression that sin has held over us. Send the spirit of your Son into our hearts. Give us grace to dedicate ourselves to your service. Show us how we can assist in your mission to bring the whole of creation into your freedom. Protect us from knowing more than we can endure and show us what we can sense of your magnificence. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
Trinity II Readings: I1 Kings 19v15-16&19-end; Psalm 16; Galatians 5v1&13-25; Luke 9v51-end. 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: Today is an auspicious one because in our readings there are signs that God has plans for us and for the future. For we have a God who in Kings has plans. For he sends the prophet Elijah to anoint people for roles he intends them to undertake. This reading reminds me that God always has plans for us and the whole world; and that God makes his plans known to us through those who can hear him. For some people who are called do not hear from God directly, instead they hear through the messages that God gives to others for them. Others who are sent by God to tell them. Then all we have to do is choose: either to fall in with God and God’s plans; or to reject God and his plans. Now, whatever anyone says, falling in line with God’s plans is not an easy ask for any of us. However, if we dare to believe and trust in God, and fall in with God’s plans, then we are putting our trust in the God described in the psalm. The one true God who takes care of those who put their trust in him. The Lord who watches over us and inspires our hearts. The Lord who shows us the pathway to life. And, as Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians, if we fall in line with God’s plans we are called to follow Jesus. For, through Jesus we have been set free from keeping rules and sent out to live guided by the spirit and no longer controlled by the sins of the flesh. For we are called to be a people who produce the fruits of the spirit. Fruits that include: love and joy and peace; patience and kindness and gratitude; and gentleness and self-control. And, God requires even more than just following Jesus’ example. For as we hear in the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells those who want to follow him that they are to proclaim the Kingdom of God and stay steadfast to this mission. For in this mission there is no turning back. And, in this mission it is our calling to share the good news and leave the rest to God. Just as Jesus did as he made his way to Jerusalem and told off his disciples for wanting to harm the people who did not want to receive him. For the mission we are called to serve, is the Father’s mission. The mission to call back all people to be the Father’s people. The mission in which the Father allows us the choice to either accept or reject him. Today I hope and pray we will hear God’s call, however God sends his call to us. Today I hope and pray we will accept God’s call and trust that God knows best. Today I hope and pray that we will be a people of the spirit producing the fruits of the spirit. Today I hope and pray that we will proclaim the Kingdom of God without turning back. Today I hope and pray that we will leave in God’s hands those who do not accept what God is calling them to be. For, even when people reject God, God continues to wait in love and patience for his people to turn back and run into his ever loving arms. Let us Pray: O Lord God our loving father, we thank you for teaching us that without love all that we do is worth nothing. Send your Holy Spirit to sustain us. Pour your gift of love into our hearts. Grant the true bond of peace to us. Help us to serve you faithfully here on earth. Then when all this life is over, we hope and pray that you will invite us to share in your eternal banquet in heaven. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
