Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
Jeremiah 15.15–21 Romans 12.9–end Matthew 16.21–end
Sometimes what we read in the Bible can be a struggle to understand. Some passages seem to defy logic, and today’s gospel reading is one instance where this is appearing to happen. How does losing one’s life gain one’s life?
In this expression we are looking at two things. On the one hand we are looking at finality, an ending. This is something that we all can appreciate and understand. On the other hand we are looking at creation, a beginning, again this is something that we all understand. But, when used in the same sentence here is where we are likely to hit problems.
It is all well and good living a life with all of the trimmings, with every conceivable luxury at your side, where at the flick of your fingers aides come running to fulfil your every wish and will. Yes, you have absolutely everything and want for nothing. Really! Is it likely that, yes, there is still something missing? At first glance you may be forgiven for thinking not. Everything is there, whatever could be missing.
Let us move to one side in our thinking. Surrounded by every imaginable physical desire it is easy to have your sight blinded to other things in life. But, leaving all that behind we can see a whole new world comprising of all manner of situations. These could be ranging from homelessness to hunger, from uncertainty to all manner of conditions and circumstances. With each of these quite often all that is needed is someone to step forward and say, ‘Can I help?’ by making such an offer you are stepping into another world. Quite literally you are leaving behind all of your possessions to step into another world where you are giving of yourself.
Here is the teaching of Jesus. He is encouraging us to turn to God and leave behind all of that which clutters our life. God is our provider. He gives all that we need. If we look about us we see his gifts given in plenty. And, as we look about we will see other people in their various states of life.
If we leave behind all of our trappings to go to assist or help where it is needed, we are leaving behind one life and entering another. The physical dimension of our being is nice to pamper with all manner of goodies, but none of them are of any use to us when we come face to face with Our Lord. These he will not look at or take into consideration. He will look into our soul.
What will he find there? Will it be a love of all of the property that we have surrounded ourselves with, the items of luxury, those things that enabled us to just lie back and let the world go past? If that is the case then the records of our life, when examined, will not count for much in the heavenly kingdom.
If, however, we cast to one side all of those distractions and devote our life to caring for our neighbour and helping where we are able then we are adopting those same qualities as Jesus showed. Turning to Jesus and doing his will all go towards losing your life to Jesus.
This is what he means. In all that we do we should try to emulate Jesus. Look at how he would approach a situation. Are we in a position to do something similar?
Jesus tells us that if we want to follow him we have to deny ourselves. Examine our very nature and see where we fall down. In doing this we may discover just what lies in front of us as an obstacle making it hard for us to follow Jesus. This obstacle, our cross, we have to take up for ourselves for it is a part of us. Once acknowledged then we can cast it off to Jesus who promised, “Come unto me, all that travail and are heavy laden,
and I will refresh you”, words we hear in the Book of Common Prayer Communion Service taken from Matthew’s Gospel.
Collect for the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
Almighty God,
who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.