Lectionary Reading 21 June Pt 2
Reading. Romans 6:1-11 It is through being immersed in the death of Jesus Christ that a Christian has life. Just as the church has no life within itself without Jesus Christ neither does a Christian.. Therefore the church in order to exist must live out the unadorned life of Christ, always working to present in this present life the reality of the life to come: The same obligation falls on every Christian. The reason for this is not hard to discover. The followers of Jesus did not expect him to return to life again after the crucifixion. So the emphasis quickly turned to what the cross had achieved. The act of death was less important than the result. Through the cross new life came, old things had passed away, new things had come. This was the emphasis. It was not a mistake or a wasted death but a wonderful opportunity created by God. Importantly life and how it was viewed in the future could never be the same again. In our passage Paul is reminding all baptised Christians that it is our baptism which is the visible link for us with the death and resurrection of Christ. In that dying and rising we are made new for in baptism we are linked to the risen, redeeming Jesus. Therefore we are to lift up our heads, recognising that the past has been dealt with and we look to walk into the future with renewed hope and expectancy. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:10-11 (NRSV) It is this wonderful news that draws us on and allows us to live a life always giving thanks for all that Jesus Christ has done.
Prayer. Holy and life giving God, you have done all things well and by your great goodness Jesus Christ our Saviour lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Not only that but by your great mercy you have granted to all who are in Christ the privilege to share with him the glory of your grace. How amazing that is, our hearts rejoice in your goodness and grace. Humbly we offer our thanks and praise, for we know we come not trusting in any merits of our own but trusting only in the merits of your dear Son. To you Lord be all thanks and praise now and forever Amen
Reading. Matthew 10:24-39. This passage about relationships has at its centre this verse, Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. Matthew 10:29 (NRSV) It reminds us that we are valuable to God. God cares about us and about what we do. To accept that God cares about us tells us again that we are of value. In our increasingly impersonal world it is easy to begin to think that we don’t count. When you deal with a computer for example if you get one tiny thing wrong it just flicks you off with an error message and then decides it’s time to “update”. This usually happens when you are in a tearing hurry and the end result is more tension and frustration, leaving you wondering why you bother. Our God comes from the other angle with the message, despite the mistakes, you are loved and of value. Why this is so is because of God’s nature but also because God can do something about us when we make mistakes. God has the power and the authority to bring change. God does not change the circumstances, but with love, God changes us. It is God who loves first because of all that Jesus has done on our behalf. In his love God declares to us that we are valuable in his estimation. We then can respond. We love because he first loved us. In loving God we can begin to love ourselves and it is as we come to terms with ourselves that we are in a better place to love those around us. This is not always easy for living and loving in God’s way can sometimes put us at odds with those around us. As Jesus said sometimes living in God’s way can bring division but when for us love is the key then the approach to others is always with love and respect. In all circumstances we are to recognise our worth before God and live out a life of love.
Prayer. In a world filled with suffering I reach out to you Lord God, not for my own needs alone but for all those who face such great danger, from disease, prejudice and tyranny. I call out to you and long for answers for I know that within me is only emptiness and a longing to be able to amend what is wrong. So Lord I look to you with an expectant heart and mind, inform me of your will that I may walk in your way. Refresh my longing for you and fill me with your Holy Spirit, grant that I may be a voice which cries out to you for justice and peace; and in your peace let me serve you by serving others. This I ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Collect. Your loving care extends to everything, O God; help us to care as you do, trusting in the strength of your Holy Spirit, and the power of the name of Jesus, in which name we pray. Amen.
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