Lectionary Reading 28 June Pt 2
Reading. Romans 6: 12-23 The Philosopher Rousseau said, “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains” There are many ways in which we can be bound: We live in an age controlled by the tyranny of the urgent. Everyone faces these tensions but Paul here in Romans is not addressing everyone but only believers, “to the saints in Rome” is his opening sentence. The context of his message reminds all Christians that Christianity is a relational life lived to honour God. “You must make every part of your body serve God”. Reminding us that how we live is equally as important as what we believe, in fact how we live demonstrates what we believe. GK Chesterton wisely said, “Man alone is the only wild animal”. An animal lives by instinct, but humanity lives by making choices, often choosing to live in ways which are clearly contrary to our best interests or the interests of others. Showing irresponsible drivers the consequences of accidents does not change driving habits. Why? Simply because we often believe it won’t happen to me. Paul reminds us that the way we choose to live is important; we need to live for God. He then goes on to remind us that Jesus has won for us a freedom to choose. He doesn’t say that when you become a Christian everything is easy, he says when you become a Christian you have to start making choices. Before we choose we often ask, “What’s in it for me?” And this is what he says. v23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. The word for wages describes a soldier’s rations/ provision. What he means is if you have lived a life to please yourself you have earned the provision that affords. He adds that death is all that can be received. However, if you live a life trying to please God, even though as Paul admits it may not be perfect, God in his love gives us eternal life. Due to Jesus Christ it is an inheritance which cannot be taken away. Irenaeus said, “The Christian’s life is like Gold, it may fall in the mud but though soiled on the outside it is still pure within”: A wash will restore it. It is that great blessing which frees us to keep our eyes on Jesus and in that freedom to follow him in obedience.
Prayer. Light of the world, with thankful hearts we give you praise you for life and health, for love and friendship and for the companionship that your abiding presence brings. We thank you for the richness of your creation, with its variety, vitality and its colour. We thank you for the uniqueness of each person and for the gifts that allow us to serve you. Above all we thank you for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ who lived our life and experienced our death that we might live eternally with you. As the fullness of your grace surrounds us may we never cease to honour you in daily living. May your light which dispels the darkness fill our very being with the joy of your salvation, and may our days be lived in the perfect freedom of your service now and forever. Amen.
Reading. Matthew 10:40-42. In this short passage Jesus is reminding his hearers that he has always been the one sent to accomplish the Father’s will. He came to conduct his earthly ministry with a defined plan and purpose. Over the Easter readings we noted that he was crucified as King, and though he said that his kingdom was not from this world, yet the idea of kingship becomes a dominant theme particularly in the forty days prior to his ascension. (Acts 1:3) The King has a kingdom and in the future this kingdom now commenced will be fully revealed. This passage reminds us that in this future kingdom there will be consequences linked to our actions as we go through this earthly life. The coming kingdom will be a kingdom of perfect justice and as such how we live in this life will be reflected in the next. In the fellowship of Jesus there are people who exercise special gifts and have considerable authority there will also be people whose gifting is simply to serve the vulnerable. All have a place. This reading reminds us that whatever gifting we have, all are able to show hospitality and love to every person wether of high or low status. In doing so each will receive a reward; however no Christian serves for a reward but as a response to the love of God, as John says, “ In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins”. 1 John 4:10 (NRSV) By that loving act in God’s kingdom all can play a part and in so doing will be lovingly serving God. To welcome someone is to accept them as they are not putting any conditions on what they must do or how they must change in order to be welcomed: It is a genuine welcome with no strings attached. This welcome reflects the gracious acceptance that God the Father gives to everyone who turns to Christ and lives to honour him alone.
“Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, …. Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food,… And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.‘” Matthew 25:34-40 (NRSV)
Prayer. God of all hope, The bringer of comfort and the bearer of Good News; Open the eyes of our faith, a faith that comes from you alone, help us to see you at work in our world and give us the courage to join you in serving all who are in need. Forgive us when we have failed to see your actions or we are deaf to your call to serve and have turned away from those in need. Lord you have called us as disciples to bear one-another’s burdens and to be mindful of their needs. Help us to share and to serve in ways that honour your name. Help us to look beyond ourselves, looking forward to the new creation that you are putting into place. Renew and refresh us; Restore in us the image of your son, that by Christ-like endeavour we may be true heralds of your coming kingdom. This we 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.(Uniting in Worship)
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