Lectionary for Pentecost 16
Jesus said, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’ Mark 8:34
Collect. Let us pray (for the peace which is born of faith and hope):Father in heaven, Creator of all, look down upon your people in their moments of need,for you alone are the source of our peace. Bring us to the dignity which distinguishes the poor in spirit, and show us how great is the call to serve, that we may share in the peace of Christ who offered his life in the service of all. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Reading. James 3:1-12. Often when leading a bible study this opening verse comes to mind. The verse reminds all of us that we will be called to account for everything we have said and this is especially true when we speak presuming to teach or lead others. Notice the phrase. “we who teach”, for this could apply to anyone, not simply those designated as teachers or leaders. Sometime we presume to guide and direct others by telling them for example how they should behave or how they should plan their lives. Parents of children have a responsibility to teach and guide but it is easy to allow that “parental role” become a habit in life in general. How easy it is to presume to know how to solve other people’s problems! Despite all that, this passage is not meant to discourage us from speaking or teaching but to remind us to take care with what we say and not be presumptuous in our relationships with others. Many if not all of us will have memories of things we should not have said, or at least things we could have said more discreetly. The challenge to watch our tongues is important and ongoing!
However James then goes on to make perhaps a deeper or maybe a more crucial observation and that is to consider the state of our heart. James notes that we both bless and curse with the same tongue. Perhaps this is a reference to the teaching of Jesus when he said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34). Jesus was teaching about a kingdom that is divided and therefore fails. James is reminding us to decide where our loyalties lie and if they are with Jesus to look to him always before we presume to teach or lead others. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:14 NRSV
Prayer. Teach us gracious Lord to begin our work with reverent awe, to go on with obedience, and to finish with love, and then wait patiently in hope and with cheerful confidence looking up to you, whose promises are faithful and rewards infinite; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (George Hickes)
We thank you Lord that you still hold out your hand for us to take. Let us grasp all that you are offering us, so that we would not serve you in words alone but with every part of our being. Guide us to clearly hear the truth and to undertake what is required. Our longing is to lift high the name of Jesus and to be aware of his presence in each moment of the days which lie ahead. So Lord our prayer is, go with us through this day that we may not stumble but walk uprightly with you. In every way let us be ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only saviour to whom we can turn. Amen
Reading. Mark 8:27-38. It is easy to say that “Jesus is Lord” when all is going well, yet the same is true even when things seem to be heading for disaster. Jesus is Lord, and yet we can only know this through revelation. Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah because God had revealed that knowledge to him. Messiah was the long awaited Saviour for Israel; he was to be Lord of all. Yet even Peter, taking the lead, disagreed with Jesus wanting to protect Jesus from hurt and harm. As Lord Jesus can and does face all of life’s experiences. If Jesus is to conquer sin, then he has to face sin and if he is to conquer death then he also has to face death. In order to do that Jesus had to suffer, both at the hands of men but also to suffer through his own struggles in order to obtain the victory. As a fully human being, none of the decisions he had to take would have been easy. “but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
Having exclusively told the twelve what events lay ahead for him, Jesus then called together all those who were choosing to listen to his teaching. He then laid out the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Much has been said about “cross bearing”. Some equate it to the distressing events of life but everyone who ever lived has had to face distressing events and situations; this is a normal pattern of life. No, “cross bearing” is to always put God’s will and way first in every event of life, it is about denying self and living only for God. This is no easy task. We normally make decisions based on self preservation or how it will affect me. “Cross bearing” is living life in a measured way: It is about knowing what God wants and then doing it. G.K. Chesterton once said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried” This reminds us that following Jesus requires the presence of the Holy Spirit for we cannot do it on our own. Indeed the whole point of being a Christian is to rely on Jesus for everything. This does not come easy. However the good news is that it is the Lordship of Jesus that rescues us even from ourselves. As we trust Jesus and the power of his Spirit in all things, then he is the one who can guide us into a life which pleases God. The Christian life is not a momentary decision but a daily, life-time of decisions of saying yes to Jesus.
Prayer. Lord God the author and fountain of hope, enable us in all situations to place our trust in you and have that quiet confidence which guides us through all trials and troubles. Grant that we would be willing to pay the price of following you, even as you have paid the price to win for us the salvation that God promised. Give to us a future vision which helps us through times of disappointment and grief. Help us to be strong for others, with deep humility pointing to you as the true source of comfort and strength. As ambassadors of Christ may we look to you for our deliverance knowing that you know our needs even before we think or ask. Make us powerful in daily living that our witness may win others to your kingdom in good times and well as in times of strife. This we ask in Jesus name, who humbled himself and bore the cross for us. Amen
Collect. Jesus, Messiah, you bear the wounds of the cross; help us to know you, with our eyes, ears and hands opened by the Spirit of compassion. Lead us, for you are the Way now and for ever. Amen
Prayer. Adapted from John Baillie in “A Diary of Private Prayer”
O Eternal God, though I cannot see you with my eyes or touch you with my hands, yet grant me today a clear conviction of your reality and power. Let me not go into this day believing only in the world of sense and time, but give me grace to understand that the world I cannot see or touch is the most real world of all. My life to-day will be lived in time, but eternal issues will be concerned in it. The needs of my body will make strong demands, but it is for the needs of my soul that I must care most. My busyness will be with things material, but behind them let me be aware of things spiritual. Let me keep steadily in mind that the things that matter are not money or possessions, not houses or lands, not bodily comfort or bodily pleasure; but truth and honour and meekness and helpfulness and a pure love of You alone.
For the power you have given me to lay hold of things unseen: For the strong sense I have that this is not my home: For my restless heart which nothing finite can satisfy: I give you thanks, O God.For the invasion of my soul by Your Holy Spirit: For all human love and goodness that speak to me of you: For the fullness of your glory outpoured in Jesus Christ: I give you thanks, O God.
I, a pilgrim of eternity, stand before You, O eternal One. Let me not seek to deaden or destroy the desire for you that disturbs my heart.Let me rather yield myself to its constraint and go where it leads me.Make me wise to see all things to-day under the form of eternity, and make me brave to face all the changes in my life which trusting in you alone would bring: We ask this prayer through the grace of Christ my Saviour. Amen.
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