Lectionary for Pentecost 23
Alleluia!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live. The Lord sets the prisoner free, raises those who are bowed down, and protects the stranger in the land. Psalm 146:1-2, 7, 8, 9
Collect. Let us pray (to be faithful stewards of God’s gifts): Almighty Father, whose hand is open to fill all things living with plenteousness: make us ever thankful for your goodness; and grant that we, remembering the account which we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading. Hebrews 9:11-14. As we read both of the readings for this week it is important to remember that at the time of writing the only scriptures would have been what we today call the Old Testament; though they would not have thought of them in that way. They were the scriptures which guided the religious practises of the Jews and so had a great influence on Christian converts from Judaism. The idea of a High Priest is slightly obscure for we have never been linked to the kind of sacrificial rituals which were the common practises of the Jews. To our modern minds it was both a bloody and messy series of rituals which linked the people to the awesome presence of God. (Reading a few chapters from Leviticus will remind you of how much blood was shed to enable one to approach God’s presence in the tent of worship.) At the very heart of these rituals was the High Priest whose role it was to prepare the sacrifices and then distribute the blood and attend to the burning or consuming of the portions. Though the High Priest was a godly man and specially appointed, he too had to offer sacrifices for himself before he could offer the sacrifices of the people. Not only that, he was charged with repeating those sacrifices regularly. This is the picture that the writer to the Hebrews is bringing to mind for the converts and then contrasting that picture with the reality of Jesus Christ’s ministry as the new High Priest. The rituals of the past were a shadow of the real ministry that Jesus now presents. His sacrifice is once for all and the purification that he gives to each believer is also once for all. The difference is that Jesus does not enter a tent here on earth but in heaven, as such he enters into the very presence of God to offer himself as the sacrifice which purifies all believers and so readies them to worship God. In Jesus Christ the old system is ending and a new and better system is beginning. Before only the High Priest could enter into the Holy Presence but now being perfectly restored all believers can enter the Presence and so truly worship.
Prayer. Gracious Father we thank you that through Jesus you have given to us the gift of worship. In your presence we humbly bow before you, reminding ourselves daily that it is only through the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are granted access to your glorious presence. You are the great Creator and through you we are sustained in life; help us to keep our hearts and minds centred on you; that our lives will give you due praise and honour. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, who gave himself once for all. Amen
Reading. Mark 12:28-34. In answer to the question, ‘which is the most important commandment’; Jesus quotes the Shema which is the central statement of the Jewish faith. The Shema reminded the worshiper that there is only one God and this God is to be loved with everything you are and everything you have. It was a prayer that encouraged everyone to love the Lord with every aspect of their life. For us today we might think that this was simply a common sense response; of course we should love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind. However in the context of Mark’s Gospel Jesus comment was far from common sense it was confronting. At the time there was a huge debate raging amongst the Pharisees concerning which commandment was most important. One suggestion was was that the command which afforded the greatest penalty for failure to keep it was most important. Some of this debate is probably reflected in Mark chapter seven. Jesus lifted the religious debate from the academic or theoretical to the practical reality of our relationship with God. How we live before God is more important than which rule or law we think is worth keeping and conversely which law or laws we can overlook. Jesus’ answer reminded his hearers that the love of God was where the discussion should begin. The scribe understood what Jesus’ answer implied when he responded by saying that love for God was more important than the tradition. ‘Burnt offerings and sacrifices’ signified tradition, and tradition was put in its right perspective when love of God was the primary focus. Jesus was saying that the debate moved the focus away from God and on to our decision making. For us today this passage reminds us that it is easy to get sidetracked with side issues. Some things are important issues to be discussed but all issues must be viewed through our love of God and our response to God. To do anything less is to fail in the essence of our faith which is to love God because all that has been done on our behalf.
Prayer. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us, and we are His, His people, and the flock of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; give thanks unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy endureth for ever; and His faithfulness unto all generations. (Psalm 100:2–5)
Only to you Lord God will we offer our thanksgiving and praise for only you have brought us to this time and this place. Only you have shown us the mercy and abundant kindness which has brought us to the completeness that we find in you. In you alone do we have the forgiveness that sets us free; and through you alone are we living in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who was wounded for our transgressions and it is by his stripes that we are healed and linked eternally with him. Therefore we humbly offer you our prayers of thanksgiving, knowing that without him we would be lost. Now in your mercy hear our payer and give to us that peace which passes all human understanding. We come in the name of Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Amen
Collect. Merciful and tender God, the words of Jesus draw us, for we cannot deny their truth; to love is to live. May your Spirit inspire us to abound in love to you and our neighbour, that we may find life in serving you; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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