Lectionary for Pentecost 6

Lectionary for Pentecost 6.

God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery – Christ in you, the hope of glory.        Colossians 1:27

Collect. Almighty God, your Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence. Give us pure hearts and constant wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Reading. Colossians 1:15-28. In the opening passage of this first chapter Paul has reminded the congregation that they have been transferred from darkness into light; that they are now fully prepared to be announced as saints together with Jesus Christ. This is no light matter and so Paul goes on to help them understand just who it is that has won such a glorious transference for them. Today it is quite common to speak of us being friends of God and while that is undoubtably true, it does have a tendency to trivialise the relationship that through Jesus Christ we enjoy. The bible highlights two people as being “friends’ of God, these were Abraham and Moses. (Although not named as such we can conclude that Enoch also had a special friendship with God. Genesis 5:24) That thought is there not to disparage our friendship with God but to seek to understand just how majestic and all powerful is the one who has transferred us from darkness into light. This is what Paul is doing as he describes to the Colossian congregation the ultimate power that has set them free from the tyranny that comes from the worship of pagan gods.

Consider if you will the phrase that “in him all things hold together”. Everything is therefore dependant on him. Furthermore this majestic ruler is the head of the church. He is its authority and also its power. Through his resurrection a new era has emerged and those who trust in Jesus Christ have been drawn into that newly created fellowship. This inclusion is not without cost for Paul makes it clear that every believer must continue in the faith. The Christian life is a life to be lived always under the direction of Jesus himself.

Through the faith the mystery of God’s plan is revealed to all the saints. It is this plan and purpose that gives us all such a great hope in the future for the one who holds all things together is the same one who will finally bring God’s plan to fulfilment. What a task as well as a privilege it is to speak with such hope of the future, always guided by the love and power of Jesus the instigator of God’s plan.

Prayer. Gracious Lord, you are above all things and all things depend upon you for their existence; and yet in love you have reached down to embrace the totality of human kind. No one is beyond the reach of your love and care; everyone can enjoy the richness of your salvation. So we your new people under Christ, give you all thanks and praise; pledging to live our lives in obedience to your will and way; trusting always in the merits of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reading. Luke 10:38-42. Last week we read a section of Luke’s journey of Jesus to Jerusalem. This portion included the parable of the Samaritan and Jesus’ dispute with the teacher of the Law. In that passage Luke highlights the growing conflict between Jesus’ teaching of God compared with the teaching of the religious authorities. Luke draws out the idea that an intimate knowledge of the Law does not reveal the true nature of God, for the teacher of the Law was unable to show mercy nor indeed was he able to demonstrate any true love of God! (Deuteronomy 6:5) Following on from that and woven through the passage for today is the importance of listening to the word of Jesus.

Jesus goes to the home of Martha and Mary and while the town is not named we know from John’s Gospel that their home was in Bethany a small town just a few kilometres from Jerusalem. Martha welcomes Jesus into the home and so we conclude that she was the elder of the two sisters. She is offering hospitality to Jesus and perhaps a number of the disciples.  As the elder sister hospitality was her role and her privilege. Mary on the other hand is listening to Jesus who as usual is teaching his disciples. Perhaps in wanting to do well and so demonstrate her great love for Jesus the responsibility of preparation becomes too much for Martha. In her distress she rebukes Jesus and directs him to urge Mary to help her. Anyone who has lived in a normal family will easily identify with the range of feelings that Luke is so perceptively describing. Even today it still raises interesting reactions among those who discuss this story. We must not lose sight of the way she addresses Jesus which reveals what an amazing relationship she must have had with him. Likewise, Jesus’ response to Martha is not critical but gentle, addressing the situation that has caused her distress and in effect reminds her that her hospitality has already been approved.

Martha has often been depicted as being practical and by inference not as spiritual as, for example Mary. However, when we read in John’s gospel the story of Lazarus, we find that Martha has deep spiritual knowledge and elicits from Jesus the great statement “I am the resurrection and the life”. (John 11:24)

Like all of us Martha let the pressure of the moment distract her from the important, even essential things of life. Jesus asked Martha to take a larger view than her pressing needs. Luke is not contrasting one sister against the other but is reminding everyone who reads or hears this passage that keeping Jesus central is always the “better part”. We, above all, must listen to Him!       

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10.

Prayer. Lord, as we have read, all things are in your hands and for this we give you thanks and praise. Help us Lord to trust you in all situations, recognising that it is by your power that we accomplish anything of worth. Relying on you alone, grant that we may be at peace with our selves and find in that peace the courage to face each moment of each day guided by the knowledge that you are with us. Above all Lord we want always to honour and glorify you, giving thanks in all circumstances for your everlasting love and care. Trusting in you, guide us through the day, that we may be your obedient servants. We pray in your name. Amen

Collect. Loving Jesus, grant us simplicity of life, amid the demands of the everyday; nourish our faith, that when distractions come from within or without, we may hear your voice and obey your word, for you are Lord, now and for ever. Amen.