Lectionary reading for Pentecost 10
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2
Collect. Holy God, who in your great love for the world gave your only Son to die for us all: have mercy on those who are enemies of the cross of Christ, actively opposing him by word or deed, or persecuting his disciples. And to those who endure suffering in this present time for the sake of Christ and his gospel, give the sure confidence of the victory of faith and the knowledge of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading. Isaiah 5:1-7. Set out in poetic style this stinging prophecy from Isaiah would probably have been sung for greater effect. In an eloquently written passage the prophet highlights both the love as well as the judgement of the Lord God. It is clear who the vineyard is, it is the people whom God loves, the ones he has chosen to be his own. The prophecy recounts how much love and careful preparation God has put into preparing the way forward to ensure the success of the vineyard. Everything is in readiness but despite all the planning and preparation the vineyard produces worthless fruit. As the produce of the vineyard is worthless a severe judgement is announced. The end result for the vineyard will be a place of chaos, covered by weeds and brambles without protection and above all drought stricken. Although the listeners would have already known to whom Isaiah was referring the last stanza makes it crystal clear that the prophecy is directed at the people if Israel. It is a very bleak picture but Isaiah has already discerned the cause of the disaster it is the leaders whose responsibility it was to shepherd the people. The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. Isaiah 3:14. This is preamble to the Song of the Vineyard and the leaders would not have failed to understand Isaiah’s deliberate connection with the nation’s demise. In one sense Isaiah is recounting something that had always been known in Israel and that was that The Lord God wanted a people who were different from all the other nations of the world for they would be obedient to God alone. Way back in the time of the wilderness wanderings Moses had recognised that God wanted a distinctive people to call his own. (Ex 33 16). Isaiah is reminding them of their failure to be “distinctive” and the prophecy is announcing where that will lead. Isaiah prophesied in parlous times and within a few years Assyria would invade and exile the people.
Tradition has it that Isaiah so offended the leadership of Israel that he was placed in a hollow tree stump and sawn in two. (Hebrews 11:37) It is a reminder that speaking out in the Name of God can have dire consequences. However that pales into insignificance when we consider the prophecy and note the consequences of failing to obey God!
Prayer. Font of everlasting light draw me away to yourself, into the ocean of your divine essence, from which came the word which spoke me into being. (St Gertrude)
You Lord are a good and gracious God; from you flows all of life in all its mysterious force; through your power you sustain each living being and by your grace we are upheld. So now at the beginning of this day we turn to you and offer our praise and thanksgiving for all that you have done and all that you continue to do on our behalf. Though our knowledge of you is fleeting your care of us is from everlasting to everlasting and so we can rest in full and perfect hope, knowing that no matter what occurs today you will still be in control and your love and grace will guide us through. All praise to you Lord God. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen.
Reading. Luke 12:49-56. Previous lectionary readings have drawn our attention to the kingdom of God and so today’s reading has as a background the context of the kingdom. God comes as king to bring mercy, love and forgiveness; however, with those wholesome attributes comes one condition and that is obedience to God. As long as I want to be king of my world I will always be at odds with God for there cannot be two kings and peace! It was in this sense that Jesus told his followers that his coming would cause division. Jesus uses the symbol of fire which in biblical terms usually refers to judgement. However we note that the judgement (fire) has not yet been kindled meaning that the judgement is still to come. As a result, we recognise that the “fire’ will be ignited on Calvary on the cross. (2 Corinthians 5:14f,)
It is commonly said that you don’t talk about religion or politics at work. However the division that Jesus brings is not just because of arguments it is the fact that the Gospel of Jesus Christ demands that we choose who will rule in our lives. A statement one of our college New Testament lecturers would say to us was. “Being a Christian is like being pregnant. Either you are or you are not, You can’t be half pregnant!’ In the same way you can’t be half a Christian, either Jesus is Lord or you or someone else is! This cuts to the heart of human existence. Everything in our society today speaks of the independence of the self. Think of the old Beatles song, “I, Me, Me, Mine”; it is a perfect summing up of the attitude of the day. Jesus on the other hand calls for putting God first before all other and that challenges us for it calls for obedience. However for a Christian obedience is neither a chore nor an imposition it is a positive response to who God is and what Jesus has done. No wonder Paul describes the action of God through Jesus Christ as a mystery! Indeed it is a mystery for it is only when you fully give in to Jesus that you become truly free. Freedom means that in yourself at least there is no division! For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1. NRSV
Prayer. Lord I wait upon your call today. I am part of this society and so have many voices which speak out a different message to the message of Christ. So Lord I pray that you will open my ears to hear and my eyes to see what great a salvation you are offering. May I have greater wisdom in the choices that I make, that my life’s journey may take me closer and closer to you. Lord my desire is to know you more, and to respond to you more faithfully and wholeheartedly. I want to be yours today and every day, so that I am ready for any act of service you might require of me. God of your goodness give me your self for you are sufficient for me. I cannot properly ask anything less to be worthy of you. If I were to ask less I should always be in want. In you alone I have all. Amen (Julian of Norwich)
Collect. O Christ, help us to see signs of life in the midst of death, signs of peace in a time of discord. Where there is division, help us to seek the wholeness that one day will embrace the whole earth round; for you are the Living One, now and for ever. Amen.
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