Lectionary for Pentecost 20

Lectionary for Pentecost 20

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.        Psalm 65:5

Collect. Lord God of justice, You know no favourites and show no partiality, but you have given us assurance that the prayers of the lowly pierce the clouds, their petitions reach the heavens. Look upon us who come before you  as did the penitent tax collector, and grant that we may open ourselves with confidence in your mercy, and be justified by your grace. We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Reading. Joel 2:23-32. As we read this passage from Joel our minds naturally go to Peter’s sermon in Acts 2 following the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. This is a vital empowering in the early church, an empowering which continues to be an essential ingredient of church life. However this is not the only aspect of our passage that we should note. The Jewish tribes understood that the Lord was the great Creator who sustained all things. They understood that the Lord was far above all other gods. Thus this prophetic passage begins with the security of life itself. The timely arrival of the rains were essential if was to be an abundant harvest. Not to have a harvest was to face starvation and disaster. For them as for us, every blessing from God has a practical application. It is the Lord who both gives and sustains life.

Historically Joel’s prophecy appears to come after the return from exile in Babylon for this passage speaks of reconciliation and forgiveness: It offers a new beginning and a chance to start again with an abundance of life. Once more the Lord will be resident among them and they would never again be put to shame. The prophecy points to a new era of close relationship with the Lord in line with Jeremiah’s prophecy of a whole new covenant: One in which the Lord would guarantee its success.

Joel looks forward to a time within this new era when the Spirit of God will rest on all the people. In Jewish tradition there were always a group of people, prophets, on whom the Spirit of God rested and it was this group of people who guided the nation in order to keep faith with God. This prophecy signalled that the Spirit would be available to every member of the community, making the relationship with God much more personal.

As Christians we recognise with humility that this personal relationship is possible through Jesus’ ministry alone. Single-handedly Jesus fulfilled the New Covenant with God cleared the way to a relationship with God. It is by his grace that we are able to call on the Lord and it is through his sacrifice that the Spirit has been poured out on us. Furthermore like the people of Joel’s day we recognise that the Spirit’s presence and gifts are to equip us to live as God’s people, in God’s great New Creation.

Prayer. The heavens proclaim the glory of God and though they do not speak yet their message of God’s sovereignty has gone through out all the earth. We too would add our praise to you Lord God for you are the Lord, the giver of life and every living thing owes praise and honour to you. As the spring rains refresh the earth and cause it to burst forth onto life; we pray that through the refreshing of your Holy Spirit we too might rise up to honour and praise you for the great salvation you have won for us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that our lives and our living may reflect you goodness and your grace. We offer our prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen

Reading. Luke 18:9-14. The introduction to this parable is that Jesus is addressing temple officials who felt that they were able by their lives to claim a privileged relationship with God. The setting is a time after the morning or evening sacrifice had been completed by the priest. It was for this ritual people gathered for worship and then after the sacrifice came a time in the temple for prayer.(c/f Luke 1:10)

Two very different men are praying in the temple but both are addressing God. The Pharisee who was a keen observer of the law stood apart, away from the group and praying aloud gave thanks to God for all he was able to do. He fasted twice a week which was more than the law demanded and so we gather from Jesus description that here was a man who really did obey the law, indeed he was one who went the extra mile! However he thought that his obedience placed him above others, even including the tax collector who like him was seeking to approach God.

The tax collector on the other hand also standing apart from the crowd in his loneliness would not even lift up his face, but realising his unworthiness pleaded to God for mercy. His action was in recognition that there was nothing in him that was worthy to present before God.

The parable paints a very clear picture of one man standing alone because he felt worthy to stand before God confident of his righteousness. The second man stood alone because he felt unworthy of even being in the presence of God. This was not false humility, he knew that he was unworthy and yet was prepared to throw himself on God’s mercy, trusting in Him.

Jesus summation of the two is very clear. The Tax collector went home forgiven, released from his failure, whilst the Pharisee when home still wrapped in his own self righteousness but in no way reconciled in his relationship to God.

The tax collector knew he had no worthiness in himself and so trusted in God’s mercy and was forgiven. The one who already felt righteous was not looking for forgiveness and so received no mercy from God. The parable calls us to look deeply into how we view ourselves, our relationship to others and most importantly how we trust God.  

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1.

Prayer. Loving Lord Jesus, we look to you for mercy and understanding as we bow in prayer before you. You Lord know well our frailties and our temptations for you have faced each one, yet without sin. Forgive us for failing to see the brokenness that is present in our lives. Forgive us for pretending to be secure in our love for you, when insecurity drives us to live away from the source of your comfort and grace. Have mercy on us and through the presence of your Holy Spirit, rekindle in us the love that gives us the courage and the confidence to trust in you alone. You sustain all things and it is by your power that we live and move and have our being. So dear Lord in penitence and faith we turn to you again to find life in all its fullness. We give you all thanks and praise through Jesus our only mediator. Amen

Collect. Source of mercy, your free forgiveness is extended to sinners. May we also accept those who scandalise us; so shall we be united in the one great  commonwealth of Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, now and for ever. Amen.