Lectionary reading for Pentecost 11

You, O Lord, are my hope, my trust from childhood. Upon you I have leaned from birth; it was you who brought me from my mother’s womb.     Psalm 71:5-6

Collect. Lord God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many great dangers that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright. Grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reading. Jeremiah 1:4-10. Jeremiah is the last of the great prophets in the bible. He was born a priest and became a prophet by the call of God as our reading today announces. Set in the seventh century his prophetic ministry life lasted for 40 years. Tradition has it that he was taken into Egypt by a remnant as the two southern tribes were taken into exile. It was there he was stoned to death because of his unwelcome truths concerning the people’s failure to obey God. His prophecies came as the 10 tribes in the North has been taken into exile by Assyria and by the end of his prophetic life the Babylonians had taken into exile the remaining 2 Southern tribes.  Thus it marked the end of the 12 tribes living securely in the Promised Land. To say that the setting for Jeremiah’s ministry was troubled times would almost be an understatement: it was a time of national strife and the worship of false gods overseen by a series of weak and evil kings.

Jeremiah himself is recording his call to be a prophet which seems to be described as a vision. He was called to this prophetic ministry before he was even born and set apart to be a prophet to the nations. With so vast a calling it is no wonder that he did not relish accepting such an enormous task. Yet it is not simply humility that causes him to step back, he knows instinctively that he is not equipped for such a task. The assurance is that God will tell him to whom he is to speak and also will give him the message he will speak. This assurance was essential for the forceful words that Jeremiah would have to speak needed to come from God himself, rather than from the prophet’s anger and disappointment at the failure of the leaders and the people. Thus it was God’s words which pulled down and then offered the promise of new growth.

As we read this record of Jeremiah’s call we can understand while he is often called the. “Weeping prophet”. However we need to read the passage in the light of the great message of hope that is also woven into his confronting message, for it is Jeremiah who introduces the bible reader to the prospect of a New Covenant that will rescue once and for all the People of God. The consistent though underlying message from Jeremiah is that true faith in God is the only way to obtain security and peace.

Prayer. Gracious God we thank you that you raise up leaders who will speak out your word without fear or favour. We thank you for Jeremiah and others like him who have challenged us and drawn us back to more faithful ways. Help us always to heed the warnings that you send to us, calling us back to our first love and relying only on you for health and strength. Keep us always in the way so that when you call we might be ready to uphold your plan and purpose. This we ask through our Saviour Jesus Christ, your son and our Lord. Amen

Reading. Luke 13:10-17. This miraculous healing is one of a selection unique to Luke’s Gospel. However there is also a theme common to the other Gospels and that is that Jesus, though popular with the common people is at loggerheads with the Jerusalem leaders and officials. Luke is therefore building a picture that will lead to his capture and death. Despite any opposition Jesus has no hesitation in healing this worshipper and so setting her free. Her healing and freedom brings an immediate honouring of God from her as well as from the assembled crowd of synagogue members. Our attention should not go first to the response of the leader of the synagogue but to the way that Jesus attends to the woman. Luke describes that Jesus “saw her”, but not only did he notice her but he also recognised her as an equal child of God, one who is included in the covenant with Abraham. As such she is therefore given equal rights with the men. She is more than a victim, she is a person needing wholeness and Jesus gives that to her. This alone would have surprised not only the synagogue leader but every male who was present. Upon being healed she stands up and immediately begins to praise God. Luke is thus pointing our attention towards the awesome power of God, demonstrated in Jesus Christ.

The religious leaders meet Jesus’ compassionate intervention with uncompromising legalism. However Jesus shames the leaders into recognising the hypocrisy of their position by quoting the very law that they professed to uphold. The law gave room for compassion to be exercised so that a tethered animal could be fed and watered even on a Sabbath day. Jesus reminds those who are indignant that the law was designed to help people to do good even on the Sabbath! (C/f Luke 6:9). By confronting their double standard Jesus shames them into silence.

Luke also notes that according to Jesus’ word, the woman was “bound by Satan,” and as such must be released when she came into contact with him. Here is yet another example that Jesus came to set free those who were bound spiritually as well as physically. Hence, Jesus is revealing a God who loves and has compassion on his people. With this in clear view it is no wonder that the entire crowd rejoiced at the wonderful things he was doing. As such it was not simply the miracle that caused them to rejoice: it was the revelation of the loving nature of the God they served; in contrast to the legalism demanded by their religious leaders. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. Galatians 5:13. NRSV

Prayer. Lord today we give you thanks and praise for Jesus Christ our Saviour who by his ministry of love and obedience gave us the understanding of a God who loves and cares for all people. We offer our thanks and praise for the promise of an eternal future through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Strengthen in us the assurance that because he lives we too will live and that neither things past nor things to come will ever separate us from the love which brings eternal life to us. May we continue to rejoice in this hope, always giving you praise and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Collect. Lift our heads, O God, and straighten our ways; bring healing to the broken, and compassion to the satisfied, that together we may worship you, united in joy; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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.

 Lectionary for Pentecost 8

Jesus says: ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for life does not consist in abundant possessions.’  Luke 12:15

Collect. Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness, that we may be illumined by the radiance of your truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading. Hosea 11:1-11. Not a lot is known about Hosea but it is thought that that he was the son of a prophet. His prophetic word is mainly directed at the Northern Kingdom of Israel which has led some to suggest that he may have been a son of Elisha. He lived through a time of great prosperity but sadly the prosperity resulted in a society which was divided between the “haves and have-nots’. It was also a time of significant moral decline, away from the society laws of Moses which encouraged a more caring and faithful community under God. Our Reading for today covers over a thousand years of the nation’s history. The time frame runs from the covenant with Abraham, through the slavery in Egypt and finally ending with the tribes settled into the Promised Land. We read of the how great the unfailing love of God is for his people while at the same time his deep and abiding sorrow for their failure to love and obey him. The outcome of their disobedience will be a return to slavery and the subjugation by the Assyrians. Historically this signalled the ultimate end of the Northern Kingdom. For them it was a catastrophe. Despite the catastrophic outcome of their disobedience Hosea’s prophecy also portrays a hope, a hope of return. It will not be the return of a proud and dominant people but of a subdued and humbled people who come “trembling like birds to their homes”.

The passage reminds us of the ongoing love and mercy of God. However it reminds us also that despite God’s great compassion for his people failure to follow his commands will inevitably lead to disaster.

Prayer. Holy God, full of compassion and mercy, before you we bow to give thanks and praise. As the psalmist says your mercy lasts forever. Guide us and keep us that we may never stray from the good paths that you have planned for us. Help us to keep our eye on you always and walk in obedience to your will and way. May we never presume upon your mercy and grace but at all times give you the honour and respect that is yours by right. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords and we give to you all the reverence due. We humbly offer this prayer through Jesus Christ our Saviour; in whose name we pray. Amen

Reading. Luke 12:13-21 This is both a humorous as well as a serious parable that Jesus chose to use as a teaching moment. In asking Jesus to share out the inheritance the unnamed questioner was asking Jesus to secure the future for him and by implication a secure future which was based on material wealth. Jesus is reminding the enquirer that a material inheritance is not a guarantee of lasting security.

One of the things we need always to keep in mind is that God is always faithful and treats us with love and mercy. The story of a rich man building a bigger barn to house his wealth is very easy to picture. By being easy to picture perhaps that should warn us that it might be more pertinent than we suspect! One of the big mistakes that the rich man made was to assume that the wealth he had acquired belonged to him. Paul reminds us of this mistake when in 1 Corinthians 4:7, he writes. What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? In one sense everything in life comes to us as a gift. “for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it”. 1 Timothy 6:7.

Like the rich man in the story we live in a land of abundance. We could easily be the rich man with barns overflowing. As such it is easy to forget that the good things of God are not ours by right they come to us through God’s love and mercy. God does not depend upon us but we are dependent upon him, for as one aspect of the story reminds us, our very life is a gift from God. There is a fascinating insight in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 which reminds us that along with having the ability to gain wealth is also the ability to enjoy what you have. If you are not able to enjoy what has been given to you, God will give it to someone else!

The rich man was trying to provide for his “soul”. The soul is the very essence of the self. It contains the past and all that I have been; the present and who and what I am now and it also has a future component, what I hope to become. The rich man was trying to bring an ultimate security to who he was, not simply “putting his feet up”! The thing the rich man had omitted was to make provision for things of lasting value by recognising and enjoying the things that God had given to him rather than storing up more and more.

From this reading which could be directed at a society like ours we ask the question, what might Jesus be saying to us? Here are three possibilities:-

1]. Involve God in the direction to take in all the aspects of our lives. If we include seeking God’s direction he will lead us ever closer to him. “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” Jeremiah 29:11–12.

2]. Trust God to supply all that we will need for life’s journey. There is no need to strive for greater and greater wealth. Manna had to be gathered every day, except on the Sabbath, so God is not against gathering as long as it is according to his will.

3]. Above all we are to love God, recognising all the blessings that we have received. When we maintain a close relationship with God it is easier to understand what he is calling us to do. He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.

Prayer. Almighty and everlasting God, who for the well-being of our earthly life has put into our hearts wholesome desires of body and spirit; Mercifully increase and establish in us, we pray, the grace of holy discipline and healthy self control; that we may fulfil our desire to love and serve you and accomplish the works that you decree. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Adapted from Euchologium Anglicanum) We thank you Father for all the blessings that you have given to us; now help us to share our abundance in ways that meet in every way with your approval; Give us a keen understand of you will and way that we may do justice love kindness and walk humbly with you. Amen

Collect. Generous God, may we find true life in you, not in striving after power, or status, or possessions; enlarge our hearts, that they may be storehouses of the Holy Spirit; this we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lectionary for Pentecost 7

Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.           Luke 11:9

Collect. Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom. Renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by Christ the true and living bread, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Reading. Colossians 2:6-15 [16-19]. Paul sees that by accepting Jesus as Lord a person receives all that Jesus has to offer, the fullness of forgiveness, the fullness of blessing and a welcome into the family of God. This then is the building block which gives believers the power to live the Christian life. For a Christian the Good News is that Jesus is Lord and his lordship comes through the cross and his resurrection. Once that is firmly in mind then a believer can build their life securely on him, for it will not change. This gives a certainty to life in each and every situation; His lordship does not change. The more one relies on that lordship the stronger faith and confidence is established. Paul then goes on to give a warning about philosophical ideas that can lead people away from the truth. The lordship of Jesus Christ is not a philosophy but a reality; it is a truth that stands firm. It is true that there is symbolism in a person’s baptism but there is also a reality, for in baptism the lordship of Christ takes away the old life and replaces it with the new in a believer’s life. Through baptism we emerge with a new status, we become a righteous child of God. In Christ the old life was nailed to the cross and a new life is established. In bringing about that new life, Jesus has overcome everything that was and is contrary to God’s will. The new life brings with it a new freedom for now our obedience is to Jesus Christ alone. Now we are called to do only those things which demonstrate our love for God and our love for each other.

The congregation had been carefully taught about that freedom. Through false teaching, new laws and observations had been added to the believer’s life and Paul is urging the congregation to keep focussed only on Jesus and his lordship. Keeping Jesus central in our lives is still the one thing we must do!

Prayer. Holy God, in Jesus Christ you have come to us and through Jesus you have given us forgiveness that we may love and serve you alone. Help us to recognise again how you have placed us on solid ground and set us free to rejoice as your children. Change our hearts, so that we will desire you more completely and more fervently and then Lord we will be ready to make a difference for you. Filled with your Spirit’s power let our words and deeds speak authoritatively of your saving grace. May the gentleness of your spirit touch our lives and renew us again. When we have grown cold warm us with your love, when we have walked away from your paths draw us back with strong ties that cannot be broken. When we have been disobedient teach us to recognise our faults and pride and to search diligently for forgiveness. Do not let us presume upon your loving-kindness but on the contrary be always ready to serve with a full heart and willing mind; eager to receive your correction, knowing that only in you can wholeness be found. Lord let our lives count in your service now and always. Amen.

Reading. Luke 11:1-13. The Lord ’s Prayer is a favourite of many but even though it is a beautiful prayer it was given as a model. “Lord, teach us to pray!” Thus it is with these teaching points that we should pray.

Prayer is both natural but also a mystery. I suggest that many prayers are addressed to an unknown god. Jesus on the other hand instructs his disciples to pray to the Father. We are familiar with the opening phrase being, “our Father’ and indeed the Greek does denote a plural form so it is not “my Father”, but is our father. Under God’s fatherhood we are a family and so it is a reminder that when we pray it is always a corporate activity. Even when we pray on our own we are to pray linking our prayer with others. It is a reminder that God is Father to us all and we are linked to that fatherhood through the merits of Jesus Christ.

We pray that God’s name will be highly respected and a part of that is that we who claim a relationship with the Father would live in a way that shows respect to him. We pray also with an eye for the future and the kingdom of God to be established here on earth even as it is in the very presence of God. In an era when people did not know if they could provide enough food for their daily needs the petition for daily bread was vitally important. While in some parts of our world the supply of daily food is still essential for many of us food is readily available. However in our era our prayer would be for the supply of those things which we need but cannot guarantee by ourselves. Even so it is a reminder that without God’s love and care we cannot survive. In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven and yet this prayer is a constant reminder that we are to forgive as we have been forgiven and anything less puts us in jeopardy. God’s love and grace are universal and outside of Jesus Christ we can claim no special privileges.

The final petition is for God to keep us safe in the spiritual environment where there are many spiritual powers which are in opposition to God. We need God’s shield to keep us safe and able to make right choices in all situations. Only by God’s protective power are we kept from the temptations to do evil rather than good.

The remainder of our reading gives us the needed assurance that God answers prayer. In answering prayer we are always blessed by God, even though our time frame is not always God’s time frame. Jesus ends his teaching by emphasising the need to ask for the Holy Spirit who is freely given. A poignant reminder that without the Holy Spirit we do not, indeed cannot, know how we ought to pray. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Romans 8:26.

Prayer. Most Holy God,  today we would ask nothing other than our prayers would honour you and give you the praise that you deserve. You are always faithful and constantly supply all that we need and more. Once more we praise you for your bountiful goodness. You know far better than we what lies ahead and so you also know how to sustain us in the ups and downs of life. Forgive us Lord that often our prayers are so self centred; on this day when many of your children go without food we are filled; when many have lost homes and loved ones we experience a peaceful society. Before you we remember the whole world around us and pray for those whose needs only you know. In true humility we look to you and commit our ways to be under your direction; asking only that you guide our steps and our speech. You have a plan and purpose for us and that is why we ask that you give to us the gifts and skills that we will need to be fruitful for your sake. Then Lord, when our day is ended and we pause to rest let us still be aware that your presence continues to surround us. All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

Collect. Lord Jesus, teach us to pray; increase our confidence in the goodness of our  Father; send your Spirit to help us in our weakness, and give us glimpses of the coming kingdom; for you live now and for ever. Amen.

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.

Lectionary for Pentecost 5

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself. Luke 10:27

Collect. Merciful Father, in the great commandment of love you have given us the summary and spirit of the whole law. Make our hearts attentive to the sufferings and anxieties of our brothers and sisters, and help us to be generous in response and service, that we may become like Christ, the Good Samaritan to the world, the Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading. Colossians 1:1-14. Paul includes Timothy in the authorship of this letter. Perhaps this is with a view to the future role that Timothy would play in the leadership of the Gentile churches after Paul’s ministry has ended. Paul does not seem to have ever visited the church at Colossae but the letter is written to correct errors that stem from false teaching which leaders like Timothy will have to correct. Though correcting errors will occupy a significant amount of the letter Paul does not begin with the need to address the false teaching. After the normal greeting and words of encouragement which traditionally began a letter from Paul, he moves on to two important emphases, namely; prayer and thanksgiving for what God in Jesus Christ has achieved.

Praying for the churches was and continues to be of prime importance. These prayers are quite specific for they ask that the church will be filled with the wisdom and understanding that comes through the Spirit. Paul is building on the things he has already heard that they were doing and so is encouraging them to maintain a vibrant life of faith.

Paul is not simply asking that things would go well with them but that the foundation on which they are building their lives would be directed by God. It is only through God’s wisdom that they will be able to know and understand the plan and purpose of God. This reminds us that we like Paul have a need to pray for one another. Today there are many churches and Christians around the world who face dangers of every kind. While we often pray for their welfare we also need to pray for that godly wisdom that keeps them close in faith to God.

Then Paul, in thanksgiving, reminds them of all that God through Jesus Christ has done. This after all is the heart of the Christian faith. Paul reminds them that they have been moved to a new standing with God through the cross of Jesus Christ. They are no longer under the estrangement that had resulted from their former life. Now they can be assured that their relationship with God is one of harmony through forgiveness.

One of the often repeated blessings of the early church was “grace and peace”. It was a reminder that through God’s love and favour they could know an inward peace that gave them renewed power for daily living. This is why Paul is writing to urge them to keep their sole reliance on Jesus Christ. It is a timely message in every age.

Prayer. Father God, we praise you for your work in creation and for the safe environment in which we all find a place. We praise you for your work of salvation through Christ who reconciles all things to yourself. May we live in the unity that your love affords and rejoice in the freedom that Jesus has won for us on the cross. May the significance of what you have done be very real to us, today and every day: And in all things give you thanks and praise, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Collect. God of love, your Son has taught that true life is found in loving you and our neighbour; as we have met with mercy, may we also show mercy to others, for the sake of Christ. Amen.

Reading. Luke 10:25-37. A man stood up to test him, really to trap him, for Luke is reminding us of the strong opposition that Jesus faced as he forged his way to the cross and the climax of his obedient ministry. He stood up to question Jesus which suggests that Jesus has been teaching the crowd. We need to remember that the lawyer was not a civil lawyer but a lawyer of religious law. The idea of dividing occupations into secular and sacred is a rather modern idea. God is the creator of all that is, any and every occupation is done in his sphere. Certainly that is how the Jewish society in which Jesus lived would think. So, with his knowledge of Jewish law the lawyer was testing Jesus in order to judge him. If Jesus failed the “test” the authorities would have a reason to take action against him. Jesus however is not deceived but turns the tables on him by asking about his own reading of the Law. “What do you read there?” Because of his position as a scholar of Torah the lawyer was obliged to answer lest he lose face. The response that the Lawyer gives is a paraphrase from two verses namely Deuteronomy 6:5 & Leviticus 19:18. It was recognized that these two verses summed up the whole of Torah, the religious law. Jesus himself used these same verses to answer a scribes’ question in Mark 12: 28-30. Jesus then answers his first question by saying to him, “you have answered correctly; do this, and you will live,’ again quoting from Leviticus 18:5. The Lawyer would also have understood that Deuteronomy noted how important the heart is in keeping the law. It was not simply obedience but love that was to be the motivator for keeping the law. The answer not only demolishes the Lawyer’s attack on Jesus but also reminds the Lawyer that he has failed to keep the law out of love; his very question demonstrates his lack of love toward Jesus. Therefore he tries to justify himself which brings Jesus to relate the parable of the “Good Samaritan”. This is probably the best known parable in the New Testament. We understand that every priest was from the tribe of Levi but not every Levite was a priest. Nevertheless, the first two characters were prominent in the religious life of the community. The Samaritan meanwhile was completely outside the society, indeed, from a Jewish perspective he was almost a non-person. Brilliant though the parable was, Jesus’ point to the lawyer and to anyone else is that love is at the core of keeping the law of God. Furthermore Luke is reminding us that law keeping is not possible without the redeeming love of Jesus changing the nature of all humankind. Paul tells us that we can find no justification through keeping the law by human effort for each time we fail it is the law which condemns us. However, “through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:19–20.

Prayer. O Lord, open out hearts to receive your love. Open our minds to receive your truths. Open our eyes to see your glory at work. Open our hands to give you all praise. Open our lives to receive your salvation. Amen

O Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of Almighty God, we pray, send the Holy Spirit into our hearts through the blessing of your Word, that he may rule and guide us according to your will. Strengthen us in every trial and need; lead us past all error and into your truth that we may stand fast in faith, increase in love and good works, and rejoice in the sure hope of life eternally with you. According to your grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord you have called us to yourself. We give you all thanks and praise, through Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. (The Lutheran Pastor, 1902)

Lectionary for Pentecost 4

If we sow to the Spirit, we will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing good. Galatians 6:8-9

Collect. Father, in the resurrection of your Son death gives birth to new life; the suffering he endured restores hope to a fallen world. Let sin never ensnare us with empty promises of passing joy. Keep us one with you always, so that our joy may be holy and our love may give strength to others. We ask this through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Reading. Galatians 6:7-16. As Christians we do not believe in karma, for karma assumes that history is cyclical and so what goes around comes around. Christians on the other hand believe that history has a beginning and also will have an end. That is why we recognise that God is the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end. Never the less today’s reading reminds us “God is not mocked” and so we understand that nothing escapes the attention of God. The reading however is not concerned with simply moral issues whether major or minor but with the way a person responds to their relationship with Jesus. I think it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” Our destiny is linked inexorably with our thoughts. The challenge is of course to guide our thoughts toward the way of Jesus rather than towards the world. The reading also recognises how difficult it is to always be directing our thoughts towards Jesus.  That is why Paul is urging us to persist in our determination to follow in the way of Jesus.

However we must not simply rest there but need to also consider Paul’s final section of this letter. Here Paul urges the reader to rely fully on Jesus to achieve the outcome that he has spoken about in the previous section. He reminds us all to rely on what Jesus has done to keep us in relationship with God. It is not effort that helps us keep our thoughts on Jesus, but it is constantly remembering what he has done on our behalf. Paul writes about not being circumcised because in his social setting to be circumcised was to embrace salvation through the keeping of the law. This was, in Paul’s view, to take a position which was contrary to the way of the cross and the salvation that the cross obtained. He makes that position quite clear when he writes that the law achieves nothing, what really counts is the “new creation” that Jesus has achieved for each believer. So we remember that God is “not mocked”, but he is also faithful and will fulfil the promise that he has made to us and to the whole creation through Jesus Christ. For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.2 Corinthians 1:20–22. NRVS

Prayer. We thank you most gracious God for the faithfulness of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. May his saving work continue to prosper and grow across a world in need of compassion and humility. May our lives reflect the love and the freedom that he has won for us. Grant that through the power of your Holy Spirit we may be willing and able to declare all that Jesus has accomplished in every situation in which we are placed. With love and care may we be ready to consider others, looking always to Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith. May our lives always be lived out to your honour and glory. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen

Reading. Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. From our reading last week we noted that Luke is describing the determination of Jesus to complete his ministry by resolutely going to Jerusalem. Here in the section we read that Jesus sends out an extended group of disciples to the villages that he intends to visit. They are to go out in pairs; this would be for mutual support, for as for us, not every person or village would be willing to receive the message of a coming Saviour. They are lambs among wolves and so that mutual support would be important.

They are sent out under the direction of the “Lord of the Harvest”, Although the harvest is plentiful the gathering in of that harvest is at the behest of the one who is Lord of the Harvest. The implication is that man made schemes do not produce a harvest; they are to pray to the Lord of the Harvest in order to be sent out. Under his authority they take only the bare essentials with them and rely on him to provide for what else they might need. They are to be single-minded in their purpose for which they are being sent out. Nothing must distract them from their planned purpose for they are going ahead of Jesus himself.

Eating all that is offered to them is a reminder that through Jesus the dietary laws for them no longer apply: all food is now clean!  They are to welcome whatever hospitality is offered to them and not move from house to house. Moving from house to house takes time and they are to simply keep to the task that has been set. Staying in one home also means only short stays for in a poor society no one can provide support for guests for an extended period.

Above all is the thought that they are sent out with a task and that task is to heal the sick and announce that God’s kingdom has come near to them. God’s Kingdom will bring social change, for healing and wholeness will be a part of the experience, for God will be in control. By coming near it also signals that the kingdom is open and available to them. As they announce the coming kingdom some will accept while others will ignore the offer. Either way the disciples are to accept the result without argument. However, those who do not welcome the announcement are left behind. To reject the message is to reject Jesus himself and to reject him is also to reject God so a lot hangs on how the message is received.

Luke finishes his description of this missionary activity by revealing the power and authority of Jesus for the seventy return with great excitement at what they have witnessed. The mission brings about a change both physical as well as spiritual, the very cosmic order is being disrupted. Truly the Gospel changes lives and even today Jesus’ disciples can be part of that change. Still Luke emphasises that the most important aspect is for each disciple to be among those who themselves hear the message of the Kingdom and accept the invitation to be welcomed.

Prayer. Father, in the resurrection of your Son death gives birth to new life; the suffering that he endured restores hope to a fallen world. Let sin never ensnare us with empty promises of passing joy. Keep us one with you always, so that our joy may be holy and our love may give strength to others. This we ask through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Uniting in Worship p.325)

Gracious Lord, may we be ready to pray to You, the Lord of the Harvest, and so be equipped that in word and deed we may be able to announce the Good News of your Kingdom with joy and also authority. Let us not be slow in understanding your call upon our lives  and to always lift high the Name of Jesus our Lord and Saviour. This we pray in his most precious Name. Amen.

Collect. God of the harvest, as your word goes out, your domain of peace comes near. Increase our trust in the power of the good news to bring healing and release to all, in the name of Christ our Deliverer. Amen.

Lectionary for Pentecost 3

Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us. Ephesians 5:1-2

Collect. O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide,  we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading. Galatians 5:1, 13-25. This passage can be split into three distinct sections. Firstly there is the freedom that Jesus Christ brings to us to love and be loved through the power of his salvation. The freedom that Jesus brings means that Christians are not constrained by any law as if by obedience they could make themselves somehow better or more worthy. However as the passage says the freedom Christians enjoy enables us to exercise discipline as we live out the Christian life. Thus the second aspect of the passage is discipline. It is the discipline to live in God’s way rather than in a selfish, self centred way.  This way shows love to family, friend and neighbour alike and so avoids those destructive things Paul warns us about. Finally there is the fruit that the Spirit produces in us. Thus, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things”. Galatians 5:22–23. Who would not want to have a gift package like that; but then that begs the question how might we get the spiritual gifts that produce this beautiful spiritual fruit?

Let us first consider; “what is the purpose of receiving spiritual gifts?” The answer is quite simple, spiritual gifts like everything else in the bible are given to bring glory to God. Gifts are never given to aggrandize a person. The gifts are given to enable ministry, God’s ministry. We need to remember that giftedness is not a competition. As we are active in ministry so we find spiritual gifts appearing.  Being active in ministry using the gifts we have, we find the spiritual fruit will also appear. The fruit of the Spirit just like the fruit of our gardens comes through activity. As we are active in ministry spiritual fruit begin to appear. Do I hear you thinking, I have no ministry, or at least what could possibly be my ministry? Firstly, Scripture makes no differentiation between sacred and secular employment. That is a product of our modern era. Furthermore it was once the Gospel which directed every aspect of Western civilisation. Our laws, our business ethics, the way we deal with each other in commerce, indeed every aspect of life were all critiqued through the gospel.  Now much of that has gone. Why? Because we have managed to separate secular from the sacred in our lives and have made an artificial distinction which now is difficult to bridge. Still for Christians the fact remains: There is no distinction, and where I am and the life I lead and the opportunities I have are all a part of my ministry. As we live out the Christian principles that Jesus taught, loving one another, then we begin to grow for we are accompanied by Jesus. We remember his promise that as we serve in his Name he is with us. “teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end”. Matthew 28:20.

 The passage encourages us to live out our freedom, be disciplined in our living and enjoy the fruit that such a life will bring!

Prayer. Almighty God, before you nothing can stand and yet you have chosen a humble path for your Servant Jesus. Help us to understand this message more clearly each day and so be more gentle and caring with others as we desire to share your love and offer a witness to your goodness and grace. Empower us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we need in order to accomplish what is your desire for us. Grant that we may be faithful in our work and fruitful in our harvest as your servants. May our joy be in serving you, knowing that you are the way, the truth and the life. This we pray through the merits and mercies of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me.  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. Psalm 77:1-2

Reading. Luke 9:51-62. This passage begins the section in Luke which is found in no other gospel, although fragments of it do appear in both Matthew and Mark, thus these next ten chapters of Luke are unique. The clue to what is going on in this whole section of the Gospel can be found in verse 51. “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51. NRSV.

“Taken up” reminds us of the ascension when Jesus was received victorious into the presence of God once again. It is a powerful reminder that Luke does not see the cross as the end of Jesus ministry, but rather the triumph of Christ Jesus the Messiah who on returning to God has won the victory over sin and death. This then is a marvellous introduction to Luke’s story of the emerging early church. (c/f Acts 2:32ff)

So set is Jesus to get to Jerusalem the first Samaritan village does not accept him. Luke is once more showing that the disciples do not understand the redeeming purpose of Jesus’ mission. The disciples wish to bring retribution rather than redemption to the village. In the refusal to accept Jesus we see again the single-mindedness that he showed to reach his desired goal.

Though one Samaritan village rejected him others are still attracted to his way of salvation.  However, knowing the enormity of what he has to face Jesus reveals quite forcefully the cost that following him brings.

Luke’s description of the verbal exchange between would be disciples, reminds us that what Jesus is undertaking calls for an all consuming change. Isaiah the prophet presented Israel with a radical change of living out their faith when he said; “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19.) In Jesus Christ the old way is being replaced by a new way and this new way is fully dependant on the work of Jesus on the cross. To let anything get in the way of that reliance on the cross devalues what Jesus has accomplished. Jesus did not turn back. Only when we grasp the full mission of Jesus can we understand the challenge to never turn back.. On the cross Jesus won the victory over sin and death but his mission was not fulfilled until he took his place with God, having been accepted by God back from the dead. In the same way each believer keeps on looking forward to the final victory that each one will achieve by faithfully following right up until their own personal end. “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7–8.

Prayer. Lord we admit that trusting in you alone seems hard, and we often wonder if we will be strong enough to risk our all for you, never looking back. And yet Lord in our hearts we know that only what you supply is everlasting, only what you give us will sustain us day by day. We know that worldly security can be lost in a moment and like Job we can be cast aside from the world of commerce and family. So Lord help us to keep a clear perspective as we turn to trust in you. In our reflective moments Lord we know that with you all the riches of the world are at our disposal and through trust in you we find a bounty that surpasses anything we could think or dream of. Like Jesus help us set our face towards the future and trust in the goals that you have set for us and all human kind. So Lord we will put our trust in you and rejoice at the paths along which you will lead us as we serve in Jesus name. Amen.

Collect. You claim us, Lord Jesus; you call us to follow, and to give our lives in your service. Fit us for the reign of God, and grant us the zeal only for love, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer. Lord Jesus Christ, you alone are God’s answer to a world of human need. In you alone we find true freedom from all that would hold us back or pull us down. From you alone comes the vision that gives us hope in the future and so Lord it is only natural that we should turn to you for help and strength. May our path be selected by you today as we journey along. May our life be an active demonstration of our trust in you. By the power of the Holy Spirit help us to stay close to you, listen to your voice and walk in obedience to you. We ask this for our own health and comfort and above all, for love of you. Amen.