From the Collect (special prayer) for this week'God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God.'Reflection:There are different sorts of Freedom: freedom from (sin, persecution, anxiety, etc); freedom to (eg worship, marry whom we please, vote); and freedom to be (to be our best self, the person God designed us to be).For the religious leaders of Jesus’s day ‘religion’ was all about obeying the Jewish Law, with all its man made additions, to the letter. By contrast, Jesus’s teaching is both simple and all-encompassing: Love God with your whole being, and reflect this love in you loving actions to your fellow human beings. Genuine, unselfish love is the way to find perfect freedom.These are God’s guidelines, founded not on harsh restrictions but on love.Revd Rosemary
Scripture:Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Matthew 9 35 - 10.1)Reflection:Jesus was traveling to villages and towns, teaching and preaching, He also cured many people who were ill or in need. Jesus recognized how lost, hungry, and alone the people were. Truly, they were sheep without a shepherd. They had no one to tend them or care for them. Jesus then called His twelve disciples. He gave them the power and ability to heal, to drive out unclean spirits and to cure every disease. And today, Jesus also gives us the power to heal by simply reaching out to those in need. So who will we reach out to today? We may heal another person with a touch, with loving words or perhaps by simply giving our full attention to each person we meet. We can all also be mindful of the individuals who share their time and love with us. Compassion is a great gift and one we are blessed to give and receive.Lyn Hayes
