Scripture1Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; 3 and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4 And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. (Hebrews 5:1-4)ReflectionVicars, pastors, priests and rectors. Whatever the title we’re used to, these are the people being described by the author. Hebrews shows a couple of tasks relating to sacrifices and how the priests behaved, but our own clergy have their own challenging to do lists. Hospital visits and PCC meetings, writing and preaching sermons and overseeing the accounts, plus their own prayer and reflection. Hebrews states that priests are called by God to take on this duty. We may think that if that’s not our job, it doesn’t apply to us. But we are called by God to serve others in our own way. Will we give food to Nourish to feed the hungry? Will we listen to a friend who’s suffered loss? Will we grab that bunch of flowers for someone who’s ill to cheer them up? We are all called, but we need to listen and act on it. Victoria Bray
Scripture'Jesus said again ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’' (Mark 10.24-25)ReflectionNo wonder that Jesus’s disciples were ‘astounded’ and wondered what chance anyone had if it would be hard for the rich and successful. Of course, Jesus was not condemning the rich because they were rich (or us, if we have more than enough to live on). The point he was trying to drum into his student disciples was about priorities. If our priority in life is wealth creation, then it will be hard to combine that with principles like treating others just as we wish to be treated. ‘Hard’, note, Jesus does not say ‘ impossible’. The same applies to any other goal which might cause us to neglect the needs of others. David Harmsworth
