Reflection: Sunday 17th July and for the week ahead:Scripture:‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ (Micah 6.8) Reflection:We all want justice. Twenty years ago, on July 17th 2002, 120 countries signed the treaty to inaugurate the International Criminal Court. 17th July has become the ‘Day of International Criminal Justice’. Courts are said to 'administer' justice, but once injustice has been done, it can’t be undone, only exposed and penalised. But justice is not just about crime and certainly not just about punishment – it touches every part of our lives as we live alongside others. It’s what a good life is based on. It’s a call to each of us to live up to the highest standards, to "act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly". David Harmsworth
Reflection: Sunday 10th July and for the week ahead:Scripture:Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘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.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ (Luke 10:25-28)Reflection:What the lawyer cites here, is the ‘Shema’, the Jewish Creed, so called because it starts: ‘Shema Yisrael….”, Hear, O Israel, in Hebrew. To this he adds words from the Book of Leviticus, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Lev. 19:18). These are fundamental truths to base our whole life on. As Jesus says, by following them we can live, first now, and then forever. Some people do get very excited about eternal life, a bit like the lawyer in this bit of Luke’s gospel. I feel that it is much more important that we live our best lives here and now, concentrating on that second saying – loving our neighbour and ourselves. Many people miss that last bit. “…as yourself” isn’t there just to look pretty. Jesus means it. God loves you. Take that in! Now see if you can find it in yourself to agree with him. And from that will flow a new appreciation for all around you, made in God’s image, just like you are. Revd Ylva
Reflection: Sunday 3rd July and for the week ahead:Scripture:‘You reap whatever you sow.’ (Galatians 6.7)Reflection:References to sowing and reaping appear frequently throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and their meaning is perfectly clear, not only to farmers and gardeners, but to everybody. The concept is even used, so I’m told, in business and banking: no profit without investment!Here St Paul is talking about the sowing of spiritual ‘seeds’.If what we contribute to our community is selfishness, unkindness, negativity and constant criticism of others, these things take hold and spread like weeds.If, on the other hand, we ‘sow to the Spirit’(v.8) we harvest the fruit of the Spirit, identified by Paul as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. We pray for this life enhancing fruit, that it will take deep root both in each of us and in our community. Revd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen
