Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 13th March and for the Week ahead: ScriptureBlessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as a city under siege. I had said in my alarm, ‘I am driven far from your sight.’ But you heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help. Love the Lord, all you his saints. The Lord preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. (Psalm 31.21-14) Reflection Psalm 31 is a prayer that has been taken to heart by Ukrainians ‘under siege’. The courage that is prayed for in the psalm they are showing in buckets - what an encouragement to us all when faced with times in which we may feel ‘driven far from the sight’ of a protective, loving God. You can join with Ukrainians as they read the whole Psalm at biblesociety.org.uk David Harmsworth
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 6th March and for the Week ahead: Scripture5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written,‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” (Luke 4:5-8)ReflectionThe idea of being Lord of the whole world, or a significant part of it, has always been with us, and has always appealed to a certain type of person. To wield unparalleled power and might, to have unlimited resources at your disposal and to reign unopposed. Now it is rearing its ugly head again, with disastrous consequences. Jesus is exposing it in this extract from the narrative about his 40 days in the wilderness as the utter lie that it is. The devil (meaning ‘the tempter’) is showing Jesus all the world, promising him to be their ruler, if only he, Jesus, will submit to the devil. But Jesus says NO.What if he would have said yes? Was it really in the devil’s power to give Jesus what he promised? Of course not, because worldly power of that magnitude is hollow and leads only to suffering and disaster. It is flimsy and lacks substance. Before long, it is lost and the sea of time washes it away.Only God and his gentle reign of compassion and mercy will last forever and ever. In the end, his is the only power worth submitting to and the only one we should serve. Revd Ylva
Weekly news and services. Next service at St Nicholas: Sunday 6th March - Holy Communion led by Revd David Commander
