ScriptureBut as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14 -17)ReflectionJust like Timothy, many of us have grown up knowing the Scriptures, but all too often we find our own Bibles sitting on our bookshelves gathering dust. We take our Bibles for granted. So, what if we treated them as if they were going to dissapear tomorrow? If I knew that tomorrow there would be an empty space on my bookshelf where the Bible should have been, then I would certainly make space in my life to reread those passages that move me or perhaps the ones that I don’t quite understand, or even books that I never quite got round to reading.Perhaps today we can renew our commitment to dwelling in this book, seeking the Lord in the place where the Lord may be found.Lyn Hayes ALM
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
