We need to be ready and remain steady because change comes suddenly and we will need the resources and strength of the Holy Spirit to complete our race. If we are ready we will go to be with our Lord. If we are not, we will be left behind.Israel was looking forward to the Day of the Lord because they believed their God would come and fight for them against the Assyrian threat from the North and nations rising against Judah in the South.They believed God was on their side and they were indestructible. They were extremely religious. They offered expensive sacrifices to the Lord to cover their sin and sung noisy worship songs. God cannot be bought or bribed.Amos, along with Isaiah and Joel speaks of the Day of the Lord as a time of sudden darkness, destruction and judgement, not light. He speaks primarily to the Northern Kingdom. If God judged the surrounding nations who did not have a special relationship with God, he will certainly judge Israel and Judah.He lists their sins in other chapters. They have been unfair to the poor and needy, adopting unfair trading practices. Money has been their goal. They have trampled the righteous poor into the dust and pushed the afflicted out of the way. They have adopted idle, extravagant lifestyles. They have lacked compassion and have bought and sold the poor. They have slept with prostitutes. Amos draws attention to a father and son who have slept with the same woman.They have abused alcohol and encouraged others to do so, even in the house of God.On the outside they have looked righteous, religious, wealthy and blessed by God but on the inside they are rotten.Their priests have affirmed them in their abuse of others. Amaziah, a priest tried to get rid of Amos because he prophesied destruction.A huge gulf existed in Israeli society between the rich and the poor. The government’s abuse of the poor was systemic. This is true of so many Western nations. Once trapped by poverty and corruption it is very difficult to dig yourself out. Rents and energy costs are massive. The huge numbers now unemployed as a result of the pandemic are going to find it very difficult to obtain a job with a fair wage in the future. As Christians we must not trample the poor into the dust but give them dignity and hope.Systemic abuse of poorer nations in Africa and Asia previously imposed by colonialism and the institution of slavery and today imposed by globalised companies, divides nations. Poverty, hunger and the effects of climate change are worse in countries being exploited unfairly.It is very difficult for the powerful to stop exploiting the poor. When there is a vacuum of control someone else fills it. There would be huge consequences if the present superpowers of the USA and China laid aside their wealth and I don’t think they would all be good ones.It is up to us, however to be alert, awake and compassionate.Like Amos we are called to speak truth to power and listen and care for those suffering economic hardship.Empires come and go. Israel, defeated by the Assyrians, went into exile. They had trusted in power and wealth instead of God and ceased to exist soon after Amos prophesied. They intermarried with the residents of nations where they were taken.Jews within modern Israel are descendents of the tribes of Judah in the South.Amos calls for justice to roll down in his land like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream. These words have often been quoted by the oppressed. Martin Luther King used them in his “I have a dream” speech as he fought for equal citizen rights for blacks in the 1960s, and Barack Obama used the words in his acceptance speech as President of the USA as he sought to bring peace between a divided electorate.Michael Curry, the head of the Episcopal church in the USA told the residents to voted for the person who loved his neighbour. We have seen the dreadful effects of trampling on the needy, unfair trade practices and sexual abuse of women in our own society as well as in the states.We have much to repent of. Whoever eventually becomes sworn as President is called to address these abuses and repent of past failures.Holding up a Bible and having a veneer of religion doesn’t impress God. Power and wealth brings responsibility.That responsibility is even greater during times of change. COVID 19, climate change and economic downturn will change society. We do not know what lays ahead. We need to be ready by putting God first in our lives. Sadly, the righteous poor and Amos went into exile or were killed along with the idle rich.We have need to hold steady, upholding truth and loving our neighbour whatever happens, wherever we go and whatever situation we find ourselves in.Paul in Thessalonians gives us hope. In the midst of persecution and death, we may not grieve. Because Jesus died and rose again so will we.When Jesus comes again, he will bring those who have died with him. If we are still alive when he comes, we will be caught up into the clouds to meet Jesus in the air and be with them. I Corinthians 15 adds further details, telling that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.We need to be ready both for possible sudden death or the Lord’s return which I believe is getting closer every day. Our response should be to be steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord.We are preparing for a life forever with the Lord. Jesus in the story of the ten bridesmaids continues with imagery in which he compares the place where God rules to a wedding.The bridegroom is an image of Jesus and the bride an image of the people of Israel and the church. It is an image of loving invitation and consummation. Jesus loves us passionately.The bridegroom doesn’t come to collect the bridesmaids when expected and they become sleepy.At midnight when they least expect to be rescued, the bridegroom comes and they are invited to meet him.Five are prepared. Their lamps are full of oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. They have trimmed their lamps. They have consistently remained ready. Five of the bridesmaids are foolish. They haven’t any oil to put in their lamps. They ask the wise bridesmaids for some of their oil but there isn’t sufficient. They have to go to the dealer to buy some for themselves.While they were away, the Lord came and took those who were ready to his banquet,When the foolish bridesmaids returned the door was closed to them and the Lord would not let them in because he did not know them.We cannot rely on other people’s relationship with the Lord to get us into the Kingdom We need to have a relationship with the Lord now and be filled with his Holy Spirit.Jesus says “Keep awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour”We are to be ready for the Day of the Lord, ready for the judgement of this world, ready for the Lord’s return, ready to die and ready to be with the Lord.We are to be steady, full of integrity, nurturing our relationship with the Lord, full of his Holy Spirit, light and loveMay the lamps of our lives shine brightly with our Lord’s presence in the darkness of the present time?May we be ready to go where he wants us to go and do what he wants us to do so that we are ready when we are called to go to be with him throughout eternity?
We need to be ready and remain steady because change comes suddenly and we will need the resources and strength of the Holy Spirit to complete our race. If we are ready we will go to be with our Lord. If we are not, we will be left behind.Israel was looking forward to the Day of the Lord because they believed their God would come and fight for them against the Assyrian threat from the North and nations rising against Judah in the South.They believed God was on their side and they were indestructible. They were extremely religious. They offered expensive sacrifices to the Lord to cover their sin and sung noisy worship songs. God cannot be bought or bribed.Amos, along with Isaiah and Joel speaks of the Day of the Lord as a time of sudden darkness, destruction and judgement, not light. He speaks primarily to the Northern Kingdom. If God judged the surrounding nations who did not have a special relationship with God, he will certainly judge Israel and Judah.He lists their sins in other chapters. They have been unfair to the poor and needy, adopting unfair trading practices. Money has been their goal. They have trampled the righteous poor into the dust and pushed the afflicted out of the way. They have adopted idle, extravagant lifestyles. They have lacked compassion and have bought and sold the poor. They have slept with prostitutes. Amos draws attention to a father and son who have slept with the same woman.They have abused alcohol and encouraged others to do so, even in the house of God.On the outside they have looked righteous, religious, wealthy and blessed by God but on the inside they are rotten.Their priests have affirmed them in their abuse of others. Amaziah, a priest tried to get rid of Amos because he prophesied destruction.A huge gulf existed in Israeli society between the rich and the poor. The government’s abuse of the poor was systemic. This is true of so many Western nations. Once trapped by poverty and corruption it is very difficult to dig yourself out. Rents and energy costs are massive. The huge numbers now unemployed as a result of the pandemic are going to find it very difficult to obtain a job with a fair wage in the future. As Christians we must not trample the poor into the dust but give them dignity and hope.Systemic abuse of poorer nations in Africa and Asia previously imposed by colonialism and the institution of slavery and today imposed by globalised companies, divides nations. Poverty, hunger and the effects of climate change are worse in countries being exploited unfairly.It is very difficult for the powerful to stop exploiting the poor. When there is a vacuum of control someone else fills it. There would be huge consequences if the present superpowers of the USA and China laid aside their wealth and I don’t think they would all be good ones.It is up to us, however to be alert, awake and compassionate.Like Amos we are called to speak truth to power and listen and care for those suffering economic hardship.Empires come and go. Israel, defeated by the Assyrians, went into exile. They had trusted in power and wealth instead of God and ceased to exist soon after Amos prophesied. They intermarried with the residents of nations where they were taken.Jews within modern Israel are descendents of the tribes of Judah in the South.Amos calls for justice to roll down in his land like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream. These words have often been quoted by the oppressed. Martin Luther King used them in his “I have a dream” speech as he fought for equal citizen rights for blacks in the 1960s, and Barack Obama used the words in his acceptance speech as President of the USA as he sought to bring peace between a divided electorate.Michael Curry, the head of the Episcopal church in the USA told the residents to voted for the person who loved his neighbour. We have seen the dreadful effects of trampling on the needy, unfair trade practices and sexual abuse of women in our own society as well as in the states.We have much to repent of. Whoever eventually becomes sworn as President is called to address these abuses and repent of past failures.Holding up a Bible and having a veneer of religion doesn’t impress God. Power and wealth brings responsibility.That responsibility is even greater during times of change. COVID 19, climate change and economic downturn will change society. We do not know what lays ahead. We need to be ready by putting God first in our lives. Sadly, the righteous poor and Amos went into exile or were killed along with the idle rich.We have need to hold steady, upholding truth and loving our neighbour whatever happens, wherever we go and whatever situation we find ourselves in.Paul in Thessalonians gives us hope. In the midst of persecution and death, we may not grieve. Because Jesus died and rose again so will we.When Jesus comes again, he will bring those who have died with him. If we are still alive when he comes, we will be caught up into the clouds to meet Jesus in the air and be with them. I Corinthians 15 adds further details, telling that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.We need to be ready both for possible sudden death or the Lord’s return which I believe is getting closer every day. Our response should be to be steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord.We are preparing for a life forever with the Lord. Jesus in the story of the ten bridesmaids continues with imagery in which he compares the place where God rules to a wedding.The bridegroom is an image of Jesus and the bride an image of the people of Israel and the church. It is an image of loving invitation and consummation. Jesus loves us passionately.The bridegroom doesn’t come to collect the bridesmaids when expected and they become sleepy.At midnight when they least expect to be rescued, the bridegroom comes and they are invited to meet him.Five are prepared. Their lamps are full of oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. They have trimmed their lamps. They have consistently remained ready. Five of the bridesmaids are foolish. They haven’t any oil to put in their lamps. They ask the wise bridesmaids for some of their oil but there isn’t sufficient. They have to go to the dealer to buy some for themselves.While they were away, the Lord came and took those who were ready to his banquet,When the foolish bridesmaids returned the door was closed to them and the Lord would not let them in because he did not know them.We cannot rely on other people’s relationship with the Lord to get us into the Kingdom We need to have a relationship with the Lord now and be filled with his Holy Spirit.Jesus says “Keep awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour”We are to be ready for the Day of the Lord, ready for the judgement of this world, ready for the Lord’s return, ready to die and ready to be with the Lord.We are to be steady, full of integrity, nurturing our relationship with the Lord, full of his Holy Spirit, light and loveMay the lamps of our lives shine brightly with our Lord’s presence in the darkness of the present time?May we be ready to go where he wants us to go and do what he wants us to do so that we are ready when we are called to go to be with him throughout eternity?
Our readings reveal God’s desire to bless us; to make us happy in this life and the next.Blessedness is more than happiness which depends on the happenstances, chances and changes of this lifeIt’s a joy no one can take from us because it is given by Jesus who said in John’s gospel, “No one shall take your Joy from you.”We are blessed when we are persecuted, reviled and spoken of falsely because we follow Jesus; blessed even during pandemics.Jesus says, “Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven.” The beatitudes give us a glimpse into another world. They shows us what heaven is like where our God reigns supreme and they give a picture of how this world would be if we adopted these values. We pray, “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” The blessings seem to be a contradiction, the opposite of what happens in the real world. When we look at earthly leaders it seems as if those who are arrogant, boastful, and greedy succeed and become rich, if not happy.Those unable to empathise with others, those who think only of themselves and those who are prepared to dominate by use of force are winners. Those who are utterly ruthless, cruel and immoral often dominate and suppress everyone under them.Look at President Trump’s methods of electioneering! Jesus totally repudiates worldly values. They will not bring us happiness and peace on earth.Jesus and his followers are poor in spirit. They are not proud arrogant and loud. They are not pushy, fighting their own corner.They are happy because they know they are already winners even though they might look like losers. The Kingdom of heaven, Jesus says is theirs. Jesus says that we are blessed when we mourn, whether it is because of sin and suffering in the present or because of the loss of loved ones. We have mourned the loss of so many we love and so much of what we took for granted. Jesus says we will be comforted. Nothing good, beautiful and worthwhile will be lost eternally. We are blessed when we are meek or humble. When we recognise who are and our relationship with our creator, we see that all we have and are comes from him. Meekness is not about being subservient or spineless. It is about being real about ourselves. If we are humble we recognise that we are but dust, (humus), that we are created beings but in Christ we inherit our promised land.Jesus says we are happy when we hunger and thirst after righteousness. No way should we be content with the way things are. Godly discontent leads us to fight for justice, to speak truth to power, to be good news to the poor and actively heal and help those in need. Doing those things may leave us crushed but the alternative will leave us feeling empty inside. Jesus promises that when we are on his side we will be filled and strengthened through his Holy Spirit. Jesus says we are blessed when we are merciful because we will receive mercy. Jesus forgave his enemies, even those who crucified him. We forgive because Jesus forgives us. The bitter bearing of grudges and judgemental attitudes make us unhappy and are destructive.Jesus says we are happy when we are pure of heart, clean on the inside. Only the pure of heart can see God.He says we are blessed when we are peacemakers for then God calls us his children.We cannot live out Kingdom values in our own strength. We rely on Jesus, the only person who has ever fully live out Kingdom values on earth. Because he was pure in heart, merciful, meek and hungered and thirsted for righteousness on earth he was persecuted and suffered and died to bring peace between God and us and heaven and earth.When we trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, we become children of God, citizens of the Kingdom of heaven and according to Paul’s letters saints.We are blessed and happy because of the amazing love our heavenly Father has poured out upon us. We have a relationship with God that the world doesn’t understand or know about. It is personal to each one of us. Because God loves us so much, we can be reassured that the life to come will be even better. None of us fully understand what heaven will be like. One day soon we will experience, understand and know what life is like it all its fullness.It will be lovely to see our loved ones again, but more important we will see God. We will see Jesus face to face and be like him. We too will have resurrection, spiritual bodies.Because it is impossible to describe what heaven is really like and because Revelation was written during a time of severe persecution in the Roman Empire when many Christians were being martyred, John in exile on the island of Patmos uses picture language to describe his visions.Those who are honoured in heaven are those who have come out of a great ordeal. They are dressed in white, a symbol of purity, not because of the deeds that they have done but because they have washed their robes clean in the blood of the lamb Even though they have suffered it is the suffering of Jesus that takes away our sin.Only he can make us whole. He will be our shelter, there will be no more hunger or thirst, and we will not suffer the effects of climate change. There will be no scorching heat. Jesus will be our shepherd, guide us to the springs of the water of life and wipe away every tear from our eyes. We do not have to suffer persecution to endure ordeals. We all suffer during our lifetimes as a result of sickness, our own sin and that of others and death.We can enjoy the salvation Jesus has won for us on the cross and join in the worship in heaven now. We do not see clearly but by faith we know that we are part of the great multitude from every tribe and nation who worships our Lord as King. Instead of Hosanna, “Save us,” they wave palm branches and cry out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God and to the lamb.” Jesus the lamb of God has saved them. He has taken away the sin of the world.We have a higher King than Caesar and governments of this world. One day we will see angels, the twenty four elders and the four living creatures (whoever they are) and our worship will be glorious.We are blessed already. When we worship we enjoy fellowship with God and each other. We are saved and forgiven now. Jesus has covered our sin and shame with the robe of righteousness. We are still living in an earthly Kingdom where there is much injustice and suffering. None of us are immune. When God’s Kingdom has fully come; Where Christ reigns supreme, when we have entered eternity, these things will be behind us.Until that day let us rejoice and be glad as we live out the values of the age to come here on earth in union with those who have gone on before us and all the company of heaven.
Our readings reveal God’s desire to bless us; to make us happy in this life and the next.Blessedness is more than happiness which depends on the happenstances, chances and changes of this lifeIt’s a joy no one can take from us because it is given by Jesus who said in John’s gospel, “No one shall take your Joy from you.”We are blessed when we are persecuted, reviled and spoken of falsely because we follow Jesus; blessed even during pandemics.Jesus says, “Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven.” The beatitudes give us a glimpse into another world. They shows us what heaven is like where our God reigns supreme and they give a picture of how this world would be if we adopted these values. We pray, “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” The blessings seem to be a contradiction, the opposite of what happens in the real world. When we look at earthly leaders it seems as if those who are arrogant, boastful, and greedy succeed and become rich, if not happy.Those unable to empathise with others, those who think only of themselves and those who are prepared to dominate by use of force are winners. Those who are utterly ruthless, cruel and immoral often dominate and suppress everyone under them.Look at President Trump’s methods of electioneering! Jesus totally repudiates worldly values. They will not bring us happiness and peace on earth.Jesus and his followers are poor in spirit. They are not proud arrogant and loud. They are not pushy, fighting their own corner.They are happy because they know they are already winners even though they might look like losers. The Kingdom of heaven, Jesus says is theirs. Jesus says that we are blessed when we mourn, whether it is because of sin and suffering in the present or because of the loss of loved ones. We have mourned the loss of so many we love and so much of what we took for granted. Jesus says we will be comforted. Nothing good, beautiful and worthwhile will be lost eternally. We are blessed when we are meek or humble. When we recognise who are and our relationship with our creator, we see that all we have and are comes from him. Meekness is not about being subservient or spineless. It is about being real about ourselves. If we are humble we recognise that we are but dust, (humus), that we are created beings but in Christ we inherit our promised land.Jesus says we are happy when we hunger and thirst after righteousness. No way should we be content with the way things are. Godly discontent leads us to fight for justice, to speak truth to power, to be good news to the poor and actively heal and help those in need. Doing those things may leave us crushed but the alternative will leave us feeling empty inside. Jesus promises that when we are on his side we will be filled and strengthened through his Holy Spirit. Jesus says we are blessed when we are merciful because we will receive mercy. Jesus forgave his enemies, even those who crucified him. We forgive because Jesus forgives us. The bitter bearing of grudges and judgemental attitudes make us unhappy and are destructive.Jesus says we are happy when we are pure of heart, clean on the inside. Only the pure of heart can see God.He says we are blessed when we are peacemakers for then God calls us his children.We cannot live out Kingdom values in our own strength. We rely on Jesus, the only person who has ever fully live out Kingdom values on earth. Because he was pure in heart, merciful, meek and hungered and thirsted for righteousness on earth he was persecuted and suffered and died to bring peace between God and us and heaven and earth.When we trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, we become children of God, citizens of the Kingdom of heaven and according to Paul’s letters saints.We are blessed and happy because of the amazing love our heavenly Father has poured out upon us. We have a relationship with God that the world doesn’t understand or know about. It is personal to each one of us. Because God loves us so much, we can be reassured that the life to come will be even better. None of us fully understand what heaven will be like. One day soon we will experience, understand and know what life is like it all its fullness.It will be lovely to see our loved ones again, but more important we will see God. We will see Jesus face to face and be like him. We too will have resurrection, spiritual bodies.Because it is impossible to describe what heaven is really like and because Revelation was written during a time of severe persecution in the Roman Empire when many Christians were being martyred, John in exile on the island of Patmos uses picture language to describe his visions.Those who are honoured in heaven are those who have come out of a great ordeal. They are dressed in white, a symbol of purity, not because of the deeds that they have done but because they have washed their robes clean in the blood of the lamb Even though they have suffered it is the suffering of Jesus that takes away our sin.Only he can make us whole. He will be our shelter, there will be no more hunger or thirst, and we will not suffer the effects of climate change. There will be no scorching heat. Jesus will be our shepherd, guide us to the springs of the water of life and wipe away every tear from our eyes. We do not have to suffer persecution to endure ordeals. We all suffer during our lifetimes as a result of sickness, our own sin and that of others and death.We can enjoy the salvation Jesus has won for us on the cross and join in the worship in heaven now. We do not see clearly but by faith we know that we are part of the great multitude from every tribe and nation who worships our Lord as King. Instead of Hosanna, “Save us,” they wave palm branches and cry out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God and to the lamb.” Jesus the lamb of God has saved them. He has taken away the sin of the world.We have a higher King than Caesar and governments of this world. One day we will see angels, the twenty four elders and the four living creatures (whoever they are) and our worship will be glorious.We are blessed already. When we worship we enjoy fellowship with God and each other. We are saved and forgiven now. Jesus has covered our sin and shame with the robe of righteousness. We are still living in an earthly Kingdom where there is much injustice and suffering. None of us are immune. When God’s Kingdom has fully come; Where Christ reigns supreme, when we have entered eternity, these things will be behind us.Until that day let us rejoice and be glad as we live out the values of the age to come here on earth in union with those who have gone on before us and all the company of heaven.
