Do we recognise Jesus when he comes to us?(We can think of times when we have recognised Jesus working in our lives.)Jesus came to the crowds in similar ways that he comes to us.He came as the living word through his teaching and as Saviour, healer and deliverer through his healing ministry.In our gospel today he had just fed 5000 plus women and children, revealing him as the bread come down from heaven. Jesus still reveals himself to us in the breaking of the bread. Jesus was already tired from ministering to others when the crowd followed him. He was disappointed and grieving. He had been unsuccessful and rejected in his home village of Nazareth when he heard the news of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. He had wanted to spend time alone to grieve, pray and recuperate.The crowds, however had followed him. Even though it was evening, Jesus taught them, healed their sick and then fed them. He must have been exhausted when he dismissed the crowd, sent the disciples away in a boat and went up a mountain to do what he had initially intended to do, grieve, recuperate and prayJesus knew he was not alone. He was communing with his heavenly FatherWhat about the crowds and the disciples? Were they alone in the face of danger? Was God no longer with them? Were they alone in the dark hours of the night?When they couldn’t see Jesus with their physical eyes, where was he? Was he only a prayer away? Were they still in Jesus’ thoughts? If he was absent, were they helpless in the storm? Did Jesus care for them?The disciples were inevitably terrified in the storm. They were a long way from the land and thought they were going to dieThey must have thought Jesus had placed them in an impossible position. They were tired and wanted their bedsJesus had sent them ahead but he hadn’t told them to pass over the lake without him. They were stuck between where they had been and where they were going.We are in a similar position to those disciples. Like them many of us feel we are in the dark. We cannot see where our future is going. We are sort of stuck in the storm caused by COVID 19, the economic down turn and climate changeWe have had to adapt quickly and many of us feel tired and some of us wonder whether we are going to survive and emerge out of the crisis.Like the disciples whose plans were initially disrupted by the crowds and then disrupted again by Jesus failure to stay with them, our plans which we believe were God given have been disrupted and we are having to make new ones and then the new plans are disrupted.When the disciples were in physical and spiritual turmoil, Jesus came to them in the storm, walking on the waterJesus’ followers became even more terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost. They must have though death was now certain. Maybe Jesus had already died. Their hearts cried out for fear.They did not recognise Jesus. They had limited Jesus in human terms Humans do not walk on water. Jesus had already shown he could multiply bread and fishes. He was now showing his power over the wind and the waves. There is nothing that Jesus cannot do and there is no place too dangerous, hostile or remote where he will not come to his friends in need.Sometimes we don’t recognise him when we are in grim, dark, painful situations.Jesus speaks to his friends to reassure them. “Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid.”Jesus is the great I am. He is the Son of God who has power over the evil principalities and powers of this world. He has promised he will never leave us.When we don’t recognize or see him he wants us to exercise our faith in him.Jesus berated Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”Peter in the story showed much more faith than the rest of Jesus’ friends. I think the criticism was tough on him. This poses another question, what is faith?Why does Jesus contrast faith with fear? Fear is natural and reasonable. Fear in the face of danger keeps us alert. It might enable us to take the precautions that will save lives. Some preachers believe they do not have to take precautions at the moment because their faith will protect them. That is a dangerous position to take. We take precautions, socially distance, wear masks and sanitise because we believe that is God’s will. You may have heard the render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s argument this week. I believe that in rendering to Caesar in this instance we are rendering to God.Prolonged fear, however is destructive. Fear has been called the dark room in which all our negatives are developed.Faith is not an obvious contrast to fear. I would have expected Jesus to have contrasted fear with reason.Instead, by his actions, he gives us a wonderful picture of what faith is and how it affects our behaviour. Jesus walks over the chaos he sees around him and invites Peter and ultimately us to do the same.FAITH, has been described as Forsaking All I Trust Him. It is keeping our eyes on Jesus in whatever situation we find ourselves, however direWe can stay terrified in the boat, unable to help ourselves or we can do what Peter did and get out of the boat.Peter asked a stupid question. “Lord if it is you command me to come to you on the water.”He opened himself up for what was to come, putting Jesus to the test.Once Jesus issued the command there would be no going back without losing faceJesus said “Come,” so Jesus got out of the boat and walked on waterWhen we feel God is absent, we need to stand on the promises of Jesus and come to himTo take our eyes off the wind and waves, the turmoil and the pain and focus on himWhile Peter kept his eyes on Jesus he was safe. When his fear overcame him and he began to sink, he prayed. He called out, “Lord save me,” and Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.When we call upon the Lord, he will always save us. We may suffer physical death, but Jesus saves and holds us wherever we are Paul says in Romans that we don’t have to ascend to heaven to bring Christ down or to bring Christ up from the deadJesus is wonderfully alive and raised from the dead. All we have to do to receive his salvation today is to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth that Jesus is risen from the dead and we will be saved. Everyone who does what Peter did and calls upon the Lord will be saved.That’s why it is important we share the good newsJesus saved us when we called upon him to forgive us Jesus is our salvation as we call upon him now. He will save us in the futureWhen Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind ceased. The storm was over but the friends of Jesus recognized that he truly is the Son of God and they worshipped him. God is never absent even when we don’t recognise his presence with us. He never leaves us helpless. When we call out in faith he saves and heals and he gives us his power to do his work in the worldMay God help us to trust in his saving power wherever we find ourselves. Lord help us to focus on you trusting that you will enable us to do whatever you are calling us to do. In our present circumstances help us to push out our boundaries, praying and trying new things recognising that with Jesus we can walk on water.Gracious Father,revive your Church in our day,and make her holy, strong and faithful,for your glory’s sakein Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Do we recognise Jesus when he comes to us?(We can think of times when we have recognised Jesus working in our lives.)Jesus came to the crowds in similar ways that he comes to us.He came as the living word through his teaching and as Saviour, healer and deliverer through his healing ministry.In our gospel today he had just fed 5000 plus women and children, revealing him as the bread come down from heaven. Jesus still reveals himself to us in the breaking of the bread. Jesus was already tired from ministering to others when the crowd followed him. He was disappointed and grieving. He had been unsuccessful and rejected in his home village of Nazareth when he heard the news of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. He had wanted to spend time alone to grieve, pray and recuperate.The crowds, however had followed him. Even though it was evening, Jesus taught them, healed their sick and then fed them. He must have been exhausted when he dismissed the crowd, sent the disciples away in a boat and went up a mountain to do what he had initially intended to do, grieve, recuperate and prayJesus knew he was not alone. He was communing with his heavenly FatherWhat about the crowds and the disciples? Were they alone in the face of danger? Was God no longer with them? Were they alone in the dark hours of the night?When they couldn’t see Jesus with their physical eyes, where was he? Was he only a prayer away? Were they still in Jesus’ thoughts? If he was absent, were they helpless in the storm? Did Jesus care for them?The disciples were inevitably terrified in the storm. They were a long way from the land and thought they were going to dieThey must have thought Jesus had placed them in an impossible position. They were tired and wanted their bedsJesus had sent them ahead but he hadn’t told them to pass over the lake without him. They were stuck between where they had been and where they were going.We are in a similar position to those disciples. Like them many of us feel we are in the dark. We cannot see where our future is going. We are sort of stuck in the storm caused by COVID 19, the economic down turn and climate changeWe have had to adapt quickly and many of us feel tired and some of us wonder whether we are going to survive and emerge out of the crisis.Like the disciples whose plans were initially disrupted by the crowds and then disrupted again by Jesus failure to stay with them, our plans which we believe were God given have been disrupted and we are having to make new ones and then the new plans are disrupted.When the disciples were in physical and spiritual turmoil, Jesus came to them in the storm, walking on the waterJesus’ followers became even more terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost. They must have though death was now certain. Maybe Jesus had already died. Their hearts cried out for fear.They did not recognise Jesus. They had limited Jesus in human terms Humans do not walk on water. Jesus had already shown he could multiply bread and fishes. He was now showing his power over the wind and the waves. There is nothing that Jesus cannot do and there is no place too dangerous, hostile or remote where he will not come to his friends in need.Sometimes we don’t recognise him when we are in grim, dark, painful situations.Jesus speaks to his friends to reassure them. “Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid.”Jesus is the great I am. He is the Son of God who has power over the evil principalities and powers of this world. He has promised he will never leave us.When we don’t recognize or see him he wants us to exercise our faith in him.Jesus berated Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”Peter in the story showed much more faith than the rest of Jesus’ friends. I think the criticism was tough on him. This poses another question, what is faith?Why does Jesus contrast faith with fear? Fear is natural and reasonable. Fear in the face of danger keeps us alert. It might enable us to take the precautions that will save lives. Some preachers believe they do not have to take precautions at the moment because their faith will protect them. That is a dangerous position to take. We take precautions, socially distance, wear masks and sanitise because we believe that is God’s will. You may have heard the render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s argument this week. I believe that in rendering to Caesar in this instance we are rendering to God.Prolonged fear, however is destructive. Fear has been called the dark room in which all our negatives are developed.Faith is not an obvious contrast to fear. I would have expected Jesus to have contrasted fear with reason.Instead, by his actions, he gives us a wonderful picture of what faith is and how it affects our behaviour. Jesus walks over the chaos he sees around him and invites Peter and ultimately us to do the same.FAITH, has been described as Forsaking All I Trust Him. It is keeping our eyes on Jesus in whatever situation we find ourselves, however direWe can stay terrified in the boat, unable to help ourselves or we can do what Peter did and get out of the boat.Peter asked a stupid question. “Lord if it is you command me to come to you on the water.”He opened himself up for what was to come, putting Jesus to the test.Once Jesus issued the command there would be no going back without losing faceJesus said “Come,” so Jesus got out of the boat and walked on waterWhen we feel God is absent, we need to stand on the promises of Jesus and come to himTo take our eyes off the wind and waves, the turmoil and the pain and focus on himWhile Peter kept his eyes on Jesus he was safe. When his fear overcame him and he began to sink, he prayed. He called out, “Lord save me,” and Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.When we call upon the Lord, he will always save us. We may suffer physical death, but Jesus saves and holds us wherever we are Paul says in Romans that we don’t have to ascend to heaven to bring Christ down or to bring Christ up from the deadJesus is wonderfully alive and raised from the dead. All we have to do to receive his salvation today is to believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth that Jesus is risen from the dead and we will be saved. Everyone who does what Peter did and calls upon the Lord will be saved.That’s why it is important we share the good newsJesus saved us when we called upon him to forgive us Jesus is our salvation as we call upon him now. He will save us in the futureWhen Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind ceased. The storm was over but the friends of Jesus recognized that he truly is the Son of God and they worshipped him. God is never absent even when we don’t recognise his presence with us. He never leaves us helpless. When we call out in faith he saves and heals and he gives us his power to do his work in the worldMay God help us to trust in his saving power wherever we find ourselves. Lord help us to focus on you trusting that you will enable us to do whatever you are calling us to do. In our present circumstances help us to push out our boundaries, praying and trying new things recognising that with Jesus we can walk on water.Gracious Father,revive your Church in our day,and make her holy, strong and faithful,for your glory’s sakein Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Just when I thought things couldn’t get less welcoming in our church building, new regulations came out and we were asked to wear facemasks, queue to get into church, fill in from the front and sanitise our hands both before and after receiving the communion wafer.Our building had already been open for public worship for two weeks and we had already designated safe seating 2 metres apart, and implemented a strict cleaning regime, expecting our congregation to sanitise their hands on the way in and on the way out. I was already wearing a face mask when I brought the Holy Communion wafer representing the body and blood of Christ to worshippers in their seats.We had already removed the books from the pews, along with soft furnishings and toys and put up a number of posters full of rules.We were already listing those who came into the building so that if the worst happens we can track and trace anyone who has been in contact with corona virus.We were doing without many of those things that help us to have fellowship and enjoy friendship, such as sharing the wine in communion, singing hymns, having beautiful flowers in church and refreshments.I believed there were sufficient restrictions already to keep us safe.Last Saturday night I could have cried as I tried to work out how I could sanitise hands before and after communion and remove my face mask to receive communion without it touching my forehead or neck and without putting it on a surface. In the end I opted for using two masks. Clergy friends advise me that the way to sanitise hands before and after communion is for those receiving to bring their own sanitizer. The new regulations came out late on a Friday so I decided to implement what was possible before Sunday and think more deeply about how to implement the rest. Clergy who did decide to sanitize their congregation before receiving the wafer discovered that there was a danger of the body of Christ mixed with sanitizer. Yuk!It is difficult to know whether to laugh or cry in the present circumstances! Both emotions are preferable to anger and stress. When I saw the facemasks and eyes of those of you who came I felt better. We knew that even though we were worshipping in frightful, inhospitable conditions that what we were doing together was important. Even though we could not sit next to each other, we were united with Christ and each other in love and compassion.We do not come merely to satisfy ourselves. We come for each other and the world for which Jesus died. In particular we come to pray for our part of the world, Frankley, Illey and Kitwell. No other Anglican church has been given that calling. We want there to be a church which spiritually feeds and fights for the people on our estates in the future. Our Isaiah reading this Sunday invites us to come to the one who freely gives generously.It is written to a community in exile oppressed and exploited by harsh policies. Away from their temple in Jerusalem and their synagogues the people are spiritually and probably physically hungry and thirsty.The word “come” is repeated three times. The people are invited to ""buy," and "eat" from rich gifts of food and wine and nourishing milk, well-suited for a festival.They are invited even if they have no money. What they are invited to enjoy is priceless, a giftThe gift they are invited to receive is compared with their labour and physical bread which does not satisfy.The exiles must have felt God had deserted them. Their worship had been tied up with their buildings. The invitation to listen, eat and delight in the Lord’s gifts would transform his people on the inside. Instead of being miserable and defeated, they would be filled with joy and receive life. God still loved his people and had still made them to be a witness to the people.God always feeds, nourishes and gives us life.Our Holy Communion services are an invitation to feed on Christ’s broken body and drink of the cup of joy. Even in the strange circumstances we find ourselves, whether we receive the wafer or not, we are invited to feed and drink spiritually, to delight in God’s love and be joyful. When we come together to receive from the Lord we are a witness to our parish. When Jesus fed the five thousand, he was grieving. He had just been rejected by his home village of Nazareth and had heard of the death of his cousin John the Baptist, who was just a few months older than him. He wanted to be alone so he withdrew in a boat to a desert place, possibly to spend time in prayer, to grieve, to think about his own ministry and to recuperate. The crowds from surrounding towns heard and followed. Despite all he had suffered, Jesus returned to the shore and taught and healed the sick. He put aside his own problems and had compassion on them.By evening the crowds were hungry and the disciples, probably hungry too, wanted to send the crowds away to buy food. Jesus surprisingly told the disciples to give them something to eat. The disciples only had five tiny barley loaves and two fishes which had been given by a small boy. Jesus took what they had and he did what we do before communion, he looked up to heaven, blessed the loaves and gave them to his followers and his followers gave them to the crowds. Five thousand men plus women and children were all fed and there were twelve baskets full left over.Like Jesus, many of us are grieving. We have lost loved ones and friends. Four of our congregation, David, Gerald, Sheila and now Heather have passed away since restrictions began. I write as I am preparing for our friend and sister Heather’s funeral. Like the Jewish exiles, the crowds and the disciples in our readings, many of us feel we haven’t much to give.When we come to Jesus, he always feeds, nourishes and gives us life.As we offer ourselves to him, like the bread, he takes us blesses us and multiplies our offering.With Christ there is always more than enough, enough for us and enough for all who are thirsty and hungry.Lord God,your Son left the riches of heavenand became poor for our sake:when we prosper save us from pride,when we are needy save us from despair,that we may trust in you alone;through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Just when I thought things couldn’t get less welcoming in our church building, new regulations came out and we were asked to wear facemasks, queue to get into church, fill in from the front and sanitise our hands both before and after receiving the communion wafer.Our building had already been open for public worship for two weeks and we had already designated safe seating 2 metres apart, and implemented a strict cleaning regime, expecting our congregation to sanitise their hands on the way in and on the way out. I was already wearing a face mask when I brought the Holy Communion wafer representing the body and blood of Christ to worshippers in their seats.We had already removed the books from the pews, along with soft furnishings and toys and put up a number of posters full of rules.We were already listing those who came into the building so that if the worst happens we can track and trace anyone who has been in contact with corona virus.We were doing without many of those things that help us to have fellowship and enjoy friendship, such as sharing the wine in communion, singing hymns, having beautiful flowers in church and refreshments.I believed there were sufficient restrictions already to keep us safe.Last Saturday night I could have cried as I tried to work out how I could sanitise hands before and after communion and remove my face mask to receive communion without it touching my forehead or neck and without putting it on a surface. In the end I opted for using two masks. Clergy friends advise me that the way to sanitise hands before and after communion is for those receiving to bring their own sanitizer. The new regulations came out late on a Friday so I decided to implement what was possible before Sunday and think more deeply about how to implement the rest. Clergy who did decide to sanitize their congregation before receiving the wafer discovered that there was a danger of the body of Christ mixed with sanitizer. Yuk!It is difficult to know whether to laugh or cry in the present circumstances! Both emotions are preferable to anger and stress. When I saw the facemasks and eyes of those of you who came I felt better. We knew that even though we were worshipping in frightful, inhospitable conditions that what we were doing together was important. Even though we could not sit next to each other, we were united with Christ and each other in love and compassion.We do not come merely to satisfy ourselves. We come for each other and the world for which Jesus died. In particular we come to pray for our part of the world, Frankley, Illey and Kitwell. No other Anglican church has been given that calling. We want there to be a church which spiritually feeds and fights for the people on our estates in the future. Our Isaiah reading this Sunday invites us to come to the one who freely gives generously.It is written to a community in exile oppressed and exploited by harsh policies. Away from their temple in Jerusalem and their synagogues the people are spiritually and probably physically hungry and thirsty.The word “come” is repeated three times. The people are invited to ""buy," and "eat" from rich gifts of food and wine and nourishing milk, well-suited for a festival.They are invited even if they have no money. What they are invited to enjoy is priceless, a giftThe gift they are invited to receive is compared with their labour and physical bread which does not satisfy.The exiles must have felt God had deserted them. Their worship had been tied up with their buildings. The invitation to listen, eat and delight in the Lord’s gifts would transform his people on the inside. Instead of being miserable and defeated, they would be filled with joy and receive life. God still loved his people and had still made them to be a witness to the people.God always feeds, nourishes and gives us life.Our Holy Communion services are an invitation to feed on Christ’s broken body and drink of the cup of joy. Even in the strange circumstances we find ourselves, whether we receive the wafer or not, we are invited to feed and drink spiritually, to delight in God’s love and be joyful. When we come together to receive from the Lord we are a witness to our parish. When Jesus fed the five thousand, he was grieving. He had just been rejected by his home village of Nazareth and had heard of the death of his cousin John the Baptist, who was just a few months older than him. He wanted to be alone so he withdrew in a boat to a desert place, possibly to spend time in prayer, to grieve, to think about his own ministry and to recuperate. The crowds from surrounding towns heard and followed. Despite all he had suffered, Jesus returned to the shore and taught and healed the sick. He put aside his own problems and had compassion on them.By evening the crowds were hungry and the disciples, probably hungry too, wanted to send the crowds away to buy food. Jesus surprisingly told the disciples to give them something to eat. The disciples only had five tiny barley loaves and two fishes which had been given by a small boy. Jesus took what they had and he did what we do before communion, he looked up to heaven, blessed the loaves and gave them to his followers and his followers gave them to the crowds. Five thousand men plus women and children were all fed and there were twelve baskets full left over.Like Jesus, many of us are grieving. We have lost loved ones and friends. Four of our congregation, David, Gerald, Sheila and now Heather have passed away since restrictions began. I write as I am preparing for our friend and sister Heather’s funeral. Like the Jewish exiles, the crowds and the disciples in our readings, many of us feel we haven’t much to give.When we come to Jesus, he always feeds, nourishes and gives us life.As we offer ourselves to him, like the bread, he takes us blesses us and multiplies our offering.With Christ there is always more than enough, enough for us and enough for all who are thirsty and hungry.Lord God,your Son left the riches of heavenand became poor for our sake:when we prosper save us from pride,when we are needy save us from despair,that we may trust in you alone;through Jesus Christ our Lord.
