17th Sunday After Trinity

Readings: Wisdom of Solomon 1v16-2v1 &12v22; Psalm 31v10-end; James 3v13-4v3 &v7-8a; Mark 9v30-37.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth, and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word: From the book of the wisdom of Solomon, we hear a prophecy about the difference between the righteous person and the ungodly one. For the righteous man: opposes sinful actions, reprimands the sinful, avoids unclean ways and claims that God is his father. By comparison, the ungodly: are unsound in their reasoning and led astray, are blinded by their own wickedness and set traps for the righteous man, and summon their own deaths by condemning the righteous man to a shameful death.

In our day, as Christians we believe that this prophecy came true in the life of Jesus; and in the gospel of John, Jesus is telling his disciples that he will be betrayed and killed but will rise again three days later. It seems from the gospel of Mark that the importance of what Jesus was saying was lost on Jesus’ disciples because they did not understand nor were inclined to ask him about his meaning. So, Jesus changed the subject and asked them what they had been arguing about on the way to the mountain that they were now leaving. The disciples stayed silent and did not answer the question because they had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest. This silence did not obstruct Jesus because he already knew what they were arguing about and, even though they did not own up to it, Jesus taught them what true greatness is. For Jesus says that true greatness is to be the servant of all and to welcome children - for in welcoming and receiving children we welcome Jesus and the Father who sent him.

However, being truly great people is a big ask. For James’ letter, warns that earthly, unspiritual and devilish people are those who are full of envy and selfish ambition. Character traits that leads to disorder and wickedness of every kind in order to get whatever we want. Now whilst this is a truly sorry state of affairs for humankind - there is a remedy. For it says in the psalm: if we turn to God, God will vindicate us, help us, hear our prayers and deliver us in our times of trouble. And, in the letter of James, we are told that the devil runs away from us when we submit to and draw near to God. For only when we draw close to God and ask for his help will we be able become the kind of people that God wants of us. A people who are peaceable, gentle and merciful who live lives full of good works that are sown in peace and delivered in gentleness.

This is our calling. To be a people who recognise our tendency towards sin. A people who turn to God for help and guidance. A people who grow day-by-day into being God’s people here on earth.

Let us pray: Almighty and ever living God, you made us for yourself and put a restlessness within us to guide us to search for and find you. Thank you for drawing us to yourself, thank you for the peace you give us when we find you, thank you for the love you pour into us. As we live out our lives, help us to do good works each and every day, so that at the last, we shall see you face-to-face in your heavenly kingdom. Amen

Thank you for joining us.