6th Sunday After Trinity Readings: Ezekiel 2v1-5; Psalm 123; 2 Corinthians 12v2-10; Mark 6v1-13. 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: In the reading from Ezekiel, we hear that God anointed him with the holy spirit and sent him with a message to the people of Israel. God said that this was a message for a rebellious, defiant and sinful people. A people who were to be told the message - even if they do not listen. The psalm is a faithful prayer asking for God’s help and mercy in a world in which the rich are arrogant brutes who kick down all people who do not matter to them. In Mark, we hear that people in his own hometown who knew Jesus as a child were unable to stand back and see him for who he really was. This was even though he taught with great wisdom and healed a few sick people. After this, we learn that Jesus sent his disciples out pairs, anointed them with God’s power and authority to do God’s bidding and gave them instructions. They were told: to be content with simple and modest lodgings; to quietly withdraw if people did not listen; and to be on their way if they were not welcomed. We hear that as they went, the disciples: preached joyfully; sent demons packing; and healed the sick in body and spirit. In the letter to the people of Corinth, Paul tells us about a man who was swept into heaven. A man who heard about things he was forbidden to share. A man who was plagued by a problem that he fervently prayed would be taken away. Later in the reading we hear that this man was Paul himself and God answered his prayer for his problem to be removed with the reply: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” A reply that was proven true time and time again in Paul’s life. These readings show us the range of ways that God intervenes in the world. From Ezekiel we learn that God cares enough to send messages to rebellious, defiant and sinful people – even if we refuse to listen. From the psalm we learn that God hears the prayers of those who call to him. From Mark we learn that God pours his power into those called and sent out to do God’s bidding in the world. From Corinthians, we learn that when we are weak that God’s power is made perfect. These many and varied ways that God works with us in the world are a blessing because God is at work always doing what is in our best interests by: calling us to our senses, holding us as we pray, taking action in the world and being present with us when we suffer. Let us pray: Serenity prayer: God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change; courage to change the things we can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking this world as it is, not as we would have it be; trusting that God will make all things right, if we surrender to His Will; so that we may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen. Thank you for joining us.
5th Sunday After Trinity Readings: Wisdom 1v13-15&2v23-24; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8v7-end; Mark 5v21-end. 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: As I read them, I noticed how varied and different the readings set for this week are. The book of Wisdom was written by the King of Israel, David’s son, King Solomon. It is a book that reflects on life, the meaning of life and the impact of how we live. In the reading, Solomon has come to the view that life is a strange and perplexing mystery because what we do in life seems to make no real, lasting or long term difference. In the book as a whole, Solomon considers all sorts of things, he points out the wonders and absurdities of life and reminds us that human life is pointless, if we try to live it by ourselves and on our own terms. It is because of what Solomon has to say about so many things that, I believe it is a book that we can recommend to everyone and anyone, regardless of what they do or do not believe, because it’s a book that shares the kinds of thoughts that so many of us have as we try to think through and make sense of life here on earth. It is also a book that closes with the conclusion that the only point of life is to worship God and do God’s bidding. The psalm was written by David, the boy chosen by God and anointed to be King in place of King Saul. The same David who killed the giant warrior named Goliath using only a stone and a catapult. The man who was hunted by the King Saul of Israel. The man who became the King of Israel after Saul. The King who did both good and bad things. The King who was the ancestor of Jesus. Throughout his life, David wrote many psalms and in this one David was giving praise and thanks to God for: hearing and helping him when he was being hunted by King Saul. It is a prayer calling all God’s people to sing praise and thanks to God for the love that God has for us. The love that helps us during difficult times, the love that rescues us, the love that brings us through to better times. In Mark’s gospel we hear about people who had faith in Jesus and believed he had miraculous power. The first person we hear about was the leader of the synagogue, a man named Jairus, a man who came out to beg Jesus to save his dying daughter. The second was an unnamed woman who trusted and believed that because Jesus had such immense power that she would be healed even if she only touched the hem of his garment. In the reading we hear that both were granted the miracles they hoped and prayed for. Meanwhile in Paul’s letter we hear his appeal to the people of Corinth to continue the work they had committed themselves to – of raising funds to help with the costs of spreading the gospel. Alongside this Paul gave his commendation of the people he was sending to visit them with his encouragement and advice to show them their love. Thise visiting included: Titus who had been chosen by Paul and his companions; another person sent, who was a popular preacher; and a number of delegates from other churches. But what does all this say to us, here and now? I believe that it calls us to start from where we currently are. If we are trying to make sense of life, we can get help from the Book of Wisdom. Or if we are in times of trouble, we can get help from David’s psalms. If we are in need of miracles, we can ask for them and leave the answer to God. If we have committed ourselves to working for God’s kingdom we should continue doing whatever it is that God would have us do. Like the disciples of the past who wrote letters of encouragement, who raised funds, who spread the gospel, who visited other Christians and welcomed all visitors. Let us pray: Serenity prayer: God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change; courage to change the things we can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking this world as it is, not as we would have it be; trusting that God will make all things right, if we surrender to His Will; so that we may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen. Thank you for joining us.
4th Sunday After Trinity Readings: Job 38v1-11; Psalm 107v1-3 & 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6v1-13; Mark 4v35-end. 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: In ancient times, people believed that when bad things happened in life that it was God who was doing it and that God was punishing them for the bad things they had done. The book of Job tells us a very different story because it tells us about a Godly man who suffers terrible things done to him by the devil, named Satan, who is trying to force Job to rebel against God. However, even though Job has no idea why God has allowed him to suffer so much, Job continued to trust in God, but even though Job trusted God – Job did cry out to God asking why all these terrible things were happening to him. Eventually, as we hear in the reading, God spoke to Job; but God’s reply was not what Job expected. For, instead of explaining why Job suffered, God tells Job to: stand up, pull yourself together and listen; before going on to ask the most unexpected of questions. Questions that pointed Job to stop focussing on his suffering and to look to the wonder of God who created all things. This is such an extraordinary reply that I believe points us to what we should do in times of suffering and in the book as a whole we are taught that when we suffer it is not God who is causing it, nor is it a punishment for something we have or have not done. It is simply part of life here on earth, a place where Satan roams around causing problems and troubles to trip us up. What we also learn from this book is that it is okay to run to God to cry, to complain and to ask God to help us. However, miracles that rescue us will not always be provided. For as Paul says in his letter to the people in Corinth, even though we may suffer in all sorts of ways here on earth, we should not be despondent because we have a God who we can call on in our time of need. Then, as we call, God draws close to us and comes alongside us in order to help us to bear with the suffering and get through it. Sometimes God does give us miracles, like that in the gospel of Mark. For whilst out on the lake, these experienced fishermen found themselves in a terrifying storm that was so bad they thought they were about to die, so they turned to Jesus and asked him to save them. Jesus got up from sleeping and did as they asked by ordering the wind and the waves to calm down and cease what they were doing – and the storm ceased immediately and completely. Afterwards, when Jesus asked why they were afraid, the disciples only answer was to wonder just who Jesus was because he was able to command the wind and the sea. It is no wonder that since ancient times that people who have believed and trusted in God have given thanks and praise to God. Like in psalm 107, which tells us that God hears the prayers of people in all kinds of troubles, and the part of the psalm appointed for today reminds us that people who worked out at sea understood the dangers they faced, put their trust in God and gave thanks that God heard their prayers and led them safely back to harbour. Today, we are called to do the same. To understand that troubles do not come from God and are not a punishment. We are also called to turn to God at times of trouble and to hold on to God who is with us. Then, whatever God chooses to do in reply to our cries, we need to give God thanks and praise. Let us pray: Day by day dear Lord, of you three things we pray: to see you more clearly, to love you more dearly and to follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen Thank you for joining us.
3rd Sunday After Trinity Readings: Ezekiel 17v22-end; Psalm 92; 2 Corinthians 5v6-17; Mark 4v26-34. 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: The psalm tells us that God is eternal and is always working to bring us true happiness to good people by strengthening and transplanting them into God’s courtyard. It also tells us that God scatters and mows down bad people. So it is not surprising that after God’s people were invaded and taken into exile into Babylon that they would interpret this as being forsaken by God. However, God had not forsaken them – and he sent Ezekiel (one of the 5 great prophets) with prophetic messages to help them understand better what this great catastrophe really was all about. As we hear in the reading, God told them that this terrible catastrophe would be used to grow them into the kind of people God intended them to become: a majestic people amongst whom people from other nations would find a home. In the letter to the people of Corinth, Paul shows his trust in the God who is with us even in our troubles. Paul says that he and his companions were not overcome by the problems and catastrophes they experienced because they were fortified by God’s promise of what is still to come. For one day, we shall all be called to judgement before Christ and face God. Now while this is something that should make us afraid, Paul explains that when we face God, we are facing the one who sent his son to save us – by making it possible for us to be united with the Messiah, made new and given a fresh start so we can be included in his resurrection and given a place in God’s Kingdom. Which is something to look forward to and not feared. In Mark’s gospel we hear Jesus telling stories to teach us about God’s Kingdom because this is something so awesome and amazing that we can only glimpse small fragments of what it is like. Whatever you make of the stories, what we do know is that God is offering all of us an invitation to join his Kingdom, a free gift to all who will accept it. Let us pray: Day by day dear Lord, of you three things we pray: to see you more clearly, to love you more dearly and to follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen Thank you for joining us.
