Service on a Sheet

Service on a Sheet Weekly pause for thought thinking around the lectionary Bible readings (most of the time!).

23/11/2024

Service on a Sheet – 24th November 2024.

Lectionary readings for today: Daniel 7: 9 – 10, 13 – 14; Revelation 1: 4b – 8; John 18: 33 – 37.

I hate to admit this and, yes, I am boasting a little, but I am ready.

Christmas presents have been bought and are awaiting wrapping and, where necessary, posting off.
Cards are waiting to be written, the obligatory letter added and then posting off.
The food order is placed.
Sundry other food items are in the freezer and the menu is planned.
Biscuits and sweeties and other nice bits and pieces are stored ready.
The advent calendars have gone off in the post.
Hand made gifts are done and waiting to be wrapped.
Plans are afoot for the food items for my lovely neighbours.
The Crowdfarming clementines have arrived directly from the farmer in Valencia.

Patricia and I are ready for Christmas to hit us with all of the glitter and tinsel and carolling, and anything else society wishes to throw into the mix!

At this point I hear you screaming in my imagination … some of you in frustration at my organisational skills (honed out of 23 years of having to work at Christmas!!!), some of you in horror that someone is so far down the line ‘at the end of November for goodness sake!’ and some of you in panic because you haven’t even started to think about Christmas yet and maybe a few of you in pomposity as ‘it isn’t Christmas yet’ (and nor will it be until December 25th if we are true to tradition!!!!)

But, just for once, I am ahead of the ball and revelling in it as we enter the last Sunday before Advent and the Churchs’ time of preparation for the Christmas season. The time for getting ready not in material terms but in spiritual terms for the greatest gift of all – God among us.

For Prayers:

 For those who fill your thoughts at this time of year … thank God.
 For the joy of planning, dreaming and preparing – thank God.
 For the beauty of full moons and frosted leaves – thank God.
 For the fact that you are unprepared for his coming – seek God’s forgiveness and strength.
 For the anticipation of Gods great gift – thank God.

Lord’s Prayer

‘Christ is King! He left all the glory of heaven, Christ is King! Born to share in our pain; crucified for sinners atoning, risen, exalted, soon to come again.’ [Singing the Faith 21 v 3]

We talk about preparing but what we fail to realise or never fully grasp is that God has been preparing. Even before the words ‘Let there be light!’ were uttered or thought God was preparing. Getting ready for the glory of creation to be completed. Preparing for a relationship with the created order. Preparing for freedom of choice and freedom of will to mar and change that relationship and for the act of grace that would restore that shattered relationship. God has been preparing since before time was counted – by comparison our preparation time is a mere eye blink to the God of eternity!

We are reminded of this preparation in the vision of Daniel who see God in human form coming to earth from the glory of heaven to establish Gods everlasting kingdom here on earth. This is long before Christ was even a twinkle in the eye of shepherds or kings or even Mary. Long before anyone thought that this could be a reality and everyone just assumed that it may happen some day but that day was a long way off and an even longer time coming!

 Just for a moment try and imagine what Christ gave up, in order to walk among us in human form.

Our reading from Revelation takes us into a letter from John to the early churches. In this short passage we find formal greetings from John to his readership / listeners and then a reminder to them of who Christ was and who Christ is.

His words take us to the heart of the relationship of God with the people. That Christ was sent / left all the glory of God’s immediate, eternal presence in order to take on a human form and live within the created order so that God’s power, majesty, grace and love of God might be seen and understood and that the people might see something of the awesome might and power of God who is the beginning and the end (the Alpha (first Greek letter of the alphabet) and the Omega (the final letter of the alphabet) … the beginning and finale of all that is and has ever been. The eternal nature, power and presence of God. He immediately reminds his listeners / readers of the immensity of God.

 How big is your God or how big dare you allow God to be?
In contrast to our first two readings which underline the glory and power of God our gospel reading takes us to almost the end of Christ’s earthly life.

The religious leaders have been plotting and planning how to get rid of Jesus as he is posing a threat to their authority and opening the eyes of the ordinary people … Jews and gentiles … to a different way of looking at heir relationship with God. They have managed to arrest him without crowds of people surrounding him who would doubtless have fought off the arrest but now what do they do?
They can call him out on counts of blasphemy … but that would bring punishment but not an end because they cannot order the ex*****on of another human being.

On the other hand, if they told Rome or the Roman Governor of the time, that Jesus was being called King or even that he had called himself King matters would change abruptly. Such a pronouncement would fly in the face of Roman rule and authority and be seen as a treasonous act against Rome which was punishable by death.

They take this route of least resistance, and we see Jesus hauled before Pilate the Roman Governor for that area at that time. Pilate questions Jesus and is clearly puzzled that this man does not lay claim as King for himself in terms that would point the way to treason. Jesus points out, calmly and gently, that the accusations of his kingship are being levelled by Pilate and others but not by hi because his kingdom is not this earthly one at all. His kingdom is the kingdom of God and that is what he has been revealing in his earthly life not some claim to earthly rule and regulation.
Pilate seems to grasp this difference and does not see Christ as a threat to Rome but the people (possibly bribed and prompted by the religious leaders) insist otherwise so Christ is condemned to death as a criminal against Rome.

 What are the Kingdom (of God) values you see reflected in the life of Christ?
 How are these same Kingdom values reflected in your life and living?

‘O Christ, the bright and morning Star whose radiance does not fade, whose glory filled the universe before the planets played: come, heal our hearts of blinding doubt till faith shall end in sight. Shine down upon our darkened earth and conquer sin’s long night.’ [Singing the Faith 231 v 4]

Prayers:

 For those individuals and families approaching the coming season in fear, trepidation or despair.
 For those parts of the world torn by warfare, famine, drought, natural disaster and those who can change their circumstances by listening, talking and sharing.
 For those dealing with long term illness or disability and those who care for them.
 For those remembering or awaiting news of a birth or a death or other news which may change their lives.
 For yourself as you prepare to prepare for God’s gift to humanity to be remembered yet again … and to be lived out in your life.

Blessing:

The beginning and the end, the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega. May the God bigger than our imaginations may allow and yet humble enough to walk amongst us be with us, bless and keep us, guide our steps and pread that eternal love and grace through our lives and living this and every day. Amen.

30/10/2024

Service on a Sheet – 27th October 2024.

Lectionary readings for today: Isaiah 55: 1 – 11; 2 Timothy 3: 14 – 4: 5; John 5: 36b – end.

Patricia and I – when she isn’t struggling with a ruptured cruciate ligament – do quite a lot of walking and wandering. We do Traildog events (the others run with their dogs I walk – I love my knees!!!), we wander the park locally and love the beaches where Patricia chases her ball until she is all hot and bothered and panting like crazy! Whe we are away wefind local walks and I often book holidays in places where we can go and walk.

The big problem is that – with a ball obsessed dog who also loves to snuffle through undergrowth and does all walks at lightening speed easily doubling or trebling the distance I walk – I need to carry water for her.

I always keep a flask of water and bowl in the car but out and about has been difficult until my next neighbour introduced me to the water bottle she uses for her dogs. It has a scooped long ‘lid’ and a bottom container for water. You tip it upside down, push and catch to the opposite side of its resting place and then press the catch button = water flows into the scooped out lid – perfect – and madam has taken to it really well.

Now I only need to carry her flask on one side of the rucksack and my flask on the other and I don’t need to go digging for a bowl for her to use! That leaves space for a towel for mucky paws and even a gap for sandwiches as well as my car keys!

What a relief after all those years of struggle with a bowl and a bottle.

For Prayers:

 For those whose lives and example have shaped your life … thank God.
 For those who have helped you make the difficult choices or decisions in life … thank God.
 For all of the things in life that you enjoy … thank God.
 For the times when you have tended to place yourself in pole position or the number one spot – seek forgiveness.
 For the love of God that never changes and is offered to all … thank God.

Lord’s Prayer

‘Autumn days when the grass is jewelled and the silk inside a chestnut shell, jet planes meeting in the air to be refuelled, all these things I love so well, so I mustn’t forget, no, I mustn’t forget to say a great big thank-you, I mustn’t forget.’ [Singing the Faith 121]

My tale about Patricia and her water supply was stirred by this reading from Isaiah. I am very fond of this reading – an open invitation to all people – everyone is included, no one is excluded – to come and find the nourishment they need from knowing God.

Water is precious in hot climates and certainly, when I visited Israel many years ago, cisterns were everywhere catching the precious liquid for use by the people. We even stood in deep underground caverns carved out of the solid rock by hand to catch water.

So, come, come one and all, come if you are thirsty and know God, find the sustaining nature of God and recognise how great God is.

 What are your favourite passages of Scripture and how do they sustain your faith?

Timothy’s second letter is addressing a church struggling to keep its feet and its new faith in the light of events unfolding around them. He is encouraging them to keep on living their lives and sharing their faith – in short to keep on being the people of God through their faith in Christ and following his example.

This is no easy matter when they are being viewed with suspicion and even fear but they are encouraged to persevere.

 Think of a time when it was difficult to hold on to your faith in Christ when life struck home painfully and deeply. What happened and how did you come through it?

We turn to John’s gospel where we find ourselves reading the end of a discourse between Jesus and religious leaders. He is in Jerusalem for one of the many festivals and the leaders are taking the opportunity to openly citicise, question and oppose his teaching, his work and his authenticity.

The festival would have attracted many people so there would have been crowds around to hear their commentary, questions and rejection of Christ so this was an ideal time for them, as men of power and authority, to put this upstart carpenters son from Nazareth in his place once and for all!

Jesus refutes their attempts to challenge him. He points to God to be the testimony, the proof for what he is doing and saying – that he seeks God’s approval not the praise and words of other human beings (unlike his opponents!!!) He even points them to Moses – the great Lawgiver – as source and witness of his work. He ends by commenting that, if they won’t even accept what Moses said about Messiah then they won’t believe what Jesus is saying and will oppose what he is doing.

 When have you found yourself in a situation where no one would listen to you? What happened?

‘Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour, still our refuge – take it to the Lord in prayer! Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer; in his arms he’ll take and shield you, you will find a solace there.’’ [Singing the Faith 531 v 3]

Prayers:

 For those caught in bloody conflict, fleeing their homes in fear and seeking asylum in strange lands with strange languages and customs.
 For this taking medical, technological, education and both food, clean water and shelter to those whose lives have been devastated.
 To world leaders who seek peace through diplomacy and local governments who seek to find the best ways for the communities they represent.
 For our own lives as we deal with the ups and downs of each day that we might include rather than exclude and welcome rather than regard with suspicion or fear.

Blessing:

May the blessing of God, Word of life, Spirit of wisdom and truth, Way of peace and reconciliation rest upon me and those I love this and every day. Amen.

Post script:

Patrica and I walked the first Traildog event of the season managing 4 miles across two routes – around Woodhorn lake and twice around the wooded are at Northumberlandia. We have earned our Trail dog medal and Patricia earned her puppachino at the end of walk (hopefully I earned my bacon butty and coffee!!) She is now limping again but I am so proud of her.

23/10/2024

Service on a Sheet – 20th October 2024.
Lectionary readings for today:

Job 38: 1 – 7 (34 – end); Hebrews 5: 1 - 10; Mark 10: 35 – 45.

Even as I type the following words, I am aware that there are many in our society – at the younger end – for whom these phrases will have little to no meaning.

For those of you who are perhaps not in that category I offer the phrases ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ and ‘Thriller in Manilla’.

My late father was a professional boxing fan, and I recall him watching fights on the television. It always felt odd that he enjoyed watching such a violent sport as he was such a quiet and gentle man!

Of course, the two phrases relate to fights between Joe Frasier and George Forman and the late Cassius Clay or Mohammed Ali as he later chose to be known. All of them heavyweight boxing champions of their day and age.

Ali was, of course, the boxer also given the tag line ‘floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee’ and was known for his acerbic wit.

I saw him interviewed in the Parkinson programme many, many, years later, when the ravages of Parkinsons disease had taken their toll. Shaky and much quieter than he had been in his younger and healthier days but still able to be a commanding presence and had largely maintained his wit (although, in my opinion, his ‘poetry’ was pretty dire!!)

He would declare himself as ‘The Greatest’ … in the later interview the older Ali was very sad to see and did call out the feeling of ‘how are the mighty fallen’ but for the duration of his active career his was certainly a force to be reckoned with.

For Prayers:

 For those whose lives and example have shaped your life … thank God.
 For those who have helped you make the difficult choices or decisions in life … thank God.
 For all of the things in life that you enjoy … thank God.
 For the times when you have tended to place yourself in pole position or the number one spot – seek forgiveness.
 For the love of God that never changes and is offered to all … thank God.

Lord’s Prayer

‘Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, the city of our God, the holy place, the joy of the whole earth. Great is the Lord in whom we have the victory, he aids us against the enemy, we bow down on our knees. And Lord, we want to lift your name on high, and Lord, we want to thank you, for the works you’ve done in our lives; and Lord, we trust in your unfailing love, for you alone are God eternal, throughout earth and heaven above.’
[Singing the Faith 50]

The image at the head of this sheet is the famous one from a section of the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican. It is the hand of God stretching out to touch the hand of Adam and the small spark of creation as a frisson between the two. I chose it because it speaks of the creative force and the power of God in giving life.

Our passage from the book of Job reflects this image when God questions Job and asserts the authority of God over that of humanity. Job is reminded that God is the One in charge, the One in control, the One who gives and sustains life in all things. That God is ultimately in charge.

 Who is in charge in your life and living?

In the Letter to the Hebrews the writer is relating to religious practise which would have been familiar to his listeners. The fact that the High priest serving in the Temple in Jerusalem would be chosen from amongst the priests by human ballot and choice. They are human beings elected by other human beings – fallible and prone to fail and sin as with all of humanity. Despite their high calling into this role, they remain human with all of the faults and failings of other human beings despite following in a very long and venerated line of High Priests.

Taking that shared knowledge he applies the same titles to Jesus – a High Priest chosen not by human selection but chosen by God and who lived his life and role learning obedience to the role into which he was called and not failing God in any way along the journey. Jesus is the perfect High Priest – the One without sin who can stand before God, representing the people with any stain or blemish falling between that relationship.

 When has your humanity got in the way of your faith?
 What do you look for in your church leaders – perfection or someone who can identify with you – fallible but willing to serve?

In Mark’s gospel we come back to James and John who are requesting seats of honour and trust from Jesus. They will have been very aware of the Roman tradition of the ruling authority figure having his closest friends and closest advisors seated at his right and left hand – a tradition that continued on down the centuries through many kingdoms and realms.

By asking for such honour James and John are putting themselves forward as extraordinary men, closer friends than the other disciples and even more deserving of recognition and trust.

Even though Jesus has been trying to explain what will happen to him. It is clear that James and John have not been listening closely as they are more than willing to accept the baptism with which Jesus is baptised (eventually this took the form of betrayal, false witness, flogging and death)!

It’s not too surprising that the other disciples are indignant at their attempt to gain status but it offers Jesus chance to point out that it is not by being the centre of attention or a person of importance that matters – such roles are taking roles – but rather being the quiet one who simply gets on with it ultimately brings more recognition from others – a role of giving and service.

 Who have been the takers and givers in your life?
 When has your desire for immediate recognition and status got in the way of your service for God? What happened?

‘Claim him who claims us for his own, to share his pain and grief, to bear the scars that stamp us his – the hallmark of belief. As partners of the living Christ, who risk the path he trod, with wondering love we find we share the timeless love of God.’ [Singing the Faith 687 v 4]

Prayers:

 For those caught in bloody conflict, fleeing their homes in fear and seeking asylum in strange lands with strange languages and customs.
 For this taking medical, technological, education and both food, clean water and shelter to those whose lives have been devastated.
 To world leaders who seek peace through diplomacy and local governments who seek to find the best ways for the communities they represent.
 For our own lives as we deal with the ups and downs of each day that we might include rather than exclude and welcome rather than regard with suspicion or fear.

Blessing:

May the blessing of God, Word of life, Spirit of wisdom and truth, Way of peace and reconciliation rest upon me and those I love this and every day. Amen.

11/10/2024

Service on a Sheet – 13th October 2024.

Lectionary readings for today: Job 23: 1 – 9, 16 - end; Hebrews 4: 12 - end; Mark 10: 17 – 31.

Its funny how your mindset changes as you get older. Looking at this weeks readings I found myself thinking back over my life.

When I was a child the important and most valued things to me – the things I would grab in case of fire - were my Mom and Dad, my dog, goldfish and budgie and my Lego bricks.

Older years took out the budgie and goldfish as they went on over the rainbow bridge but kept my parents and the dog and added my Enchanted Wood and Famous Five books alongside the Lego. Teenage years lost the books and Lego to be replaced by my clarinet and silver charm bracelet.

Later things went into a state of flux – Dad’s football league medal became important alongside Mom’s folder of her writing and a panto script we wrote together, various cats and dogs as they came and went in my life, the clarinet remained but was joined by teddy bears, my ex husband must have featured at some point, and a pastel sketch given by a friend materialised and then fell off the list again!

Now, what do I value?

A walk on the beach, in the park or in the woods with Patricia. A good book to read and a comfortable chair and bed in which to rest, relax and craft. The joy of home grown produce, home made food and feeding others. Watching the rain or snow from the warmth of my own home. The silence of the house or the sound of selected Cd’s playing, a card or letter from friends and the simple joy of being able to do what I want, or need, to do within my own time frames – after 45 years of working to diaries and appointments this is a magnificent thing!

Funny how things change as we get older.

For Prayers:

 For family and friends … thank God.
 For those who make you stop and think and look again … thank God.
 For all of the things in life that you enjoy … thank God.
 For the times when you have taken things and people for granted – seek forgiveness.
 For the love of God that never changes and is offered to all … thank God.

Lord’s Prayer

‘Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices; who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.’
[Singing the Faith 81]

In this weeks’ passage we move from a self-contented man who has it all to a man who has lost it all. Job is now destitute having lost crops, flocks, family, home and his health.

His greatest desire is to be able to question God and ask why all of this has happened to him and what he has done to deserve it but he opts instead for faith and the thinking that God has got it all under control and knows what he is doing.

That is not an easy option choice. It is an incomprehensible choice in human terms. I feel many of us would have been riling and revolting against God at this point, but Job is not doing any of that despite the advice of his closest friends!

 When have you been so faced by adversity that you have wanted to question God’s decisions?
 Are you able to get angry with God and maybe even shout at God?
 When have you taken the easy option rather than face up to your faith?

God knows everything! That just about summarises our passage from the Letter to the Hebrews – God knows everything! What’s more the Word of God offers plenty of examples of the fact that God knows everything and plenty of examples of how to live our lives and offers the opportunity to learn how others have lived theirs – with God.

At initial reading that is somewhat daunting. If God knows everything then all part of my life and your life are open to scrutiny and judgement and assessment by God and all parts of our life story can be called to mirror our faith as did the lives of older days.

The ‘get out’ the ‘let off’ is in the closing few verses where we, and those first hearers of this letter, where the writer reminds us and teaches them that we have a person in relationship with us who fully understands and appreciates human life and living. Who has ‘been there, done that and worn the tee shirt right through’. Jesus was fully divine but came and lived a fully human life with all of its struggles and challenges and managed to do so without breaching the relationship with God. There is the example, there is the person to learn from, to follow and to imitate and through whom we can come to God for forgiveness and strength to face the challenges of our everyday.

 God knows everything – how does that feel to you?

Finally, our gospel reading. When I read this, I imagine a very well-dressed young man coming along the road with servants to accompany and protect him. He has a very self-confident air and that aura that comes from wealth and status. He has never failed at anything in his life and does not face the struggle to survive that many of those around is face. He is ultra-religious and has now come to have his life fully recognised and justified by this ‘new’ Teacher on the circuit.

Imagine, then, his shock when he is told that his life is not right – imagine him spluttering and protesting – ‘I go to the synagogue, I do the correct sacrifices, my plates are washed according to the rules, I know my Scriptures, I obey every single letter of The Law and always have done’ – but this is not enough.

Jesus offers him the chance to follow but it is at a cost. Instead of merely keeping The Law (as he has done all of his life) he must learn to LIVE his faith – to be prepared to lose everything – to give it up voluntarily in order to gain so much more.

The young man turns and walks away – rejected for the first time in his life.

 Enter into this story – what was the young man hoping for as he came to Jesus? Why was the cost of discipleship too high for him?
 What do you hope for when you come to Jesus? What sort of cost would be too high for you?

‘Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect, and use every power as though shalt choose.’ [Singing the Faith 566 v1, 4]
Prayers:
 For those caught in bloody conflict, fleeing their homes in fear and seeking asylum in strange lands with strange languages and customs.
 For this taking medical, technological, education and both food, clean water and shelter to those whose lives have been devastated.
 To world leaders who seek peace through diplomacy and local governments who seek to find the best ways for the communities they represent.
 For our own lives as we deal with the ups and downs of each day that we might include rather than exclude and welcome rather than regard with suspicion or fear.

Blessing:

May the blessing of God, Word of life, Spirit of wisdom and truth, Way of peace and reconciliation rest upon me and those I love this and every day. Amen.

07/10/2024

Service on a Sheet – 06th October 2024.

Lectionary readings for today: Job 1: 1; 2 – 10; Hebrews 1: 1 -4, 2: 5 – 12; Mark 10: 2 - 16

For many years people have asked me do I miss not having children and have I ever wanted them. My answer to both questions is quite honestly ‘No’.

I attended a girls’ grammar school and, as many 14 / 15 year olds do, we would sit and talk about what we were going to do with the future laid out in front of us. My friends usually responded along the lines of ‘when I leave school I’m going to university / teacher training college / nursing studies and then I’ll get married and have 2.4 children’ (the national average at the time).

Eventually it would come around to me. When I leave school I want to train as an occupational therapist and if I ever get married I don’t want children. Gasps of horror generally followed this pronouncement!

When I left school, I trained as an Occupational Therapist. I didn’t get married until I was 30 and have no children.

I have nothing against children per se but the thought of being pregnant was repugnant to me and if children didn’t come shrink wrapped at 7 with their manners intact, I wasn’t interested – the baby / toddler stages were of no interest to me at all and I wanted a child with imagination and creativity kicking in!

Yet, all of my life, I have worked with children. Sunday school teacher. The responsible one who took other younger girls safely to and from Guide meetings. A young leader then Guide Guider in the Guiding movement. I always ran holiday clubs for other children even when I was only their age and, as an adult, worked in the field of paediatrics and was a voluntary youth leader – but I never wanted children of my own.

People who saw me action at baptisms or doing school assemblies or leading youth activities saw I had a natural affinity for kids of all ages but I didn’t want to have children (In actual fact I think that helped when I did youth work as I didn’t want to be a buddy to the teenagers or to mother them – I was an adult who could be trusted, who respected their privacy, who expected certain levels of behaviour and was consistent in my approach but was distance form their lives meaning they could talk to me about anything – and frequently did so!)

So, children and young people – other people’s children and young people - have always been part of my life and living and I have learned much from them but – my own? Goodness! No thank you!

For Prayers:

 For family and friends … thank God.
 For those who make you stop and think and look again … thank God.
 For all of the things in life you enjoy … thank God.
 For the times when you have taken things and people for granted – seek forgiveness.
 For the love of God that never changes and is offered to all … thank God.
Lord’s Prayer

‘God in his love for us lent us this planet, gave it a purpose in time and in space: small as a spark from the fire of creation, cradle of life and the home of our race. Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty, life that sustains us in body and mind: plenty for all, if we learn how to share it, riches undreamed of to fathom and find.
[Singing the Faith 727 v 1, 2]

I must confess that, sometimes, when I come across readings from the book of Job I find myself visualising a rather pompous little man, very contented with life and extremely happy with all that he has in terms of family, possessions and wealth.

This is especially so at the start of the book before Job loses everything he has ever had and experiences life in all of its horror and shows himself to be a righteous, upright, just and God focussed man.

Reading of his trials and tribulations certainly brings home the varied and diverse difficulties we all have to face in life and how easy it is to turn round and suggest that God has either already left the building or that God should make a rapid exit on the back of our struggles!

Certainly, the story of Job highlights the fact that our responses and behaviour in times of adversity and struggle speak volumes of our faith in God!

 When have you been in a situation where your first reaction was to assume that God had left you to struggle?

The writer to the Hebrews continues to draw parallels between the King (David son of humanity) and Jesus (Son of God. In this section the writer is reminding his listeners that Jesus gave everything in order to open the way to eternity.

Remember that he is writing to people who knew the prophecies from the Old Testament and who were familiar with the idea that God would eventually send the Messiah / the Chosen One to show how life with God should be lived.

What they were not anticipating was a man from humble beginnings who came and showed them how to live God’s way not by blindly following the rules (The Law) but by actually living their faith … mercy, compassion. Inclusion, love.Far from the conquering hero king, Jesus showed a radically alternative way of being faithful to God and serving others.

 When has your faith in God and Jesus been a real challenge to your everyday lifestyle?

Soon after starting work in the field of paediatrics, as an Occupational Therapist, I had a conversation with my Mom asking her how she had taught me how to dress and feed myself. She paused, thought and then told me – I didn’t teach you, you just sort of did it!

I guess those of you who have been parents or grandparents or have worked with small children know the ‘me do!’ stage of matters or the little hand grabbing for the spoon and splattering most of the food on the floor rather than getting it into their mouth!

Children are explorers. What to us is everyday and taken for granted is to be learned. What we ignore or just accept is to be observed and questioned and explored. This is childlike behaviour – yes, we’re back there again!

To a child the world is a huge adventure playground waiting to be explored and tried. Full of smells and sounds and sights which capture the attention and call for further looking at or feeling or tasting or smelling!

Children don’t understand the nature of danger because to them this is an amazing place for of wonder and awe and excitement.

This is the example Jesus sets before his disciples yet again. A reminder that their faith, their belief, their living needs to be based on the amazing, the wonderful, the exciting, the unexplored – the God who created them and who calls them to know and be known … the mystery of beyond and more that is there – not to be boxed into ‘do and do not’ but a relationship that calls out the best from them and offers the best for them.

He reminds them forcefully that we have much to learn from children who, in their society’s mind have little value until they are old enough to contribute in some way to the family income or the common good.

The openness and honesty of childlike living not the selfish and inward looking for childish living.

 Is your faith open and honest or selfish and self-absorbed? Its quite a challenge to manage the former!

‘Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair, Lord, in your suffering world, this is our prayer. Bread for the children, justice, joy, peace, sunrise to sunset, your kingdom increase!’. [Singing the Faith 693]

Prayers:

 For those caught in bloody conflict, fleeing their homes in fear and seeking asylum in strange lands with strange languages and customs.
 For this taking medical, technological, education and both food, clean water and shelter to those whose lives have been devastated.
 To world leaders who seek peace through diplomacy and local governments who seek to find the best ways for the communities they represent.
 For our own lives as we deal with the ups and downs of each day that we might include rather than exclude and welcome rather than regard with suspicion or fear.

Blessing:

May the blessing of God, Word of life, Spirit of wisdom and truth, Way of peace and reconciliation rest upon me and those I love this and every day. Amen.

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