Collect and Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity – Lamentations 1.1-6, Habakkuk 1.1-4; 2.1-4, Lamentations 3. 19-26, Psalm 137, Psalm 37.1-9, 2 Timothy 1.1-14, Luke 17.5-10
The Prayer for today O Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This week’s readings are full of laments and heartbroken crying. Our faith is not a fair-weather faith, but speaks into our pain as well as our joy, into our darkest valleys as well as our hilltop experiences. It is both crucifixion and resurrection. God never does nothing when we pray; he may not come charging into a situation and sort it out in the way we would like, but in his time, which is best time, he will redeem it for good, and while we are waiting he will provide all the courage, inner peace and hope we need.
The important thing is for us to establish, as we cry, is God’s position in the suffering. So often when there are national tragedies we hear people crying, ‘How could a loving God let this happen?’ as if God were there orchestrating the evil or, even worse, watching it with his arms folded. This is a terrible distortion of the truth, for the real God of compassion is neither tyrannical, nor aloof and unconcerned. Nor is he well intentioned but ineffectual. He is actually there suffering alongside the broken-hearted, sharing their grief and distress and ready to comfort them by being there. The costly gift of free will is matched by the costly gift of loving redemption.
At the same time, as this week’s Gospel reminds us, there is no room for spiritual self-pity. We have no built-in rights for everything in our lives to run smoothly and easily, and Jesus is forthright in talking of the servant who simply accepts the work and weariness as part of his duty, without expecting any special payment or privileges. If following Christ brings us hardship and suffering, that is no more than we are told to expect, and we are asked to accept it as such, always on the understanding and conviction that we will be provided with whatever grace and strength we need to cope and triumph over the difficulties.
Some things to reflect on:
• Has the message of the media – that it is normal and our right to be happy, wealthy and healthy – given us false assumptions and expectations in this age?
• What benefits does God manage to harvest from suffering, provided we allow him to work his redeeming love in the situation?
God bless and stay safe and well.
Rev’d Fiona Robinson
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Collect and Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity – Jeremiah 32.1-3a, 6-15, Amos 6.1a,4- 7, Psalm 91.1-6, 11-end, Psalm 146, 1 Timothy 6.6-19, Luke 16.19-end
The Prayer for today God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit upon your Church in the burning fire of your love: grant that your people may be fervent in the fellowship of the gospel that, always abiding in you, they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
On the face of it, Jeremiah’s purchase of the field was likely to be a complete waste of money. Had he been thinking only in terms of financial gain, it would hardly have been considered a wise investment. But since God had just spoken to him about using it as a sign of hope, Jeremiah was happy to go along with God’s priorities. These took precedence over all his plans and ambitions.
Amos underlines for us the danger of being comfortably well off; the very comfort can cushion us from feeling for the poor and needy until we barely notice their suffering. So often this goes along with a sense of well-being which lulls us into thinking life is like this for everyone else too. We can become so cut off from the real world that we actually believe the needs are not there. It is this blindness, and injustice of the situation, which angers the God of love and compassion. He feels for the ones who get despised and ignored, simply because they possess less.
Paul has more good advice from young Timothy. He, too, recognises that many sins can get traced back to the ‘love of money’ rootstock, and advises Timothy to stay well away from it, pursuing instead the kind of riches that are good and eternal. God is by far the better bargain!
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus focuses our minds on the seriousness and urgency of this whole question. We are not to know when our opportunities for living thoughtfully and generously will run out; it would be sensible to sort it all out now, while we still have the chance. As we take stock of how we are living, we can hold in front of us the picture of this wealthy man who did nothing particularly evil, but neglected to notice the needs of those he probably saw every day.
Some things to reflect on:
• Was Jeremiah foolish to buy a field in the circumstances? Why does God sometimes ask us to do things which, in the world’s terms, are madness?
• Is it wealth itself which is wrong, or the way it cushions us to reality? Can real Christians be wealthy?
God bless and stay safe and well.
Rev’d Fiona Robinson
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Collect and Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity – Jeremiah 8.18-9.1, Amos 8.4-7, Psalm 79.1- 9, Psalm 113, 1 Timothy 2.1-7, Luke 16.1-13
The Prayer for today Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This week’s readings remind us that the way we deal with worldly finances and possessions should be scrupulously honest, fair and wise. It should be directly affected by our spiritual values and reflect our beliefs completely.
The story of the cheating manager and his cunning way of avoiding trouble has the rich man praising him for his cleverness. This does not mean that Jesus is advising us all to follow the manager’s example, of course, but it certainly highlights the zeal given to worldly affairs compared with the laid-back attitude so often given to eternal and spiritual matters. If we were to take the same trouble over our spiritual journey as criminals invest in embezzlement, the results would be dynamic in the extreme.
Jesus also picks up on our need to be responsible with our worldly affairs. It is no good excusing ourselves from such responsibilities on the grounds that we are only interested in spiritual things. Jesus is always practical and realises that the way we manage our weekly budget, our expenses and our life-decisions is important. If we can’t manage these honestly and sensibly, we are likely to be irresponsible about the important things of life as well.
Jeremiah was deeply saddened by his own people using their privileged position as a cover for ungodly behaviour. The closer we get to God’s way of thinking, the more saddened we will be by the lack of integrity we see around us. We are bound to start noticing people’s misdirected ‘worth-ship and longing for a change of direction. This sadness and yearning is all part of walking in step with the God who loves us and desires that sinners should turn and live.
Some things to reflect on:
• Is it possible to live as a Christian in the world of business and competition?
• How can we make sure we take seriously our responsibility to support our leaders in prayer?
God bless and stay safe and well.
Rev’d Fiona Robinson
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HM Queen Elizabeth 1926 – 2022
The Benefice of St John the Evangelist, Chelford with St Peter’s, Lower Withington and All Saints, Marthall
As a Benefice we wish to offer our deepest condolences to HM The King and all the Royal family on the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
We give thanks for her loyal service to her family, this nation, the Commonwealth and the World.
Her example of true Christian service in action and her involvement and interest in the causes held dear to her heart.
We pray that you will all be able to draw comfort knowing the hope of God’s promises, that nothing can separate us from His unconditional love.
Father of all mercies and God of all consolation,
you pursue us with untiring love and dispel the shadow of death with the bright dawn of life.
Give courage to The King and the Royal Family in their loss and sorrow.
Be their refuge and strength, O Lord;
reassure them of your continuing love and lift them from the depths of grief
into the peace and light of your presence.
Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
by dying has destroyed our death,
and by rising, restored our life.
Your Holy Spirit, our comforter,
speaks for us in groans too deep for words.
Come alongside your people,
remind them of your eternal presence
and give them your comfort and strength. Amen.
God bless
Rev’d Fiona Robinson
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