Welcome to Sunday Worship in leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Guide me, O Thou Great Redeemer"
Today's Gospel
Luke 9:51-62Following Jesus
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Reflection
People sometimes refer to this extract as ‘The cost of following Jesus’.
I see it more as the problem of procrastination. How do we avoid getting distracted in life and putting off doing the things that we ought to do?
Sometimes we can’t help ourselves, especially if it’s doing something we don’t particularly want to do or are not really interested in. Maybe it’s cleaning the garage out, or weeding the patio or repairing that squeaky door that’s been annoying everybody for months.
There are some things that have to be done at a certain time, such as getting up and going to work, or going to a meeting – so they’re ‘no brainers’.
Then there are some things we really want to make sure we do because we enjoy them; maybe going out with a friend for drink or a meal.
Sometimes, I struggle to get around to writing this reflection – I know it has to be done by Saturday and I always intend to get it done well before then, but here I am on Saturday evening wondering how late it will be before I get it completed.
I always intend to get it done, but then things get in the way – life gets in the way.
But this message is not just about prioritising our time – it’s about following Jesus to Jerusalem.
Luke uses the words, ‘Jesus face was set toward Jerusalem’. This recognises the turning point where the direction of Jesus’ life doesn’t just become a journey toward the city of Jerusalem, it’s the start of his journey towards the Cross. A journey of unwavering obedience and sacrifice in order to save us all.
A journey of absolute commitment and determination exemplifying the courage and relentless faith needed to follow God’s calling.
So when we Jesus asks us to follow him, he is asking us to follow in the example he has set us and taught us through his ministry.
It’s a lot more than tweaking our priorities to spend a little more time praying each day or making sure we arrive at church on time on a Sunday morning.
It’s about following his example and doing the things he has shown us make to make that path to follow him, a straight path.
The path to follow Jesus is about loving your neighbour and entertaining strangers. It’s about forgiving people and looking after the poor, sick and vulnerable without hesitation. And more.
That’s where we come to the hard bit. The bit where we say yes of course I want to follow Jesus but just before I do…… ‘ I need to’ plough the field or say goodbye to my family.
Just like in the Luke’s story we say we want to follow Jesus but then start to think of reasons to delay. That’s the point where we procrastinate and say to ourselves, ‘I just need to …..’
For example, we know I should give money to the beggar – before I do ‘I need to’ be sure she isn’t a drug addict or an alcoholic.
I know I should forgive the other person but – ‘I need to’ know they have said sorry first.
I know I should give to charities and good causes, but ‘I need to know’ that all of the money will go the people we are giving to.
I’m not saying any of this is easy – it is to some extent human nature, because we have heard tales which cast doubt and affect our judgement.
But Jesus’ example is one of unconditional and steadfast commitment to everyone he met and also to us.
He never hesitated to heal the sick or lame. He doesn’t set limitations or pre-conditions and he doesn’t worry about who we are; what race, colour, creed, or sexual identity we assign ourselves. He doesn’t even mind what religion we are – he is there for everyone.
It’s hard in our crazy modern society with wild opinions all over social media and mainstream media, intent of causing prejudice, but when we see people in need, let’s just think before we press pause and say to ourselves… ‘ I just need to’. Let’s take a leaf out of Jesus’ book and do what we know he wants us to do - however uncomfortable or uneasy we feel. Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
You pour out your endless love upon us.
Your Son Jesus Christ
showed us how to love one another
and the path to righteousness.
Help us to follow in his tracks
That we may show that same unconditional love
without hesitation,
to those who need our help.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Will you come and Follow Me"
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the First Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "New Every Morning is the Love"
Today's Gospel
Luke 8:26-39Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac
Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" -- for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
Reflection
For many of us, the first thing we think of when we read this passage is about Jesus’ power and authority over evil and devil.
There are many more examples of Jesus and the disciples casting out demons.
But let’s think about the poor man who has been possessed by demons for so long. He has been cast out by the society that he lives in – condemned to make a home in the tombs of the dead. I wonder how that made him feel?
This story takes place in at the country of the Gerasenes. Jesus is now in gentile territory and no longer amongst the Jews, The people here don’t know who he is, and it is clear from the their reaction that they are not particualrly keen to have him stay around. They were afraid of his power and of the unknown.
Just like the possessed man they wanted Jesus out of the way.
I recently spent some time at a mental hospital alongside a chaplain. We were working with people who had all sorts of mental challenges – there were patients there who were bi-polar, or psychotic, or suffering from acute dementia. Others had messed up their minds though a lifetime of taking street drugs, and many were suffering from acute depression.
For some, they were there under a ‘hospital order’ because they had committed serious or heinous crimes and were in hospital as an alternative to gong to prison.
In the six weeks at the hospital I was humbled by the way that the chaplain, psychiatrists and all the clinicians responded and cared for these people. They listened to their sometimes bizzarre claims or rantings and they responded with compassion and respect and human kindness no matter what their background or circumstances were.
Some of the people who had committed serious crimes asked to be prayed with and some even cried. Maybe they were just delusional or maybe they really felt the need to reach out looking for Jesus and forgiveness. Looking for that healing power that Jesus shows in today’s passage.
Through God’s grace and mercy for us, we are by the power of Jesus all capable of being transformed and healed, no matter what we have done or why we have done it. – “for He makes the sun rise on the evil and the good”. [Matt. 5:45].
We are reminded of the restorative and healing power of Jesus’ love for us and his absolute compassion for those who are suffering and tortured. He feels for us all when we are in need.
As a society, sadly it is sometimes necessary to keep people out of harm’s way, but we should never turn our backs on them. As doctors continue to unlock the mysteries of the mind we see many new disgnoses of mental disorder at various levels of severity. Thankfully most do not result in hospitalisation.
There are many who are suffering or tormented but able to hide it at work and in the community. Folk who have enormous burdens dealing with stresses like financial hardship, caring for loved ones who are sick, or facing enormous pressures at work. They might seem like they are coping, until they have a breakdown. It is then that we are called to follow Jesus’ example and surround them with love.
Jesus even showed mercy on the demons – he didn’t expel the evil spirits to the dark abyss for eternal sufferring – rather he ‘gave then his permission’ to go into the pigs and die.
Jesus gives us his permission to and even commands us to look after one another and never turn our backs on the stranger. Paul
Our Prayers
Loving Father,
We thank you for your grace and mercy.
We bring before you all who are inflicted in any way by mental illness.
And we pray for all those who feel they are sinking
under the pressures of daily life.
Loving Lord, we pray for all those working in mental health services;
for Psychiatrists, clinicians, nurses and carers.
We also raise to you dedication of chaplains of all kinds,
Who provide spiritual support and guidance to those in despair.
Lord heal us and save us.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on Trinity Sunday. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Father, I Adore You"
Today's Bible Reading
Romans 5:1-5 Peace and Hope and the Holy
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Reflection
Today is Trinity Sunday – A day that strikes fear into the hearts of many vicars and curates that scratch their head trying to think of a new way to explain the nature of the Triune God. The one in three and three in one.
Last week I mentioned how we declare our belief in the Holy Trinity every time we say the Nicene Creed, however we do need to think about the meaning of what we recite in this statement of faith.
I have written previously about how difficult it is for us as humans to visualise the concept of the unity of the Trinity and at the same the distinct nature as separate entities.
Indeed Jesus himself doesn’t make it any easier – sometimes He speaks of the Father as if God is someone distinct from himself whilst, as we saw last week He tells Philip that, that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.
But don’t worry, because instead making a befuddling theological argument, I have chosen the passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans. I hope by doing so we can, through Paul’s letter, explore the relationship and nature of how God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit work together.
In the short passage we can see how faith, peace and hope are interwoven.
Paul starts by telling us that when we have faith in God the father, we are at peace with Him. It is easy just to read this as a statement and move on, but when we pause for thought there is also the inference that it is possible to not be at peace with God. For us to be in a state where we are at odds with God.
In the old Testament there are examples of where God was angry with the people of Israel – for example in Exodus 32 where they turned their backs on both God and Moses and ordered Aaron to make an idol of a golden calf to worship. In response God sent a plague on those who had broken His commandment. Similarly in Genesis 19 where God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. We too need to acknowledge that we also fall short of God’s expectations when we sin.
Paul goes on to reassure that it is only because of Jesus working with God that we can be saved. It is through Jesus who died on the cross as payment for all our sins, that we can be assured of the ongoing grace of God and share in His continued glory. But we also have to commit to Jesus, to declare our belief in the risen Christ and continually repent of our sins.
Jesus, son of God who is in the Father and the Father is in Him makes this possible. It is through Jesus’ obedient sacrifice that mankind can be liberated from the strain of our sinful ways.
When Paul refers to the Spirit, he expresses how God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. The Spirit that, because of God’s unbounded love, has been shared with us – it is only by the power of the Spirit that we can even begin to know God.
A Spirit that enables us deep down to listen to God when He speaks to us – ‘the still small voice’ [Kings 19:12], that whispers gently in our heart. A Spirit that is there to guide us and keep us on the road to the eternal life that Jesus promises and who is there to intervene and help us when we find it hard to pray.
I do not expect that this reflection has massively opened up your understanding of the Holy Trinity, it is after all a divine mystery . But maybe through the words of Paul we might appreciate a little better how God the father, Son and Holy Spirit interact as one for the benefit of humankind.
Peace with God comes about through Jesus Christ. God’s love is poured out into human hearts through the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is given for us by God.
Paul
Our Prayers
Lord God, Heavenly Father,
We thank you that with your Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit,
you share your love and grace with us and give us hope.
We give you thanks and praise for the knowledge
that you are three persons, each distinct and wonderful,
yet so joined in love and harmonious action that you are one
leading us to the promise of eternal life in you.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Holy, Holy, Holy"
Notices
There is still time to participate in the “Churches Count on Nature Week”, as we will be extending this into the coming week. There are forms at the back of church for you to record what you have seen, together with leaflets and a book to help with identification of species.
The Ladies of Leesfield Monthly meeting is on Tuesday 17th June at 2 pm in St Thomas’ Community Room. Everyone is warmly invited to share in light refreshments and companionship, and please feel free to bring a friend.
The funeral of Brian Hayes is at 1.30 pm at St Thomas’ on Thursday 19th June. Please do come and join us as we bid farewell to our Captain of Bellringers, who has served our parish faithfully for many decades.
