Today is Racial Justice Sunday, so as well as our own parish services there is a special on-line Church of England service. The service comes from within the Diocese of Manchester, and you can access it from 9 am onwards via our facebook page - facebook.com/leesfieldparish
Revd Amy-Elizabeth has also written this short piece for Racial Justice Sunday -
Sunday 13th February is Racial Justice Sunday in England and Ireland. You may think this has nothing to do with you, but it does. The Church of England says “Racial Justice Sunday is for all churches to reflect on the importance of racial justice, to give thanks for the gifts and beauty of human diversity, and to commit to end racism and acts of discrimination”. The six pastoral principles from the Church of England’s “Living in Love and Faith" project are: acknowledge prejudice, speak into silence, address ignorance, name fear, admit vulnerability, pay attention to power, commit to action. Churches together asks us all to remember the importance of Racial injustice, reflect on human diversity, and respond by working to end injustice, racism and ignorance through prayer and action.
All are welcome to join us for Sunday Worship on the Third Sunday before Lent. Our services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'.
Although Plan B restrictions have now been lifted, we do still have some Covid precautions in place to keep everyone safe. If at all possible, please do wear a face covering in church, and maintain safe distancing.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find today's Gospel, a reflection, prayers and a couple of hymns below.
Our first hymn this morning is "When I Needed a Neighbour"
Today's Gospel
Luke 6:17-26 Blessings and Woes
Jesus came down with the twelve apostles and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
“Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets."
"But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
"Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
"Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
"Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets."
Reflection
Only a few minutes ago, before I started to write this short piece, I was discussing some work I needed doing with a plasterer. There was much talk about uneven walls and surfaces and the need to level things out. So, the first line of this Gospel jumped out; “Jesus … stood on a level place”. He didn’t set himself at the top of a hill or on a platform, he found a level place. In fact, before he makes his address to the crowds, we are told that “he looked up at his disciples.
That is the point which is then echoed by his words, Jesus does not set himself above us and look down on us, he comes to us on our level. He came to us in flesh and shared our experiences. He places himself on our level so that he can metaphorically and actually see eye to eye with us.
When he talks about woes, Jesus is not saying that that it is inherently bad to be rich, fed or well liked. Rather he is warning us that we should not seek and worship these things to the exclusion of our attention to God. We all need to be God-centred and not fall into the trap of being self-satisfied or self-centred. More importantly we are charged to put ourselves on a level place and not look down on those who are less fortunate. We are told that power came out from Jesus and healed all of those that needed it - no mention of background, race, or creed. That is the promise that He makes – God sees and loves every one of us -He wants to bless all of us. How can we respond to that overwhelming love? Jesus is not asking us to give up everything and live a life of hardship and loneliness - He is inviting us to put ourselves on a level plane, to put ourselves at his disposal, to keep our faith and trust with God and to love our neighbours. He is inviting us to follow him because when we too find ourselves in a lower place of trouble or hardship, we will know that He will be standing with us, on our level, ready to bless us in our time of need. Paul
Our Prayers
Loving God, you see every one of us whether we are wealthy or poor, well fed or hungry
You are by our side and bless us when times are hard and we are struggling.
Help us to hunger for your grace and blessing
and not be distracted by earthy belongings and selfish ways.
We pray that we may receive your reward in Heaven where all will be in a level place.
In Jesus name. Amen
Our final hymn is "How Lovely on the Mountains (Our God Reigns)
