Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, which is also Mothering 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 will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Tell Out My Soul"
Today's Gospel
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 The Prodigal Son
All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
So Jesus told them this parable:
"There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"
Reflection
Most people are familiar with parable of the prodigal son but we seldom refer this as the story of the loving father.
Jesus tells this parable in response to criticism by the Pharisees when He is associating with tax collectors and sinners, when He is teaching them and eating with them.
It is a story of rebellion, repentance and forgiveness, but moreover it has a message of grace, deep love and joy.
In Jewish tradition, the youngest son would have received 1/3 of the family inheritance – usually after the death of the father. His actions to some might have implied that he wished his father dead.
By providing the inheritance early it would have had a dramatic impact. It would have probably meant selling assets, land and livestock, potentially laying off some of the workers. It was a major deal.
Having quickly squandered the money, the younger son is forced to lower himself to the most demeaning forms of labour and share food with the pigs. The mention of being driven to work with swine would be anathema to Jews and seen as utterly humiliating. The Jews didn’t eat or associate with pigs because they were unclean in covenant laws, [Lev. 11:7]. He would have been seen as the equivalent of a gentile – outside Jewish law – an outcast, no longer accepted by fellow Jews.
Because of this fall from grace, the younger son decides to go home, not because he feels sorry but because he has no real option.
We might expect, as a minimum, that there would have been some sort of indictment and condemnation of the son’s actions. But the father runs out to greet him with open arms and lavish the best clothes and jewels upon him. This again would have been totally unacceptable in Jewish tradition and clearly riled the elder brother.
Nonetheless, the errant son is welcomed back, and there is much rejoicing just the same as the previous parables about the lost sheep, [Luke 15:6-7] and the lost coin, [Luke 15:9-10].
Remember Jesus told this parable in response to criticism that he was mixing with sinners. The message is clear, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Similarly, there is a message in the response of the father to the eldest son. Many would think was the elder son was rightly angry with the father for the love and generosity he shows the prodigal son. But the father shows that he is capable of loving them both. In the same way, even though Jesus loves those that some people see as undesirable, it does not mean that he loves other people any less. Paul
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Third Sunday of Lent. 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 worhip at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness"
Today's Gospel
Luke 13:1-9 Repent or Perish
At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.
Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them - do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
Reflection
The Gospel, for want of a polite word, is a pile of dung!
I suspect that’s not something you would expect to hear in a sermon let alone for anyone to try to make a case that it’s a fair comment.
Bad things happen. They happen to everyday ordinary people. They happen to the sinful and innocent alike.
A forest fire destroys hundreds of houses, thousands of animals and plants and many people. A massive flood does likewise in another part of the world or an earthquake or a Tsunami. Or maybe a gunman or a knifeman kills a young family or innocent children for no apparent reason.
People are shocked and devastated – they look for reasons and look for someone to blame. There’s always got to be someone to blame. It’s global warming that caused the fires or the flood or the Tsunami. It people destroying the planet! It isn’t the earthquake that’s the problem, it’s the building regulations that weren’t strong enough or folk making a profit by cutting costs.
Somebody should have known that a person with mental illness might have committed an atrocity, so why wasn’t he locked up beforehand? There’s always someone to blame!
Some people turn their ire on God, they question and even blame God…. How can such a powerful God allow this to happen to innocent people? Why does God punish people like this? People who were young, mostly good - people who might have had a young family or were in the prime of life – why did God let it happen to them?
Perhaps you might have thought that yourself, especially if tragedy has unexpectedly struck someone close to you. Sadly, I know of someone who has fallen out with God and refuses to come to church because of a very tragic incident. We hope and pray that individual will feel the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit and come back to Jesus.
There is a whole body of religious study that wrestles with this question of, ‘Is God to blame?’ It’s called Theodicy and has been debated for thousands of years. We cannot delve into this complex theological issue in a short reflection, but it’s fair to say that there are some people who think all bad things are a punishment from God for sin. To some extent that is understandable, because they look at Old Testament examples like God destroying the earth in Genesis and the story of Noah, or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
However, to assert that all people who suffer illness or death are being punished directly by God because they are sinners, is too simplistic an argument. If we go down that avenue, then we could argue that, as we as we are all sinners, we should all be punished in some way right now.
Jesus explores this in His preamble for today’s parable. The starting point appears to be, ‘bad things happen in life’. He cites Pilate sacrificing Galileans and a tower that collapsed in a nearby town. Amongst those killed would have been people of all ages and backgrounds, some who were gentiles or Jews. Some who were considered bad people and many who were considered to be good.
However, He uses these examples of random suffering to highlight about another tragedy that could happen, unless things change in our lives. That other tragedy is Judgement – the day when we all stand before God and answer for our sins and deeds. That day that will come at sometime for us all, and none of us know when that will be.
Like last week's sermon, this is not the gentle, charming Jesus we normally expect, it is a Jesus with sharp edges. He is delivering a ‘pulling no punches’ parable - a warning that we all have to acknowledge that we have sinned and done wrong to others and to God. He also warns that we do not know when judgement day will be, so we cannot wait forever to get matters of eternal importance right in our lives. If we don’t, then it is only when we face God, that we will see His justice for what we have or have not done.
But wait! This is still the kind and loving Jesus we love and adore After all, because He gives us hope and shows us how we might make things right.
Like the fig tree, God is looking for us to bear fruit and do what is righteous. To do good things and also acknowledge our sins and let God know we are genuinely sorry for dishonouring Him. In Mark 11:12-14, Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree, that it would never bear fruit again. However, here He gives us hope. Like the gardener who wants to feed the barren fig tree with manure and give it one last chance to bear fruit before chopping it down and burning it in the fire; Jesus gives us the Gospel and His good news to feed and nurture us in the hope that we will bear fruit before it’s too late. Perhaps the Gospel is like manure after all. Full of goodness and richness that we can absorb and help make us righteous and worthy of God’s grace.Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and merciful Father,
We ask your mercy on us,
for the times we have sinned and failed to do your will.
We thank you for the opportunity to be nourished,
by the word of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Let us feed on his teaching, to do fruitful things,
And truly repent for all our sins.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "All My Hope on God is Founded"
Welcome to Sunday worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday of Lent. 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 "The King of Love, My Shepherd is"
Today's Gospel
Luke 13:31-35 Jesus’s sorrow for Jerusalem
Some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!
How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
Reflection
Jesus has a mission, and that mission is to enable God’s kingdom to break through here on earth.
Throughout His ministry, we see endless examples of Jesus casting our demons and healing the sick. It is a trademark of His mission.
He even empowers His disciples to go out and do the same work. As He continues His journey towards Jerusalem, people flock to Him in their droves, no doubt spurred into action by the stories of His new teaching and tales of His miraculous healing abilities.
At the start of the passage we hear the Pharisees giving Jesus a warning. Was this an outright threat or a friendly bit of advice? Although many Pharisees felt threatened because Jesus was exposing examples of hypocrisy, there were some, like Nicodemus, who were open to listen to Him - even if they found some of what He was saying hard to understand.
Despite the warnings, Jesus is defiant and refuses to be deflected from His mission of bringing God’s kingdom into this world. He will continue, today and tomorrow, and His work will not be completed until Jesus decides that it is time.
Jesus is also aware of two other important things – firstly Jerusalem has a reputation for being hostile towards prophets, not least those who have the temerity to challenge the establishment, (be that religious leaders or the Roman Empire) - He exclaims, “Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!”.
Secondly, He is aware of the fate that awaits Him in Jerusalem.
But Jesus will not be deterred. However, what is remarkable is how Jesus reacts. He feels sorrow for Jerusalem; He laments their inability to recognise who He really is and their reluctance to take comfort in Him. Despite what He knows about the city and its occupants, He still feels sorrow and compassion for them.
There is the wonderful metaphor when Jesus says, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem - How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings”.
He longs to gather them under His protection and show them mercy and compassion. As we read His words, we can feel His yearning to save these people and show them redemption and forgiveness, despite their wretchedness.
Yet, they are determined to reject all that Jesus represents. They refuse to be gathered into His salvation and will ultimately turn against Him.
As a consequence, He warns them that will never again see Him until the time when they are prepared to accept Him for who He truly is. The divine Son of God.
That might take some time to think about – What must it be like to be cut off from Jesus?
It’s a really sobering thought isn’t it?
Those who reject Jesus’ compassionate offer of salvation, healing and deliverance will find themselves abandoned, and left to their own devices.
As we progress through this season of Lent, and as we contemplate the ministry and passion of Jesus, we should also consider that turning our back on Jesus and all He represents has consequences.
Jesus’s longing is show mercy and unbounded love for us - but His longing for us must be met by our own longing for Him; and a longing for salvation, healing and deliverance.
As we reflect on the passion of Jesus’ during Lent, we should also remember that His death was only one part of the process by which Jesus completes his work of deliverance and healing among His people.
By His resurrection on the third day, Jesus is able to carry on His mission of healing and bringing the kingdom of God here to earth, through all of us who continue to believe in Him.
Paul
Our Prayers
Merciful Father,
We thank you for the mission of your Son Jesus,
who cares and loves each and every one of us.
Help us, as His disciples, to continue His work,
to spread the Good News of your Kingdom
and bring light to those who are in darkness.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Give Thanks, With a Grateful Heart"
