Welcome to our Worship on the fifth Sunday after Epiphany. At present both churches in Leesfield Parish are closed for Public Worship, but you're most welcome to join us for worship at home. You'll find everything you need to do that here on this page.
We'll also be sharing recorded services from the Church of England, and St Barnabas & Holy Trinity on our facebook page - Leesfield Parish
Our first hymn this morning is "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" -
Today's Gospel -
Mark 1: 29-39
After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Reflection -
It often seems like we have so much in our lives and every day is busier than the last. There are new deadlines to meet and it feels like we often end up working harder and harder just to stand still. It doesn’t end there either, many of you will get home and have family commitments and responsibilities. For some the current situation makes all this feel even harder as you try and balance work responsibilities alongside home schooling – I don’t think any of us can remember signing up for that!
My boss often says, “You need to make sure you get your work/life balance right” - usually just before she gives me heap of new challenges.
So how must Jesus have felt? As we heard in last week’s Gospel, he’s spent the day teaching, astonishing people and casting out demons and then when he goes to his friends for a bite to eat, there’s more healing needed.
It doesn’t stop there - after supper, word has got around about this extraordinary man from Nazareth. We are told that the whole city was gathered outside and despite it being the Sabbath (day of rest), Jesus did not rest as he set to healing more people and casting out evil spirits. Busy day!
Having slept, Jesus slips off in the early morning and finds a quiet place to pray, to reach out to the Father and reconcile himself with the knowledge that he is the Father’s beloved. It must have been tempting to stay a while in Capernaum and recover. The people there would certainly have wanted him to stay.
However, having prayed for a while, it is clear to him that his responsibility is to move on and do even more. There are more lame and sick to be healed, many more demons to be cast out, and more importantly there is much more preaching to be done. Jesus has a mission to bring the Father’s word to us and the message of the coming of his kingdom.
I think it is reasonable to say that everyone loved it when Jesus turned up. Good things happened and of course miracles too. His presence made a real difference and people’s lives were changed forever.
Of course, Jesus is still here with us, sharing our lives and listening to us when we take the time to pray and talk to him, just as he did with the Father. He is still among us in this imperfect world healing people, curing addicts, giving us a helping hand when we think the odds are against us.
Of course, for those who have felt the closeness of Jesus in their lives and witnessed his love in action, either directly or through stories we read in the news, it is easier to have faith and be reassured of his comforting presence.
But what about the other times, when things go wrong? When we lose a loved one too early, or feel abandoned and lost, when we’re struggling to make end meet or worried about losing our house? – when, let’s face it, life just feels too difficult!
How do we keep our faith when it feels like Jesus isn’t really there for me? Well, the reality is that despite how bleak things may feel, Jesus is always there for us. He may have withdrawn but he will never desert us. Just like in Capernaum, Jesus is in a quiet place, praying for us and in difficult times like this, he is inviting us to meet him there in that place where we may feel vulnerable and afraid. A place where things might be a little scary and hard to understand. He invites us to join in him in his prayers and be alone with him as he prays for every one of us. He invites us to open our minds, to know his presence and to understand.
No day is too busy for Jesus he has infinite capacity for work and loves us all. So, when he responds to our prayers let us show him that we appreciate him. Let’s take a few minutes to talk to him and say thank you.
Here’s a final thought - Just like when Simon’s mother-in-law was cured, let us make time to serve others and to share his workload for a change.
Our Prayers -
Lord, deliver me from seeking your help only in times of difficulty.
May I grow in grateful love for the ways you daily raise me up
and call me to the service of the community.
Lord, help me to put you first in my life by giving you the best of my time.
Help me to experience your love so that I can share it with others.
Help me to give myself to your plan of salvation
and to reach out to those who are searching for you.
Amen.
Our final hymn this morning is "For the Healing of the Nations" -
