Welcome to our Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish. Our Church Services today are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes', and 11.00 am at St Thomas'. If you're unable to be with us in person, you'll find the Gospel, a reflection, and prayers below, so that you can worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Wait for the Lord (Taize)"
Today's Gospel
Luke 12:32-40Watchfulness
Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."
Reflection
This lesson on watchfulness comes after last weeks’ parable about the rich fool, and also one of my favourite passages which is often read at harvest - Luke 12:v22 – 31. In that passage, Jesus tells his disciples not to worry because God will provide for us, just as he does for the birds in the sky and the lilies in the fields. He also reminds his followers how powerless they are, because worrying cannot add a single hour to our lives.
So Jesus starts this discourse with the simple message; “Do not be afraid”. He immediately follows this with words of assurance and love; “for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He is promising us that through the grace of God we can all enjoy his unconditional and perfect love.
‘Fear not’? Hmm, to many that might be easier said than done at the moment! After all, we have inflation at a 40 year high, energy prices continuing to soar, a war on our doorstep, not to mention even bigger issues like global warming. It is hard, because we are human and it is our nature to worry.
But we should not forget that Jesus too became human and walked among us. He wasn’t rich with a huge salary or comfortable pension scheme! He was persecuted by many, especially those in authority and power in the areas where he preached. He knew that he was destined to die in pain on the cross. But he also trusted the Father absolutely and he was not distracted by material gain or possessions. He knew what lay in store in the Father’s kingdom.
As we learned in the parable of the rich fool last week, it doesn’t matter how rich or poor we are in terms of earthly belongings, what is important is what we have stored up in riches towards God. That by our behaviour, kindness and love towards one another, we follow Jesus’s example, irrespective of what our personal circumstances may be.
The latter part of the passage reminds us that we need to be watchful and ready. If the school headteacher and teachers ‘live the school values’ and follow the regulations, then they will have no concerns when the Ofsted inspector arrives. But if they think they can leave everything until the inspector arrives, then they may well be found wanting.
Similarly, Jesus reminds us to be watchful and prepared for his return, for we do not know when that will be. What he saying here is not a threat. He is saying, if you are following His ways in your daily life and thereby serving Him, then when he does return, and he most certainly will, he will reward us by serving us and it will be God’s pleasure to give you a place in his glorious kingdom. So let us work with joy to serve and praise the Lord, in the hope that we will please our Father. Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and gracious Father,
your Son Jesus told us that you are pleased to give us your kingdom.
Help us to put aside our fears and self-centred ways,
that we may be transformed to serve others with joy and to be your loving subjects.
Lord Jesus, we pray that you will find us dressed and ready for service
and ready to receive your loving glory. Amen
This morning's final hymn is "Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind"
