Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday of Advent. Our Church Services this morning are at 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11.00 am 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 "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist Prepares the Way
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptise you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Reflection
Last week we looked at the need to be prepared and how the season of Advent is a time for reflection, prayer and penitence. A time when we need to prepare for the second coming of Christ by emulating him and leading righteous lives.
In this week’s gospel passage Matthew describes the way in which John the Baptist was telling people how to prepare for Jesus’ ministry and the first coming of the Messiah. How to make straight the path for the Lord through repentance.
A good starting point is to think about what we mean by repentance. It is clearly much more than saying I am sorry in a perfunctory way, with no real commitment or genuine remorse.
Repentance is about taking a good hard look at ourselves and examining where we have fallen short in our actions and thoughts and how we treat one another. It requires us to be honest with ourselves and accept the reality of where we have gone off course. It requires us to acknowledge the truth that we are all sinners in one way or another and confess what we have done wrong and the need to make things right.
Repentance is about being genuine with ourselves and not trying to make excuses for our behaviour or blame someone else – it is about accepting responsibility, declaring I am not fine, I am a sinner and in need of cleansing and forgiveness. It also has to be matched with a genuine commitment to change – and do things better and differently in the future. If we do not accept the need to reform, then we are not really sorry. We are not making the path straight for coming of the Messiah.
That is why John the Baptist reacted so negatively to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming to be baptised in the wilderness. He could see through the façade of their intentions. They were religious leaders and pious hypocrites who had heard about this religious teaching of John’s and the need to be cleansed by baptism. They doubtless thought it would look good for them to come along and take part in front of the crowds.
But John has no truck with them and calls them out – he names them as a brood of vipers. It was as much an insult then as it is to call someone a snake in today’s world. It signified their deceptiveness, like the serpent in the Garden of Eden which led to the fall of man. His point being that you need to do more than be seen to be good, you need to be good at heart as well.
We can demonstrate our genuine desire to make straight the path for the Lord in the way we change our ways and behave better. John refers to this as bearing fruit. Here is the really positive thing – when we confess our sins and show a desire to change it is not a shameful thing. It is a way of healing and receiving forgiveness. God wants us to repent and he wants us to be part of his kingdom. God doesn’t want us to live with a cloud of shame hanging over us and darkness in our hearts.
Jesus shows us time and time again when he consorted with sinners how we can change our lives and be saved. Jesus loves us so much that he died on the cross to save and redeem us all.
Repentance is how we each prepare for Jesus’ arrival. To repent is a way of acknowledging that our way is not working and that we are ready to accept the way of God as Jesus showed us. It prepares us to receive God’s divine healing and forgiveness.
Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the message of John the Baptist
and his call to repentance.
Help us to prepare our hearts and lives for the coming of Jesus.
Transform us from the inside out,
and may Your Spirit help us to bear fruit
in keeping with genuine repentance.
Guide us to live authentically and faithfully for Your glory.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending"
Notices
This afternoon we have our Parish Christingle Service at 3 pm at St Thomas' Church. Everyone is invited to join us.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the First Sunday of Advent. Our Church Services this morning are at 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11.00 am at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worsip at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Long Ago, Prophets Knew"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 24:36-44The Need for Watchfulness
Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
Reflection
It's the start of a new church year as we enter the season of Advent.
It’s also a time for preparation and looking forward to the coming of Jesus, the Son of Man. In his book, ‘An Advent Manifesto’, Martyn Percy describes it as follows, “at first glance it is a seemingly inauspicious event – a child conceived out of wedlock to a teenage young woman, born in a room shared with livestock”.
But as we know this was no ordinary child, he was the incarnation of God, in the human form of Jesus, the Messiah. As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth we are also called to prepare for Jesus’ second coming which he refers to in this passage from Matthew’s gospel.
Advent is a season of prayer, reflection and penitence. It is common to wish someone ‘many happy returns’ on their birthday, and as well as reflecting on the return of Jesus it is a time for each of us to return to Jesus and commit ourselves to living lives where Jesus plays a central part.
The boy scout motto is ‘be prepared’ and that is exactly the message that Jesus gives us – be prepared. Many of you will be preparing for Christmas by shopping, buying presents, decorating and putting up tinsel and lights. Indeed yesterday a group of people spent most of the day decorating the church with trees and baubles and other trimmings.
Some of you will be well-organised and may have already started planning and doing things, and others will leave it to the last minute - wrapped up in work and busyness. But the thing is, because you know exactly when Christmas happens you will make preparation so that all goes as well as it can.
But the preparation we need to do for Jesus’ return is not that easy. The point is, we know that Jesus will return because he has promised us that he will come again in power and glory to restore God’s kingdom - but we don’t have any idea when that will be. Or how it will happen. No one does apart from God our Father.
Jesus is not going to send a WhatsApp or Zoom invitation to put in our digital calendar so we can start living our lives better. Quite the opposite, it will be sudden and unexpected. So how can we possibly be prepared?
Being prepared involves constant vigilance and reflecting about at how we live our lives now. How do we relate to God who loves us so much he gave his only Son to become human and live amongst us and to die for us on the Cross.
Being prepared involves us thinking more about God and his love for us and sharing that love with one another, following the example that Jesus set for us. Jesus told us how to live and look after one another and how important it is to give thanks to God. If we do that then the very way we live our lives will be preparation for his coming again.
Maybe we should ask ourselves this question, ‘If Jesus returned tomorrow how prepared would we be?’
Where did I spend quality time with God, praying and talking to him? Thanking God and reaching out for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to show me how to be a better person.
It is striking that in the scenarios Jesus uses, he describes everyday situations. When he cites to story of Noah in Genesis, he talks about people going about their everyday lives, eating and drinking and getting married. They are consumed by the busyness of their lives but they have no time for God.
When he gives examples of the two people in field and the two people grinding meal, he is describing everyday folk going about their lives. It is not a sin to work or go about our lives, but if we are to be prepared we must go about our business in the way that Jesus showed us. We need to live our lives with generosity and kindness, welcoming the stranger and the outcast. Showing compassion and love, helping to build God’s kingdom here on earth in anticipation of Jesus’ return.
On my phone I get a message every week which tells me how much time I’ve spent on my phone, talking, messaging, screentime etc. I wonder what picture a similar app would paint about how much time we spend living our lives in a way that prepares us for Jesus’ return?
Advent is a time for reflection and repentance but it’s not about beating ourselves up; it’s about looking at ourselves framed in the context of the unlimited mercy and love of God. To quote Martyn Percy again, “God’s love arrived in the person of Jesus Christ, unmerited and unbidden – so our love for ‘others’ must be unbidden too, especially the least in our world. We love because God loved us first."
Our preparation for Jesus’ second coming needs to be no more and no less than living our lives as he showed us. Paul
Our Prayers
Loving Father,
We thank you that in your endless love,
You sent your only Son Jesus Christ to be with us.
As we walk our Advent path,
Help us to journey with him to that stable in Bethlehem
And not be distracted by the busyness of our lives.
Keep our hearts aflame with the promise of his coming.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness"
Notices
Please see below posters for all of our Advent Services and Events in Leesfield Parish
Welcome to Sunday Worship on the Sunday next before Advent, where we celebrate Christ the King. Our Church Services today are at 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11.15 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 "At the Name of Jesus"
Today's Gospel
Luke 23: 33-43 Christ the King
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Reflection
Today we celebrate Christ the King – I wonder what comes to mind when you picture the image of king. Maybe a medieval king like Henry VIII dressed in grand clothes to show off his stature and wealth. Or perhaps a king from a fantasy story like dungeons and dragons, resplendent in gold and silver armour with a bejewelled sword. Whatever you think of I suspect the image will conjure up a sense of majesty and power. Even our king Charles II is respectfully referred to a ‘His majesty’.
But this week, in the final week of the church’s liturgical year, we have had readings every day that focus on the last days of Jesus’ life and his journey to the cross. Rather than looking ahead to Advent, preparing for the coming of Jesus, it transports us back to Holy week,
Far from any images of grandeur and majesty, we have been reminded of Jesus’ last days where he was tortured and killed in ignorance by the Romans and the Jews.
They killed and ridiculed him because they misunderstood what Jesus meant when he talked about the ‘Kingdom of God’ – They saw him as a potential threat to their power; the Romans were worried about Jesus starting a rebellion against the Empire whilst the Jews, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees, saw him as a potential religious leader, challenging hundreds of years of perceived wisdom as laid down in the holy Book of the Torah.
Jesus did have a robe and crown, but these were marks of ridicule and the crown was a crown of thorns - yet another item of torture.
A couple of weeks ago we looked at how the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus, asking about the resurrection and how they were mistakenly relating the Kingdom of God to everyday life on Earth - a difficulty we all have , for none of us really know. In this scenario, we similarly need to look past the meaning of what it means to be a king in our framework of understanding.
We need to relate to the kind of king who is willing to be dehumanised, mocked and degraded, and willing to die for us broken on the cross. The Romans and the Jews were not wrong, Jesus is the ultimate king, Christ the King. But they were so entirely wrong about what Christ the King stands for and where his power lays.
He is not a king who comes to oppress his subjects with force and might, but a king who comes to serve and set free those who believe in him. To free us from our sinful ways and tell us that we can be forgiven. He shows us that true power comes from love and peace, not hatred and destruction.
At the end of the gospel passage Jesus tells the criminal next to him that he will be with him in his kingdom which will be like paradise. Jesus is promising a different kingdom, that we cannot yet truly comprehend. He calls us to be a part of that promised kingdom, with him. A kingdom where Jesus is the true king who rules not by domination or force but by gentle all-encompassing love.
A love expressed in his act of self-sacrifice on the cross to save us all.
When we confess Christ as King, we do not pledge allegiance to some earthly being but to God the Father, and we look to follow Christ’s example of service and sacrifice though loving one another. We look to share in his glorious kingdom by sharing his love and his values and spreading the Good News about a king who is willing to give everything to save those who follow him.
Paul
Our Prayers
Gracious God,
We thank You for the gift of Your Son,
who came to establish a kingdom of love, peace, and justice.
Thank You for calling us to be part of this kingdom,
and for the hope of eternal life with You.
May our lives overflow with gratitude and joy,
as we serve You and one another.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning"
Notices
On Saturday 29th November we will be decorating the trees for our Harvest Queen Christmas Tree Festival. Everyone is invited to come along and help – if you would like to pre-order bacon or sausage butties, please see Karen. The Lees Christmas Lights Switch-on with Leesfield School Choir and Santa is at 5 pm on that day, so why not have a full day of festive fun? The Christmas Tree Festival is open to the public from 12.30 pm to 3 pm on Sunday 30th November as part of Christmas across the villages, to coincide with the Lees Christmas Markets, so please come and join us to look at the trees and enjoy seasonal refreshments.
Next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent, and we will be having our usual Toy Services at both churches. If you are able to, please could you bring a toy in new or good condition for families who are struggling to buy presents for their children this Christmas.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish as we celebrate the Feast of St Hugh at the Worship Centre in St Hugh's School. There are no services at St Agnes' or St Thomas' Churches today.
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 "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God"
Today's Gospel
Mark 13: 32-37The Necessity for Watchfulness
“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.
Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
Reflection
Today is the Feast Day of St. Hugh of Lincoln and many of us will be celebrating at a joint parish service at St. Hugh’s church which is located in the school in Holts Village.
It is a joyful occasion where the school and village community join together with members of the other churches in our parish to celebrate this special anniversary.
St Hugh was actually born in Avalon, France in the 12th century and following the death of his father in 1165, he joined the religious Carthusian order in Grenoble where he was ordained priest 5 years later. He spent most of his early adult life in prayer and meditation and had a reputation for piety and holiness.
He was widely extolled for his many virtues of patience, courtesy, courage, gentleness. It was said that everyone treated him as a neighbour, as an old friend or as a brother. He loved the whole human race like himself and his abundant charity cherishes all men.
Word of his devoutness reached King Henry II in England and he was asked to form the first Carthusian monastery in England. Although a great honour, it was far from Hugh’s preferred choice of role, as he much preferred the life of prayer and dedication to God. However, under pressure from the king and the Bishop of Grenoble he was compelled to accept the role. Despite his reputation for gentleness he was not afraid to speak the truth to leaders such as the King and senior religious leaders in the country, and he persuaded the King to spend large amounts of money on the church and the poor.
He was consecrated as Bishop of Lincoln on 21st September 1186 in Westminster Cathedral, where, despite his position of power, he remained dedicated and devout and lived a humble basic lifestyle. His reputation grew as a champion of the poor and needy.
St Hugh worked tirelessly for the welfare of his people of Lincoln and surrounding areas. He was passionate about helping the poor and marginalised people in society and firmly committed to improving everyone’s spiritual well-being as well as their material needs. He was so committed to helping the poor that he often used his own resources to improve their lives.
St. Hugh was also recognised for his interventions to prevent the persecution of the Jewish people who were numerous in and around Lincoln. Attacks on them had been frequent and violent but St. Hugh spoke up for them and was not afraid to challenge the leaders of those who perpetrated the oppression.
The Gospel reading above is often associated with St. Hugh because of his life of devotion to God. It reminds us of his unremitting service of prayer and dedication and his personal example of how we should offer our lives to God and to the service of others.
It is an example to us of how we should all set time aside to spend with God in prayer and reflection and how we should live our lives as Hugh did, following the way of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sometimes we might well intend to be more virtuous but we don’t get around to it. And sometimes we don’t speak up for others when we know that we should. We all need to be watchful and alert to the needs of one another and not be complacent lest we get caught out.
Paul
Our Prayers
Holy God , who endowed your servant St. Hugh
with wise and cheerful boldness, and taught him
to commend the discipline of holy life to kings and princes.
Grant that we also, rejoicing in the Good News of your mercy,
and fearing nothing but the loss of you,
may be bold to speak the truth in love, in the name of Jesus Christ
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "All My Hope on God is Founded"
Notices
From next Sunday, the 23rd November, the Sunday Services at St Thomas’ will be at the new time of 11.15 am. This is because Revd Kirsten will be covering services on rotation between all 3 churches, so she will need time to travel in between, and also to get to know the congregations better. St Agnes’ Sunday Services will remain at 9.15 am.
It was wonderful to welcome Revd Kirsten to our parishes last Sunday, and we are all very much looking forward to her ministry.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Third Sunday before Advent, also Remembrance Sunday. Today we have only one service in the parish, a Parish Eucharist at 9.15 am at St Thomas' Church.
Following the service, we will meet with other churches from the area and the Royal British Legion at 10.10 am outside Lees Library to process to the War Memorial in Lees Cemetery for the Act of Remembrance at 10.30 am.
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 "Great is Thy Faithfulness"
Today's Gospel
Luke 20: 27 - 38The Resurrection and Marriage
Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her."
Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.".
Reflection
I have to admit – this reading is far from straight forward.
The Sadducees were trying to catch Jesus out by referencing God’s law from Deuteronomy 25 which is attributed to Moses. The Old Testament law requires a man to marry his brother’s widow to produce offspring, and they used it to set the stage to discuss a complicated scenario surrounding resurrection and so discredit the concept of an afterlife which they vehemently did not believe in.
To make things simpler, the Sadducees could have made exactly the same point by just referring to a situation with one brother, but they were so devious they added extra layers of complexity to try to make themselves look clever. I would argue they did exactly the opposite – by being so convoluted they probably lost half the people they were trying to show off to.
Because the Sadducees thought the whole idea of resurrection was just a silly concept they never thought to consider what the afterlife might be like. Their hypothesis is based entirely on our human life, existence and laws as a frame of reference. They had never entertained the idea that heaven is entirely different our day to day experience here on earth as we know it.
Jesus’s rebuttal is simple and direct – in as many words he is saying, “ Who ever said that marriage will exist as part of life in a post-resurrection existence? Why would we even need marriage in God’s new Kingdom, where everything will be refreshed and made new again.”
Of course this opens up a whole realm of technological debates about what heaven is like and what will the after-life be like? It’s certainly not a question that we can address in a short reflection, and I would not consider myself remotely able to give a firm view. In reality the only person that could answer it, stunned the crowd and Sadducees into silence – in the verse that follows today’s passage it says; “And no one dared to ask him any more questions.” What a shame, wouldn’t it have been great if someone had asked, ‘What is heaven like?’
But it does give us pause to think what our own ideas might be. I don’t think many of us picture heaven as a place with angels sitting on fluffy white clouds playing a harp; to be honest I don’t really know where that image came from, perhaps a TV advert from many years ago?
There is plenty of reference throughout the bible about the idea of a ‘new earth’, such as Rev. 21:1, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away “. Some scholars suggest that this infers God will totally refresh the world as we know it. The brokenness, violence and sin that exists in our world will be totally refreshed and made anew in a perfect way that will never be tarnished again by sin.
But what that will look like is for God alone to know. If we try to speculate based on our current experience then we are making the same mistake as the Sadducees did.
However, the good news is that the promise of resurrection is a reality and Jesus is the living proof.
The promise of the world to come, God’s kingdom where He is with us is also reality whatever that may look like, because Jesus the Son of Man tells us it is. When we turn to Jesus he promises, “we cannot die anymore, because we are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection."
Now that is something to look forward to, even if we can’t yet understand what it might look like.
Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
We thank you for the promise of your kingdom to come.
We look forward to the time, when
You will wipe every tear from our eyes.
Death will be no more; mourning and
crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’
Amen
Today's final hymn is "O God, Our Help in Ages Past"
Notices
This afternoon at 3 pm at St John's Church, Hey, we have a Welcome Eucharist Service for our new Curate in Charge, Revd Kirsten Stott. All are most welcome to join us for the service and refreshments, but if you are not able to be with us, please offer your prayers for Revd Kirsten and both parishes at this joyful time.
Next Sunday, the congregations from both our churches will be joining pupils, families and staff from St Hugh's School for our annual St Hugh's Day Service, and there will be no other services in the parish on that day.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fourth Sunday before Advent, when we also celebrate All Saints Day.
Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'. We also have a special service for All Souls at 3 pm at St Thomas' Church, where we light candles and pray for our departed loved ones by name.
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 "As we are Gathered, Jesus is Here"
Today's Gospel
Luke 19:1-10 Jesus and Zacchaeus
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.
All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Reflection
This weeks reflection arguably raises more questions than answers. Before we get into that, I’ll start with one of my own. Have you ever wanted something quite badly but can’t put your finger on exactly what it is? Maybe you fancy something different or special for tea and you don’t know what it is until hopefully you see it.
Let’s look at Zacchaeus; he was definitely looking for someone – he was looking for Jesus. But why was he looking for Jesus?
Luke tells us that he was a chief tax-collector and he was rich.
No doubt from cheating the Jews and the Romans. Indeed Zacchaeus half admits this when he later says, “If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Being a chief tax collector, it is reasonable to presume that he was probably middle aged. In my mind's eye, I picture him as quite portly or stout in stature from having a good standard of living and we are told that he was also short.
Zacchaeus is driven for some unknown reason to want to see Jesus as he passed. There is however no suggestion that he actually wanted to meet him face to face. However he was struggling to be able to see Jesus go by because he was too short to see over the crowds and in all likelihood, they may have deliberately prevented him from getting to the front because everyone hated crooked tax-collectors.
In his urge to see Jesus pass by, he decides to run ahead and climb a tree. The sight of this would most probably have been comical - watching a portly, short man running and climbing trees. Moreover, it would have been totally undignified and against the social etiquette of that period in time.
This brings us to some more questions; what did Zacchaeus expect to happen when he had climbed the tree? Did he expect Jesus to see him? Did he expect anyone in the crowd to see him? What did he think would happen as Jesus passed by? We don’t know but clearly he was consumed in his mission to see Jesus at all costs.
I believe the Holy Spirit was deep at work in this poor sinful man. It was the Holy Spirit that was transforming him. Deep down Zacchaeus knew he was a sinner and he may have wanted to change who he was for a long time. He needed that push to answer that nagging feeling deep within him – He needed to listen to his inner voice and guided by the Spirit he was compelled to seek out the one who could help. Jesus was able to open his heart and his mind to transform and release him from his sinful ways and Zacchaeus see what he has to do to receive salvation.
Jesus has opened his heart and mind and for me, this is as significant as the miracle when Jesus cured the blind man and enables him to see again in the previous chapter Luke 18:42.
Jesus has opened Zacchaeus’ eyes as well.
Perhaps if there is a time when we get a nigging itch or feel there is something missing in our lives, or something that we feel needs to change but don’t know what it is - then that is the time for us climb a metaphorical tree and seek the answers we need.
Find a space and look for Jesus in prayer and ask him for guidance – let Jesus be the one to look at you, call you by name and invite himself to stay in your house today. Because Jesus is also looking for you, ‘for the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’
I close with some words from Psalm 32:Verses 1 & 6
Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!
I said," I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin. Paul
Our Prayers
Loving Father,
Help us to understand when you
are nudging us to change direction.
Open our minds to listen to your call,
and our hearts to receive your message.
And give us the courage to respond to your will.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "For all the Saints"
Notices
Next Sunday the 9th November is Remembrance Sunday, and there will be a short, said Parish Eucharist at 9.15 am at St Thomas’, with no service at St Agnes’. We will then assemble outside Lees Library at 10.10 am to process to Lees Cemetery for the joint service of remembrance.
Also next Sunday, the Welcome Eucharist with Bishop Mark for our new Curate in Charge, Revd Kirsten Stott, will be held at 3 pm at St John’s Church, Hey.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Nineteenth 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 "Beauty for Brokenness"
Today's Gospel
Luke 18: 9 -14 The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."
Reflection
Reading today’s parable, I was reminded about a TV comedy sketch from the 1966 satirical programme the Frost Report – it starred John Cleese, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett and parodied the social class system of the era.
John Cleese was an upper class city gentleman, Ronnie Barker a middle class, management worker and Ronnie Corbett a working class labourer. The sketch is about relative superiority and inferiority of the socio economic status of the three people and is reinforced visually, by the difference in physical height of the 3 actors and the clothes they are dressed in. It shows the absurdity of how people of different standing either look down on people or look up to each other depending on wealth and upbringing. (If you’ve never seen it, I’ve included a link at the end of the reflection).
In today’s parable, Jesus similarly juxtaposes two extreme examples to make his point about how we see ourselves and how we should approach God in prayer.
If we look at the pompous, self-centred Pharisee, we see a person who is pretentious and self-important. A person who thinks he is better than most and looks down his nose at other people. Even in the Temple whilst praying he feels the need to ‘grandstand’ and show off how much better he thinks he is. We picture him standing by himself at the front in prominent sight of everyone else – it’s almost like he’s trying to get to front of the queue. Does he mistakenly think that God will see and hear him ahead of everyone else?
He is trying to impress everyone and show that he is more important than he actually is.
We see his arrogance compounded when we look at his words of prayer. He starts by trying to prove to God and those around him how much more righteous he is than other people, especially the tax collector. (Tax collectors were despised by most people as cheats and collaborators with the Roman Empire.) He is trying to shift the focus to others and at the same time totally ignoring his own sins. His sins of greed, and selfishness, the ways the Pharisees invented new laws to make life harder for people, and the way they also took money off the poor. Instead he is shining the spotlight on everyone else in the mistaken belief that his sins are not as bad. But all sins are wrong and we need to own up to them and repent. By not asking for forgiveness he is missing the opportunity to ask for God’s grace.
In his arrogance he fails to see the need to ask God for what he really needs - He does not recognise that his sins are taking him away from God.
In contrast, the tax collector is acutely aware of his shortcomings. Even the manner in which he approaches God with humility and deference says much about his demeanour and his respect for God. He is addressing God in a humble manner – When we pray we should remember that ‘The Lord lifts up the humble’. [Psalm 147:6].
The tax collector focusses his prayers on what he needs and is asking for what is truly important in his life – God’s mercy. He says a version of what is now known by many as the Jesus prayer - `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' [Luke 18:13].
He does not try to judge or blame others or pretend that he is better than he is. He tells God about the burden of shame he is bearing because of his sins. We do not know why he was a tax collector, maybe it was the only way that he could support his family – but he is clearly troubled and sorry about his ways and he knows that he needs to turn to God and ask for His grace. His conversation with God is full of genuine contrition, sorrow and repentance.
We too need to have that same approach – we may do lots of good things in our lives but we are also sinners. It’s no good trying to pull the wool over His eyes, because God knows what is truly on our mind and more importantly what is in our hearts. So when we pray, we should do so with a contrite heart and humility, and not be afraid to admit where we have let ourselves and God down. We should recognise that we need to ask God for the greatest gift he has for us – His mercy. Paul
Guide us by your Spirit, to examine our deeds and thoughts and admit our failings.
Give us a humble and contrite heart,
That we may come to you in humility,
And ask for your mercy.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Thou Whose Almighty Word"
Notices
Everyone is most welcome to join us for our service for All Souls next week. If there is anyone you would like us to pray for by name, please let us know.
