Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity, which is also our Parish Harvest Festival.
This morning there will be only one service in the parish, at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church, and there will be no service at St Agnes'. The service will be followed by a 'Bring and Share Lunch', to which everyone is invited, whether you are able to bring anything or not - there is always an abundance of food!
We will also be most grateful for donations of non-perishable food items to share with the local community through Oldham Foodbank.
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 "Morning Has Broken"
Today's Gospel
Luke 12:16-30The Parable of the Rich Fool
Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’
He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Reflection
In our reading today Jesus told a story about a rich man who owned land. The land grew lots of food crops and one year, the man’s harvest was bigger than ever before.
He had more food than he knew what to do with. He had so much food that it wouldn’t fit inside the barns on his farm. The man had to choose what to do with all those crops and all that food.
What he chose to do was to build even bigger barns and to keep all the food for himself, just in case.
Jesus’ story tells us that there are a few problems here.
Firstly, the rich man didn’t recognise that he already had more than enough, more than he needed. Indeed far more than he needed. He already had enough food to fill his barns to overflowing.
Secondly, the rich man focused only on himself; he didn’t think about other people.
And third, he forgot what it means to be really ‘rich’.
The rich man held on tight to what he had and by doing that he missed out on the chance to share with his neighbours. He missed out on the chance to see what sharing could do, the change and growth it could bring for his community. He failed to recognise the benefits and joys of giving - As Paul tells us that God loves a cheerful giver, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. [2 Corinthians 9].
When we share and help one another, that’s when we find real riches. Jesus tells us not to ‘store up treasures’ for ourselves but to be ‘rich towards God’.
But what does that mean? How do we do that? We do that by listening to God’s word and by being generous, loving, and open-hearted with one another.
Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus says that everyone will know who his followers are by the love we show one another. That is what marks us out as Jesus’ disciples. We are ‘rich towards God’ when we follow God’s commandments to love God and to love each other.
We often think we don’t have enough, and sadly for some that is true. But as we celebrate harvest season, perhaps we need to challenge ourselves and think about whether instead we have more than enough, more than we need.
Perhaps also challenge what we do with our money, do we really need that big car that costs a fortune in fuel and insurance? Do we need so many TV channels when we have so much else to do in our lives? And do we need to stockpile things just in case we might need them?
What are we doing with the surplus, with the extra? Are we building bigger barns, holding on to things tightly, and keeping what we have to ourselves? Do we end up throwing food away as waste?
What could we do differently?
One step might be sharing our food [as we are doing through all the wonderful harvest offering which people donated at our Harvest Festival this week]. These gifts will be taken to Oldham Foodbank. Or it could be donating toys or clothes, sharing our time by, and love by, seeking out someone who needs support and kindness.
Or it could be by helping someone we don’t even know by making a donation to people across the world who really know what it’s like to have no food and who suffer malnutrition. If you wish to you can share your love and hope with our global neighbours by making an online donation to Christian Aid atcaid.org.uk/harvest .
As we celebrate Harvest today, and as we celebrate the bounty of God’s gifts and his grace, let’s remember those who do have so much less - and consider what we can do to be ‘rich towards God’ and one another. And let us give thanks for the gifts that have been donated today for families in need in our community, including those in and around our churches. Rev. Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father and maker of all things,
We give thanks for your creation and all the things you provide.
We pray for those who are not so fortunate,
that we may recognise what we have,
and ungrudgingly share what we have with generosity and love.
And pray that as caring stewards, we may respect your creation
enabling the harvests of future generations.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "All Thing Bright and Beautiful"
Notices
Upcoming events and services can be seen in the posters below-
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 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 "Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 21:33-end The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went away. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them in the same way. Then he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’?
“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces its fruits. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
Reflection
To understand the parable that forms the Gospel reading today, we really have to look at the Old Testament reading that precedes it from ‘The Book of Isaiah 5.1-7’. This is written in the form of a love song from God to his people. It is often called ‘The Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard’. In this, the prophet sings of a vineyard (Israel), planted on a fertile hill and tended with great care (by the people of Judah) cleared of stones, planted with choice vines, equipped with a watchtower and wine vat.
Despite this care, the vineyard produces wild or rotten grapes instead of good fruit.
God gives the people every opportunity to flourish and to thrive, but instead, time and again they produce only sour fruit – violence, bloodshed and exploitation. Therefore, God declares He will remove its hedge, break down its wall, and let it become a wasteland, unpruned, overgrown, and deprived of rain. God expected justice and righteousness but instead found horror and cries of distress.
Jesus is speaking this parable to his disciples and the crowds gathered. We must understand that he knew exactly who he was speaking to, and not least, who he was speaking about - the religious leaders, the pharisees and the scribes, and the people would have no doubt that he was drawing examples from the book of Isaiah, and relating to them in a round-about way that the leaders of this day, who were every bit as bad as those vineyards that Isaiah sang about! Jesus is warning them that the power and the privilege they enjoy as God’s chosen people is in dangerous waters – it can be removed easily if God wanted to do so. We might wonder why he is being so provocative, why so outspoken? Maybe he could have landed the parable more subtly, without the stark comparisons being made? But here, Jesus is still in grave dispute with ‘those in charge’ over the loss of his cousin and his friend, John the Baptist, and whether they accepted he was a prophet. He has launched at them the parable of the Two Sons, and then goes straight into this parable, just in case they have not quite grasped the concept in the first place.
In the parable, the prophets are sent (as the servants of the tenants) and are repeatedly killed by the tenants, (the Old Testament tells us that God’s prophets - including John the Baptist, are killed time and again by the people God has sent them to), until God sends his own Son, and then sure enough, they plot and plan to kill him too, (which of course they go on and succeed with also).
On first reading this parable, it can feel a little bleak – where is the hope as the story builds? But then, of course, comes the crux of the matter, as Jesus quotes Psalm 118: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Even though the tenants kill the Son, the parable points beyond death to resurrection: The rejected stone becomes the cornerstone and the Son’s death leads to the kingdom being opened to new people who will bear fruit.
The hope is that God’s love, patience, justice, and kingdom cannot be stopped — not by corrupt leaders, not by violence, not even by the killing of His Son.
In times gone by, people sometimes mistakenly thought that when Jesus says the vineyard will be given to “others who will produce fruit,” this was a rejection of his chosen ‘people’ Israel, and at this point, promotes Christianity to the theological ‘number one’. However, this is a dangerous path to tread. At no point does God reject his chosen people – they were chosen, they remain chosen. He is not talking about replacing Jews with Christians. He means that the covenant is open to all nations, that those who respond to Jesus will be welcomed and become a faithful community of fruit bearers. Christianity does not replace Judaism; it teaches that God entrusts His kingdom to all who respond faithfully — an invitation open to Jews, Gentiles, and anyone who bears fruit. In Romans, Paul explains this beautifully – he explains that God does not plant a new tree. He says there is one tree, the covenant people of God, rooted in the patriarchs. Christians are not a new tree, we are wild branches grafted in. The simple truth is the original tree remains beloved, chosen, and alive. But the new branches keep it thriving.
What was rejected becomes the foundation, what was wild is now welcome, what was broken is now healed. What hope can be found here, what love is demonstrated and what inclusion we receive.
As we journey through this next week or so, let us check that we have our hearts and minds on being the good and robust fruit bearers Jesus called us to be. As the parable states, ‘this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’ Rev Kirsten x
Our Prayers
Father God, thank you that your love is wider than our boundaries and your mercy deeper than our understanding.
You have tended one tree through all generations, welcoming all who turn to you, grafting all by grace. May the rejected stone become our cornerstone, and may your kingdom bear fruit in us, in justice, kindness, and courage, for the healing of the world you love.
Amen.
Today's final hymn is "I, The Lord of Sea and Sky"
Notices
Next Sunday is our Harvest Festival, and there will only be one service in our parish, at 11.15 at St Thomas' Church.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 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
Matthew 21:23-32The Authority of Jesus Questioned
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”
Reflection
In today’s gospel passage we hear Matthew’s account of Jesus’ authority being challenged. So before we go any further it is perhaps useful to think about who was challenging him and why.
The people who were challenging Jesus’ authority were the Pharisees, Scribes and elders of the temple. They were the leaders.
The Chief Priests could trace their spiritual connections back to Moses. The Scribes were the most learned theologians in Jewish society. The Elders had many years of experience and had the unquestioning respect of the people.
They had significant religious and political power and did not want to give that up to anyone else. They not only wanted the power but they craved the recognition and the prestige. So much so that some of them showed no compassion for the poor and the sick and they despised those they judged to be sinners.
So, why did they challenge Jesus?
They have no doubt heard the stories of the prophet John the Baptist who was baptising thousands and thousand of people in the River Jordan – a baptism of repentance and encouraging them to turn away from their sinful ways.
Then along comes Jesus. The, so called, prophet from Nazareth – the one who John the Baptist referred to as the Lamb of God. The one who has healed the sick, cured the lame and brought the dead back to life. The one who when he entered Jerusalem on a donkey was celebrated and acclaimed as the Messiah – the anointed one who will save the world.
Then, the first thing Jesus does when he enters the courts of the Temple is to cause havoc – overturning the tables of the money changers and the traders who were exploiting the worshippers with the complicit approval of the leaders. He then proceeds to cure the lame and sick within the Temple, thereby blatantly demonstrating his divine power to heal human brokenness and associated with the marginalised and outsiders. He was challenging the power of the leaders.
But not with might or wealth, he was challenging them with compassion and love. He was challenging them about their own neglect. Their inability to lead by example and to follow God’s will. He was challenging their inability to care for the people of God because of their own corruptness and love of power.
Everything Jesus said and did was confrontational; and a challenge to their status and power.
So they in turn challenged Jesus and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
But Jesus has absolutely no intention of getting engaged in some abstract debate about the nature of his authority. He didn’t need to show off to prove that his authority is greater than theirs. He had already demonstrated his authority.
The authority of Jesus was worked out in his welcoming of sinners and prostitutes. The authority of Jesus was worked out in his welcoming of little children. The authority of Jesus was worked out in his welcoming of the outcasts and those on the margins.
So instead, he asks them a question that will cause them to struggle and be forced to reflect on the true nature of authority itself. Jesus asks, “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?”
They are flummoxed and unable to answer, because as Matthew rightly explains, no matter what they said, the answer was bound to cause upset to someone or other. If they agreed that John the Baptist’s ministry came from God, then Jesus would say, “So why didn’t you listen to him and follow him?” But if they said that his ministry was not from God, then the crowds would have turned on them because they loved John the Baptist and believed he was a prophet.
So they are forced to concede and reply that they cannot answer. In doing so, they exposed themselves for who they really were….. their chief concern was to protect their standing in society and to protect their reputations. They didn’t give an answer because they were frightened they would lose that privilege.
We might therefore ask - In a fractured world full of conflict both international and local, how does this apply to us today?
The lessons of this Gospel reading have intense messages for all leaders, and people in authority, be that at national government level, in our church, or even a local football team. The key to how we respond is always to address the question, are we going to put God’s will or our own first?
Are we prepared to stand up for what is true and right in the eyes of God and to live out our ministries by the standards of Jesus? Are we prepared to show spiritual and political leadership do what we know is right? Are we willing to make personal and even courageous sacrifices to do what is right - even at the expense of personal gain and popularity.
Are we doing God’s will in the things we do and say, and are we, like Jesus, putting others first and loving one another? Rev. Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father, We pray for leaders and people in power.
For those who lead countries, organisations and churches
to those who lead local voluntary groups and societies.
Help us all to work for the benefit and good of everyone
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 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 "Praise to the Holiest in the Height"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16 The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
Reflection
How many times have those of us who have had children to look after heard the words, ‘it’s not fair’? Especially where another sibling is involved? How many times have we thought it ourselves – I imagine if we are really honest, probably only in the past few weeks or so? When we might feel overlooked for something we think we have done well and has gone seemingly unnoticed, or someone takes the credit for something we have done. Often when we compare what we have or where we are at in our lives against others who seem to be doing so much better. ‘It’s just not fair’.
And today’s gospel parable is that very moment. The workers chosen first to work in the vineyard have toiled in the heat of the day, sweated and laboured for the boss, and get paid a fair day's wages. And then along come the next workers and the next, until gradually the last employed have only had to work an hour or so. Yet they all receive the same payment. Its just not fair!
In the parable, those who have only toiled for an hour do not fare any better than those who have toiled all day, they come away with the same reward, and we can be forgiven for wondering, ‘where is the justice in that’. And this does not sit well with us. Our understanding of the Bible is generally that it challenges injustice, so that all God’s people can stand tall and be counted.
In this reading, everybody receives their share – nobody is underpaid, nobody is cheated out of what was rightfully theirs. But they all receive the same grace from God. The same salvation is available to all - no conditions attached. You may have read ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell – there is a line in it, ‘all animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others’. This book reflects the author’s thoughts on the Russian Revolution, where equality was the goal, but was soon manipulated beyond anything it had sought to put right. But here in God’s Kingdom, everyone gets their equal slice of the pie, the Kingdom of Heaven.
What Jesus seeks to educate about in this parable is that in God’s Kingdom, the expected norms are turned upside down. Salvation at the grace of God is offered. It is not a reward that can be earned. The Kingdom of Heaven does not have Penthouse rooms that the most deserving can aspire to. There are no ‘additional extras for loyal customers’ who have been visiting churches for years. There is grace extended to all who acknowledge that God is God, that Jesus Christ is King, and turn their hearts towards that light. Turning towards that light can never be mastered. We never reach a point where we have it ‘in the bag’. It is a daily commitment, where every time we slip into old ways, let ourselves down, do something we ought not to do, think we are more important than we are, put our needs before others, we can turn back into the light and acknowledge our weakness. This is not so much as feeling bad about our errors, and punishing ourselves, but about putting ourselves back on the right track, however many times a day, a week, a year, a lifetime it might take.
When Jesus tells of the Vineyard Manager who speaks to those remaining in the market place, asking why they have been idle, they reply, ‘because nobody hired us’. They have waited to be shown, they have not been proactive, but they have been obedient and gone to the market place and are then happy to be shepherded. Jesus does not punish them for that, nor treat them any less. He knows that we cannot do it on our own, we need guidance from those around us and ultimately from God to show us where we need to be.
Last week we had our Confirmation service, with 33 disciples being confirmed in their faith by Bishop Mark - and what a joyful occasion. But there were no better seats or higher prizes for people who had been coming to church for years or people who were relatively new to it. There was the same welcome, blessing and presentation for each who gave their hearts to Jesus.
As a hospital chaplain, I was asked a number of times, ‘is it too late to know Jesus’ by people whose earthly lives were ending. What a privilege to share this parable with them. To know that in turning to Him, we get His grace for toiling in His vineyard. Those who have known Jesus longer have had the joy of knowing him longer, but the salvation offered is the same whether a King or an addict. Whether we were born by chance in a wealthy place or in a place of poverty. If we turn into his light, and when we see his shining, beautiful face turn upon us, those differences will slip away. It is up to each of us to reflect that light into a world that is broken and hurting. Amen.
Rev Kirsten x
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the chance to toil in your vineyard and allowing us to be guided to and by you.
Help and guide us to share this joy abundantly, with all whom we encounter.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Father God I Wonder"
Notices
Details of upcoming events can be seen in the posters below
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. Today we have just one sevice in the parish, which will be at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church, with no service at St Agnes' today.
The service will be a special "Back to School" service, where Laura Tebay, the Oldham and Ashton Deanery Enabler for children’s work, will be giving a talk, and the service will include blessing the children’s school backpacks.
Also today, the Confirmation Service for our whole Mission Community with Bishop Mark will take place at St John’s Church at 3 pm. Please hold the candidates from our churches in your prayers as they take this next step in their Christian journey.
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 "Bind us Together"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35
Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.”
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Reflection
At the heart of all the readings for today is the theme of forgiveness.
In the Old Testament reading, [Genesis 50], Jospeh’s brothers beg forgiveness for mistreating him and selling him into slavery when they were jealous of him. For his part, Joseph recognises that what happened was part of God’s greater plan and he forgave them and provided for his brothers and their families.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans [14:1-12], we are reminded that it is not for us to pass judgement on one another, because we all stand before the judgement seat of God. Paul tells us that the mercy we show to others will be reflected in God’s judgement on us when the time comes.
When Peter asks how often we should forgive someone who wrongs us, he is effectively asking Jesus, ‘what limits should we put on forgiveness?’
He asks should it perhaps be as many as seven times. Peter didn’t just pick a random number - in Hebrew culture there is a significance to number seven. For Jews, seven was considered to be a perfect number which represented completeness and perfection. So by suggesting we might forgive someone seven times was in itself a sign of great generosity and Peter’s thinking was clearly on the right lines. Such a level of forgiveness would have been far in excess of what Jews would consider to be acceptable.
But Jesus takes this further, and calls us forgive people, “ Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times“. In doing so he is setting the bar as high as it can be. He is setting it by the standard that God sets for His mercy – Jesus is showing them that God’s mercy and forgiveness is unlimited.
In the Psalm for today, [Psalm 103] we are reminded that ‘God forgives all our sins and heals all our infirmities, [verse 3], and moreover ‘He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickedness [verse 10].
I have this vague image from childhood, of St. Peter standing at the gates of heaven with a book which had a record of all the things we had done right and wrong in our lives – for want of a better image, a ledger of our virtues and sins which would determine whether or not we were allowed to go to heaven when we die. Of course we all do things that are sinful, things where we let ourselves and others down and where we let God down – (I dread to think how many entries would be in such a ledger for me).
However, this passage shows how God’s endless mercy exceeds human understanding when He restores what is broken and pardons our sins. The immense debt of the first slave refers to God’s capacity to forgive no matter how many entries might be in the sin column of our lives.
There is also a clear message from Jesus of the need to avoid hypocrisy. Jesus does not mince his words when he warns that those who look for God’s mercy must also be prepared to show mercy to others. In an alternative version of the Lord’s prayer, the words - ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’, are translated as ‘forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors’.
Every time we say this prayer, we are therefore reminded that forgiveness is not merely a moral act, but also a spiritual requirement for those seeking the kingdom of heaven. Seeking God’s forgiveness is both a gift and a responsibility.
In our church services each week, we bring before God all the things we are sorry for and ask for His forgiveness and to be reconciled with our Father. In doing so, we should also reflect on our experiences of God’s mercy and extend that same mercy to those who we believe have wronged us.
Before we take part in the Communion we are asked to make peace with one another, that doesn’t just include those who are physically present but all who we might harbour resentment against in our hearts. True peace begins when we extend to others the same mercy we ask God to show us. Forgiveness is not easy - it requires us to let go of pride, hurt, and feelings of injustice and retribution. But Jesus teaches that mercy frees both the giver and the receiver. Rev Paul
Our Prayers
Merciful Father, You have forgiven me more than I could ever repay.
Help me to remember Your mercy whenever I am tempted to hold onto anger or resentment.
Give me a heart like Yours - gentle, patient, and forgiving.
May I forgive from the heart,
that I may live in Your peace
and reflect Your mercy to the world.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "God Forgave my Sin in Jesus' Name"
Notices
Next Sunday's Church Services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11.15 am at St Thomas'.
Upcoming events can be seen in the posters below -
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us, you might like to join the Church of England online service for the Festival of Creation in Christ, which you can find here - Church of England Service
Or you may wish to join us in one of the hymns which we will be singing at St Thomas' this morning - "Jesus is Lord, Creation's Voice Proclaims it""
Notices
Next Sunday is our "Everyone Together Service" at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church, and there will be no service at St Agnes'. The service will be a special "Back to School" service led by Laura, our Deanery Enabler for Children's work, and the children's school backpacks will be blessed.
Also coming up is the crowning of our new Harvest Queen, Loganne, on the 26th September - please see the poster for details.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 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 "Awake my Soul, and with the Sun"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 16:13-20Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Reflection
Jesus has been teaching and healing around Galilee for quite a while, but we are about to see him turn towards Jerusalem and His journey to the Cross.
Peter and the other disciples have been with Jesus for over two years, and witnessed everything he has said and done, including performing many miracles. Over that time they have, no doubt, constantly had to evaluate and re-evaluate their opinions of who Jesus is as well as revising their opinion of themselves. There must have been many times when they wondered why Jesus had chosen them to follow Him.
And now at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” So they tell him that people are saying he is John the Baptist, and others think he is the prophet Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.
It might seem obvious that Jesus cannot be John the Baptist, as many people saw them together at His baptism. However, the theories that he was one of the previous prophets are perhaps not so radical – it was believed by many Jews that Elijah would return before the Messiah came. The prophet Malachi [Chp 5], declared the promise of God: “I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes”.
Next, Jesus asks the crunch question - “But who do you say that I am?” The other disciples are silent, perhaps lost for words, we don’t know. Maybe they’re wondering if there is a reason behind the question – could it be that Jesus is asking why are following me? Why have you left everything to follow a humble carpenter from Nazareth when you know nothing about me?
Then, as ever, Peter jumps in - “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus is obviously pleased with Peter’s response, so much so that He blesses him! Peter has hit the nail on the head, he understands in his heart that Jesus is not just another prophet in a long line of prophets. His insightful answer points us in the direction of the fundamental truth that Jesus is the living God – God with us.
All this has been revealed to them, not by flesh and blood, or because they have been told by Jesus, it is a revelation from God. Jesus’ own Father in heaven has revealed the truth through Jesus’ words and actions and the relationship they have built with Him.
For us it might seem obvious that we know about Jesus and who he is, because we know about Jesus from the good news of the Gospels. But the essence of the message here is not just about Jesus through what we have been told or read.
Like the disciples, Jesus is looking for a relationship with each of us. It’s not about knowing about Jesus, it’s about actually knowing Jesus, and through Jesus knowing God. It about recognising what God, through Jesus, is doing right here and now in our lives and how we might see His power at work in our midst. Jesus is the key to our relationship with God and everything God has made and continues to do.
When we build a relationship with Jesus Christ and have faith in His love for us, we can be formed into His likeness and follow His example and live His values. Through getting to truly know Jesus, we can experience the joy of a loving relationship with Him, and open the gates of heaven.
Jesus’ church is built on the rock of the knowledge of the revelation that Jesus is the living God, the Messiah. The early Church that we read about in the Acts of the Apostles was built on faith and the formation of the people in the community, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
A Church built on faith in Jesus, and also people working together to bring what they had and building a community built on fairness and justice. It wasn’t just listening to what the apostles told them about Jesus, it was the desire to know Jesus and live as He did. It was about understanding how each individual should respond to His call.
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are reminded that, as Christians, we are all joined in the body of Christ and that not everyone has the same function. We each have gifts to offer according to the grace of God. Rev. Kirsten and I were talking earlier in the week about the encouraging signs of people coming forward and offering their help, even if they aren’t always sure what that help looks like yet.
As Paul says, it’s not always about ministry or leadership – it can be about showing compassion, listening, maybe practical skills or many other traits we have.
It may even be you have a gift that hasn’t been revealed to you yet – something for example that you’ve always fancied having a go at, but never got around to doing. A gift from God that you will find really fulfilling.
Paul also reminds us that we all have strengths and weaknesses, but thanks to God, they are balanced out in the Christian community. We are called to work together and help each other, but we are not expected to have all the virtues or skills as individuals, or to excel at everything.
So, as Rev. Kirsten mentioned a few weeks ago, if there’s something niggling you and you think that God might be nudging to do something – then please think and pray about it or come and have a word with us.
Peter was probably not the most obvious candidate to be the leader of the early church. He could be quite outspoken and, as we will hear next week, he was quite capable of getting things wrong and putting his foot in his mouth. Peter’s main qualification was that he could recognise the activity of God when he saw it and could understand that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. That was all that was needed to start to build Jesus’ church.Rev. Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
Help us to recognise your power and hand at work in our lives and the world.
We pray that we may discern your will
and the part you are calling us to play in building your kingdom.
Help us to come to truly know Your son Jesus Christ
and be daily transformed into his likeness, and receive the keys to heaven.
