Sunday Worship
Today is the first time for quite a while that we have had both churches open for our Sunday Eucharist. You're most welcome to join us at St Thomas' Church at 11 am or at St Agnes' at 9.15 am. Reverend Lyn Woodall will be preaching and presiding on the fifteenth Sunday after Trinity at both churches. Some of our Covid precautions remain in place, but we'll be singing a couple of hymns and offering refreshments after the service, and Sunday School is now back at St Thomas'. .
If you're not able to be with us in person, you can find the Gospel, reflection and prayers below.
Our first hymn today is "Morning has Broken"
Today's Gospel
Mark 8 v 27-38 “Who do people say that I am?”
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Reflection
Richard Powers, in his novel “The Overstory” depicts the incredible being that each tree is. Set in America, campaigners are trying to protect the last of the Redwood trees. Powers describes the deep interrelationships between the trees, the immensity of their majesty – and the speed at which they are cut down. A campaigner sets this challenge: “Never cut anything down which is not going to be used for something at least as valuable.
Over the other side of the world, in Indonesia, tribal people are weeping. Whether tricked, threatened or exploited, they sold their rain forest land to a palm oil company. The money is gone, promised jobs pay very little, and the rainforest no longer exists to provide for their needs. A tribal leader is reported to have said that it was their supermarket, but one where we did not have to pay. “The selling of their beautiful, rich and diverse land for money hangs heavily on their consciences. They have managed to get a halt on further forest clearance whilst investigations continue.
Just before today’s Gospel reading, Mark describes how Jesus performs miracles, demonstrating who he is. He fed crowds with a few loaves; he restored sight to a blind man. Now he asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” For Mark this is a highly significant moment of Jesus’ ministry. Everything has been leading to Peter’s declaration: “You are the Messiah”. However, to Peter’s shock, Jesus’ messiahship will not bring glory and power. Instead, Jesus turns towards Jerusalem, where he will suffer, be rejected and be killed. Only then will he rise again.
Today’s readings make it clear that following the Messiah is not about going the way of the world. In one of today’s choices of Old Testament reading, the writer of Proverbs teaches that wisdom is rooted in “the fear of the Lord”. People are warned against killing innocent people and taking their belongings to fill their own homes with nice things. Abandoning the way of God will bring only short-term gain. When we need God in a calamity, we in turn, will find ourselves abandoned.
In today’s alternative Old Testament reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks of how God’s servant will not be glorified but will suffer. When we turn to our second reading, James, writing to an early church community, describes the damage we can do by what we say. Our tongues are so small yet, like the rudder of a ship, can direct our course for good or ill. James describes vividly the contradiction of speaking blessings while cursing others, which is like the impossibility of a spring pouring from its mouth both fresh and salty water. We have to choose.
Jesus’ teaching that the Messiah has to suffer turns the idea of messiahship upside down. So too, Jesus turns upside down what it means to follow him. It is not an easy option. We have to give up our own lives, and even go as far as to take up our cross.
“Who do you say that I am?” If we answer “You are the Messiah,” it changes our lives. Whether we are tribal leaders being offered quick money in return for our land or palm oil company directors, what we do has to be seen through this filter.
Is what we do in each decision, every action, acceptable to our God? If we are cutting something down, are we using it to make something that is at least as valuable? Or are we, as the writer of Proverbs puts it, filling our houses with booty stolen from those who are innocent?
When we open our mouths, do we speak as Christ would, words of forgiveness, of acceptance, of openness to sinners, or do we divide people and encourage discord? Answering “You are the Messiah” involves a commitment, a possible turning upside down of our priorities. But if we choose this path, we have the promise of the steadfast love of God. Having lost our life, we will save it. Jesus teaches that he will suffer and die, but on the third day he will rise!
David H.
