13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Hospitality

He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. 

Matthew 10.40-42

Regard the glass of water.

In the days before modern communication and even the dear old post office, one of the few ways to send a message was by a messenger. In Jewish tradition, a messenger was afforded the honour of the person sending the message. Therefore, the messenger of a king was treated as though the king were present.

In the same way, Jesus explained to his disciples the link between God and those to whom they would bring the Good News of salvation.  There is God, out of whose love the whole process of salvation begins; Jesus, who brought the Good News to humankind; apostles, prophets and preachers, who delivers the message; and the believer, who welcomes God’s messenger and God’s message and receives salvation.

There is something here for every Christian witness who believes they can have no part in preaching God’s message. We are not all called to be messengers, but we are all called to follow Christ. Everyone has a part to play and the reward is the same to those who receive the messenger and offer hospitality. For behind everyone engaged in God’s great mission there is someone engaged in the everyday tasks. In every church there is someone setting out the chairs ready for the preacher and making the coffee afterwards.

There is a direct link between God and his children. The message he sends that, through his love for us, we can receive life eternal. It is the gift of his salvation and has come to us through Jesus and down through the ages from his messengers, his little ones, to us. If we receive his messengers, we will receive the same reward as they. In receiving these and in our response, we show our love for our heavenly Father.

And the glass of water. (Dramatic pause.) 

A glass of water is given to everyone who preaches. It is in Eastern custom, the standard hospitality, the minimum that could be given. It needs no reward. I hope you will see the generosity of God’s grace. That his gift to us goes beyond that which we deserve.

Give me the faith which can remove    and sink the mountain to a plain;    give me the childlike praying love,    which longs to build thy house again;    thy love, let it my heart o'erpower,    and all my simple soul devour.    My talents, gifts, and graces, Lord,    into thy blessèd hands receive;    and let me live to preach thy word,    and let me to thy glory live;    my every sacred moment spend    in publishing the sinners' friend.

I would the precious time redeem,    and longer live for this alone:    to spend, and to be spent, for them    who have not yet my Saviour known;    fully on these my mission prove,    and only breathe, to breathe thy love    Enlarge, inflame, and fill my heart    with boundless charity divine:    so shall I all my strength exert,    and love them with a zeal like thine;    and lead them to thy open side,    the sheep for whom their Shepherd     died. Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

The Methodist Church provides worship and devotional resources at www.methodist.org.uk

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time > Sparrows

‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10.30-31

You may be surprised to hear that the most often repeated command in the Bible is, ‘Don’t be afraid!’ But, let’s face it - it’s tough out there.

We need not fear the truth. 'Veritas vincit' translates to - ‘the truth will prevail’. Some fear the truth. Those with political or commercial power, those with wealth or fame who are easily tempted into criminality, fear the truth. The truth is like a bright light that uncovers all the lies that lurk in the dark. But even truth meted out to defeat worldly corruption pales into insignificance when measured against God’s truth; the kingdom truth that in Christ we find the path to our heavenly Father, where death is defeated and love reigns over all. It is a truth that we can broadcast to all. We should do so without fear because we are in God’s presence.

We need not fear human retribution. Today we may not fear death at the hands of those who vilify our faith, although some Christians do so every day. Mockery and insult may risk destroying our faith, but look at it this way, do we lack the courage to speak confidently the powerful Gospel message so much so that we would break our covenant with God? We need not be afraid of God’s punishment, but we do risk being separated from his love through our betrayal and disobedience. A good Christian witness is one who spreads the Gospel message knowing that the verdict of time will be corrected by the verdict of eternity.

We need not be afraid because we are loved and supported by a God who knows and loves us completely. The detail in which we are known and loved by God is one of the most remarkable revelations and promises that Jesus makes. This not so much about the death of a sparrow but is much subtler and more wonderful than that. God notices as the sparrow hops to the ground and goes about its business. His knowledge of and care for his creation is so complete he even knows the number of the hairs upon our heads. God’s love for us is not so much about the might of creation but our daily nourishment, both physical and spiritual.

You are worth more than sparrows. We serve one who is mighty beyond any power on earth or in hell. If that is so, of whom then shall we be afraid!

A charge to keep I have:
a God to glorify;
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky;

To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfil;
O may it all my powers engage
to do my Master's will!

Help me to watch and pray,
and on yourself rely,
so shall I not my trust betray,
nor love within me die.

   Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

The Methodist Church provides worship and devotional resources at www.methodist.org.uk

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Harvest?

 

‘Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”’
Matthew 9.37-38

It’s a little early for harvest, isn’t it?

Therein lies the difficulty for those of us who live in cities have with agricultural allegories in the Bible. We don’t always understand the rhythms and practices of the countryside that would allow us to grasp the meaning effortlessly. Even in this country crops are harvested at different times of the growing season. In some climes, the harvest is never ending.

It is the never-ending yield of all people who seek the joyful blessedness of a loving relationship with their creator God that Jesus identifies as the harvest that needs to be ingathered and saved. The religious and ruling elite of his day looked down upon ordinary folk as darnel; weeds to be thrown on the fire and destroyed. They saw them as worthless sinners fit only for Gehenna, the purgatory that is named after the forever burning rubbish tip outside Jerusalem, where they would be judged and made fully aware of their shortcoming. That is not how Jesus saw them.

It is only Jesus that sees the potential in this bountiful harvest. It is only Jesus who looks upon them with love and is prepared to die for them in atonement for their sinfulness.

Now, this is where you come in. The highest calling to all the people of Christ, the ultimate challenge, is set out in this passage. There can be no harvest without those to gather it in. Jesus calls up you to pray for harvest workers. And, while you are doing that, I will reveal the most likely answer; Jesus needs you. In his time, his message was not heard beyond Palestine, but he knew that there was a world beyond that needed to hear it. He needed Gospel spreaders and found them in his disciples. He still needs Gospel spreaders.

So, where is the harvest today? What do we need to pray? When we get the reply, we will find that God wants us to be part of the answer.

                             Come, sinners, to the gospel feast,
                             let every soul be Jesu’s guest;
                             you need not one be left behind,
                             for God has called all humankind.

                             Sent by my Lord, on you I call,
                             the invitation is to all;
                             come, all the world and witness how
                             all things in Christ are ready now.

         This is the time; no more delay!
                   This is the Lord's accepted day;
                   come in, this moment, at his call,
                   and live for him who died for all.

   Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

The Methodist Church provides worship and devotional resources at www.methodist.org.uk

Pentecost - Easter People

Pentecost

Easter People

‘When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what deemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’
Acts 2.1-4

We are Easter people, and everything starts with the Holy Spirit!

Essential at creation. In Old Testament times, people leading, prophets inspiring. In Jesus’ life and ministry, Spirit led. At Pentecost, descending on the disciples, shocking them out of the paralysis of fear and inspiring their ministry.

We too are similarly led to spread the Good News message. Jesus promised that we would achieve even greater things than he. He was going to his Father so that the Spirit would be free to work powerfully through his dysfunctional disciples to win the world for Christ. It is this sane Spirit that is helper, advocate and friend to us today.

Jesus’ death on the cross still left emptiness within the disciples until the Pentecost miracle. Then, fully charged, they were able to go out and face the crowd, face the criticism, face the danger, and stand up and speak out about the Messiah they all adored.

The danger at looking back at the events of Pentecost is that we place it in history and celebrate it as a re-enactment of those first events. But the truth is that the arrival of the Advocate happens to us every day. It is Jesus’ gift to us; an ongoing experience that reminds us of all that Jesus has said and done. This is the power of the Holy Spirit.

A drop of water can create a gorge the size of the Grand Canyon. All it needs is time. Jesus affected the lives of a few thousand people. When it comes to spreading the triumphant message of the cross, the transformation of lives and bringing people into a right relationship with God, it is the sheer numbers that have followed Jesus Christ that have brought the Good News message to all.

So, what vision for the world does the Spirit inspire in you?  This is as good a time as any to be an advocate, comforter and friend to neighbours or strangers. Take time to speak to someone on whom the rest of the world has turned their back. It’s up to you.

We are Easter people; be great in the Spirit! In all you endeavour, may the Holy Spirit be with you.

           Breathe on me, Breath of God;
           fill me with life anew,
           that I may love what thou dost love,
           and do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until with thee I will one will,
to do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God;
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.

              Edwin Hatch (1835–1889)

The Methodist Church provides worship and devotional resources at www.methodist.org.uk

Trinity Sunday - Great things come in threes

‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28.18-20

The church in its infinite variety has got so much wrong throughout its history that it stands accused of letting down its Lord. Even some who love the Lord, have given up all hope of seeing God’s kingdom on earth until Jesus final return. We are regularly mocked by those who see the church as irrelevant in today’s world. How can we possibly believe in the idea that Christ is already in the world rescuing it, not only from death, but selfishness, cruelty, corruption, and every kind of evil and replacing it with life lived to the full in the joy of the love of God?

I’ll let you into a little secret (though it is plain to see for those who diligently study the Bible), it is through us, those who follow in the long line of disciples, that Jesus’ mission to bring about God’s kingdom here on earth is achieved. It is through us, in the power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus commission is fulfilled. If we do not believe this, we have not heard and acted upon Jesus’ commission. Those who mock the incarnation, life and mission, and the death and resurrection of Jesus have won.

There is no doubt, it is both daunting and demanding to evangelise, baptise and instruct the world to bring about Christ’s sovereign authority; a reign of peace, hope and love. However, we are not left alone. We have Jesus’ promise that he will be with us to the end of the age; no longer God with us but God within us. He who overcame death, empowers us with his Spirit.

Thus, the Holy Trinity, the three in one; Father, Son and Spirit, is present in the world through each one of us acting in accordance with his holy purpose to drive out wickedness and to bring the Gospel message to all.

Christ is made the sure foundation,
              Christ the head and corner-stone,
              chosen of the Lord, and precious,
              binding all the Church in one,
              holy Zion's help for ever,
              and her confidence alone.

Praise and honour to the Father,
              praise and honour to the Son,
              praise and honour to the Spirit,
              ever Three, and ever One,
              consubstantial, co-eternal,
              while unending ages run.

John Mason Neale (1811–1866)

The Methodist Church provides worship and devotional resources at  www.methodist.org.uk