A Thought for the week Archive

Sunday 31 March 2024

EASTER DAY
THE STORY CONTINUES

"The Lord is risen!  He is risen indeed!"

For the people of his time, the crucifixion must have meant the end of Jesus.  Crucifixion was a Roman, not a Jewish means of execution, and arguably the most barbaric. Few condemned to death in this way could ever hope to survive, even for a short time, so when Jesus died in the afternoon of Good Friday, people must have thought they had seen and heard the last of him.  

For those of that outlook, the resurrection was far too good to be true. The story of the empty tomb was so staggering it simply could not be true.  It must be a hoax or contrived to assuage the grief of Jesus's followers.  Thus, in St. Matthew's Gospel (28:11-15), we find that when some of the guards at the tomb came with this story to the Jewish authorities, the powers-that-be were deeply disturbed, and resolved to lay it to rest.

In response to the 'empty tomb' rumour, they hatched a devious plan, bribing the guards at the tomb to say that while they slept, Jesus's disciples came and stole the body.  In their frantic attempts to eliminate Jesus, the authorities used all kinds of tactics: treachery to capture him, illegality to try him, and slander to charge him before Pilate.  Now they resorted to bribery to cover up the truth about him, and to smother for good the incredible tale that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

In the two thousand years following, others have sought to do likewise, striving hard to eliminate Jesus from human consciousness.  Even Biblical scholars have attempted to prove that Jesus never existed, and that the supposed knowledge we have of him is only human invention. 

The fact remains: it is those who have tried to eliminate Jesus who are now forgotten, while the One who was crucified on Good Friday and raised from the dead on Easter Day has never been forgotten.  All through history, the risen Christ of Easter has made his presence known, both in lives and in the course of events.  Even in the Covid world, Jesus was said by many to have been present, particularly among the suffering and the sorrowing; and in every circumstance of our time he is present with us, revealing the power of the love of God for us all - a love that is ultimately stronger than death itself.

When Jesus died, many must have thought that this was the end of him. They were wrong.  It was only the end of the beginning.  The story of Jesus Christ continues.  That is why we rejoice today with glad and thankful hearts!

A happy, healthy and peaceful Easter to you all!

Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make us perfect in every good work to do his will;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us this Eastertide,
and remain with us always.   Amen.

Saturday 30 March 2024

HOLY SATURDAY
EASTER EVE

"In stillness Earth awaits the Resurrection."

On this day, Jesus's body lay in the tomb until the resurrection. Jewish law stated that even the body of a criminal must be buried that day.  None of Jesus's relatives could claim the body, as they were all Galileans and did not possess a tomb in Jerusalem.  At this point, the wealthy, and possibly influential Joseph of Arimathea intervened.  He asked Pilate for the body, after which he treated it and cared for it, and placed it in a rock tomb.  Today, we remember all those who have lost their lives in whatever way, whom we prayerfully commend to God's care, in the faith that, through Jesus Christ, "death has no more dominion over them."  We also remember our own loved ones, who now see Christ face to face, and we look with compassion and gentleness on all who mourn this day.

(A moment for quiet reflection)

O God, as we come to Easter Eve and think of Jesus in the tomb, grant that we may pass with him through the grave and gate of death, and be reborn to life in joy and everlasting praise; through him who died, was buried, and rose again for us, the same Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.   Amen.

One final thought: Joseph of Arimathea is thought to have been an influential figure: a member of the Sanhedrin and a man of standing in the community.  It is often said that he gave Jesus a tomb, but failed to support him during his life.  Is this not an unfortunate trait in human nature?  It could be said of us that we often fail to support people when they are living, but turn up at their tomb with flowers and other well-meaning but long overdue and hollow tributes.

Friday 29 March 2024

A THOUGHT FOR GOOD FRIDAY
GOD'S VACCINE

Following his arrest and trial, Jesus was on this day found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by crucifixion, arguably the most barbaric means of execution devised by the Roman authorities.  At three in the afternoon, at Golgotha (the place of the skull), Jesus died.

This Passiontide, the Coronavirus regulations have been lifted. The virus has not disappeared: there are occasional spikes in this country, and in other parts of the world; and the virus still holds some victims in its grip. It is often said that as one virus is eradicated, another is ready and waiting to take its place.

There is indeed a virus which has infected this world, and is known by many names, the traditional name being sin.  Sin means that human nature, while benevolent, is fundamentally flawed and not what it ought to be.  As human beings, we are not what God wills us to be, because sin causes us to 'miss the mark,' and think, speak and act in ways that are far from ideal.  Human effort cannot reverse this condition - this can only be done by God's initiative, otherwise an 'an act of God.'

While scientists, researchers and others have brought hope to a Covid-ridden world, God has provided the vaccine for the virus of human sin.  Out of love for us and for the world, God gave the vaccine in the person of his Son Jesus Christ.  On the Cross, God took upon himself the sin of the world, and thus provided the remedy for the human condition.  Jesus Christ is God's vaccine, and remains so in the sinful world of our day.

At Eastertide in France, there is a short phrase sometimes written on the walls of buildings, or on the sides of buses and other public service vehicles.  This phrase is also recited or chanted in churches, or simply used as an Easter greeting.  The phrase reads: "L'amour de Dieu est folie!", meaning that "The love of God is folly, or foolish!"  

This is because it might have been easier for God to redeem the world by some other means.  Instead, God gave his only Son to deal with the virus of human sin by embracing the world, with arms outstretched on a Cross. Foolish?  Perhaps.  But further to this, by giving Jesus to die on the Cross, God has dealt with the virus that finally afflicts us all - the virus we call Death.  The love of God may be reckless and foolish.  But that love has transformed the virus of Death into the gift of Eternal Life.

O Lord our God, as we come this day before the Cross, with all its suffering and shame, help us to see Jesus Christ as the answer to this world's sin, and as the one who offers us eternal life;; and by the power of the Holy Spirit, may he ever be for us the example we follow, the master we serve, and the friend to whom we turn, now and all our days.   Amen.

Holy Week

REFLECTIONS FOR HOLY WEEK
Grant us faith, O God, to journey into this holiest
of weeks, assured of the presence of our crucified
and risen Lord, your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.   
                                       Amen.

MONDAY
On this day, Jesus visited the Temple in Jerusalem, and cleansed the courts of the money-changers who defiled that holy place.  Today, we ask God in Christ to cleanse our lives of all that is impure and unworthy, that he will make us honest in our dealings with him, and in our dealings with others.  As Colin Morris has said: 'The world belongs to God and will be what we make it.'  Let us make it a place of honest business and virtuous living.

TUESDAY
On this day, Jesus taught in the Temple courts, and spoke the great parables of judgment and salvation.  Today, we ask God in Christ that we not only to listen to our Lord's teaching, but obey it.  As William Barclay said: 'Profession of faith without practice is something of which we are all more or less guilty... It does incalculable harm to the Christian Church... for it produces a faith which cannot do anything else than wither away.'

WEDNESDAY
On this day, Jesus was anointed at Bethany by a woman with a bottle of expensive ointment.  By doing so, she was symbolically anticipating his forthcoming death and burial.  The disciples protested at the waste - the ointment could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Yet Jesus commended this woman for her spontaneous gesture.  Today, we ask God in Christ to give him, not our easiest and cheapest efforts, but only what is best: only what is excellent and costs us something.  As Bishop John Taylor said: 'Only the best is good enough for God.'

MAUNDY THURSDAY
On this day, Jesus met with his disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem, washed their feet, gave the New Commandment to love one another, instituted the Holy Supper, and then went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Today, we ask God in Christ to make love the motive of all that we think, say and do. We pray for our lives to be purged of anger, bitterness and hate, so that the world may be ruled, not by the love of power, but only by the power of love.

 

Sunday 24 March 2024

LENT 6
PALM SUNDAY
JESUS, THE UNEXPECTED ONE!

"When he entered Jerusalem the whole city went wild with excitement."

The story of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, as recorded in St. Matthew's Gospel (21: 1-11), is a tale of the unexpected.  It was Passover time in Jerusalem, and the city and the surrounding district were packed with pilgrims drawn from every place.  As Professor William Barclay says, Jesus entered into a city "surging with people keyed up with religious expectations," and into a setting highly charged with emotion - a hotbed, as we might say.

The scene was one of a royal welcome and Jesus was received by the crowd like a king.  The people spread their cloaks on the road.  They cut down palm branches (symbols of greatness and victory, often depicted on coins and important buildings) and waved them in the way that we would wave flags at a royal visitor today.  They shouted 'Hosanna!,' which means 'Save now!' - a cry for help from oppressed people for rescue and release. Jesus was welcomed into the holy city as a royal personage and hailed as the liberator, saviour and king of his people.

This is a tale of the unexpected.  Within days the whole mood of the city had changed.  The loud 'Hosannas' had become shouts of 'Crucify!'  The cheering turned to jeering, the merriment to mockery, the exaltation to execution.  The trappings of royalty were replaced by an instrument of torture, and the one once hailed as a king was now condemned as a criminal.  He came in peace, not in might, and rode on a donkey to press this point.  He came not to destroy but to save; not to condemn but to help; not to use the force of arms, but only the power of sacrificial love.  Jesus did not turn out to be the Messiah, the Anointed Son of God, whom the people had longed for.  The regal reception of Palm Sunday was quickly transformed into the raucous rabble of Good Friday.

In this tale of the unexpected, the people failed to understand the nature of his kingship.  They thought Jesus came to claim the kingship of the throne: that he would put Israel's enemies to rout, liberate the Jews from Roman rule, and claim the throne of the nation. Jesus's notion of kingship was radically different.  He came to claim the kingship of the heart; and the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday was a final opportunity for people to open their hearts to him, to acknowledge him as saviour and king, and to commit themselves to walking in his way, which was God's way.  Bitter disappointment turned to hate: the only throne for Jesus was a Cross, and the only crown a crown of thorns.  How fickle is human nature!

This is not a story of something Jesus did once.  This tale of the unexpected is something Jesus has done all through history, and continues to do today.  Jesus comes and comes again to claim the kingship of the heart: to harness our love, our loyalty and our obedience.  This same Jesus invites us to surrender our very selves to his rule, and to follow in his way, which is God's way.  He does so, often in surprising ways and at the least expected of moments.  The truth remains that Jesus comes to our bruised and battered world, and stands knocking at the door of human hearts, bidding us to acknowledge his sovereign rule in our lives.

Are we going to invite Jesus into our lives to remain with us for ever? Or, like many in that fickle crowd on Palm Sunday, are we going to bar the door and reject him?  Jesus Christ, the unexpected one, demands a decision from us!

Most gracious God, as your dear Son entered the holy city on that first Palm Sunday, where he was to suffer and die for our sake, so may our hearts be the place he would enter now, that we may give ourselves to his rule, and enthrone him in our lives as Saviour and King; in whose name we pray.    Amen.

A PRAYER FOR PALM SUNDAY

Lord Jesus Christ,
you came to our world as the King of kings
and as Lord of lords,
yet also the servant of all.
As we come to Palm Sunday
and closer to the Cross of Christ,
help us to understand
that real strength lies in weakness,
true greatness in humility,
and perfect freedom in your service
and in the service of others;
to the glory of your name.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all, this Passiontide
and for evermore.   Amen.

Sunday 17 March 2024

LENT 5
THE ANOINTING AT BETHANY
PASSIONTIDE BEGINS
 
In the Christian Year, the Fifth Sunday of Lent is usually known as Passion Sunday, coming from the Latin passio, and meaning 'to suffer.' From now on, our attention falls on the Cross - that 'wondrous Cross' on which, as Isaac Watts says in his beautiful Passiontide hymn, 'the Prince of Glory died.'
 
On his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus (now branded an outlaw) came to Bethany, a short distance from the city. While receiving hospitality, most likely in the home of Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus, something sensational happened. Mary's heart overflowed with love and devotion, her loyalty to Jesus revealed by the pouring of a pound of extremely precious ointment over Jesus's feet, which she then wiped with her hair, filling the whole house with its fragrance.
 
Judas Iscariot questioned this action, denouncing it as sheer waste, and insisting that this costly perfume might have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Jesus silenced Judas by reminding him that there would always be opportunity to give money to the poor, but any kindness to Jesus had to be shown now, for he would shortly be on the Cross. "The poor you have always among you, but you will not always have me." (St. John 12: 8)
 
In the culture of the time, this was a scandalous action. On marriage, a girl's hair was tightly bound, and she would never again be seen in public with her long locks flowing. In first century Palestine this was the sign of an immoral woman. Yet Mary never gave this a thought. She ignored the taboos of her day and wiped Jesus's feet with her hair.
 
What we see here is the unselfconscious nature of love and devotion. Many today are extremely self-conscious about their Christian faith and its expression, Many are coy about revealing their faith in public, and would hesitate to declare it in such an open, uninhibited manner. We are often told that all religions, particularly the Christian brand, belong to the private sphere and have no place in public life. Religious inclinations are deemed to be personal, and must therefore be kept hidden.
 
As a result of this pressure to remove religion from the public sphere, we may be self-conscious, even guilty and apologetic about our faith, and have concurred with the widely-held view that religious expression is a purely personal matter.
 
Mary never subscribed to this view. She seemed untroubled by her actions, showing us how loyalty to Jesus Christ may have a certain unselfconsciousness about it, indeed even a certain extravagance or recklessness. Mary loved Jesus so much that she let her conscience dictate her actions, not the court of public opinion.
 
As we come closer to the Cross of Jesus, with all its suffering and shame, we may ask ourselves if Mary is an example we would wish to follow. Or in this secular, irreligious age, does public opinion hold us firmly in its grip? Do we regard our own Christian faith and practice as public property or as a private possession? Would we do as Mary did?
 
O God, as we remember the anointing of Jesus at Bethany, help us to give him only our costliest gifts, and to show him our love and devotion according to conscience and conviction, and never according to public opinion; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
PRAYERS FOR PASSIONTIDE
 
O God, as we come to Passiontide,
we confess how guilty we are of the very sins
that drove Jesus to the Cross....
Help us to nail to your dear Son's Cross
the devious thoughts of the mind,
the wrong desires of the heart,
the cruel words of the tongue,
and the ill-employment of our ways,
that we may grow again in grace,
and much more into the likeness of him
who by his death and precious blood
has redeemed the world,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
O God, whose blessed Son entered into glory
but only by the shameful way of the Cross:
as Passiontide begins, we now pray for those
who are compelled to bear heavy burdens,
in their hearts, and in their lives,
remembering before you those known to us
and loved by us who need our prayers
and your blessing at this time....
Strengthen them by your Holy Spirit
to face their burden courageously,
to accept it hopefully and cheerfully,
and to carry it patiently at all times,
for Jesus Christ our Saviour's sake. Amen.
 
THE BLESSING
 
May Christ enable us to grow in grace,
and to take up our cross and follow him.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon us, and remain with us always. Amen.

Sunday 10 March 2024

LENT 4
MOTHERING SUNDAY

The origins of Mothering Sunday are obscure and open to different explanations.  The consensus is that Mothering Sunday, midway through the penitential season of Lent, started in the 16th century as a religious festival, with no connection to mothers or motherhood.  

It became a tradition that, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, people would return to their "mother church," perhaps the family church or the one in which they were baptised, for a special thanksgiving service.  This meant that families, reunited as adults, returned to the communities where they had been brought up.  In other words, Mothering Sunday was a day of pilgrimage.

In time, a further development took place, when young people, often working in large country houses as domestic servants, were given the day off, and an opportunity to reunite with their loved ones, as well as attend their "mother church."  Mothering Sunday is also known as Refreshment Sunday, because on that day, midway through Lent, the strict fasting rules were relaxed, and the eating of some food permitted.  

Whatever the origins of Mothering Sunday, though celebrated as Mother's Day, it has no connection with the American festival of that name, inspired by Anna Maria Jarvis's efforts to establish Mother's Day in 1913.

What might we think about on Mothering Sunday?

Firstly, before Jesus was arrested and put to death on the Cross (which is what Lent is leading up to), Jesus gave his disciples one final command:  "Love one another," he said.  "Love one another, as I have loved you."  What Jesus asked of his followers was that love, not self, would be the motive behind all that they did.  Jesus insisted that love must be the driving-force of all that we do, and that we must always strive to secure the wellbeing of others, before seeking our own satisfaction.  Today, on Mothering Sunday, we may think carefully about the divine command to "love one another."   One observer has said that our age is "utterly disrespectful and heartless," where self comes first and where aggression, rather than compassion, is so dominant  We need to rediscover the significance of this great commandment and how to apply it in a 21st century context.

Secondly, we may remember and give thanks today for the unfailing love of God himself, whose mercies endure for ever, and are new every morning.  The love of God is expressed in many ways: in the beauty of the earth, the air, the sky and the sea; in the blessings of family life; in the joy of friends; in the face of a new-born animal or child; and in "all things bright and beautiful" in God's garden of creation. Today, on Mothering Sunday, we may carefully reflect on the love of God himself - a love supremely revealed in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Mothering Sunday is a popular social festival.  As we recall Mothering Sunday in its original context, however, let this day be a celebration, not only of motherhood and family life, but a celebration of love - both human and divine.

Point to ponder:  Has Mothering Sunday now developed into a sentimental, secular festival?  Or does it still warn us of the divine command to love God and neighbour?

Gracious God, as we celebrate Mothering Sunday, 
help us to remember and give thanks for the love
which, from our birth, over and around us lies; and 
for your love, revealed in the world around us, and
most supremely in him who is the King of love, our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR MOTHERING SUNDAY

God of compassion,
whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,
shared the life of a home in Nazareth,
and on the cross
  drew the whole human family to himself:
strengthen us in our daily living
that in joy and in sorrow
we may know the power of your presence
to bind together and to heal;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

O Lord our God, as at this time we recall 
the precious sufferings of your Son upon
the cross, bless all those who suffer today,
or are in any kind of affliction; and give to
each healing and wholeness, and the gift
of life in all its fullness; through him whose
love never falters or fades, Jesus Christ our
Lord, alive for evermore.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

Christ give us grace to grow in holiness,
to deny ourselves,
and take up our cross, and follow him;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 3 March 2024

LENT 3
A SEASON FOR PENITENCE

As we have already noted, Lent was historically a season for fasting and for some form of self-denial.  For many Christians today, Lent still has this focus, while others prefer to practise alternative means of self-discipline and devotion. When God, through the prophet Joel (2: 13), urges his people to rend their hearts and not their garments, God is pleading with them, not to tear their clothing, but to surrender their hearts to him, giving God unyielding devotion and unfailing obedience. Repentance is urgently needed: through his prophet, God calls his wayward people to forsake their evil ways and return to their true faith in him.

"Repentance" is one of the great words of Lent, and this forty-day period leading to Easter was, and remains, a time for penitence of heart, mind and spirit.  Lent is a penitential season, the seriousness of which is indicated by its purple colour and solemn character. Lent is a time for Christians to do what the Book of Lamentations prescribes: "to search and examine their ways, and turn again to the Lord."  In all branches of the Christian Church, Lent was a time for rigorous self-examination, and to seek God's grace to effect a transformation in life, bringing about spiritual growth and renewal.  The Roman Catholic and Anglican Church still take this seriously, and to some extent so does the Reformed tradition.  Some years ago, at a Lenten Quiet Day (retreat) in Dunfermline, a student in training for the ministry of the Church of Scotland, assigned to a parish in Argyll for practical training, said how they had declined a delicious dinner on the grounds that they were fasting for Lent, as an act of penitence, and to assist their spiritual growth.

Lent was, and remains, a season for "repentance," whether through fasting or some other act of contrition.  And, historically, the Christian Church has taken "repentance" seriously.  As such, the "confiteor," the prayer of confession, has been a significant component in Christian worship, usually placed (in the Reformed tradition) close to, or just after the prayer of approach or adoration, near the beginning of a service.  By "repentance," we do not simply mean remorse or regret, or a deep-rooted feeling of being sorry.  In the Biblical sense, true repentance means much more than feeling sorry.  It is not, as someone has put it, simply "a mental game."  True repentance is a complete change of direction.  In Christianity, it is a life-changing experience: a sincere turning away, in both the heart and mind, from self to God.  It involves a change of direction that leads to action - the complete turning away from a sinful path to a God-inspired one. 

Someone convicted of a crime is often said to have expressed remorse, or little or no remorse for their misdemeanour.  But true repentance goes much further than a guilt complex.  It means a radical U-turn in life, a transformation so radical in its effect that it can only be compared to a new birth - a complete revolution in outlook and action.

The Very Rev. Dr. David Steel, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1974, and for many years minister at Linlithgow St. Michael's Church (father of Lord Steel, former leader of the Liberal Democrats) says in his book, Preaching Through The Year, that so far as "repentance" is concerned, the new life made possible through the grace of Jesus Christ ought to be a preacher's duty and delight to proclaim at Lent.  Lent is the opportunity to preach "repentance" (metanoia) in its Christian context and thereby maintain the traditional role of the Lenten season. According to David Steel, the "penitential" character of Lent should not be diminished or discarded.

Does the Church still take "repentance" seriously, or is this outmoded theology?  (A minister once said that "repentance" was a subject rarely, if ever, preached on, for the reason that many people, including Christians, believe that they have nothing of which to repent).

If the ancient rites of Lent, such as fasting and dressing up in sackcloth and ashes, no longer have any relevance in contemporary Christianity, is there any purpose we may apply to this holy season?  Has the concept of "repentance" outlived its meaning in the 21st century?  Or is this something we must do more than ever - personally, nationally and internationally?  In short: is the time for penitence ripe or long past?

A PRAYER FOR PENITENCE

O God, by whose grace we mark these holy days
of Lent, set apart for our spiritual nourishment and
growth in grace: may this be a season of penitence
for us, when we search and examine our ways, and
turn once more to you; and as we sincerely repent
of our sins and shortcomings, our faults and failings,
and all our many offences against you, grant us your
forgiveness, cleanse us by your grace, renew us by
your Spirit, and enfold us in your love, now and always;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

God the Father,
God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit
bless, preserve us, keep us,
this Lent, and for ever.   Amen.

Sunday 25 February 2024

LENT 2
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?
A QUESTION OF IDENTITY

These days the question of identity has assumed a new significance. There has arisen in recent years a new emphasis on national identity, while personal identity, and the need to prove who we are, is crucial in protecting our security.  It is said that identity theft has grown into something akin to a national industry. In St. Matthew's Gospel (16: 13-20), the question of Jesus's identity is taken up with all due seriousness.  Jesus was in the northern town of Caesarea Philippi, and at this point in his ministry, the Cross loomed and his time was short.  The problem Jesus now faced was one of identity. Was there anyone who understood him?  Was there anyone who recognised him and saw the true nature of his work and person?

Jesus chose to put the question of his identity to the test, and at Caesarea Philippi asked his followers who people thought he was. "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"  They said he was seen as John the Baptist; or Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.  Then Jesus turned to the disciples.  "And you, who do you say that I am?"  Perhaps after a stunned silence, Simon Peter provided the answer. "You are the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of the living God!"

In these thoughtful days of Lent, we too may reflect on Jesus's identity. We could acknowledge Jesus as a gifted preacher, a brilliant teacher, a charismatic leader, a storyteller, and a miracle worker.  We could also see Jesus as a bit of a rebel or a renegade, as well as a man of high moral and religious principles.  Can we say with St. Paul that God was in Christ?  Do we recognise Jesus of Nazareth as a human being who embodied the mind and character of God?  Or do we dismiss him as a folk hero, well-suited to our celebrity-driven culture?

The Christian faith depends on how we perceive Jesus's identity.  The way we live as Christians depends on whether we see Jesus as someone of passing importance or eternal significance.  If we accept Jesus as a mere mortal and nothing more, Christianity is reduced to an attractive social and moral creed.

Who is Jesus Christ?  This is a question we must answer, and we must make up our own minds.  We may know what others have said about Jesus.  We may have read the great books, listened to the great preachers, and studied the Gospels carefully and critically, and so feel confident in our knowledge and understanding.  But Jesus still demands a verdict as to his identity, just as he demanded one from the disciples at Caesarea Philippi.

As we move further into Lent, let us ponder Jesus's question in our minds.  "And you, who do you say that I am?"  Perhaps it is only through our experience of Jesus in the world, and in our own lives, that we can say with Simon Peter that he is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, the One who makes God real and present among us.

Who is Jesus Christ?  How would you answer that question?

O God, our heavenly Father, assist us in this 
Lenten season to re-discover the true identity 
of Jesus, and to see him not as a mere mortal,
but as the Messiah, your anointed one; in whose
name we pray.   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR LENT

Almighty and merciful God,
you are more ready to hear than we to pray,
and you give more
than either we desire or deserve.
Pour down upon us
the abundance of your mercy.
Forgive us those things
of which our conscience is afraid,
and grant us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask,
save through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Saviour.   Amen.

Holy God,
bring us to the cross of Jesus,
that we may find salvation.
Help us to know our sins and to repent of them.
Give us your pardon and peace in our hearts;
and on the day of judgement,
show us your mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 459-60

A PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK

O God, as we pass through Lent and look at
all that is amiss around us, grant to the world
your peace; to our nation, your blessing; to
the needy, your compassion; to the sick, the
suffering, and the sorrowing, your healing;
and to us and to all your people that love
divine which never falters or fades; through
Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May the grace of Christ attend us,
the love of God surround us,
the Holy Spirit keep us,
this Lent and always.   Amen.

Sunday 18 February 2024

LENT 1
THE WILDERNESS DAYS

The First Sunday of Lent traditionally explores the theme of 'temptation,' recalling the story in St. Matthew's Gospel (1: 11), where Jesus spent forty days and forty nights in the wilderness, and when he was 'tempted' by the devil.

Temptation is a powerful force in society, and one with which we are all familiar.  It has been defined as a luring force which entices someone to do something wrong or unwise.  We use this word in every-day speech, in phrases such as "money is always a temptation," or "the menu contained tasty temptations," or "the temptations of the city were overwhelming."  In a religious context, 'temptation' is the strong, seductive inclination to sin and to do what is explicitly forbidden.

According to the Biblical narrative, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This wilderness was hostile territory, situated between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.  The Biblical scholar, George Adam Smith, who had crossed it, described it as a vast area of yellow sand, with hills resembling dust-heaps, and rocks bare and jagged - glowing and shimmering with heat like a vast furnace.  It was in this environment that Jesus was 'tempted' or 'tested' by the devil over a six-week period of inner struggle.  

The Old Testament calls it Jeshimmon, which means the Devastation - a most fitting name for that awesome landscape. Indeed, it has been said that in that wilderness, Jesus could not be more alone than anywhere else in Palestine.

Jesus was tempted firstly to turn stones into bread, and thereby bribe people to follow him.  When Jesus refused, the devil came to him again, urged him to go up to the pinnacle of the Temple on Mount Zion, leap down, and land unscathed in the valley beneath. Jesus refused to gather followers by performing a stunt.  Finally, the devil offered Jesus all the nations of the world, if only he gave up the worship of God to do the tempter homage. Once again, the tempter was rebuked and silenced.

There is a clear message for us in this story.  We should always be aware that "eternal vigilance is the price of freedom."  In the Christian life there is no immunity from 'temptation' or 'testing'.  There is nothing that can inoculate the Christian soul against assault from the tempter. To this very day, in the Castle of Wartburg in Germany, there is a wall in the room of Martin Luther, the great Church reformer, which is stained with ink.  It is said that Luther himself caused that ink stain, by throwing his ink pot at the wall, every time he felt himself being tempted or tested.

There are Christians who believe that they should be above and beyond this, and that 'temptation' is a sign of weakness.  There is nothing that can inoculate the Christian soul against an attack from the tempter. As Oscar Wilde, the Irish poet and playwright said: "The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."

Jesus himself never reached that stage:  All through his ministry, Jesus had to wrestle with the tempter.

At Caesarea Philippi, the tempter came to Jesus again, when Peter tried in vain to talk him out of going to the Cross, while in the lonely Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had to fight a battle with temptation, when the tempter tried to dissuade him from doing God's will, and take a chance to escape the horrors of Calvary.

This is indeed good news for us.  Because Jesus was tempted in all things, as we are, yet remained obedient and without sin, so he can help us in our struggle when 'temptation' confronts us.  When life brings its 'temptations', we may be certain that Jesus has been in the same predicament - to resist or to surrender.  

May his victory over the tempter encourage us when we are caught between 'resistance' and 'surrender,' enabling us to foil the tempter's power and keep ourselves in God's way!

Holy God, righteous and merciful, 
when temptation urges us to do something wrong
or unwise, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
tempted as we are in all things, yet without sin,
help us to resist that subtle voice, that luring charm,
that cunning force, and foil the tempter's power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR LENT

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
your Son battled with the powers of darkness, 
and grew closer to you in the desert:
help us to use these days to grow in wisdom
   and prayer
that we may witness to your saving love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Gracious God, rich in mercy,
as we enter this holy season of Lent,
   of your goodness, give us;
   of your love, inspire us;
   by your Spirit, guide us;
and in your mercy, keep us
   now and always;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

God be with us in this season;
forgive our sins, restore our souls,
   and renew our lives.

And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us this Lent, and remain with us
   always.   Amen.

Wednesday 14 February 2024

ASH WEDNESDAY
THE BEGINNING OF LENT

This is Ash Wednesday, a Christian observance that marks the beginning of the Lenten season.  During Lent, Christians prepare themselves for the solemn remembrance of Christ's death on the Cross.  The imposition of ashes is an ancient practice, found in the Old Testament, and is a reminder of our own mortality - something to which many people nowadays pay little or no attention.

The Lenten season has always been associated with the expression of penitence, or repentance.  In the Bible, we read that penitents covered their faces in ashes and tore their garments as a sign of their contrition.  This custom is strange to our minds, but is well-attested in Scripture, and particularly in the Old Testament. Furthermore, early in St. Mark's Gospel (1:15), Jesus's "inaugural address" is seen as a clarion call to repentance.

"The time has arrived; the kingdom of God is upon you.
      Repent, and believe the gospel."

In a sermon in Glasgow Cathedral in 1984, the preacher raised the subject of repentance, and stressed the need for Christians to be aware of their sins and shortcomings, and seek God's grace and forgiveness.  He also argued that people today are so self-assured that they believe there is nothing of which they need to repent.  

On this Ash Wednesday, we may think carefully about all that is amiss in our lives, and ask for God's forgiveness, lest we become like those who, trusting in their own self-righteousness, are convinced that they have nothing of which to be ashamed, and therefore have no need for repentance.  

For none is further from God than the 'unco guid,' wrapped up in their own self-appointed goodness.

"If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time."  (Aldous Huxley)

A PRAYER FOR ASH WEDNESDAY

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are truly penitent:
create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all, this Lent
and for evermore.   Amen.

Sunday 11 February 2024

THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT
OUR MERCIFUL GOD

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."

One frustration of modern life is the massive growth in bureaucracy. Over the years, rules and regulations have multiplied in such a way that many now believe our liberties are increasingly curtailed, if not permanently endangered. 

The same circumstances prevailed in Jesus's day.  Like our culture, his was riddled with 'red tape', and a litany of rules and regulations, ranging from the worship of God to the materials from which clothing had to be made.  Jewish law was laden with rules that were a burden, a 'yoke' to the ordinary citizen. The regulations governing the Sabbath were particularly strict. No work was to be undertaken, and every effort had to be made to keep the Sabbath sacrosanct.

In St. Luke's Gospel (13: 10-17), we find Jesus in a synagogue. By this time in his ministry, the authorities were seeking to trap him at the first opportunity, and they did not need to wait long to do so.  Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath, who had suffered from a back ailment for eighteen years.  By doing so, Jesus had undertaken a form of work, breaching the strict legal code that forbade all work on the holiest of days.  The watching crowd rejoiced, as the authorities cringed.

This incident reveals God as a God of 'mercy.'  There are certain circumstances that call for a 'merciful,' rather than a strictly legalistic approach.  There are times when kindness, compassion and understanding must take priority over the demands of a moral or legal code, and when human beings must be treated as people who bear God's image, deserving dignity and worth.  

If Jesus Christ (as we believe) embodies the nature and character of God, then our God is 'merciful' in his dealings with his people. This was grasped by Old Testament writers, such as the author of Psalm 103, who affirms that: 'The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.'  In an age where systems of regulation are said to dehumanise, Jesus provides a picture of a God whose 'mercy' surpasses all the restrictions that even the finest minds have devised.

It was Jesus who said, in the Sermon on the Mount, that the 'merciful' would receive a blessing, and that divine favour would be upon them.  Those showing mercy would in turn receive it. As in the modern world, when mercy is so often in short supply, so in the world of Jesus to be 'merciful' meant going against the prevailing spirit of the age.  Those who embrace the rule, the kingdom of God, are called to be 'merciful,' for mercy is a sure and certain sign of his reign.

To be 'merciful,' in the Biblical sense, means there are times when a 'generosity of spirit' is much more helpful than a strict, legalistic approach to a particular situation.  To be sympathetic, understanding, patient, forgiving and forbearing can be much more fruitful than harsh regulation, judgment or punishment. To some, showing mercy may seem a sign of weakness.  But that is exactly what Jesus did in the Biblical story and upset the staunch legalists in the process.  The 'merciful' not only radiate 'a generosity of spirit' - they help build 'a community of grace' on the foundation of love, forgiveness and a genuine concern for others.  Most of all, the Christian disciple who is 'merciful' shows the mercy of Jesus Christ himself, and that mercy which ultimately belongs to God.

In 2016, Pope Francis wrote a little book with the title, The Name of God Is Mercy, in which he shared anecdotes about God's grace and love at work in the lives of his parishioners in Argentina, and in the lives of others known to him personally. His conclusion is that we must see 'mercy' as "the first attribute of God," and that God "does not want anyone to be lost."

As we approach Lent, the season of spiritual preparation that leads to Easter, and which begins on Wednesday (Ash Wednesday), we may think carefully about 'mercy' and its application in a merciless world, and so be among the 'merciful' whom our Lord has promised a blessing. It is arguably 'mercy,' in the Biblical sense of that word, that we need so much today, when human cruelty is everywhere around us, and where compassion, forgiveness and grace are in short supply.

"The supreme instance of mercy... is the coming of God in Jesus Christ."  (William Barclay)

A PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK

Merciful God, in whom we live and move
and have our being: as we now approach
these holy days of Lent, take this world 
into your care and keeping:  bless your
Church with a rekindled faith, and the nations
with your peace; take our lives, and let them
be consecrated to your service; and at this
time of turmoil, bring healing, health and
wholeness to us all; and when our days
are over and our work done, take us through
the heavenly gate to live with you for ever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself;
may the power of the Lord Jesus
strengthen us in his service;
may the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
and may the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with us and abide with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 4 February 2024

THE SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT
THOUGHTS ON CANDLEMAS

The festival of Candlemas falls on 2nd February every year.  According to an old tradition, this is officially the end of the Christmas season, the day on which decorations should be taken down, and other festive ornaments put away.  

In the early Christian Church, Candlemas was a great festival of light, proclaiming Christ as light of the world. The tradition developed whereby beeswax candles  were blessed for use in churches and private homes throughout the year.  Some early historians refer to The Feast of Lighted Candles, and in some churches today there is still a procession of candles to mark this occasion in the Christian Year.

In Jesus's day, when a woman had borne a child, she was declared 'ritually unclean' for forty days - eighty days if the child was a girl.  The mother could continue with her household duties and daily business, but could not enter the Temple or share in religious ceremonies.  At the end of this period, she had to take a lamb to the Temple as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon as a sin offering.  This was an expensive gift, and the law stated that if she could not afford a lamb, she could bring two pigeons instead.  Thus St. Luke (2: 21-24) tells us that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem to "present him to the Lord", and to make the required sacrifice.

To the modern mind, this is a peculiar ceremony.  We would never declare a new mother "ritually unclean," nor would we insist that she take her newborn child to the Church or some other holy place "to be presented to the Lord," and dedicated to the Lord's service.  Yet behind this practice is the conviction that every child is a gift of God.  Indeed, Professor William Barclay has said of this custom that it teaches us that "Of all God's gifts there is none for which we shall be so answerable as the gift of a child."

It has also been suggested that behind this custom is the solid conviction that human life is sacred, and not to be regarded lightly or as a mere commodity.  This is arguably in contrast to our age, where human life is often seen as cheap and expendable, with no hint of it being a God-given gift.  We only need to think of injury and needless deaths caused by crime and mindless violence, or of lives lost in conflict, or by other deliberate and cruel means, to conclude that in our day human life is regarded by many as only a commodity - a product that can readily be ill-treated or dispensed with.  Our modern age doesn't always see human life as having a divine significance.

The present Covid-19 Inquiry points to the value placed on human life by those who lost loved ones as a consequence of the virus, and who rightly want some explanation as to how procedures were employed to try and bring the virus under control.  Their emotional interviews show that they do not regard human life as a commodity, but something sacrosanct and not to be treated as having no intrinsic value.

The festival of Candlemas has given rise to many traditions over the centuries.  It does, however, commemorate the time when Jesus was "presented in the Temple" and acclaimed the light of the nations, and when his mother Mary was pronounced 'ritually clean' forty days after giving birth to her son.  Further to this, the peculiar customs of Candlemas remind us that the life of a child, indeed every life, is a gift of God and ought to be treated as such.

Do we see human life as a gift of God, and invested with divine significance?  Or do we dismiss it as a mere commodity to do with as we wish?

Jesus said: "I am the light of the world.
Those who follow me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life."

PRAYERS FOR CANDLEMAS

Gracious God, our strength and our salvation,
without whose light we walk in darkness and in error:
at this time of Candlemas we confess that we have
sinned against you and against one another
in what we have done, and in what we have not done.
We acknowledge our failure in pure in holy living,
and all else that is amiss in our lives,
for which we seek your forgiveness....
Pardon our past mistakes, we pray,
and deliver us from our present folly.
And at this time of Candlemas,
help us to live each moment of our day
in the clear, shining light of your love,
revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.   
  Amen.

Almighty and ever-living God,
whose beloved Son
was at this time presented in the Temple:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ,
light of the nations and glory of Israel:
make your home among us,
and present us pure and holy
to your heavenly Father,
your God, and our God.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May the love of the Father enfold us,
the wisdom of the Son enlighten us,
the fire of the Spirit inflame us;
and may the blessing of God rest upon us
and abide with us, now and for ever.   Amen.

Sunday 28 January 2024

CHRIST AND CULTURE

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble,
 whatever is right, whatever is pure,
 whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - 
 if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,
 think about such things."

On this Sunday, we usually select some aspect of 'culture' as our theme.  At this time, the Burns Supper season is getting underway, with the traditional celebrations taking place here and across the world. With the lifting of Covid restrictions, many Burns Suppers are taking place in the accustomed manner, with others in a more limited way - perhaps in homes and halls, rather than hotels.  Whether or not we celebrate the Bard's life and work, we can still take 'culture' as a theme to explore in our Sunday message.

Modern life never ceases to place demands on us.  For two years, governments placed demands on us to bring the pandemic under control.  Civil law places demands on us. Our bosses place demands on us.  Our families and friends place demands on us.  Our children place demands on us.  We place demands on ourselves.  And, most of all, God places demands on us.

In that marvellous passage above from his Letter to the Philippians (4: 4-8), St. Paul places demands on the Christian community at Philippi.  If the people there are to think and act properly as the people of God, they must keep their character, their integrity intact by fulfilling a series of demands.  In other words, in their living out the Christian life, they must 'think' in the right way, so that they will 'act' in the right way.  The preservation of their integrity of character depends on how they 'think' and 'act,' and the connection between 'thinking' and 'acting' must be taken seriously.  

Demands are placed on us to live as God would have us live, and preserve our character, our integrity from being undermined or destroyed.  This is because our 'thought process' largely determines how we will 'act,' and how we will behave.  Thus St. Paul pleads with the Philippians to focus their minds only on what is true, honest, gracious, just, pure, lovely and worthy of praise.  By thinking the right things they will do the right things, and help create a much more Christ-like culture within the wider community.

These demands are relevant today.  We may not realise that there is a connection between our 'thinking' and our 'acting,' but the apostle reminds us that our entire 'thought process' has a direct bearing on how we behave, and on how we live the Christian life.  A well-known American preacher once made this very point when he said that "all wars have to be thought, before they are fought," meaning that human conflicts have their origin in the mind.  A Scottish minister also aptly put it when he stated boldly that "the mind is a room that deserves only the very best of furniture,"  not the trivial or the trash, of which there is so much in contemporary society. 

The human mind will always focus on something.  St. Paul was well aware of this, and he wanted to make sure that the Philippians would set their minds only on the right things, and thereby create a Christ-like culture among them.  

Does our mind contain only the very best of furniture? Or does our thinking stand in need of replacement and repair?

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble,
 whatever is right, whatever is pure,
 whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -
 if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -
 think about such things."

As we enter further into this new year, let us take the apostle's words to heart, and accept his demand to focus our minds only on the right things; and by our thoughts and actions, preserve our integrity of character, and encourage a much more Christ-like culture to flourish among us. Christian thinking always demands the noblest and the best.

"Only the steadfast pursuit of excellence can stem the drift into hopeless mediocrity."   (Colin Morris)

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

God of mercy, God of grace,
we confess that in thought, word and deed
we have fallen short of your glory
and of what you require of us.
We have filled our minds with many thoughts,
often disregarding what is true and noble,
what is just and pure, what is excellent and virtuous.
We have preferred to follow our own thinking,
our own desires, our own pleasures,
through which we have dishonoured you
and lost our way....

God of faithfulness and love,
assure us of your mercy and forgiveness,
   that our minds may be cleansed
   and our hearts strengthened 
   to live more nearly as we ought;
and by the power of your Holy Spirit,
help us to pursue excellence in all things;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR OUR CULTURE

Almighty God, source of all truth and creative power:
we ask your blessing on our culture, that only what is best may take root and flourish among us.  Preserve us as a people from all that is degrading; and instil in us the gifts of purity and truth, goodness and grace, compassion and benevolence, and other virtues that are pleasing to you.
Save us from all mediocrity, and enable us to give you only
the finest, in all things at all times, in every place; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

God the Father,
God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit,
bless, preserve, and keep us,
this day and for ever.   Amen.

Sunday 21 January 2024

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
THE MARRIAGE FEAST: A LESSON IN TRANSFORMATION

"The world was deformed, but Jesus Christ transformed." So said an anonymous spiritual writer who also remarked: "Jesus Christ is still in the miracle-making business, and that business is the business of transformation."
           _____________________________________

One of the casualties of the Coronavirus pandemic was the marriage service.  More in disappointment than anger, many couples postponed their wedding service to a later date, while others went ahead and held their service under tight restrictions. A significant majority saw the virus as 'the unwelcome guest' and made alternative arrangements.  With restrictions gone, couples have largely reverted to pre-Covid customs and conventions.

According to St. John's Gospel (2: 1-12), Jesus was a guest at a wedding feast or reception in Cana-in-Galilee.  We are also told that his mother and his disciples were among the guests. It has been suggested that their presence might indicate that this was a family wedding, and the newly-weds were related to Jesus.  The fact that Mary appears to have been active in arranging the proceedings would strengthen this view, though we can only speculate.

During the celebrations, disaster struck - not a virus, but the running out of the wine.  In the culture of that time, the giving of hospitality was a sacred duty, and for the wine to run out at such a moment would be an enormous embarrassment for the host, and a shock for the couple and their guests.  In the panic, Mary approached Jesus and urged him to do something about it.  By means unknown, he 'saved the situation' by providing 120 gallons of wine, which, according to Professor A.M. Hunter, "is not an act of human prudence, still less of Divine Providence."*

What are we to make of this today?  In this 'sign,' in the well-known story of the 'changing of the water into wine,' Jesus may in effect be saying: "This is the meaning of my whole ministry: it is a changing of water into wine." *

In other words, Jesus's ministry is one of transformation, of bringing out the best in people and situations, and of showing how he makes all things new, and of demonstrating God's power - even in the most desperate of circumstances.  In this 'sign,' we see Jesus as the one who transforms for the better every person, situation and occasion, a fact we ought to keep in mind as we pass through dark moments and difficult days.  As Leith Fisher puts it in one of his hymns, Christ is our joy - the "transforming wedding guest."

At this particular time, there are many dark and difficult moments in our lives.  One observer has said that "the whole world seems to be passing through a period of disruption and depression," causing many to lose hope and lapse into despair.  In such a dire situation, it is surely a blessing to know that God in Christ can transform by his power the chaos of our times into a new era of stability.  The New Testament points to a God whose power, at work in Jesus Christ, can transform the worst in human experience into something positive and creative, and ultimately destroy the forces of darkness and death.

Seen in this context,  the story of the wedding reception is much more than the turning of water into wine.  It is a story of Jesus demonstrating God's power, and of how he transforms the worst into the best, and the best into the better. 

Let that be an inspiration to us as we step out further into the days of this new year.

*Quoted in A.M. Hunter, According to John, SCM Press Ltd., 1968, 76

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

"My help comes only from the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth."

Lord, set your blessing on us
as we begin this day together.
Confirm us in the truth
by which we rightly live;
confront us with the truth
from which we wrongly turn.
We ask not for what we want
but for what you know we need,
as we offer this day and ourselves
for you and to you;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
                Edinburgh 1994, 519

THE BLESSING

May God, who is the ground of hope,
fill us with all joy and peace
as we lead the life of faith
until, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
we overflow with hope.

And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 14 January 2024

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
THE CHILD GREW

Of Jesus's early years, we know virtually nothing, apart from an incident recorded in St. Luke's Gospel (2: 41-52) when he was twelve years old.  At the age of twelve, a Jewish boy became a man, or, more correctly, a 'son of the law,' taking on the duties that Jewish law required.

At the age of twelve, Jesus was taken by his parents to the Passover Festival in Jerusalem for this ceremony, where the unexpected happened.  When his parents had returned to Nazareth, the boy Jesus lingered in the city. After returning to Jerusalem, and following a three-day search, Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the Temple, discussing the weighty issues of the day with religious and political leaders.  Here was the young Jesus at the great debates - a learner among the learned.

What does this indicate?  That the early years of Jesus's life were spent entirely in his father's workshop at Nazareth?  In his early life, was Jesus what we might call "a trainee craftsman?"  Or does his debate with the learned of the day point to something else?  It has been suggested that if Jesus was so intellectually gifted at the age of twelve, some or all of his early life must have been spent as a student, as a learner, taking in the weighty matters of his day and forming his opinions about them.  We cannot say for certain, but a measure of study under the Rabbis seems likely.

St. Luke (2:40) tells us that as the child grew, he matured in body, mind and spirit.  He increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and his fellow human beings.  The babe of Bethlehem did not remain an infant. The scenes of Jesus's birth may be fresh in our minds, and in our imagination we may still be gathered round the manger.  The truth is that 'the child grew.'

As Christian disciples, we cannot stay at Bethlehem. We cannot idolise the Christ child, lying in a manger, proclaimed by angels, and visited by wise men.  We cannot let the sentimental side of the manger scene rule our Christian thinking and our Christian witness. As 'the child grew' - mentally, physically, spiritually, socially - we must grow with him, and allow his life to shape our lives, and inspire our Christian thought and action in the world today.

We are still in the early days of this new year.  This year will have its challenges for all of us.  We can, however, face them with confidence and courage, certain that Christ has plans for the Church, for the nation and for the world.  But we will never find out what these plans are if we remain at Bethlehem, and keep looking back to Jesus's birth and to the strange circumstances surrounding it.  As it has rightly been said, "we do not worship a baby God."

The child grew - mentally, physically, spiritually, socially - and we must grow with him.  By making Christ's maturity our maturity, Christ's wisdom our wisdom, Christ's compassion our compassion, we will come closer to discerning his will for us, and to fulfilling it in the way he requires of us.

As the child grew, let us resolve in this new year to follow him, so that by following him we grow with him.

A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR

Almighty and everliving God,
whose dear Son grew 
in wisdom and stature,
and in favour with you
and his fellow human beings:
give us grace in this new year
to grow with him in wisdom,
that he may always be to us
the pattern we follow,
the redeemer we trust,
the master we serve,
and the friend to whom we turn;
in whose name we pray.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all.   Amen.

Sunday 7 January 2024

 "The Lord God has been our refuge
throughout all generations: from everlasting
     to everlasting, he is our God."

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
A NEW BEGINNING

There can be few of us who approach the New Year without giving thought to the year that has ended.  Some will reflect on 2023 and find something for which to be grateful.  Others will see last year as an annus horribilis - a year of war, conflict, civil and industrial unrest, as well as personal problems, and best consigned to history.

"Blessed are those who are given the opportunity of a new beginning!"  These words could well have come from the lips of Jesus.  In fact, they come from the pen of the late Dr. Denis Duncan, a Church of Scotland minister, who became a gifted author, counsellor and spiritual writer, with a fine reputation in the "ministry of print."  His words speak of a blessing on those who are given the opportunity of a new beginning, the chance of a fresh start in life.

This is exactly what a New Year is about.  God, in his unfailing providence, has given a new chapter in life to each of us.  We do not know where this New Year will take us, nor do we know what the pathway ahead will bring. What we do know is that this coming year is God's gift to us, and an opportunity to give thanks for the grace of a new beginning. 

This does not mean that we have to forget the past, and erase the experience of 2023 from our minds.  The past remains part of our life's rich tapestry, and will no doubt contribute much to how we shape the future. To dismiss it from memory would be a great loss, and there must be valuable lessons we can carry into the future.

That said, however, we have been blessed with the gift of another year, with its possibilities and opportunities, and we ought to accept it with enthusiasm, and with the confidence of those who profess Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

"Blessed are those who are given the opportunity of a new beginning!"  That blessing belongs to us, so let us make 2024 a year of new beginnings, weaving our way through it with a lively faith, and that inner peace only God in Jesus Christ can give.

With every blessing and best wish to you all in 2024!

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
A PRAYER

O God, our help in ages past,
and our hope for the years to come:
all praise and glory be to you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
for safely bringing us in your love
to the gate of this new year....
Forgive us the wrong we have done
in the year now ended; and set us free
from guilt and despair, and from all that
hinders our communion with you....
And as we enter the gate of another year,
help us to commit ourselves into your care
and to rededicate our lives in your service;
through him, who is the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End of all things,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

God of new beginnings,
whose years never fail
and whose mercy is everlasting:
we give thanks for the blessings
of the year now ended; and as we begin
this new year of our life's journey,
we praise you for the possibilities
and for the opportunities before us;
but most of all, for the assurance
that Christ the Saviour is with us,
our companion on the way.
Give us grace
   to learn from the errors of the past,
   to face the challenges of the present,
   and to renew our hope for the future,
as we now go forward in faith,
   and in the name of Christ the Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May God bless the coming year,
giving us in his mercy:
   time for the task,
   peace for the pathway,
   courage for the challenges,
   and love to the last,
for Jesus's sake.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 31 December 2023

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR


"The eyes of the Lord are always upon you, from the beginning of the year, even to the end."

This Sunday is the last Sunday of the year.  It is also the last day of the year.  Tonight, when "the bells" chime, we will quietly pass from one year into another. For some, this is a time of anticipation, with an eager 'looking forward' to what the new year may bring.  For others, this is a time of mixed emotions, with feelings of loneliness, weariness, and a sadness that time is moving forward much more quickly than desired. And for others, there's the 'not bothered' attitude - those for whom the New Year means neither one thing nor the other.

What frame of mind might we adopt today as we come to the close of 2023?

Forty years ago, I spent Christmas and the New Year in the lovely city of Toronto in Canada.  In the centre of Toronto, I came across a grand, tall department store with a large front window overlooking the bustling street. Behind this window there was a splendid display, with life-size characters busy "counting" something.

One was looking at a calendar on the wall, counting the days until the end of the year.  Another was kneeling on the floor, counting the Christmas gifts that had piled up underneath the Christmas tree.  Another was standing at a fireplace, counting the Christmas cards on the mantelpiece and on other furnishings.  Another was in the kitchen, counting the items coming out of various shopping bags.  And another was at a desk with a wallet, counting his cents and dollars. But one was at the fireside, reclining in an armchair, quietly telling us what he was doing: "I'm counting my blessings!"

As we come to the last Sunday of the year, this is an opportunity for each of us to "count our blessings."  We could take time to sit down and quietly reflect on the year that is closing, and count the blessings we have received in the providence of Almighty God.  Our attitude, then, might be one of gratitude, of thanksgiving.

Even though this has not been the most cheerful of years, there must be something for which to express our gratitude.  The love of God has never failed us, and we can take enormous comfort from St. Paul's conviction that nothing in all creation can separate us from the divine love we see in Jesus Christ.  (Romans 8:39)

Let us take some time to "count our blessings," and express our thanksgiving to God, who, in his love for the world, has safely brought us to this hour, to this day, and to the gate of another year.

A happy, healthy and peaceful New Year to you all, with richest blessings in 2024!

THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
A PRAYER

Gracious God, our creator and judge,
in whose hand are the issues
   of time and eternity:
as another year comes to a close,
we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings.
In the quietness of our hearts
we confess the promises unfulfilled,
the good intentions forgotten,
the opportunities lost or neglected,
and the duties left undone....
We have spoken unkind words
and done ungracious deeds....
We have pursued the wrong desires
and have neglected you, in whom alone
is our very life and peace....
Show us your mercy, your unfailing love,
and forgive, correct and heal us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Eternal Lord God,
by whose command the order of time
   quietly runs its course:
we give you thanks for bringing us
   through a challenging year
   of our life's continuing journey.
Forgive us our ingratitude in the year
that is past, and our forgetfulness of you,
and teach us, now and in the coming days,
   to number our blessings
   and give you due praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May the Lord who has blessed and kept us
   in the year now ending,
preserve our going out and our coming in,
   from this time forth
   and for evermore.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Monday 25 December 2023

CHRISTMAS DAY

The Christmas story, as recorded in St. Luke's Gospel, was a most incredible event.  The birth was announced by angels, singing in the night sky.  Their message was heard by shepherds, who left their work and went straight to Bethlehem to see the new-born child.  Mary and Joseph were in a stable or cattle stall - not the usual place for a birth.  And at some later point, according to St. Matthew's Gospel, the child was visited by wise men from the east, bearing their threefold gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

There is, however, one person on whom  the story depends, who rarely, if ever, receives a mention.  Nor do we usually see them represented in a Christmas crib.  That is the inn-keeper.  We are told that there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph on the night that Jesus was born.  But we are told nothing about the inn-keeper who did something practical, and led the couple to a cattle stall or other structure, so the birth could take place.  They gave help when help was urgently needed.

Here is a Christmas thought!  The main characters in the Christmas story are well-known.  One of them is anonymous, but without their contribution, the story would not have taken the shape that it does. The inn-keeper gave Mary and Joseph accommodation when the inn was filled with guests.  He could easily have turned them away, and ignored their plight.  Instead, he did something practical, but remains anonymous to us.

In the Christian faith, there are countless people like that inn-keeper: people who are unknown to the world, but are known to God.  The inn-keeper is a reminder today of those 'anonymous Christians' on whom the whole fabric of the world depends, and whose practical and positive help we all need.  Even as we sing our Christmas praise and enjoy our Christmas meals, there are countless people working in hospitals, hospices, care homes, public services and other places of help and healing to those who urgently need it.  May they never be or feel forgotten or ignored: their sacrifice is our blessing.

On Christmas Day, let us remember them, and give thanks for their service and self-sacrifice on our behalf.  Like the inn-keeper, these saintly souls are anonymous to us.  But day by day - and even on Christmas Day - they keep the wheels of civilisation turning for us.

So much of our wellbeing in life comes from those people who are unknown to us, but "known unto God."

A happy, peaceful Christmas Day to you all!

A CHRISTMAS DAY BLESSING

May the joy of the angels,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Joseph and Mary,
and the peace of the Christ child
be ours this Christmas Day.   Amen.

Sunday 24 December 2023

​THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
CHRISTMAS EVE

It is a well-known fact that some of the finest music in our repertoire of Christian praise was specially written for Christmas, and at this holy season we sing hymns and carols, often learned in childhood, in our churches, schools, halls and other public places.  

According to St. Luke's Gospel, the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem was announced by a choir of angels, singing in the night sky.  And it must be said that music and the worship of God have always gone together.  The writer of Psalm 150 urges his Jewish readers to worship God in his holy place, and to do so with a range of instruments: with fanfares on the trumpet, with harp and lyre, tambourines, flute and stringed instruments, and with the sound of crashing cymbals, while St. Paul tells people at Colossae to sing out from the heart in gratitude to God - with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

The Christian Church has always been "a singing Church," and our Christmas hymns and carols allow us to praise God with the human voice.  Our hymns and carols contain images from various sources: Latin and Greek manuscripts, poetry, the writer's imagination, dreams, visions and other sources of inspiration.

A renowned hymnologist has claimed that all the images contained within our Christmas praise point to one truth:  "the uniqueness of Jesus Christ."  Whatever the source of the text, or the mood of the music, our Christmas praise collectively proclaims in word and song "the uniqueness of Jesus Christ," born a child, but yet a King.

"The uniqueness of Jesus Christ is the truth to which all Christmas words and music give direction and purpose."

The "uniqueness of Jesus Christ" is not something we should leave locked in a hymnbook or some other source, only to be brought out once a year at Christmas. The "uniqueness of Jesus Christ" is something his disciples today should preach and practise in their daily lives, acknowledging him, not as a child in a manger, but as King of kings and Lord of lords - the One to whom all power in heaven and on earth belongs.

A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS EVE

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we give thanks for all your goodness
and loving kindness to us and to all people,
and for your constant care over all creation.
On this Christmas Eve we remember
and give thanks for those who wrote
our Christmas praise, which has urged
and inspired us, and cheered us on our way
through many years and generations.
Above all, we give thanks for Jesus Christ,
born a child, and yet a King.
May the joy of his coming among us
bring healing to us and to a broken world;
and may his uniqueness be a blessing
we proclaim, every moment of our day.
In his name we pray.   Amen.

THE BLESSING  

Let us now go forth into the world in peace,
with Christmas praise ringing in our hearts.

And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 17 December 2023

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

On this Third Sunday of Advent we are moving closer to the joyful celebration of Christmas Day.  

It is often said that Christmas is an occasion for the children, a children's festival, a time for our young people to enjoy themselves in the traditional way. This is not surprising, as much of the commercial side to Christmas, especially the lavish advertising that seems to start earlier each year, is targeted at children and young people.  We often hear it said that "Christmas is a time for the children."

Christmas should not, however, be understood in this way.  At Christmas, the Christ child does take centre place.  But Christmas is a festival for everyone - for people of all ages.  The stories of the birth of Jesus are not children's stories, and were never written with children in mind.  These are precious stories for all of us, irrespective of our age.

The stories of our Lord's birth were written to make a statement about him. Their purpose is to emphasise his uniqueness, and to tell us that throughout the whole of Jesus's life, God's hand is at work.  There is no other person like Jesus.  There is no greater teacher than Jesus.  There is no Saviour compared to Jesus.  Mary's child is unique in every respect, and the hand of God is at work in him throughout his earthly life and beyond.

Jesus is God's gift to all of us, whether or not we are children.  To see Christmas as a children's event is to misunderstand its nature.  As Bishop John Robinson said: Jesus is "the human face of God."  This is what the stories of his birth were written to tell us, and this is why we look forward to Christmas Day next Monday.
 
As an article in the Church Times once rightly put it:

"Christ was born in the first century, but belongs to all people in all centuries."

O come, then, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

CHRISTMAS PRAYERS

Almighty God, by whose grace we celebrate
  Christmastide:

May the light of the Christmas Gospel
fill your Church with joy and  peace in believing:
that like the star once shining in the east,
your Church may become the very light
that leads people, here and everywhere,
to the cradle, the cross, and the crown
of Mary's child, Jesus Christ....

May the Christmas promise
of peace on earth and goodwill to all people
be much more real for us, and for the world
at this time of joyful celebration.
May the love of Christ, the Prince of Peace,
come and enfold us, bringing his peace
to the Church and to the nations,
to communities and individuals,
to our homes and to our hearts....

May the Christmas gift of light to the world
bring hope and comfort to those who live
in the darkest places of this world: 
to the sick, the suffering, the sorrowing,
to the hungry, the homeless, the helpless,
and to all those who cannot share the spirit
of this holy season, quietly recalling in faith
any known to us, and loved by us....

And so to all who need our prayers:
to those for whom we have prayed,
and to all for whom we have not prayed
but are known to you, most loving God,
may the coming Christ bring healing 
and hope, and his eternal blessing....

All this we ask through Jesus Christ,
the world's true light, for ever shining,
who is Lord and Saviour of all.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May the joy of the angels,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Joseph and Mary,
and the peace of the Christ child
be ours this Christmas.

And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 10 December 2023

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

"The Lord is our strength and our might
and has become our salvation."

The Advent season was, and still is for many people, a time of preparation for the "coming" or the "arrival" of Jesus Christ into our world.  It has also been one of "getting ready" for what is called the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the end of history.

The shortness of time is something of which we are all aware.  In recent times, the days and months have passed quickly, while people often say that the years pass by at an incredible pace.  Many famous people have expressed their anxiety about the brevity of time.  In his Songs of Travel, Robert Louis Stevenson admitted to fear of "the sunset gun" going off too soon, while in When I Have Fears, the poet John Keats expressed his anxiety that he might "cease to be" before completing his life's work.

Like so many great people, St. Paul was haunted by the shortness of time.  This was founded on his belief that the Second Coming of Christ was imminent, and would most likely take place in his lifetime.  The early Christian Church expected Christ to return to this world at any moment, and people had to be prepared for it.  Therefore, in his Letter to the Romans (13: 11-14), the apostle affirms his deeply-held belief that time is short, that the Lord's re-appearance is near, and that his readers must live in such a way as befits this cataclysmic event.

What are we to make of this today?  After some two thousand years, this event, with all its attendant drama, has not happened.  Jesus Christ has not returned to earth as expected, and in the awesome way described in many Advent hymns and readings. "Lo, he comes with clouds descending, Christ, the Lamb, for sinners slain" - these lines from Charles Wesleys's splendid hymn describe an experience which has not taken place in this colourful, cataclysmic manner.

Perhaps we need to interpret this less literally, and look at the conviction on which the belief rests.

The conviction is that history is not, as some suppose, a random and unrelated series of events and experiences, thrown together by pure chance.  The whole course of history has a meaning and purpose to it, and the climax of history will be the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ, and of everything that he stands for.  In other words, there is a reason for our being here, and all our experiences, whether good or otherwise, are part of the divine plan.  Therefore, in view of this, and as Professor William Barclay points out, we should live in such a way as if Jesus were to come among us at any moment.  For every day, we draw nearer to that time when the child of Bethlehem will be Lord of all.

In this Advent season, we may ask if we are living in a way that would meet with Christ's approval should he come to us unexpectedly, or in a way that would bring shame and judgment on ourselves, and dishonour to his name. 

Whatever we think of the Second Coming today, it points to the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ, whose birth at Bethlehem we prepare to celebrate.

Therefore, "Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!"

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Holy God, righteous and merciful,
beyond our deepest understanding,
yet made known to us in Jesus Christ:
as we pass through this Advent season,
take your Church, and strengthen it;
take our world, and civilise it;
take our nation, and purify it;
take our society, and cleanse it;
take our culture, and enrich it;
take our health, and restore it;
take our lives, and make them
fit for every duty that awaits us,
that we may be faithful servants
of Jesus Christ, whose coming we await
and whose day draws near.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR ADVENT

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away
the works of darkness
and put on the armour of light
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ
came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge both the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 649

THE BLESSING

The God of peace make us holy in all things
that we may be ready at the coming of our Lord
   Jesus Christ.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us for ever.   Amen.

Sunday 3 December 2023

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(ADVENT SUNDAY)

"Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence.
Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord,
when he comes, shall find watching."

Today is the First Sunday of Advent, otherwise known as Advent Sunday.  It has been said of Advent that it is "a season clouded in mystery," and if there is substance to this claim, we may well ask where all the mystery has gone.

In our constant, and sometimes desperate attempt to be relevant, we have arguably oversimplified or even trivialised the Christian faith.  We may have overlooked the profound sense of mystery that has always been central to Christian belief and devotion, and contented ourselves with what has been called "an abridged version of Christianity."

We have, of course, seen this shift in emphasis in other areas of life.  It is a sure and certain sign of our times that the modern mind is suspicious of mystery and will not accept too much of it. We need to cut through life's mysteries and get to the root of everything.  In making the faith easier to understand, we may have lost the deep sense of mystery that once underpinned it.

Advent is historically a season of expectation, a time of preparation for something that will forever remain a mystery: the coming of God in Jesus Christ.  These holy days of Advent invite us to reflect on the greatest mystery the world has ever known, and however intelligently we try and explain it, the very notion of God's coming to our world in Mary's child is something that defies rational explanation.  

If we want a simple, easy-going Christianity, then Jesus is no more than an outstanding preacher, teacher and healer.  If we want the mystery, we must see Jesus in a much greater sense: as the One who, according to St. Paul (Colossians 1: 9-20), is the image of the invisible God, the One who embodies God's wisdom and God's nature, the One in whom God in all his fullness chose to dwell.

This will always be a mystery.  But beneath the mystery is the conviction that in Jesus Christ, God chose to disclose himself in a human life.  This is forever a mystery - but forever a marvel as well.

"Advent is a time to wait, listen and ponder the awesome wonder (mystery) of God who sent his only Son as a baby to save us." (Jean Wise: author, speaker, retreat leader)

A PRAYER FOR ADVENT SUNDAY

O Lord our God, by whose everlasting grace
we come to these most holy days of Advent:
may this special season always be for us
a time of reflection, repentance and renewal;
and by the power of your Holy Spirit,
prepare us once more for the birth of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ, the child in the manger,
the infant of Mary, the world's true light
   for ever shining.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR THE ADVENT SEASON

O God, through the everlasting mystery of Advent,
give us grace to celebrate the birth of your dear Son,
to commit our lives to his example and to his kingdom,
and finally, when our earthly days are over, to see him
face to face in all his glory; in whose name we pray.
   Amen.

THE BLESSING

Look forward in hope
to the coming of our Saviour;
prepare the way for Christ our Lord;
welcome him with love and faith
when he comes in glory.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.