Sermon 24th August 2025 – 11th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 13:10-17

 Sermon 24^th August 2025 – 11^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 13:10-17

Imagine living 18 years bent over in suffering. That was the reality for the woman in today’s Gospel. But what we learn is that she wasn’t just physically bent; she was socially and spiritually weighed down. Jesus said -  Satan bound for eighteen long years. And in her culture, illness was often seen as punishment. Remember the question Jesus was once asked about a man born blind? Who sinned that this man was born blind? And not only that but as a WOMAN who was suffering she likely felt invisible, judged, and forgotten. Much like the woman who had a bleeding condition for 12 years and had to sneak up behind Jesus to touch his cloak. But then—Jesus sees her.

Luke tells us Jesus was teaching in the synagogue.  He wasn’t interrupted. The woman didn’t cry out. She didn’t even ask for healing or think about creeping up behind Jesus.. But Jesus *saw* her. “When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’”  This is pure grace. Jesus doesn’t wait for her to prove her worth or that she has faith to be healed or if she needs to cease sinning first. He doesn’t ask her to explain her suffering. He simply acts. He touches her and heals her. And she stands up straight—for the first time in nearly two decades.

But not everyone rejoices. The synagogue leader is furious. Not because healing is wrong—but because it happened on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” (v.14) Sabbath was seen as work – Jesus saw it as love and compassion – grace. This is the voice of religion without compassion. Rules without relationship.  The leader sees a broken law; Jesus sees a broken woman. Jesus responds with love against legalism. In fact he points out the hypocrisy of their legalism: “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you untie your ox or donkey on the Sabbath and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman… be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (vv.15–16)

Jesus reinterprets the Sabbath—not as a day of restriction, but as a day of restoration and reconciliation. And wasn’t that God’s intent on creating a Sabbath Day rest? What better day to heal than the day meant for wholeness? We may not be physically bent over, but many of us carry invisible burdens that we bear: - Shame, anxiety, grief, guilt. Or perhaps it is a religious legalism that tells us we’re not good enough Jesus sees those burdens. And He calls us forward. He speaks freedom. He lays hands on us—through Word and Sacrament, through community, through grace.

The question is: will we let Him straighten us? The woman didn’t just stand up physically.  She stood up spiritually.

She praised God. She became a living testimony to the compassion of Jesus Christ. And the crowd rejoiced as perhaps they too have felt the release of legalism that had kept them bent over. And this is our challenge. To see where legalism and human constraints are keeping people feeling like they are weighed down with burden. Let’s be a church that sees the bent and broken among us and says, “Come forward. You are set free.” In much the same way that Jesus says – come to me all you who are weary and burdened and find rest for your souls.

Notice that Jesus didn’t need to accuse or point the finger at the Pharisees. No, his act of compassion that did all the work. Much like St Paul says in Romans – Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.  By Jesus’ act of compassion his opponents were humiliated and the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

What a profound act of compassion by Jesus. But why, for 18 years, had no one reached out to her? In the crowds of our lives, how many people remain invisible to us?  Jesus’s compassion is unbelievable.  He sees her.  While everyone else may have rushed to find their seats Jesus notices a woman in pain.  Much like the man at Bethesda healing pool – ignored by everyone rushing to be first in the water but seen by Jesus. Jesus saw her not just as a sick individual but as a beloved daughter of Abraham.

When we are bent low by the burdens of life, it can be easy to feel unseen. But Jesus sees us. When we are suffering it is easy to feel as if we don’t have much worth – like this woman – 18 years. Jesus teaches us that everyone has value and worth in the eyes of God.

Each of us is a beloved child created in His image. Our calling as the image of God – as the body of Christ, is to reflect that same compassion especially to those whom society has cast to one side. Who can we reach out to this week who feels unseen—maybe a neighbor, a coworker, or a friend?  Maybe someone we haven’t seen at church for a while. Jesus calls us to see the forgotten.

Legalism is a powerful and active force in the church which masquerades as righteousness. The Synagogue ruler were the “righteous one” but represents the resistance to change and the clinging to tradition even when human suffering is present.  It highlights a crucial aspect of our faith: when tradition begins to overshadow compassion, we risk missing the heart of God. Many in our churches today grapple with similar conflicts.  Our Parish has some challenges in the coming 12 months – ageing buildings – ageing demographics – decline finances – the need for new leadership. And when that happens we can become focused on survival rather than mission and soon we find ourselves bent over.

We cannot and must not forget our mission. Jesus reminds us that love and compassion is how we can best do mission. When the woman is healed, she praises God.  Her joy becomes a powerful testimony to those around her.  What joy are we reflecting? How often do we share God’s goodness with others rather than hiding our light under a bowl?  Do we rejoice in answered prayers. The miracle is not just in the physical healing but in the restoration of her dignity and identity and faith in God.  Jesus called her forward, confronting her isolation and reaffirming her place within the community of faith.

In a world where many feel bent over and forgotten by life's pressures—burdened by sin, sorrow, and struggles—our mission is to share the freeing power of the Gospel. So as we leave today and venture back into our daily communities, let us carry with us the heart of Jesus who sees, who heals, and who liberates.  Let us be instruments of His healing, extending our hands to lift others up who feel weighed down. Let’s create a community where compassion is what we become known for rather than legalism and tradition, where every voice is heard, and every life is valued. Let us not overlook those who are suffering or cross to the other side.  Let us not get caught up in our daily routines where it becomes easy to ignore the cries of those who are bent over in pain. Let us be a people who joyfully continue the work of Jesus, bringing freedom and praise to those who need it most.

 

Sermon 17th August 2025 – 10th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 12:49-56 -Baptism unites and divides

 Sermon 17^th August 2025 – 10^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 12:49-56 -Baptism unites and divides

 

There are many terms used in society that come from biblical situations that the general public might be surprised to learn.

A Good Samaritan is a very popular term. The Prodigal Son is another. But terms such as – going the extra mile or to take the shirt off one’s back are also terms commonly used that come from the teachings of Jesus. Another one that is used often and it comes from today’s Gospel reading is to undergo a “baptism of fire”. It’s used when someone is thrown into the deep end and undergoes a sharp learning curve. Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!

 

John the Baptist prophesied this when he was preparing the people for Jesus’ arrival: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

We don’t often see baptism in such harsh ways. We often consider baptism as a sweet event where an innocent child is brought to the font to be made a child of God. But what is really happening? Our Baptism rite suggests there is much more happening – something much deeper. We are familiar with the first question asked of parents and Godparents on behalf of the child being baptized: Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. Have you stopped to consider that?

Some find that question quite confronting – naming the devil when baptizing a baby. The devil being the enemy of God and his children who has come to kill, steal and destroy – what’s he doing here as we baptize this sweet innocent child. We are asking for this child to renounce the devil revealing that the devil has had influence in this child’s life.

 

Another part of the Baptism rite which is seldom used because of the same concern that it has brought to parents is when the Pastor says over the child: “Until Christ claims us in baptism through is Holy Spirit we are under the power of the devil. Therefore I say – depart from this child you unclean spirit and make way for the Holy Spirit in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Effectively, it is an exorcism of a baby. Does that confuse you about Baptism? Is that what you thought was happening in Baptism.

 

Many see it just as a sweet thing you do when a child is born that doesn’t really mean that much. Yes it makes them a child of God but do we realise the spiritual dimensions that Baptism has? St Paul certainly did when he said that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers of darkness in the heavenly realm If you look at Jesus’ own Baptism we begin to see what the effects of Baptism are: In Matthew, Mark and Luke, as soon as Jesus is Baptised the Holy Spirit sends Jesus into the wilderness where he is tempted, unsuccessfully, by the devil. This helps us to understand what Jesus says next when he says - Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! But what division? I thought Jesus was the “prince of peace” and has come to bring a peace the world cannot give. Yes he has come to bring peace to those who look to him for the assurance of Salvation. But in bringing us peace he brings division between us and the enemies of God. He casts out anything that may disrupt or interfere with his peace. And that means creating a division between God’s perfect peace and everything that might disrupt it.

 

So what we see really happening in Baptism is that Jesus is taking us out of all things that are against God and placing us into his loving care. It’s what Jesus said last week when he said – have no fear little flock for it is the Father’s pleasure to give you the Kingdom. And as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer that kingdom has begun for us in our Baptism as Paul says in Romans 6 – all who have been baptised have been baptised into Christ’s death and raised with him. John’s Gospel doesn’t have the temptation of Jesus after his baptism but John describes the work of Baptism when he says –  The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him – and here’s the Baptism promise - to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

So, our baptism, divides the world’s darkness from God’s light and we are called, in our Baptism, to let God’s light shine in our lives. We see that division in our Hebrews reading that reflects on the Egyptians and Israelites. There before Israel was an impenetrable wall as they fled from Egypt – the Red Sea. The Israelites panicked and abused Moses: “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness?  (note the wilderness) Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness. But then God intervenes and makes a path for Israel to walk through – but that very same path becomes destruction the Egyptians – the enemies of God through water.

 

And that’s what our Baptism does for us. It divides – and makes a safe path for us to journey through but destroys the enemy chasing after us. And not only do we have the example of faith in Moses but also Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets. And we know some of them faced insurmountable obstacles – even death. But even in death the path was opened for them to escape this world and enter the next. And so the writer of Hebrews says - we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. In particular - Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

 

Maybe you’ve never seen Baptism this in depth. But it is the true line in the sand that divides us from Satan and all his works and all his ways that we renounce. Baptism is more than just something we do to recognise the birth of a child. It is a rescuing of that child by taking that child away from everything that is against God and placing that child firmly and safely into God’s Kingdom. But we know that those forces against God don’t give up but Jesus has promised us that nothing can snatch us out of his hands.

 

Jesus Baptism began a journey of wilderness, of suffering of betrayal and ultimately his death. But he rose from that death to eternal life and promises all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.  So let us go in the peace of the Lord and the assurance of our Baptism.

Sermon 10th August 2025 – 9th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 12:32-40 – Don’t be afraid

 Sermon 10^th August 2025 – 9^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 12:32-40 – Don’t be afraid

 

Fear is a difficult emotion that can deeply disturb us.  Fear comes in many different ways. Fear of the present. Fear of the future. Fear of the unknown. We are not at peace when filled with fear. We become agitated, anxious, apprehensive maybe even paranoid waiting for the next feared event to occur.  And so often we hear Jesus say in the Gospels – don’t be afraid.

In today’s reading we hear that repeated with a lovely sentiment: “Do not be afraid little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  The relieving of our fear comes from Jesus giving us the Kingdom of heaven. Something that he has in his power and authority to do. Unlike Satan who promised Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he would bow down and worship him.

In the world at present, there is much need for this relief because there is so much fear. So many situations and dangers associated that fill our news cycles. Fear is everywhere and troubling people in so many ways. Fear has been used as a weapon since the beginning of creation. Satan used fear to lure Adam and Eve to disobey God so THEY could take control of their destiny and become like God. It was fear that Luther fought against in the church of his time that used fear to extort money from those who could least afford it for fear of themselves and loved ones spending years and years in purgatory.

The fear of what we do not know or control can make us retreat to what we do know where we feel more secure. Fear is stressful and it takes its toll on the body, mind and spirit. It doesn’t take much to trigger the feelings of panic and worry about what might happen in the present or future. All kinds of catastrophes have been happening around the world.  Floods, fires, and droughts.  There are the continuing issues around violence in homes, on the streets, in schools, and in the world.  These cause us to feel unsafe and unsure about venturing into our daily world.

One of our greatest fears is fear of the unknown. There is much that is unknown in our world at this point in history. But Jesus comforts us by removing the only fear that has real dread – the fear of eternal life or rather uncertainty about eternal life. But Jesus urges us not to fear because it is the pleasure of the Father to give us the kingdom of heaven. Instead of fear our heavenly Father replaces fear with pleasure in giving us the treasure of the kingdom even in the midst of the world so troubled by fears. God has taken action to provide for us in the face of what we fear. The unknown. God has made the unknown – certain. It’s hard because the future is hidden from us. But by faith in Jesus Christ we have certainty. Which is what the writer to the Hebrews says: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Even though we can’t visibly see our future we have assurance because of the promise of Jesus Christ that all who believe in him will not perish but receive eternal life. If we didn’t have that certainty then we could never have comfort because we would always be wondering if I have done enough to enter heaven. We would fear our Lord’s return rather than looking forward to it with eager anticipation. Jesus says: Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Being dressed is a reference to our Baptism as Paul says in Galatians: In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Jesus begins with a reassuring command: “Do not be afraid, little flock.”  This call to courage gives us insight into the heart of God, who desires that we live without fear, trusting fully in His provision and care.  The way Jesus addresses us, “little flock” is tender and recognises our vulnerability. And we are not just individual sheep; we are a community, a flock, a family under God’s watchful eye. And if we look at the verses that come before our reading, Jesus spoke these words to those who were anxious about their needs and uncertain about their future.

We all carry some level of burden. The pressures of life—jobs, finances, family concerns which often lead to fear and anxiety rather than opportunity for prayer to our Heavenly Father. Jesus reminds us that our Father is pleased to give us the kingdom and invites us to speak to him as our Heavenly Father.

This is so we can remove our fear and replace it with confidence in approaching the throne of God in our time of need (as we hear in Hebrews Chapter 4). We belong to a kingdom that is not shaken by the circumstances of this world.  As Jesus said to Peter – not even the gates of hell can overcome God’s church. We live under the reign of a King who loves us and is seated at the right had of God making his enemy his footstool – as King David says in Psalm 110 - Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

Jesus urges us to “sell your possessions and give to the poor.” This doesn’t necessarily mean literally but a call to us to reflect on what it is that gives us security for the future – our possessions or God. This radical call is about prioritizing our treasures. Where we invest our resources reflects where our hearts truly lie, as Jesus says in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 6 and repeats here - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus invites us to store up treasures in heaven. And the reason that Jesus emphasises that is because of our need for readiness for his return because the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. The good news is that Jesus keeps us ready for his return through our faith in him. But there are ways we can be comforted in times where the worry does seem to take over.

Prayer: Staying connected to God through prayer keeps our hearts attuned to Him. We allow His Spirit to guide us and in those times when we just don’t know what to pray the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.

Word of God: Regularly immersing ourselves in the bible gives us wisdom and understanding and reminds us to keep focused on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Community: We cannot walk this journey alone. We are part of a faith community, a flock where the body of Christ supports each other. As Paul says – when one part of the body hurts the entire body hurts. We encourage each other as the book of Hebrews chapter 10 says – let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

So as we await our Lord’s return, whether it’s in our lifetime or after we have been called from this life – we are ready. Jesus has made us ready the day he cried out from the cross – it is finished. So, as Jesus “little flock” let us not fear but embrace the truth that we are children of the kingdom, called to live without fear.  As we do so, may we also remember that our Master is coming back—not as a thief in the night for those who are his little flock but as our Good Shepherd bringing us home.

 

 

Sermon 3rd August 2026 – 8th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Colossians 3:1-11 – Hidden reality

 Sermon 3^rd August 2026 – 8^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Colossians 3:1-11 – Hidden reality

How do you feel when you look at everything that is going on around the world – both locally and overseas? The crimes here in Australia – the machete attacks in suburban shopping centres – the tobacco stores being burned down – the crimes – the state of the economy. Or overseas with the wars, the tariffs,  It’s so easy to become  disheartened wondering what on earth is God doing. It’s so easy to shut yourself off from the rest of the world and just hide in your own little corner.

Paul gives great advice for us to deal with all that’s going on around the world that concerns us. He says –

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

What does Paul mean by that?

We need to link this understanding to what Paul says in Romans 6 where he says: Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Life today is not much different to that of Paul’s days – it’s just more modern. The anguish however was the same. So Paul discovered that he would remember that life on earth is not the place God has prepared for him.

He says in Philippians 3 - But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Remember what Paul said in our reading? Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Christ is not absent from the world. He is ruling the world from the right hand of God. Perhaps it doesn’t look that way as we live out our daily lives. But Paul reminds us that what we see is not the true reality for Christians.

We are citizens of heaven. So Paul says - your life is hidden with Christ in God. And it’s a life that is hidden with glory.  When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. And that’s what our life is about – waiting. Waiting for our Lord to return to bring us to our eternal home where we will live in God’s glory with no more suffering or death.

Paul sees our Baptism as an exit from this life already. Notice he speaks in the present tense – not a future event. For you HAVE died – and your life is NOW hidden with Christ. Life might not look any different but Pauls say – When Christ returns then HIS glory will be revealed and also YOUR glory will be revealed at the same time. Notice that he says it will be revealed – not received at that time.

You have a life filled with glory NOW – you’ve had it since the day your Baptism when you were made a child of God. So it’s not about ignoring the world we live in – no. We have been sent into the world to share the Gospel with the world. The great commission says - go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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.”

And Jesus is with us as he says in his high priestly prayer to his heavenly Father in John 17:  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

So as we go out into the world we will be challenged by all the things happening in the world around us. So, Paul says – focus on the things above not on earthly things. The things of this life are passing as Jesus says – heaven and earth will pass away but my words never will. And so in our Gospel reading Jesus tells a parable about a rich person who was so successful that he focused only on his earthly life and forgot about his spiritual health and relationship with God.

He had so much earthly success he didn’t know what to do with all his wealth. I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'

Notice his focus – I will pull down – my barns, I will store my grain and my goods – I will say to my soul. But how did God respond? You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?

It is very tempting to focus on earthly things – whether they be pleasures that comfort us – indulgences that focus us away from God – or sufferings that don’t recognise that God’s love is present with us. So Paul warns: Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).

These thing will weigh us down. But thanks be to God that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God both watching over us and ruling the world that seems against us. Never lose faith in God that he is in control even if it does not look that way.

Paul reminds us that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. God does not want to do that as St Peter reminds us that the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

So until Jesus returns, remember you Baptism where you were born again to new life to live with God forever. And when Christ returns – your true glory will be revealed and you will be brought to your eternal home forever.

Sermon 27th July 2025 – 7th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 11:1-13 – Lord teach us to pray

 Sermon 27^th July 2025 – 7^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 11:1-13 – Lord teach us to pray

 

Today’s Gospel reading reflects on one of the most profound and cherished teachings of Jesus: the Lord’s Prayer.  This prayer is not just a set of words to recite but a journey that ventures deep into our relationship with God. It is a spiritual journey, and a call to a deeper understanding of our purpose in life. Jesus disciples came to Him with a desire to understand how to pray.  The disciples didn’t ask Jesus how to preach or perform miracles—they asked Him how to pray?  “Lord, teach us to pray,”  It’s like Solomon who asked for Wisdom but received much more because of his heart to desire God’s Spiritual gifts rather than material possessions. Jesus gave them something so simple yet so profound:  A prayer that has echoed through centuries and across continents, across denominations, across generations.  Not just a set of words, but God’s blessing for how to live and relate to God. Jesus responded not just with a prayer but with an invitation to experience the heart of God—the Father who cares deeply for His children.

 

Our Father in heaven

So the prayer begins with an intimate address: “Our Father in heaven.”  Not a solemn address like “dear God almighty in heaven”

But an intimate address – Our Father in Heaven. Jesus revolutionizes the world’s understanding of God as not a distant  unapproachable Godhead but an intimate Father who invites us into a relationship—intimate, personal, yet still divine. When we say “Father,” we acknowledge that we are part of a family of believers which may challenge us to reflect on our understanding of God and our relationships with each other – siblings as Children of God.. Do we see God as a distant deity; unapproachable. Or do we see him as our loving Father who desires to walk alongside us? By using "our," Jesus invites us into a shared experience of prayer with him, reminding us that we are part of a larger community, a family bound by love and grace.

 

Hallowed Be Your Name

We then declare, “Hallowed be Your name.”  Yes our relationship is intimate but this is a call to reverence. A recognition of God’s holiness and majesty.  We live in a world that forgets to honor the sacred. We lack respect for authority – for our elders. Here we are reminded to uphold the sanctity of God’s name in our lives. How can we live in a way that reflects the holiness of God?  By remembering Jesus response to the Greatest Commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. To honour God’s name is to live out the values of His Kingdom in our daily lives as his light in a world that dwells in darkness.

 

"Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done"

This part of the prayer is also radical.  Often, we ask God to bless our plans that we have devised.  But here, Jesus invites us to submit ourselves to His will—to live with heaven’s priorities in our earthly decisions.  The kingdom isn’t just a future hope; it’s a present calling.

Every act of justice, every word of mercy, brings heaven to earth. It pushes us to seek God’s vision for the world, prioritizing His Kingdom above our own desires. As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane so he prays here – not my will be done – but your will be done. When we pray for God's kingdom to come, we actively participate in bringing about His justice, mercy, and love, living life here on earth as we hope for it to be lived out in God’s Kingdom in eternity. It calls us to stand against injustice, to care for the marginalized, and to work toward peace.  And this challenges us to keep asking ourselves – how can we be agents of this kingdom in our families, churches, workplaces, and communities?

 

 "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread"

“Give us this day our daily bread” acknowledges our dependence on God for our physical needs.  Just as Jesus refused Satan’s temptation to provide his own bread when he was hungry so too we seek first God’s Kingdom and his provision for all our needs. Yet, it also serves as a reminder that we are called to care for one another who lack the provisions of daily bread: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. In fact Paul goes beyond that and says – if you see your enemy hungry – feed them.  In praying this, we recognize that we are not just solitary beings in need, but part of a body where we share our resources and support one another. As we pray for our needs, let us also be reminded to be generous to those around us in need from our abundance.  We are called to share our bread—whether it be physical sustenance, emotional support, or spiritual encouragement—with those who hunger. As Jesus says in the Beatitudes - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. And, Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. It’s tempting to pray for abundance—but Jesus shows us the beauty of enough.  We’re invited to trust God not for surplus, but for sufficiency.  One day at a time, not worrying about tomorrow. Give us today our DAILY bread.

 

"Forgive Us Our Sins"

In asking for forgiveness as we also have forgiven others, we discover the depths of God’s grace to us.  We acknowledge our brokenness and our need for God’s mercy.  But if we cannot forgive others then have we fully understood God’s grace to us? Like the servant in Matthew 18 forgiven millions of dollars debt to the King but would not forgive a few measly dollars owed to him by one of his servants. This part of the prayer transforms our hearts, reminding us of the importance of extending forgiveness to others. Let us consider the weight of grudges we carry because if we do not forgive then they are given the power to continue to hurt us.  Holding onto unforgiveness can be damaging to our faith and relationships.  Not that God withholds forgiveness from us but our souls don’t find the comfort that forgiveness offers. Jesus teaches us that just as we seek forgiveness, we must also forgive in order to understand our own forgiveness. To be forgiven is to be changed; To forgive is to become like the One who forgives us – even crying out from the cross – forgive them Father for they know what they are doing. The same Father we are praying to in this prayer. In the act of forgiveness, we free our hearts from bitterness and make room for God’s grace to flow freely.

 

"Lead Us Not into Temptation, but Deliver Us from Evil"

Finally, we pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”  Here is where we learn of our continued vulnerability to the attacks of the evil one - Satan.  Satan never rests in leading us away from God. We acknowledge that we are in a spiritual battle and that we cannot navigate it alone.  We ask for God’s guidance and protection against the temptations that seek to lead us astray. Even though we know that God will forgive us the spiritual scars remain and become a constant point of entry for Satan who is also known as the accuser. Even though God has forgiven us the memory remains in us – not in God. And Satan has his foothold to torment us – “you call yourself a Christian”? Through this petition, we affirm our trust in God’s power to deliver us from evil and in particular the Evil One.  We do not fight this battle with swords but through prayer, faith, and community with the armour of God because our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual forces of evil.

 

Conclusion:

The Lord’s Prayer encapsulates the simplicity and complexity of our relationship with God. The Lord’s Prayer is more than words—it’s an invitation to transformation.  Praying Jesus’ prayer we become Christlike in all we say, think and do. What begins in humble request from the disciples becomes an invitation for holy living.  It’s not about saying the right things—it’s about becoming the person God has made us to be – created in his image to reflect his love in the world as children of our Father in Heaven.

Sermon 20th July 2025 – 6th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 10:38-42 – Distracted gifts

 Sermon 20^th July 2025 – 6^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 10:38-42 – Distracted gifts

 

Luke introduces us to two interesting sisters: Mary and Martha. This passage offers us a glimpse into the heart of ministry and the sometimes challenging balance between service and discipleship. Both are important. They support each other.

We see another example of this balance in the early church written by Luke in the Book of Acts. Maybe he was thinking of this encounter today when he wrote about it.

 

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Greek Jews complained against the Hebrew Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.  So the Twelve disciples gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. So they chose seven men known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom and turned this responsibility over to them so they could give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

 

Both were important ministries and supported each other. Martha’s desire to serve the guests who had come to listen to Jesus is commendable.  It is a true ministry in the church – hospitality – some call it “koinonia”. In the culture of her time, hospitality was more than an act of kindness; it was a vital duty.  So Martha took it upon herself the responsibility to welcome Jesus into her home, preparing a meal and ensuring everything was perfect for her honoured guest.  Sometimes the weight of responsibilities for hospitality—whether in our homes or churches to have everything right is a heavy burden but to others it looks so simple. And the problem that can cause, and we see it in Martha, is she can’t understand why Mary can’t do what she is doing. And she then begins to resent the gift that she has and the gift that Mary has.

 

However, we must ask ourselves: Are we sometimes so busy with the tasks at hand that we forget to focus on the One who brings purpose to our work?  Do we begin to resent the gift WE have and as a result resent the gifts others have. Martha’s gift shows a beautiful desire to serve, yet her gift also leads her to frustration as she does not see how her hospitality is part of the patchwork of Ministry. She looks at what her sister is doing and fails to recognise her ministry strengths and compares what she is doing to what appears to her that her sister is being lazy. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  In stark contrast, we find Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, fully engaged in His teaching. Mary recognizes the importance of being present with Jesus, soaking in His words of life and love.  That was her gift.

 

Mary shows us the value of stillness and attentiveness in our spiritual lives. Jesus’ response to Martha,  “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42), Martha had her gift. It wasn’t a lesser gift but she made it feel like one when she compared it to Mary’s gift. Jesus’ response to Martha speaks to the heart of the matter as it focuses on different strengths when it comes to Christian ministry.  Jesus gently rebukes Martha, not because she wasn’t sitting at his feet to listen to him, but for her distraction.

 

Just as he does not tell Mary to get up and help Martha, neither does he tell Martha to stop and come and sit down and listen. Both service and devotion have their place in the life of a believer.  We are all called to different paths of showing our faith and service to our Lord. Some have great gifts of physically serving our Lord while others are equally called to sit at the feet of Christ, to read His Word, to pray, and to cultivate a relationship that sustains our faith. St Paul talks about the different types of gifts:

 

He says: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

 

The challenge lies in finding the balance.  Service to God without seeing what we are doing as a gift of God for the common good can lead to burnout and resentment. As we reflect on this story today, let us consider where we find ourselves on this spectrum.  Are we more like Martha who had a remarkable gift that is essential but she has fallen into the trap of comparing herself with others?  Or are we more like Mary who perhaps failed to value what Martha was doing and perhaps could have encouraged her.

 

Churches can also fall into the Mary and Martha envy. Sometimes we can compare ourselves with other churches who seem to be more active in a certain area that we long for and fail to recognise the gifts that we have of serving God. A classic example is one where a church feels that they are lacking because they look at their demographic and it’s all ageing. They feel they are failing and don’t have much future. But look at the value that our older demographic feels when they know that the church of God values them when much of society feels they are a burden.

 

We too can fall into the trap of Martha - Lord, do you not care. Of course the Lord cares and that’s why he calls some churches to have a ministry to the ageing – to the homebound – to those that society might say don’t really contribute.

As we move forward this week, you are encouraged to look at where God has placed you and what gift he has given to you.

Read your bibles, pray, and listen to what the Lord is placing on your heart. Don’t look at others and compare. Look to God and the abundance of gifts that he gives to you and our church, Look for ways to serve—engage in acts of kindness, help a neighbor, volunteer in our church or community. We can all learn from Mary and Martha, embracing the heart of both devotion and service, for in these two aspects, we find true discipleship and Ministry.

 

Let us commit ourselves to being followers of Christ who balance our worship with our work, our listening with our doing, and in all things, may we seek to glorify the One who invites us to sit at His feet.

Sermon 13th July 2025 – 5th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 10:25-37 – The Good Samaritan

 Sermon 13^th July 2025 – 5^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 10:25-37 – The Good Samaritan

 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is timeless. It’s one of those parables that is so meaningful that even worldly society has captured the theme and uses that term. Good Samaritan refers to someone who has helped another person without any need to or without any personal gain – sometimes at a cost. This is not merely a lesson that belongs to the past; it is a timeless call to action that echoes through the ages. This parable urges us to examine our hearts, our priorities, and our responses to the needs of those around us.

 

So, what has led to this parable told by Jesus? A lawyer wants to test Jesus. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  The question seems simple enough. But are we going to build on the wrong foundation about eternal life if that is our opening question? An inheritance is not about what you do. Remember what he asked – what must I do to inherit eternal life. An inheritance is about relationships. Especially in Jesus’ time property was inherited from family members and to family members. You didn’t do anything to earn an inheritance. An inheritance is a result of who you were – a child of the deceased or at least a family member if there were no children of the deceased. So, Jesus is going to set up this lawyer so he can see for himself that he has the wrong foundation when it comes to eternal life.

 

As the man is a lawyer, Jesus invites him to respond with the Law. Jesus says – what is written in the Law. The lawyer responds: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. And Jesus says – you have answered correctly. But does he understand the answer as God sees it that no one can keep the law 100%, 100% of the time. Because he doesn’t understand God’s gift of grace in eternal life and still feels that eternal life must include something he does - he asks:  “Who is my neighbour?” It is still about “doing”. And that’s the problem with a foundation of “what must I do” because when it comes to eternal life there is nothing we can do that will ever satisfy the demands of the law for eternal life. We always fall short. And we will never feel satisfied that we have done enough. Until he understands God’s grace, even the answer to this question will lead to the next question – until he understands God’s grace.

 

So Jesus uses this question – who is my neighbour – to set up the proper foundation for our relationship with God and eternal life. At the centre of this parable is a traveller who has been beaten by robbers and left for dead. There are 2 types of responses to this beaten man and they could represent our response to God being Law or Gospel. The first to arrive are a priest and a Levite. Both are possibly on the way to the Temple and as a result, uppermost in their minds, the Law. The Law that specified that you could not enter the temple if you were unclean. And presuming that the traveller is dead they would become ceremonially unclean if they had touched the body. Numbers chapter 19 says: Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days. They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third and seventh days, they will not be clean. If they fail to purify themselves after touching a human corpse, they defile the Lord’s tabernacle. They must be cut off from Israel.  Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, they are unclean; their uncleanness remains on them. So, their response to the needs of this traveller is the Law and preservation of themselves.

 

But the 2nd response is the Samaritan. He sees a Jewish person in need. And he has 2 options. To gloat that this person who had rejected his people is now getting his deserved justice. Remember the other week when Jesus was passing through Samaritan countryside and they rejected him. And James and John wanted to call down fire to consume them. That was the relationship between Jews and Samaritans. However, when he sees this man in need he puts that aside and at his own cost, physically and spiritually, he stops to help this man. So when it comes to “who is my neighbour” the answer is anyone who is in need. It is so tempting to use the hurt of others for our own satisfaction. As a form of informal justice. Eastern religions would call this Karma – they are getting what they deserve. But how fortunate that this is not how Jesus responds. Remember what we often pray in our Confession of Sins – “we deserve your eternal punishment” – not eternal life. We are thankful that God does not treat us as we deserve but reaches down to pick us up as did the Good Samaritan.

 

And just as the Good Samaritan said to the inn-keeper - when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.

So too, the one for whom there was no room in the inn – says he will come back to bring us to where he is. That he has paid the full price for our eternal life. And then Jesus says to us as he says to the Lawyer – go and do likewise.

 

There is nothing that we can do to earn our inheritance as St Paul says in Romans 8 about our inheritance: Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. The question by the lawyer is honourable and a question that seems on the surface a natural desire to show our love and appreciation to God by asking “what can I do”. It’s a question we often ask of a person who is in need – “what can I do”. But when it comes to eternal life, it’s not about “what can I do for God” but what has God done for me. We could never do enough for what God sacrificed for us – his own Son. And this was St Paul’s concern for the Galatians. They were being conned by a false Gospel. And that’s why his heart goes out in pity to them: You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. And he puts it plainly - if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

 

Just like those who quizzed the King when thanked for feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty who had no idea – when did we see you hungry and fed you or thirsty and give you something to drink. It came from their heart Likewise the Good Samaritan didn’t stop and ponder before he acted – it came from his heart. And that’s what Jesus is teaching the Lawyer and us. That Salvation comes from an act of love – the love of God for us his children. And as his children we receive eternal life – we don’t do anything to earn it. And Jesus asks that we respond in kind – to go and do likewise.

To love one another as Jesus has loved us. And that’s also what Paul is speaking about in his letter to the Colossians: In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

So friends, cherish that there is nothing you have to do to receive eternal life or the love of God. You have it because you are children of God. And if children, then heirs – joint heirs with Christ.

 

 

Sermon 29th June 2025 – Thanksgiving Sunday Text Galatians 5:1,13-25 – Fruits of thanksgiving

 Sermon 29^th June 2025 – Thanksgiving Sunday

Text Galatians 5:1,13-25 – Fruits of thanksgiving

 

James and John are interesting brothers. Some might call them a bit brash – overconfident. We see them in today’s Gospel reading when things don’t go their way: "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? Remember they were the ones that tried to corner Jesus –  “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” We wonder how they became so brash – until we read Matthew’s version of this event: The mother of James and John came to Jesus with her sons. She got down on her knees before Jesus to ask something of Him.  She said, “Say that my two sons may sit, one at Your right side and one at Your left side, when You are King.” Compare this to the writer of Psalm 84 who wasn’t concerned about sitting at the right or left hand of God but was just thankful to be a door-keeper in the house of the Lord I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

 

As we celebrate thanksgiving Sunday it is very easy with our human nature to lose our thankfulness to God for all he has done for us and to show ingratitude when things don’t go our way. To be full of expectations of what we believe we deserve and fail to see how God has blessed us. To become unthankful because of what others have rather than seeing the abundance of blessings that God has enriched us with. Paul talks about this tendency in our 2nd reading: He says: Live by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh;  He lists the types of behaviours shown by those who are unthankful and warns: Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast he lists ways in which we can show our thankfulness and he calls them  “the fruit of the Holy Spirit”  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let’s have a closer look at these and see how we can show thankfulness when we live by the fruits of the Holy Spirit:

Love: The Foundation of It All

The first fruit listed is love, and rightly so, for love is the greatest commandment. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. In 1 John 4 John says - “God is love” This love is not merely an emotional response; it is an active choice that seeks the well-being of others.  Paul describes that love in 1 Corinthians 13 – Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. If we want to show our thankfulness to God then we can do this by loving those whom God loves – our neighbour. Love isn’t just a feeling; it is care for others—even when it’s hard.  It’s love that changes hearts, forgives mistakes, and holds everything together. True thankfulness comes from love.

 

Joy:

Next comes joy, a delight that does not depend on our circumstances. We might not be happy with our circumstances, like James and John, but we can still show joy to one another. We don’t ask God rain down fire on people that we disagree with. Joy is knowing that God is with us and that he delights in us.. And so, our joy is founded in our relationship with God.

Nehemiah reminds us that "the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).  This joy is because we are loved by God.

When we face trials, remember that joy is not the absence of sorrow, but the presence of God in our lives. And it’s for that reason that Paul says we rejoice – we are thankful, even in our suffering because it produces hope.

 

Peace

In Philippians 4:6-7, we are reminded not to be anxious, but to bring our requests to God, and His peace that goes beyond understanding will guard our hearts and minds offering us reassurance amidst the chaos of life. When we are thankful for what God has given us rather than what others have or what we don’t have then we have peace in our lives. We are not concerned about what the world says about what we need in order to have comfortable lives. As I near retirement I keep seeing articles and getting emails about what amount of money I need in order to survive in retirement and live in comfort and peace. That can be quite unsettling. Those that have everything often find they are not thankful and therefore don’t have peace in their lives.

Patience

Patience is often the hardest fruit to cultivate in our fast-paced world. Paul says love is patient and kind. And so, in our thankfulness to God we are reminded to “bear with each other and forgive one another.” Patience holds back anger. Just think or the outrage when your stuck in traffic – stuck on hold – stuck in the line that’s not moving while everyone else’s line is. It’s hard to be thankful in those times because of our impatience. In a world that thrives on impatience and quick judgments, let us be vessels of patience and be thankful that God is with us.

 

Kindness:

Again, love is patient and kind. Ephesians 4:32, we are called to be kind to one another, compassionate, and forgiving.

Kindness is at the heart of thankfulness that guides our loving actions.  Your acts of kindness reflects your thankfulness of God, bringing light into the dark corners of the world. As Jesus says – whoever gives a glass of cold water to a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. As much as you did it to one of the least of these – you did it unto me.

 

Goodness:

When we are thankful to God then we look for ways that we can honour him. As John says in his Gospel - Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. What better way to show our thankfulness to God than to do things that we know please him. As Paul says in Romans - Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

 

Faithfulness

Faithfulness is a fruit of thankfulness for all that God has done for us. Maybe we don’t have all the things the world says we should have but Jesus says – seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. Faithfulness is trusting that God provides us with what we need and we thank God especially for the gift of eternal life through his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. How much more thankful can we be when we embrace that we are saved by grace through faith.

 

Gentleness:

Gentleness is often misinterpreted as weakness, but it is, in fact, strength under control.  Philippians 4:5 urges us to let our gentleness be evident to all.  It involves humility and a consideration for others.  In our thankfulness for God’s compassion to us, let us choose gentleness over harshness, reflecting the character of Jesus, who described Himself as "gentle and humble in heart" (Matthew 11:29).

 

Self-Control:

Finally, self-control—the ability to manage our desires and impulses—brings us back to the core of our Christian walk.

And that’s what Paul was saying in our 2nd reading. Live by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh – that takes self-control. The Holy Spirit urges us to exercise self-control over our thoughts, words, and deeds, leading to a life that honors God. This is true thankfulness to God that instead of our own selfish desires we choose to show our thanks to God by showing our love to him and neighbour in all we think and do.

 

So as we consider these fruits of the Holy Spirit, let us reflect on our own lives in thankfulness to God.  The world around us is in desperate need of love, joy, peace, and all the beautiful fruits that testify to a life thankful to God for all God has done for us in his Son Jesus Christ.

 

 

Sermon 22nd June 2025 – 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Text Luke 8:26-39 – Tormented

 Sermon 22^nd June 2025 – 2^nd Sunday after Pentecost

Text Luke 8:26-39 – Tormented

 

What a sad story we have in our Gospel reading. The account of the demon possessed man known as “Legion”. This was a man whose community could no longer care for him. Their solution: He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles. He lived in the cemetery until he was able to break the chains and shackles when he would then flee into the wilderness rather than return home only to be tormented again. The same wilderness that Jesus was very experienced with when he was tempted by Satan. He wore no clothes – whether that was because he ripped them off or perhaps that was how they sent him – we don’t know. Jesus arrives at the Gerasenes where this man lived and when he sees Jesus he naturally feels that Jesus will treat him just as everyone else did. What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.

 

Sadly there are many people in society today who probably feel like this. Those that society forgets. Those who don’t fit in.

Those that live on the outer. And I’m not just talking about the ones we usually put into that pigeonhole. The addicts – why bother helping them – they’ve made their choice. The criminals – leave them in jail where they belong. The homeless – they could get a job if they tried like all of us. But there are many who look okay – who look like they are coping – who look as if everything is under control – but inside are tormented. Maybe you’ve felt like that tormented man. Like you don’t fit in.

Like everyone else is fine but you’re not. Yes we can all put on a well presented front like everything is okay – but beneath the façade of our neat and tidy appearance dwells a person locked in chains and shackles wanting to escape where no one can see you, And maybe your experience of God is like this man whenever you come to God in prayer – please do not torment me. I know I am a sinner – I don’t need to be tormented again and again. Maybe you feel that God is more like the local sheriff who has come to arrest you than the local doctor who has come to heal you.

 

And this is what St Paul is pointing out in out Galatians passage – the difference between a God who Is a disciplinarian and one who has come to love and care for us: Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.  What a wonderful and comforting message from St Paul. And unlike the people in the Gerasenes, God does not distinguish or discriminate: As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

 

Jesus Christ is the great equalizer who brings us freedom. In Jesus we are all one and we are all on the same level playing field. There is no distinction as was made very evident in his 3 year ministry on earth. He ate with sinners. He fellowshipped with lepers. And here he goes to the land of the unclean Gentiles. I know that sometimes it might feel like God is not really there for you when you need him. That’s how Elijah felt. With all that he was going through – with people trying to kill him – it seemed that his enemies were doing much better than he was as a follower of God. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors. And then God shows his care: Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. And then God revealed something extraordinary about himself: God said to Elijah –  "Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went. Even though it was the sound of sheer silence – Elijah heard God’s presence.

 

And that’s God’s message to us. Maybe we don’t always feel or hear God’s presence but he is always there for us. Sometimes God’s presence appears as sheer silence. Just as he was there for Elijah even though everyone was chasing after him to kill him. God was there for the demon possessed man even though the whole town was against him. And God is also there for you even when it seems like the whole world is against you. And just look at the transformation Jesus makes in the life of the demon possessed man.  They found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. What a beautiful image. Jesus not only restored his physical body but gave him back his dignity by finding clothes for him to wear. Much like God replaced the pitiful attempt by Adam and Eve to clothes themselves with fig leaves by providing them with clothes from animal skin.

 

And God also clothes you with a very special garment. As Paul says - As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. How beautiful to know that God has clothed you by the special clothing of his Son Jesus Christ. That was the image that John saw in his Revelation.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

 

There’s another important lesson in our Gospel reading today. And it’s about mission. After having been healed the once demon possessed man wants to show his appreciation to Jesus and begged that he might be with him; What a great testimony that would have been. But nobody would really have known the extent of this man’s healing except those who had discriminated against him and thrown him out of their community. So, Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." And he did.

 

This is our greatest mission field. To go to our communities and to help those who have perhaps been against us. To show love and forgiveness as Jesus says – love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. And that’s why Jesus said that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed – beginning in Jerusalem. Beginning where you came from.

Beginning in your homes. This is going to be a huge challenge for him – to declare the love of God to people who showed him no love. But that’s the story of the Good Samaritan who showed love to someone who showed him no love. But that’s exactly what God has done for us: As Paul says in Romans - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us

.

And sometimes those are the chains that bind us. The inability to forgive those that hurt us – and that unforgiveness keeps us bound in hate and resentment and we won’t know true freedom until we can break those shackles. And if we can’t do that then instead of the freedom of Christ and the Gospel we places ourselves back under the law as our disciplinarian. But thanks be to God for Jesus’ freeing words from the cross – forgive them Father for they know not what they are doing.

May you experience this freedom as you claim your Baptism garment that has washed away all your sins.