Sunday before Advent

Christ the King

Below is the very first ‘Praying together’ in March 2020, written in the concern of the unknown potential effect of the virus called Covid -19. Today, that virus is still around – but globally, there are now additional threats we have to face. On this Sunday – the feast of Christ the King, we ask for the faith of Simeon, that the coming Messiah will bring peace to a troubled world.

Collect

Lord God, whose blessed Son our Saviour gave his back to His tormentors but did not hide his face from shame: Give us grace to endure the sufferings of this present time with sure confidence in the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Luke 2: 25 – 35

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when
the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

Simeon gives us a lesson in patience, hope and faith; he has trusted in the Holy Spirit’s promise. It must have been very difficult to maintain that trust – living in a country under occupation by a pagan army, seeing the elders of the Temple and his own King happy to be little more than the Roman governor’s puppets for the sake of an easy life – there must have been times when his faith was stretched thin. But that faith was rewarded in the fulfilment of the promise that he would see and proclaim the Lord’s Messiah.

We are living in a difficult time ourselves – uncertainty about the future, fear of illness, separation from our families – wondering how long this pandemic will last, and perhaps even more fearful of what the long term social and economic effects will be.

That is why Simeon’s example in scripture is so important. It offers us encouragement and the promise that whatever our circumstances, we can hold on to the promise of salvation through the child brought to the temple by his parents, the child who will become the man who climbs a cross for our sake.

Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

*****

Today as we celebrate the coming of Christ the King, we dread turning on the TV news – war, violence, cruelty, the refusal to accept that we have to (MUST) change our behaviour if we are to prevent climate disaster.

The temptation is to despair. But we won’t. Because we know how it ends:

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving^* his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.

‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

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2nd Sunday before Advent

Collect

Hebrews 10: 11 – 14, 19 – 25

The letter to the Hebrews couldn’t be clearer. The old ritual as described in detail in the Old Testament, in which a jewel-bedecked and richly adorned priest spills animal blood on an altar, has been replaced by the one all-encompassing sacrifice of God’s Son. No jewels. No fine clothes. No altar – a rough -hewn piece of wood on which the Prince of Peace is the sacrificial offering seeking redemption.

However, while Christians accept that Christ’s sacrifice is complete and sufficient, the appropriate celebration of this issue remains as the cause of division between those of different denominations. Some, of a Catholic Persuasion (n.b. not just ‘Roman’ Catholic), regard the Bread as incorporating (either symbolically or in reality) the consecrated blood of Jesus, and elevate it from the Altar in the Eucharistic Prayer for all to recognise as a sacrifice we offer to God. In theological terms, this is called ‘Sacrificium’ (sacrifice).

In an opposing doctrine in more conservative Protestant Theology, around God’s Holy Table He offers His Son to us. This is referred to as ‘beneficium’ (gift giving), that is, a gift from God to the faithful rather than from the faithful to God. The celebration of thanksgiving for salvation takes place within the context of a meal, and we share bread and wine as memorial of His words at the Last Supper.

Sacrifice or memorial? Millions of words on the issue haven’t reached a resolution, and probably won’t ever. But the important point is that this must not – Must Not!!! – cause division between all who proclaim Jesus as Lord. However we understand it, it is the Spirit-led recognition of His presence at the heart of our Eucharist that changes our lives and sets us free to be His Body on earth.

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3rd Sunday before Advent

Collect

Isaiah 2: 1 – 5 The Future House of God

Mark 1: 14 – 20

People sometimes ask me why, since our multinational and multilingual service making the hundred years since the 1918 Armistice, I no longer wear a poppy on Remembrance Sunday. Sadly I don’t recognise any reduction in war and violence after years of wearing one. While respecting the choice of those who still do, I feel that yes, it was right then that we reflected and looked back in gratitude. But perhaps it is time to look forward instead.

Actually, I do wear one, sort of. But rather like the cross on my forehead I was blessed with on my Baptism, it’s only visible through my actions.

I aspire to living my life a witness to my Saviour (admittedly and shamefully, I mostly fail…).  Nowadays, my act of Remembrance is in working for a future for children, grandchildren and generations of every race and nation to come, that they will live in a world of freedom from violence, hatred, injustice and prejudice. Whatever we wear or don’t wear, we must always, in giving thanks and honouring the sacrifice of those who give their lives for others, in turn offer ourselves as the body of Christ in the world, working for God’s Kingdom of peace and looking forward to that Kingdom, come. The safety and freedoms of the world’s children are our living poppies of remembrance

We remember

The Defence Forces

The Ambulance Service

An Garda Síochána

The Fire Service

The Coastguard

The RNLI and its volunteers

The Civil Defence and its volunteers

Nurses, doctors and all those who use their skills of healing both in this nation and across the world

And all those who have given their lives for others

For Johnny

Do not despair
For Johnny-head-in-air;
He sleeps as sound
As Johnny underground.

Fetch out no shroud
For Johnny-in-the-cloud;
And keep your tears
For him in after years.

Better by far
For Johnny-the-bright-star,
To keep your head,
And see his children fed.

John Pudney 1945

We pray the Lord’s prayer, and as the music plays, we may break bread together with the risen Christ and all His people – whoever and wherever in the world they are, we are one in Him who gave His life that we might live. He calls us to follow and to live our lives as His body, in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

Go in peace, to love and praise the Lord and all His creation, giving thanks for the blessings of tomorrow – and the day after, then the day after that, and all your days. In the name of Christ. Amen

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4th Sunday before Advent

Collect

Hebrew 9: 11 – 14

Mark 12: 28 – 34

There are a number of sacrifices prescribed in the Old Testament; a burnt offering to express devotion or commitment to God. a grain offering in the form of a cake or baked bread, the peace offering, which consisted of any unblemished animal from the worshiper’s herd, a sin offering to atone for sin and cleanse from defilement and a trespass offering given as atonement for sins that required reimbursement to an offended party . Each of these sacrifices involved certain elements, either animal or sometimes fruit of the field, and had a specific purpose. They had to be made in accordance with strict rules laid down in the book of Leviticus – and these instructions were mostly fairly gruesome, involving (blameless) animals being slaughtered, with their blood being a fundamental part of the act.

Essentially, they allowed the donor to walk away from their past and start again – without themselves shedding blood. No doubt many were sincere, resolving to change their lives for the better – but I suspect that for others, this was a meaningless ritual which changed nothing.

Paul’s letter to the Church in Corinth makes it clear that these are but ‘a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.’ Jesus offers himself as a final, all-encompassing sacrifice. His innocent blood replaces the blood of the innocent animals. It is all we need, and we celebrate our freedom in our eucharistic celebration. But does it change us? – or do we merely perform the ritual as part of a tradition, without reflecting on its true meaning – that God the Creator of the Universe, loves us so much that He offers us the blood of His only Son that we might not perish, but have eternal life?

This week, there is so much needing our prayer that words are not enough. We need to take our issues of concern to a much deeper level. So, if you are able, find a quiet space and simply meditate on the words below, in the context of Christ’s atoning Sacrifice

Flooding in Spain and all countries suffering extreme climate disturbance

Escalating war and the pursuit of revenge throughout the Holy Land

Continuing conflict in Ukraine and Russia

Desperate people worldwide seeking refuge and safety for their families

The growth of political extremism

Domestic abuse and violence

That the Kingdom is only ever to be found in love of God and neighbour.

We pray the Lord’s prayer, and as the music plays, we may break bread together with the risen Christ and all His people – whoever and wherever in the world they are, we are one in Him who gave His life that we might live. He calls us to follow and to live our lives as His body, in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

Go in peace, to love and praise the Lord and all His creation, giving thanks for the blessings of tomorrow – and the day after, then the day after that, and all your days. In the name of Christ. Amen

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Collect

Merciful Lord, Grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrew 5: 1 – 10

Mark 10: 35 – 45

A litany for Peace in troubled times

God the Father, have mercy on us.

God the Son, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy and blessed Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

In these days of trouble, fear and sorrow, have mercy on us.

In our despair at the violence that seems to fill the world, have mercy on us.

In the pain of lost life and shattered hopes, have mercy on us.

In our grieving for those who have died, have mercy on us.

In our compassion for all who are bereaved, have mercy on us.

From the history of violence that corrupts every society and our own,
O Lord, deliver us.

From the greed and injustice that divide the world into rich and poor,
O Lord, deliver us.

From the urge for revenge that adds to the cycle of violence,
O Lord, deliver us.

From the fear that grows into hatred for people who are different,
O Lord, deliver us.

From being too quick to attribute blame and demand retribution,
O Lord, deliver us.

From believing ourselves safe through anything other than your grace,
O Lord, deliver us.

From dying suddenly and unprepared,
O Lord, deliver us.

For those who plan and carry out acts of violence,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who seek justice and ensure the rule of law,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the victims of war and terrorism everywhere on earth,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who live in fear, and for refugees from violent regimes,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For courage to resist demonising and dehumanising others,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For wisdom in choosing the paths of peace,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For solidarity with the suffering of the dispossessed,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For generosity in sharing fairly the world’s resources,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For respect in conversation with people of other faiths, and none,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For honesty in knowing and confessing the sin in our own hearts,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For grace to change and be changed as you forgive us,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For rescue workers and medical teams treating those injured in conflict zones,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For aid agencies and workers, responding with practical care in dangerous places,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the leaders of all the nations, looking for ways to work together beyond fear and suspicion,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For people of goodwill, responding generously to the needs of suffering communities,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who have friends and family involved in areas of conflict and disaster,
Lord, hear our prayer.

For communities that are terrified by missiles, snipers, vigilantes or death
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the vulnerable and defenceless in conflict zones, for the children, the elderly, the disabled, the sick:                                                                                            
Lord, hear our prayer.

For Christ to bring all the peoples of the world into one flock with one shepherd, we pray to you, O God.

For Christ to bring healing and comfort for those we love who are sick or in mourning, we pray to you, O God.

For Christ to lead us into the paths of peace, writing the law of love on our hearts, we pray to you, O God.

For Christ to bring us, with all who have died in faith, to a joyful resurrection, we pray to you, O God.

God of all peace, have mercy on our broken and divided world, and on your people who cry out to you for healing, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Trinity 20

Collect

James 5:13 – 20

Mark 10: 17 – 31

it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye…
it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle…
It’s easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle…
… than for the rich to get into God’s Kingdom

it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye…
it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle…
It’s easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle…
… than for the rich to get into God’s Kingdom

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