Collect for Trinity 17
Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you: Teach us to offer ourselves to your service, that here we may have your peace, and in the world to come may see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Philippians 2: 1-13
Matthew 21: 23-32
Apparently, the phrase ‘All mouth and no trousers’ is local to the North of England, where I grew up. It means a person who talks a lot but never does anything.
Jesus doesn’t use the phrase – but the example He gives means the same. The ‘dutiful’ son says he will do the bidding of his father but doesn’t – the ‘rebellious’ son says he won’t but does. One son talks the talk; the other walks the walk.
The religious and political hierarchy try to trip Jesus by questioning His authority to teach and heal, hoping that He will blaspheme by claiming God’s authority. In return, He asks them a question they can’t answer without putting themselves at risk of their own authority being undermined – and they dare notrisk being seen as the frauds they are. It might cause them to have to put their words into action.
As in so many cases, Jesus sees through their motives for trying to trick Him and uses a story to reply to His accusers. The chief priests and Temple elderslead ‘blameless ‘ lives (yeah, right..) and use sophisticated theological argument to discuss the prophecy of Messiah and the return of Elijah, but refuse to accept John or Jesus as it’s fulfilment; the people at the lowest of the hierarchy, the tax collectors and prostitutes, might not lead ‘Holy’ lives, but recognise and accept Jesus for who He is – the way, the truth and the life. He is the one promised – the choice is to repent and do His bidding or refuse it. The reward for accepting Him is the joy of knowing freedom, and then to accept His command to work in the vineyard, to feed His lambs – not with empty words, but with deeds. In the final analysis, it is ordinary people, not religious or political leaders, who will bring His Kingdom come.
Previous Posts
Praying together 30th October 2022
Luke 18: 9-14Ephesians 1:11-23 ‘Saint’ Defn. #1: a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and regarded in Christian faith as being in heaven after death. Well, I’m not dead yet (or at least I wasn’t at the time of writing.) So that’s not me. ‘Saint’ Defn. #2: a very...
Praying Together 23rd October 2022
We don’t stop doing right because of the fear of becoming proud – and we don’t let past failure stop us from living in His house.
Praying Together 16th October 2022
2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5 Are we there yet? (Title courtesy of Marjorie)Just stop for a moment. Take a look around. How did you get to where you are at this instant in time? Now have a look into yourself, your heart and mind, and reflect on your journey in faith –...
Praying Together 9th October 2022
Collect for Trinity 17 Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you: Teach us to offer ourselves to your service, that here we may have your peace, and in the world to come may see you face to face;through...
An Ordination at St Michael and All Angels, Waterville
On Thursday last, 29th September - the feast of Michaelmas - members of all four churches of our Union joined together to witness The Reverend Barbara Irrgang-Buckley being ordained Priest by the Bishop of Tuam Limerick and Killaloe, the Right Reverend Michael...
Praying Together 25th September 2022
Luke 16: 19-31 What will it take to convince you? With thanks to Anselm of Canterbury, and his inspiration Augustine of Hippo, there are two approaches to faith. (Excuse the Latin, but I had five years of it at school and I can’t help showing off sometimes as a...
Praying Together 18th September 2022
Luke 16: 1-13 To whom do we owe our allegiance? You cannot serve God and ‘wealth’ Bah. If ever there was a misleading Biblical translation, that’s it. It’s bad enough when the translated phrase reads ‘You cannot serve God and money’. Neither of those words...
Praying Together – 11 September 2022
Collect for Trinity 13 Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: Help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the...
Arthur and Martha: Christ the King
This is the day we remember that Jesus is the king of all the world and that He is the greatest king of all. Just imagine. Jesus is our very best friend, but He’s a king!
The Road to Emmaus | Luke 24: 13-35
The Road to Emmaus : Luke 24:13-35
Mary’s Story
Hello little one. Pleased to meet you. It’s been an eventful few months while I’ve been waiting for you to arrive. Let me tell you all about it.
It started on an ordinary day. I was going about as normal, feeding the chickens, tidying up and that sort of thing. I wasn’t really concentrating, I was thinking about my wedding to Joseph in a few weeks time.
The Journey to the Cross
The Lent readings tell a familiar story. The story of a journey. A journey to the cross.
Let’s remind ourselves of that journey. After his baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days and forty very cold nights. The voices of Satan came whispering, tempting, but Jesus refuses to be distracted or tempted.