Collect for Christ the King Sunday
Ephesians 1: 15-23
Matthew 25: 31-46
Through the past weeks, the readings from Matthew’s Gospel have concentrated on Jesus teaching, healing and explaining the Kingdom of Heaven in parables. The Sower. The mustard seed. Treasure in a field, a pearl of great price. Each one being more direct in its message. Refusal of the invitation to the great banquet. The last first, the first last. As Jesus speaks, the Pharisees and elders of the Temple become more and more angry. They realise that the message of His teaching undermines their authority within the religious hierarchy, with their self-importance exposed as being more important to them than their religious responsibilities.
He speaks to them even more directly and denounces them as blind guides who offer no leadership. He talks about the entrance of the bridegroom, the return of the landowner – and now, as if what He has said before wasn’t bad enough, with barely-disguised criticism He reminds them that their pious hypocrisy isn’t going to be the passport to Paradise they imagine it is. Unless their actions result in the service of the people they lead, they will never enter the Kingdom. Their falsehood is emphasised in the light of their knowledge of their responsibilities They know what they should do. But they don’t do it. It is the ones who do God’s work, who serve without expecting any reward who will receive eternal life in the Kingdom.
It’s no wonder the Pharisees start making plans to get rid of Him.
Previous Posts
Praying Together 27th November 2022
Pause for a moment; for a change, a Meditation rather than a sermonette. Thanks to Clare Anglicans
Praying Together 20th November 2022
He will turn His face to Jerusalem, the theatre where His Destiny will be revealed – a destiny of suffering for the sake of unrequited love.
Praying Together 13th November 2022
So on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, it is right to keep silence for the fallen, in every sphere of life, but unless we resolve to remember them as we remember Jesus – every day of the year – it means little.
Praying Together 6th November 2022
Human structures, societies and cultures will always eventually crumble. God’s Kingdom is everlasting. And it’s free for the asking.
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...
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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...