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St. Michael & All Angels (29 September)/ Trinity 17 (27 September)

30/9/2015

 

Come and see for yourself.

Picture
This weeks Gospel contains the the same simple call to faith as last week.  "Follow me" Jesus says to Phillip.    Phillip follows as willingly as Matthew did last week and is so excited that he can't wait to find his mate Nathaniel and tell him all about it.
“We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.”  (John 1:45)
Matthew and Phillip both have the advantage of a first hand encounter with Jesus.  Nathaniel has not yet had the chance and is not so sure about downing tools to follow someone he hasn't even met, especially considering where comes from .  “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” ( John1:46 )   
“Come and see for yourself.”  Says Phillip.  ( John 1:46 )
On meeting Jesus, Phillip is quickly convinced and responds with one of the earliest statements of faith in the Gospels.  “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49) 
  • Like Phillip, following Jesus means that we too should want others to know and follow him too.  
  • Like Nathaniel, not all those we share our faith with will always be as enthusiastic as we are.  
  • Like Nathaniel, most people will have questions that need answering before they will come to faith.
  • Like Phillip we can answer those questions with the same simple invitation he gave to Nathaniel.
​                                                                                                                 "Come and see for yourself!"

Till next time
Andrew   



Read more about St. Michael ...

Readings

1st            Ezekiel 1: 4–12
2nd          Revelation 12:7–12a
Psalm      138
Gospel    John 1:45–51
Download this weeks pew sheet pdf

Readings list, September 2015

30/9/2015

 

Readings

 
Trinity 11 (16 August)

1st          1 Kings 2:10–12, 3:3–14
2nd         Ephesians 5:11–31
Psalm    111
Gospel   John 6:51–58

Trinity 12 (23 August)

1st          1 Kings 8:1, 6, 10–11
2nd         Ephesians 6:10–20
Psalm    84
Gospel   John 6:56–69

Trinity 13 (30 August)

1st    Song of Solomon 2:8–13
2nd    James 1:17–27
Psalm    15
Gospel    Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23   


Trinity 14 (6 September)
1st    Proverbs 22:1–2, 8–9, 22–23
2nd    James 2:1–17
Psalm    125
Gospel    Mark 7:24–37


Trinity 15 (13 September)
1st    Proverbs 1:20–33
2nd    James 3:1–12
Psalm    19
Gospel    Mark 8:27–38


Trinity 16 (20 September)/St. Matthew (21 September)
St. Matthew, apostle, evangelist and martyr
1st    Proverbs 3:1–6
2nd    Ephesians 4:1–14
Psalm    19
Gospel    Matthew 9:9–13




Trinity 17 (27 September)/St. Michael and All Angels (29 September)
1st    Esther 7:1–6, 9–10; 9:20–22
2nd    James 5:13–20
Psalm    124
Gospel    Mark 9:38–50

St. Michael and All Angels (29 September)
1st    Ezekiel 1: 4–12
2nd    Revelation 12:7–12a
Psalm    138
Gospel    John 1:45–51

​Trinity 18 (October 4)
​1st   Job 1.1; 2.1-10

St. Matthew's Day (21 September)/Trinity 16 (20 September)

18/9/2015

 

It really is that easy

   In our Gospel lesson for today Jesus gives Matthew the simplest of invitations.  "Follow me," (Matthew 9:9) he says to Matthew, and Matthew gets up from his tax collection booth in faith and follows.  Sometimes when we hear Jesus' call we make the answer too hard, but becoming a follower of Jesus is really that easy!  Matthew could have decided that it was too hard, or that he was not good enough, or that others were more deserving,  but he doesn't.  Instead he accepts the invitation, and allows the presence of Jesus in his life to transform him and make him good.  
  The Pharisees are indignant!  What does he think he's doing calling someone as unworthy as that? But Jesus knows their hearts and answers them;
"I desire mercy and not sacrifice.  For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners" (Matthew 9:13)
  Out of that same great love and mercy Jesus calls us too.  The question we must ask ourselves is, will we make it all too hard? Or, will we respond in faith and follow?

Till next time
Andrew
Picture
Read more about St. Matthew ...

Readings

1st           Proverbs 3:1–6
2nd         Ephesians 4:1–14
Psalm    19
Gospel    Matthew 9:9–13
Download this weeks pew sheet pdf

Trinity 15 (13 September)

8/9/2015

 
In our gospel reading today, Jesus lays hands on a deaf man and prays “Ephphatha” ('Be opened’) and immediately the deaf man is healed. The crowds are astounded beyond  measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

The irony is that although the deaf man has been healed, many of those in the crowd still fail to hear what Jesus is saying to them. Jesus ordered them to tell no-one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.

Do you ever wonder how often it is that Jesus might speak to us and we might fail to hear? Like the crowds in Jesus day, it is so easy for us to get caught up wanting Jesus to do things our way, that we forget to listen to what he is actually asking of us. In Mark 8:34 Jesus says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

James takes up this message as well this morning as he challenges us to put our faith into practice:
“Faith by itself, if it has no action, is dead" (James 2:17 ).

Only when we fully allow ourselves to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit with us can we truly be faithful to all that Jesus is calling us to be. So perhaps Jesus’ prayer for the deaf man should also be our prayer for our own hearing along with our hearts and mind: “'Ephphatha.'  Lord may my heart be open to your call."

Pray it with me if you dare and see the good things that God has planned for us. Amen!

Till next time …
Andrew

Readings

1st           Proverbs 1:20–33
2nd         James 3:1–12
Psalm    19
Gospel    Mark 8:27–38

Be open! (Trinity 14, 6 September)

2/9/2015

 
In our gospel reading today, Jesus lays hands on a deaf man and prays “Ephphatha” ('Be opened’) and immediately the deaf man is healed. The crowds are astounded beyond  measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

The irony is that although the deaf man has been healed, many of those in the crowd still fail to hear what Jesus is saying to them. Jesus ordered them to tell no-one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.

Do you ever wonder how often it is that Jesus might speak to us and we might fail to hear? Like the crowds in Jesus day, it is so easy for us to get caught up wanting Jesus to do things our way, that we forget to listen to what he is actually asking of us. In Mark 8:34 Jesus says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

James takes up this message as well this morning as he challenges us to put our faith into practice:
“Faith by itself, if it has no action, is dead" (James 2:17 ).

Only when we fully allow ourselves to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit with us can we truly be faithful to all that Jesus is calling us to be. So perhaps Jesus’ prayer for the deaf man should also be our prayer for our own hearing along with our hearts and mind: “'Ephphatha.'  Lord may my heart be open to your call."

Pray it with me if you dare and see the good things that God has planned for us. Amen!

Till next time …
Andrew

Readings

1st           Proverbs 22:1–2, 8–9, 22–23
2nd         James 2:1–17
Psalm    125
Gospel    Mark 7:24–37
    Picture

    Rev. Andrew Smith

    Vicar of Light in the Hills
    Anglican Parish of Mt.
     Dandenong

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  • Home
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