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.

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 )   

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   

1st            Ezekiel 1: 4–12
2nd          Revelation 12:7–12a
Psalm      138
Gospel    John 1:45–51

 
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

1st           Proverbs 3:1–6
2nd         Ephesians 4:1–14
Psalm    19
Gospel    Matthew 9:9–13

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

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

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

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