In our Gospel reading this week Jesus tells us the story of two men - a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The rich man lived an extravagant life as rich men usually do. Meanwhile Lazarus in his poverty lay suffering outside the gate of his house, but his cries for help fell on deaf ears and he received no sympathy from the rich man. This week is also the time when the church celebrates the feast of St Michael and all the Angels or Michaelmas. Michael the Archangel isn't a saint, but rather is an angel, and the leader of all angels and of the army of God. This is what the title "Archangel" means, that he is above all the others in rank. He is best known in the scriptures in the book of Revelation where he leads the heavenly armies out to defeat Satan. From scripture and Christian tradition St. Michael has four main responsibilities or offices, The first is to combat Satan. The second is to escort the faithful to heaven at their hour of death. The third is to be a champion of all Christians, and the Church itself. And the fourth is to call men from life on Earth to their heavenly judgment. But back to Jesus’ story. Eventually both of our characters die. Lazarus is escorted by the angels (possibly St Michael) up to heaven while our rich man winds up in a much less pleasant and far ,far hotter place where he cries out for Lazarus to be sent to help him. Even in death it seems our rich friend can’t think about anyone but himself. Some people see this story as a story about death and judgement for rich people. But it really is a story about how we should live our life. The rich man is not punished for being rich but rather for his unwillingness to be merciful to someone in need. Last week Jesus warned the Pharisees to learn the meaning of being merciful. This week he shows them what happens to those who are not. In the same way Jesus commands us as his followers to live as people who practice love and mercy. .And each time we do his kingdom is revealed and God is glorified. Till next time. Andrew This week we remember the call of Matthew. Matthew 9:9-13 As we do Jesus reminds us of the great mercy of God. As always Jesus is in trouble with the Pharisees for mixing with sinners and tax collectors. Doesn’t he know that these folk are not worthy of God’s love? If Jesus wants to be taken seriously as a religious leader then he really should be more careful of who he hangs out with. You can’t expect God to extend his mercy to just anyone you know. But Jesus wants them to know that this is exactly the point. God’s mercy is unlimited and is for everyone! To be merciful is to show kindness and forgiveness to another regardless of whether or not it is deserved. This is something that Jesus wants all of us to learn. Lamentations 3:22-23 says that “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, In calling Matthew, a tax collector of all people, Jesus demonstrates this mercy in the most visible of ways. The good news of this Gospel is that if Matthew is worthy of Jesus call to follow then so too are we. “Follow me”, says Jesus to Matthew, and in responding to Jesus’ call his life is changed forever. “Follow me”, says Jesus to you and me. Not because we’re good enough, not because we have earned it, but simply because he loves us and wants us to know life. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Matthew 9:12 Jesus came to bring healing to the world and his will for each of us, is that we would know the kind of wholeness, healing, transformation and life that can only come from him. That’s why he calls Matthew to follow and that’s why he calls us too. So what will you do with his call? The choice is up to you. Till next time. Andrew Download this week's Pew Sheet Download this week's sermon If you ever have had the experience of losing something very precious and then finding it again you will have experienced on a small scale the kind of rejoicing that takes place in heaven when even one lost soul turns back to God. Last week Jesus told us how very costly it is to be a disciple of Christ. This week in Luke 15 he goes on to tell us how very precious and valuable each of us is to God. I don’t know if you have ever thought of yourself as a source of joy to God but Jesus wants us to know in no uncertain terms how very much God loves us. “I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 This truly is the story of God’s amazing grace. No matter how lost you may be and no matter how undeserving you may feel, God is not happy until each of his children has been brought safely home. It was this truth that the slave trader John Newton wrote about when he penned the famous hymn that we love so much. Amazing grace how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I'm found. Was blind but now I see. John Newton 1725-1807 Till next time. Andrew Download this week's Pew Sheet PDF In our Gospel reading this week, Jesus has some hard words to say to the large crowds who have flocked to see him. Words that perhaps we too may sometimes need to be reminded of. “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27 His words may seem to be harsh but that is only because he is looking for disciples and not fans. Jesus is recruiting workers for the kingdom and the invitation comes at a cost. “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-27 His requirement to hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself shocks us. Yet that is only because even the greatest love that we may have for our loved ones and our life, falls so far short of the love that he has given us and requires of us. It is only in our willingness to give up everything that we can truly be all that he has called us to be. Nothing must get in the way if we are truly to be as salt and light in the world around us. Only then are we truly worshipping him.
People often talk to me about what they think is the best way to worship Jesus. But these conversations are usually more about style than they are about worship. Jesus calls us to worship him in Spirit and in truth, to give him our all and hold nothing back. St Paul puts it this way, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2 Till next time. Andrew DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK'S SERMON DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK'S PEW SHEET PDF “For everyone who exalts themselves will be humbled, and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 This is the rule for life in the kingdom of God—a polar reversal that turns our familiar world upside down to reveal a world with very different rules. Luke first introduced this reversal in Mary’s Song, where she sang, “He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down princes from their thrones and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty” Luke 1:51-53. God is at the root of this polar reversal, which is a key theme in Luke’s Gospel and one he will not let his readers forget. (for example, 1:51-53; 6:20-26; 13:30)”
By alerting us to this impending reversal, Jesus helps to prepare us for life in God’s kingdom, a place that seems at once strange and wonderful and threatening. Just as we would prepare for life in a foreign land by learning the language and customs, so we also need to prepare for the kingdom of God by learning and following Kingdom Rules now. The kingdom of God becomes a present reality and not just a future hope when we acknowledge God as king and live by Kingdom Rules. Christians live with one foot in the kingdom of this world and the other foot in the kingdom of God. As his disciples, Jesus calls us to follow his example and live in humility as we put the needs of others ahead of our own and learn to seek first the kingdom and his righteousness. Till next time. Andrew Adapted from Dick Donovan’s commentary on Luke 14. Used with permission www.sermonwriter.com In our Gospel lesson this morning Luke tells the story of Jesus healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath. Luke 13:10-17 For the woman who had been crippled by this spirit for the past eighteen years, meeting Jesus must have been the best thing that had ever happened to her. “When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.” Luke 13:12-13 Not everyone was happy though. You’d think that the synagogue leaders would have been overjoyed to see the woman had been healed. The air should have been full of praise for the goodness of God following such a miracle in their midst. Sadly though, this couldn’t have been further from the truth. Instead of praise, the air was full of grumbling. Instead of thankfulness, legalism and love of their own rules blocked their vision. Instead of rejoicing at the presence of God at work in their midst, they were overcome with selfishness, pride and jealousy. Meeting Jesus should have been the best thing that ever happened to them, but it seems that it was not only the woman who was in need of being set free of a crippling spirit. Because of their hardness of heart they missed out on discovering the freedom that comes from knowing Christ. What about you then? When you come to worship, do you come expecting to meet the risen Jesus? Is your heart open to the power of his transforming love and the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? Are you willing to let meeting Jesus be the best thing that ever happens to you in your life? Or does it feel safer to keep your guard up and to keep your religion under control? Set free by his truth and love, the crippled woman was born anew and rejoiced in the blessings of God. Jesus came to set us free from all that keeps us from each other and from God. What will you choose to receive? Will it be the blessing of freedom and life like the crippled woman or will you reject Jesus’ love and miss out on the greatest blessing you’ll ever know? Till next time. Andrew Download this week's pewsheet pdf Have you ever felt like being a Christian is just too difficult? Do you ever wonder if it wouldn’t just be easier sometimes to give up and enjoy living in the present? If so then this mornings lesson from Hebrew’s 11:20-12:2 is just for you. And if Jesus words to the disciples this morning are anything to go by we could all probably use a little encouragement. (Luke 12:49-59). Jesus is on the way up to Jerusalem and he tells the disciples in no uncertain terms that following him will be no easy ride. He wants them to know that the choices we make now have eternal consequences and that in the end true repentance and turning to him is the only way. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews also knows that to be a Christian is no guarantee of an easy ride. In fact to prove the point he provides us with a long list of Jewish heroes of the faith. All of these folk faced tough challenges but were able to persevere in faithfulness and bear fruit for the Kingdom. And if they could do it so can we. The image given is of athletes running in a race, and not just any race, but a marathon. The good news is that we are not left to run this race alone. We are reminded that Jesus is there cheering for us every step of the way. Why I hear you ask? Because he believes in us and wants us to believe in him . “ So let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2 Till next time ... Andrew On the 30th of June 1859 Jean-François Gravelet or Blondin as he was better known became famous for being the first person ever to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. For his return journey Blondin asked the crowds if they believed he could successfully complete the return journey carrying a person on his back. The crowds responded with an enthusiastic yes, but unsurprisingly on calling for a volunteer nobody was willing to take him up on his offer. Saying that we believe is one thing but faith requires us to put our beliefs into practice. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews describes faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 He continues with a whole list of heroes of the faith who have expressed their belief by putting it into action. If you read the passage and examine the lives of each of the characters you will discover that these were ordinary folk just like you or I. In our Gospel this morning Jesus encourages us to make sure that our faith is not misdirected into money and possessions that will wear out. Instead he tells us to, “Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:33-34 We do this when we place our trust fully in Him. Where will you place your faith this week? Till next time. Andrew DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK'S PEW SHEET PDF DOWNLOAD THIS WEEK'S SERMON Last week Jesus told us to pray for God’s kingdom to come and for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Luke 11:1-3 This week Paul is doing something similar as he reminds us of the importance that we have been raised up with Christ and are called to live not for ourselves but for the glory of God. Not only has Jesus won for us the gift of life but he also longs for us to share with him in his glory. Paul urges us to rid ourselves of : anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language and to put on the new self, through which we are daily being renewed in knowledge and image of God. The things that matter are not the things of this world which most of the time only succeed in distracting us from God. Instead we need to take Jesus’ advice and look to him for heavenly treasure that will never disappoint. Jesus has raised us up to live with him forever. May each of us seek in our hearts to be open to the working of the Holy Spirit as we live our lives according to his love. Till next time. Andrew Download this week's pew sheet pdf If you could ask Jesus for only one thing I wonder what you might ask? In our Gospel reading this morning the disciples ask Jesus to teach them perhaps the most important thing they could possibly have ever of asked of him.
“Lord teach us to pray!” They could have asked for wealth, they could have asked for riches, they could have asked fame but instead they chose to ask him for something of even greater value. “Lord, teach us to pray.” They’ve been around Jesus for long enough to know that prayer was essential to everything Jesus did. When Jesus prayed things happened. When Jesus prayed the world was changed. When Jesus prayed heaven seemed nearer. When Jesus prayed doors were opened and life somehow seemed to make a little more sense and when Jesus prayed, God always listened. “Lord teach us to pray!” Jesus says, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive everyone who sins against us. and lead us not into temptation. Lord ,teach us to pray like that too. To repeat the words of our collect this week; Lord, help us so to seek that we may truly find, so to ask that we may joyfully receive, so to knock that the door of mercy may be opened for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Till next time. Andrew Download this week's readings; Hosea 1:2-10, Psalm 85, Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 11:1-13 Download this week's pew sheet PDF Download this week's sermon |
Rev. Andrew SmithVicar of Light in the Hills |