Sunday Reflections
Lent 1
Deuteronomy 26.1-11; Ps 91.1-2, 9-16; Romans 10.4-13; Luke 4.1-15
“Now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, O Lord, have given me.” Duet 26.10
The idea of tithes and first fruit offerings is not one that sits well with our capitalist society. The mantra of capitalist big businesses is; share holder money, cheap labour, cheap resources, automation, exploitation, computerization, addiction, large scale production, cheep fuel, monopoly, profit margins and designed obsolescence. All so we can produce more cheaply, sell more and make more money this year than last, over and over again. It is growth and more growth, with no plans for ever reaching stability or maturity. If and where the concept of giving is allowed, it is for advertising and brand promotion.
The idea of a tithe or first fruit offering is not to secure greater profits next year! Though, sadly, at times the church has sold it this way. Tithes and offerings are a way of giving respect, of remembering, of staying humble and connected to God, to others and to nature. The tithe was used to support the clerics and the poor. The first fruits enabled a community celebration and connection. The worship that went with these offerings reminded the offers of their spiritual journey, the blessings they have and the Love God has for them.
A land flowing with milk and honey is one that has lush green pasture for cattle, sheep and goats, and forests with old hollow trees for hives and flowers for bees to pollinate. It is rich and abundant for humans, but also for animals and birds. It has compost and nutrient cycles and a balance of nature. It has harmony and oozes with God given spiritual life force. Compare that to landscapes of factories, mining, mega mono cropping, and densely overpopulated cities. When we worship self, (or the devil, Lk 4.5-7) greed, power and wealth what we create is destruction. There is no thanksgiving, caring connection or grateful remembering. There is no spiritual life!
In Lent we are reminded that we too are dust and will return to the earth.
Transfiguration
Ex 34.29-35; Ps 99; 2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2; Lk 9.28-43
“But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. (Ex 34.34)
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Cor 3.16)
A veil enables us to be hidden from those who would look at us and recognise us. But the cost of this hiding is that we behind the veil cannot see the world clearly. There are so many different kinds of veils that we wear. Real literal veils and metaphorical veils; the way we dress, the way we act, and the roles we play. But when we come to God in prayer, there is no place for veils.
It is interesting that Moses chose to remove the veil when he spoke to God. He had no fear or pretence before God. There was no separation between them in prayer. Moses saw God clearly, and was willing to let God see him without veil or protection. Are we as willing to be fully and humbly exposed and true before God? Do we pray what we think God wants us to pray, or are we honest and sincere, open to the probing, and transformative, power of God?
Paul tells us that all who turn to the Lord have the veil taken away. We may want to hide and to keep a safe distance from the Lord. (As if we could!) But God will strip us bear. Sometimes gently, sometimes horrifically, but God will cut through the fake, the fouled and the foolish. One cannot come to God and remain hidden. Not to any degree. Each layer of disguise and ambiguity will be removed. If we will come, if we will turn to the Lord, over and over again, we will find God is Spirit, alive and active, within and around and beyond us. We will find ourselves made true, whole, healed and wise. We will be transformed, increment by increment, radically and subtly, though we ourselves may never know how much we are shining. (EX 34.29)
Epiphany 7
Genesis 45.3-11,15; Psalms 37.1-11, 40-14; 1 Corinthians 15.35-50; Luke 6.27-38
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their way, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. (Ps 37.7-8)
It has been said that holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The stress, planning revengeful ploys, scripting arguments in your head and wishing disaster upon them only serves to increase your own anxiety. The other person does not know, has moved on, and is going on with their “wrong” ways. Your stress and argument won’t change them or teach them. At least not the way you wish it would. And all the mental and emotional energy you put into justifying your case – to yourself and/or to other – is keeping you from what really matters – Love.
Our relationship with God does not grow while our minds are preoccupied with the pettiness of others. Our ability to love and receive love does not grow while we harbour hate. Let it go. Turn it over to God. Keep your focus on God, on love, on inner growth. Let the injustice you feel, teach you more about yourself. Let the pain talk to you, and choose to grow. From this internal review, and God filled focus, action may then be required. You may have to move away from a toxic relationship, or take steps to protect yourself and yours. But now you will take action from a place of Christ centeredness, not as a reaction to evil. Two wrongs do not make it right. But powerful, loving, wise grace, over a wrong leads to healing.
This does not mean that we should ignore social injustice, corruption and evil. We are all called to treat others as we would want to be treated (Lk 6.31), and that means not allowing abused. But our actions should come from love, and lead us to love, and bring about more love. They should not come from hate, and lead to death.
Epiphany 6
Jer 17.5-10; Ps 1; 1 Cor 15.12-20; Lk 6.17-26
“It has no worries in a year of drought, and it never fails to bear fruit.” Jer 17.8c
Early in Christian history the desert fathers and mothers realised that in order to pursue the depths of faith, they had to live a different life to the rest of their civilization. Jeremiah warns “The heart is deceitful above all things.”(Jer 17.9) While we chase what makes us feel good we will be deceived. And oh how we are we deceived! Following one fad after another, held at the whim of advertisers and influencers, truth disappears as we crave what feels good and jump on the latest bandwagon. Fidelity fades as pleasure seeking prevails.
In the Psalms and the Jeremiah reading today the good are rewarded and the evil perish. Anyone watching the world news at the moment might question that. A few dictators influence the lives of millions in a moment. Drug cartels hold entire governments to ransom while they get rich on the misery of others. Mega businesses use share holders’ money, cheap labour, cheap resources and cheap fuel to get rich exploiting the conforming public. It just doesn’t seem fair. It isn’t.
Conformity has never lead to invention, though invention often leads to conformity. Real truth is not based on current consensus. Wisdom is not found following the crowd. The fruit that we bear planted by the waters is not measured in dollars, fame or power. It is not measured in ease, good fortune or happiness. The fruit we bear is not fruit that the majority understand. It is the fruit of Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. It is the fruit of heart transformation. We cannot cure the heart, (Jer 17.9) but God can transform it if we will stay planted by the stream, meditating on God’s word, aware of God’s presence, connecting with creation, centred in love, and always hungry for more of God. (Lk 6.21)
Earnestly desire the higher gifts, and seek the more excellent way. (1 Cor 13. 31)
Epiphany 5
Isaiah 6.1-13; Ps 138; 1 Corinthians 15.1-11; Lk 5.1-11
“Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Is 6.10b
The Lord is all around us – all day, every day. The Lord still speaks to us – individually and collectively. But can we see? Do we hear? Do we understand with our hearts what God is revealing to us? Do we turn to God? Do we want to be healed?
“Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.” Ps 138.6 Why is it so hard to see God and hear God? - Because we are blinded by our greed, and deafened by our business. Hearing God requires stillness. Our world demands that we are busy and distracted. There is noise in our heads, noise all around, rushing, judging, distracting, pushing, driving us and demanding that we sing along. Why don’t we see God? We do. But we are not aware. Our eyes are focused on other things. We must survive, we must rise above the pack, we must indulge ourselves, and we must work to pay for our survival and our addictions.
But what if we could step out of the rat race? What if we could actually hear and see and understand? Then we would turn - away from our man made worlds, away from greed, hate and jealousy - turn and find that God is everywhere and that God loves us. God’s love would then change us, and heal us. God is offers us a healing transformation.
There is a way to “be in the world but not of it.” There is a way to see, and hear and know God. If we seek it and pray for it, God will open our eyes, our ears and our hearts. God’s grace will heal us. Then we like Paul can say, “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Cor 15.10.
Deuteronomy 26.1-11; Ps 91.1-2, 9-16; Romans 10.4-13; Luke 4.1-15
“Now I bring the first fruits of the soil that you, O Lord, have given me.” Duet 26.10
The idea of tithes and first fruit offerings is not one that sits well with our capitalist society. The mantra of capitalist big businesses is; share holder money, cheap labour, cheap resources, automation, exploitation, computerization, addiction, large scale production, cheep fuel, monopoly, profit margins and designed obsolescence. All so we can produce more cheaply, sell more and make more money this year than last, over and over again. It is growth and more growth, with no plans for ever reaching stability or maturity. If and where the concept of giving is allowed, it is for advertising and brand promotion.
The idea of a tithe or first fruit offering is not to secure greater profits next year! Though, sadly, at times the church has sold it this way. Tithes and offerings are a way of giving respect, of remembering, of staying humble and connected to God, to others and to nature. The tithe was used to support the clerics and the poor. The first fruits enabled a community celebration and connection. The worship that went with these offerings reminded the offers of their spiritual journey, the blessings they have and the Love God has for them.
A land flowing with milk and honey is one that has lush green pasture for cattle, sheep and goats, and forests with old hollow trees for hives and flowers for bees to pollinate. It is rich and abundant for humans, but also for animals and birds. It has compost and nutrient cycles and a balance of nature. It has harmony and oozes with God given spiritual life force. Compare that to landscapes of factories, mining, mega mono cropping, and densely overpopulated cities. When we worship self, (or the devil, Lk 4.5-7) greed, power and wealth what we create is destruction. There is no thanksgiving, caring connection or grateful remembering. There is no spiritual life!
In Lent we are reminded that we too are dust and will return to the earth.
Transfiguration
Ex 34.29-35; Ps 99; 2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2; Lk 9.28-43
“But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. (Ex 34.34)
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Cor 3.16)
A veil enables us to be hidden from those who would look at us and recognise us. But the cost of this hiding is that we behind the veil cannot see the world clearly. There are so many different kinds of veils that we wear. Real literal veils and metaphorical veils; the way we dress, the way we act, and the roles we play. But when we come to God in prayer, there is no place for veils.
It is interesting that Moses chose to remove the veil when he spoke to God. He had no fear or pretence before God. There was no separation between them in prayer. Moses saw God clearly, and was willing to let God see him without veil or protection. Are we as willing to be fully and humbly exposed and true before God? Do we pray what we think God wants us to pray, or are we honest and sincere, open to the probing, and transformative, power of God?
Paul tells us that all who turn to the Lord have the veil taken away. We may want to hide and to keep a safe distance from the Lord. (As if we could!) But God will strip us bear. Sometimes gently, sometimes horrifically, but God will cut through the fake, the fouled and the foolish. One cannot come to God and remain hidden. Not to any degree. Each layer of disguise and ambiguity will be removed. If we will come, if we will turn to the Lord, over and over again, we will find God is Spirit, alive and active, within and around and beyond us. We will find ourselves made true, whole, healed and wise. We will be transformed, increment by increment, radically and subtly, though we ourselves may never know how much we are shining. (EX 34.29)
Epiphany 7
Genesis 45.3-11,15; Psalms 37.1-11, 40-14; 1 Corinthians 15.35-50; Luke 6.27-38
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their way, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. (Ps 37.7-8)
It has been said that holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The stress, planning revengeful ploys, scripting arguments in your head and wishing disaster upon them only serves to increase your own anxiety. The other person does not know, has moved on, and is going on with their “wrong” ways. Your stress and argument won’t change them or teach them. At least not the way you wish it would. And all the mental and emotional energy you put into justifying your case – to yourself and/or to other – is keeping you from what really matters – Love.
Our relationship with God does not grow while our minds are preoccupied with the pettiness of others. Our ability to love and receive love does not grow while we harbour hate. Let it go. Turn it over to God. Keep your focus on God, on love, on inner growth. Let the injustice you feel, teach you more about yourself. Let the pain talk to you, and choose to grow. From this internal review, and God filled focus, action may then be required. You may have to move away from a toxic relationship, or take steps to protect yourself and yours. But now you will take action from a place of Christ centeredness, not as a reaction to evil. Two wrongs do not make it right. But powerful, loving, wise grace, over a wrong leads to healing.
This does not mean that we should ignore social injustice, corruption and evil. We are all called to treat others as we would want to be treated (Lk 6.31), and that means not allowing abused. But our actions should come from love, and lead us to love, and bring about more love. They should not come from hate, and lead to death.
Epiphany 6
Jer 17.5-10; Ps 1; 1 Cor 15.12-20; Lk 6.17-26
“It has no worries in a year of drought, and it never fails to bear fruit.” Jer 17.8c
Early in Christian history the desert fathers and mothers realised that in order to pursue the depths of faith, they had to live a different life to the rest of their civilization. Jeremiah warns “The heart is deceitful above all things.”(Jer 17.9) While we chase what makes us feel good we will be deceived. And oh how we are we deceived! Following one fad after another, held at the whim of advertisers and influencers, truth disappears as we crave what feels good and jump on the latest bandwagon. Fidelity fades as pleasure seeking prevails.
In the Psalms and the Jeremiah reading today the good are rewarded and the evil perish. Anyone watching the world news at the moment might question that. A few dictators influence the lives of millions in a moment. Drug cartels hold entire governments to ransom while they get rich on the misery of others. Mega businesses use share holders’ money, cheap labour, cheap resources and cheap fuel to get rich exploiting the conforming public. It just doesn’t seem fair. It isn’t.
Conformity has never lead to invention, though invention often leads to conformity. Real truth is not based on current consensus. Wisdom is not found following the crowd. The fruit that we bear planted by the waters is not measured in dollars, fame or power. It is not measured in ease, good fortune or happiness. The fruit we bear is not fruit that the majority understand. It is the fruit of Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. It is the fruit of heart transformation. We cannot cure the heart, (Jer 17.9) but God can transform it if we will stay planted by the stream, meditating on God’s word, aware of God’s presence, connecting with creation, centred in love, and always hungry for more of God. (Lk 6.21)
Earnestly desire the higher gifts, and seek the more excellent way. (1 Cor 13. 31)
Epiphany 5
Isaiah 6.1-13; Ps 138; 1 Corinthians 15.1-11; Lk 5.1-11
“Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Is 6.10b
The Lord is all around us – all day, every day. The Lord still speaks to us – individually and collectively. But can we see? Do we hear? Do we understand with our hearts what God is revealing to us? Do we turn to God? Do we want to be healed?
“Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.” Ps 138.6 Why is it so hard to see God and hear God? - Because we are blinded by our greed, and deafened by our business. Hearing God requires stillness. Our world demands that we are busy and distracted. There is noise in our heads, noise all around, rushing, judging, distracting, pushing, driving us and demanding that we sing along. Why don’t we see God? We do. But we are not aware. Our eyes are focused on other things. We must survive, we must rise above the pack, we must indulge ourselves, and we must work to pay for our survival and our addictions.
But what if we could step out of the rat race? What if we could actually hear and see and understand? Then we would turn - away from our man made worlds, away from greed, hate and jealousy - turn and find that God is everywhere and that God loves us. God’s love would then change us, and heal us. God is offers us a healing transformation.
There is a way to “be in the world but not of it.” There is a way to see, and hear and know God. If we seek it and pray for it, God will open our eyes, our ears and our hearts. God’s grace will heal us. Then we like Paul can say, “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.” 1 Cor 15.10.