St Mark 14: 12 – 21

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.  When it was evening, he came with the twelve.  And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’  They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’  He said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me.  For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’

Reflection

There’s so much going on here. We might notice the extent to which this demonstrates all sorts of planning quietly put in place by and for Jesus and his followers. We are seeing the outcome of careful choreography. Jesus expects their opening question. The man in the city with the water jar (presumably less usual than a woman with a water jar?) needs to be in a given place at a given time – Jerusalem isn’t exactly tiny or quiet! Their words are a little like some secret password in a spy story. The upstairs room is ready and waiting, furnished and good to go. As we move closer and closer to the crucifixion we are being shown that there is a plan at work, a drama unfolding. Jesus is no accidental victim of stray and random Roman brutality. God’s story of redemption is unfolding and the Spirit is at work in human affairs, even down to laying the table.

Then there’s the dramatic shift as they eat together. Jesus remains in command of events, and disciples continue to have parts to play. But what a part one of them will have! One who shares the meal for Passover, the great Jewish meal that remembers God setting slaves free to become a holy nation, will betray the Messiah. We can hear the anguished chorus, “not I?” And we feel the story’s ambiguity, perhaps. Without the betrayer, would there be a crucifixion? The Spirit is at work, and not everything is easy to comprehend. Mysteries linger.

What might this passage give into our day? 

Perhaps we are encouraged to wonder what part God has for us today. Whether we have major work to do or little of note planned, how might we embrace today so that we are utterly available to the Spirit to serve as God directs us?

Prayer

Living God, 
I give you today, 
and myself, 
and all the things this day will bring. 
Help me pay attention so that I respond when you are prompting me, 
whether you invite me to stop, 
be still, 
rest, 
wait, 
listen 
or to act and speak with boldness. 
Show me a way to be a disciple once more today. 
Amen.

St Mark 14: 3 – 10

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.  But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way?  For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii,  and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her.  But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me.  For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.  Truly I tell you, wherever the good news  is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’ Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Reflection

This story is easy to read as one character is pitted against the other.  Judas says the wrong thing.  As he later does the wrong thing, we aren’t surprised.  Perhaps to the surprise of the community, the unnamed woman does the right thing.  Jesus clearly says we need to follow her example.

When we read the story as either/or, I wonder if we are missing something?  I wonder whether they both have something to teach us about how we are meant to follow Jesus?  

The unnamed woman is an example of extravagance.  Anointing him is a recognition of who he really is—a leader and king.  The nard is a way of showing she truly sees him and wants to honour him.  She cares for Jesus the King.  When challenged by Judas about the seemingly in appropriate use of the money, Jesus commends her for her actions.  Perhaps he felt seen by her.

In his own way Judas is also showing deep care.  His question and later actions indicate he doesn’t really understand who Jesus is—which kind of king he is—but he does care about the hungry and the lost.  His challenge about the use of money indicates he does understand Jesus’ care for the vulnerable.  

As Jesus’ disciples, perhaps we need to listen to Judas and the unnamed woman.  Judas cares and challenges the use of money.  The unnamed woman acts extravagantly.  Together they call us to act extravagantly to ensure everyone has ‘enough’.

We are called to care extravagantly for everyone—for the people near us who are working so diligently and modelling their lives on the life of Jesus; for those who come into our circle whose needs—for food, clothing, work, care—are great.  Extravagant care means there is enough for all.

Prayer

Living Lord, give us courage to challenge structures of society.  Help us offer our gifts extravagantly.  Guide us to offer our care for all—whether the need is to be fed or to be recognized and loved.  Amen.

St Mark 14: 1 – 3

It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him;  for they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.’

Reflection

As they think about when to arrest and kill Jesus, it seems that the chief priests and scribes are not concerned for the purity or success of ‘the festival’ itself, but rather that the people would riot.

Clearly there would be more people about; from various regions and countries, with different theological, cultural, and political views – so tensions might be high anyway. Why add a spark to the kindling?

Might I also be right in assuming that they are not concerned about ‘the people’ who might be hurt in a riot – but are more worried for their own political and religious authority – why open themselves to criticism in an already delicate balance of power? They themselves are under threat from Roman rule.

But let’s take a step back.

They are planning to arrest and kill Jesus.

A human, created in the image of God – ‘Emmanuel’ God-with-us – is such a danger to the powers of this world that his life is at risk.
In the machinations and intrigue of power – Jesus is seen as a threat and is at threat.

In these verses, the casual terror of privilege and authority discusses the ending of a life.

There is a human – God-with-us, at the centre of this story.

As we read the papers and watch the news this day (and those to come), may we take a moment to see the God-created human in the story: to see the eyes of Christ looking back at us.

Prayer

Living God,
as we live in this world with each other and with you,
may we use the senses and minds you have given us, 
to discern where power is unfettered and free to abuse
and to see your image in our siblings, 
so often forgotten or casually dehumanised.
As you were with Jesus in his hour of need, 
be with us we pray, 
and may your Spirit strengthen us 
to stand with all at threat or abused by the powerful. Amen

 
Today’s service is led by the Revd Catherine McFie

 
Introduction

Hello, my name is Catherine McFie and I have the privilege of being a URC minister, serving in Mersey Synod. I have a varied roll; part of my time is dedicated to being minister of two congregation in the Liverpool area and part of my time involves work within the wider Synod. I live in Wavertree in the beautiful city of Liverpool, but my ministry takes me around the city. I am delighted to share worship with you and pray that wherever you are and whenever you are listening, God’s Spirit will bless our time together. Let us worship God. 

Call to Worship

Our call to worship comes from Psalm 51 and as we gather to worship God may this be our prayer

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Hymn     Yet Not I But through Christ in Me
Michael Farren, Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson © 2018 Integrity’s Alleluia! Music/Farren Love And War Publishing/Cityalight Music Sung by Saemie Nam, Saerom Nam, and Danny Jung.  OneLicence # A-734713

What gift of grace is Jesus, my redeemer;
there is no more for heaven now to give.
He is my joy, my righteousness and freedom,
my steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace.

To this I hold: my hope is only Jesus,
for my life is wholly bound to his.
O, how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.

The night is dark but I am not forsaken,
for by my side the Saviour he will stay;
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing,
for in my need his power is displayed.

To this I hold: my Shepherd will defend me;
through the deepest valley he will lead.
O, the night has been won and I shall overcome!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.

No fate I dread: I know I am forgiven,
the future sure, the price it has been paid;
for Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
and he was raised to overthrow the grave.

To this I hold: my sin has been defeated!
Jesus now and ever is my plea;
O, the chains are released; I can sing: I am free!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me.

With every breath I long to follow Jesus,
for he has said that he will bring me home;
and day by day I know he will renew me
until I stand with joy before the throne.

To this I hold: my hope is only Jesus,
all the glory evermore to him;
when the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
‘Yet not I, but through Christ in me!’

Prayers of Approach and Confession

Creator God, 
How wonderful it is to be in your presence,
To come as your people, 
Gathered from the north and the south,
the east and the west, 
with the sole purpose of spending time with you in worship. 
As we open scripture together,
As we pray, and declare our faith, 
Receive our worship, 
And may all we say and do in this time, 
Bring glory to your name. 

Saviour God, 
We come seeking to know you better, 
We are amazed by the miracles you performed
We are challenged by your teaching, 
We are humbled by your willingness to die for us. 
Walk alongside us today and in the days ahead, 
Show us how we can best live our faith, 
and work through us 
so that others can come to know you as Saviour.

Spirit God, 
In the presence of our triune God, 
We become aware of the times 
when we have not lived into our calling. Forgive us 
For the times we have hurt rather than encouraged.
For the times when we have ignored our neighbour
and thought only of ourselves.
For the times when we have followed our own path 
and ignored you will.  Create in us a clean heart, we pray. Amen

Declaration of Forgiveness

Friends hear these words and know them to be true
by the faith of Christ, 
your sins are forgiven. 
May you delight in the joy of your salvation.  Amen. 

Prayer of illumination

Your Word, O God, 
holds words of promise and challenge, 
and stories that inspire and give hope. 
As we read and meditate on your word, 
Fill us with your Spirit, 
that the words we read will change us and prepare us 
to be your hands and feet in our communities. 
In Jesus name we pray
Amen. 

Reading     Jeremiah 31:31 – 34 

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 3It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD.  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the LORD’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Hymn     Jesus Take Me As I Am
Luke Finch © Song Solutions Daybreak (Adm Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org)

Jesus Take Me As I Am
I Can Come No Other Way
Take Me Deeper Into You
Make My Flesh Life Melt Away

Make Me Like A Precious Stone
Crystal Clear And Finely Honed
Life Of Jesus Shining Through
Giving Glory Back To You

Reading     John 12:20 – 33

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.’  Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.  Jesus answered them, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.

‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’  Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.  Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. 

Reflection

Jeremiah had warned the people time and time again that they needed to turn back to God or face the consequences. Now they had experienced the consequences, their king had been taken into exile in Babylon and the temple in Jerusalem, the house of God, had been destroyed. With the change in circumstances, Jeremiah’s focus changes. Our reading begins with the Lord saying that the “days are surely coming…when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah”. Speaking to the people in exile, speaking to a people whose spirits were low, speaking to a people who were wondering not if their God had abandoned them but whether their God had been destroyed, these words would have brought hope, hope that God was still with them and hope of a new and different future. 

This covenant was for a specific group of people – the house of Israel and the house of Judah. This is a reminder to us, that the people of Israel that we often speak as one collective group were now two distinct kingdoms. The covenants that had been made with Noah and Abraham and the people after the Exodus applied to both kingdoms, so it was only right that this covenant also applied to both groups. After the exile there was only one kingdom, so this covenant anticipated that shared future. 

This covenant would not be like the covenant made after the Exodus. That covenant hadn’t work and had been continually broken by the people, so it was time for something different. Previous covenants had symbols associated with them; with Noah it was the rainbow, with Abraham it was circumcision and with the people after the Exodus it was the tablets of the law. The new covenant was to be written onto people’s hearts. With this new covenant there would still be continuity, God would still be their God and the people would still be God’s people. 

Teaching of the law would become a thing of the past. The law would now be written on to each person’s heart, the people would know God in a new way and God would “forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more”. This was a fresh start for the people. Everyone, from the king to the commoner, from child to adult would know God and be part of this new covenant. 

There was change in the air for the people in our reading from Jeremiah and there was change in the air in our Gospel reading. This reading takes place in Jerusalem, after Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city. The Passover is approaching and so there are many visitors to the city from all over the world. We are told that some Greeks approached Philip asking to see Jesus. We are not told who these people were or why they wanted to see Jesus, in fact we are told whether they actually meet Jesus. They seemed unwilling to approach Jesus directly and go through an intermediary. Some say they approached Philip because he had a Greek name, and he was from the bilingual town of Bethsaida. When Philip and Andrew approached Jesus, Jesus answered with a prediction about the future. 

Throughout John’s gospel “the hour” is a prominent motif signalling the timing of Jesus’ death. Until this reading the hour was said to be coming or to have not yet come but now the hour had arrived. Jesus uses an agricultural metaphor to talk about his impending death and the consequences of that. A grain of wheat would always be a single grain of wheat unless it falls into the earth and dies. Being in the soil, doesn’t kill the seed but changes it, it brings about germination and with germination eventually comes many grains of wheat as the plant bears fruit. In Jesus case, death would reconcile the world to God, and so many would bear the fruit of this renewed relationship in their lives. Jesus then spoke about the cost of discipleship. This is not new, as we see similar teaching in the other gospel readings. Here. Jesus emphasises a life of service. 

In the second half of the reading, we hear that Jesus was troubled. Jesus’ death was the culmination of the work he was sent to do but that does not mean it came without struggles. Jesus didn’t ask for a different outcome or a change of plan. His plea was that through his work and his death God was glorified. God does not keep silent and answers Jesus with the promise of glorification, not just of God but of the Son. Some of the crowd heard God’s voice, some simply heard the sound of thunder and that may demonstrate the difference between those who were open to hearing God speak and those who were not. Jesus warns the people that things were going to change, worldly rulers would be driven out, judgement was coming but also that as he was lifted up this would not be the end but the time when people would change and come to him. 

As we come to the end of Lent and prepare for the events of Holy Week, the word that is crying out from these readings is change. Change is such an integral part of our everyday life yet when it comes to change within the church or our faith then we tend to dig our heals in. Why is that? Why do we accept change in everything else we do, often without a second thought, and yet we are reluctant to change when it comes to matters of faith? 

In Jeremiah God tells the people the new covenant will be written on their hearts. The heart in biblical times was not related to emotion as it is today but it was seen as the place of reason and intellect. I wonder if this change in style of covenant was to get the people away from just simply following a list of rules and regulations and to get them to stop and think about why the law was in place, what it meant to them as a person, and to their relationships with God and others. We have accounts from the prophets in which God says enough with the worship and the sacrifice, these are meaningless when you neighbour is oppressed or living in poverty or hungry, caring for people is more important than a sacrifice. The people had been so caught up with the letter of the law that they had forgotten the essence of the law. By changing the focus, by writing the law on people’s hearts it becomes more than mere action, it becomes something that is believed, thought about and experienced. 
 
Change is present in the gospel reading. The presence of the Greeks at the start of the reading in John suggests that Jesus work has a wider audience than simply the people in and around the villages of Palestine. The metaphor Jesus tells is all about change, the wheat germinating and bearing fruit. The idea of discipleship being about service was a new idea. Most disciples would eventually become teachers but not Jesus’ disciples, their role is one of service, not glory. And of course, Jesus’ life is about to change, as the cross, the grave and the resurrection loom ever closer. 

Change in the readings is not change for changes sake, but it is change that speaks about growth and development and new life. Faith, is not a static thing, it should change as we know more about God, as we learn new insights from Scripture, as we rise to the challenges that life and God put in our way, as we think and experience life in all its fullness through Jesus. So I encourage you to embrace change, open your mind to new possibilities with God, consider that what you know already is only a small fraction of what it is possible to know about God and see where that journey and adventure takes you and see what new fruit your life will  bear. 

Hymn     Make Me A Captive Lord
George Matheson (1890) sung by members of Lobethal Christian Fellowship, Lobethal, Australia
 
Make me a captive, Lord,
And then I shall be free.
Force me to render up my sword
And I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms
When by myself I stand;
Imprison me within thine arms,
And strong shall be my hand.

y heart is weak and poor
Until it master find;
It has no spring of action sure,
It varies with the wind.
It cannot freely move
Till thou hast wrought its chain;
Enslave it with thy matchless love,
And deathless it shall reign.

My pow’r is faint and low
Till I have learned to serve;
It lacks the needed fire to glow,
It lacks the breeze to nerve.
It cannot drive the world
Until itself be driv’n;
Its flag can only be unfurled
When thou shalt breathe from heav’n.

My will is not my own
Till thou hast made it thine;
If it would reach a monarch’s throne,
It must its crown resign.
It only stands unbent
Amid the clashing strife
When on thy bosom it has leant,
And found in thee its life.
 
Affirmation of Faith – The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Lord, we come before you with our prayers for others,  write on our hearts the names of people, places and situations that are in need of change, so we can pray with hope.

Lord we pray for those for whom even the smallest change is difficult and upsetting… (brief pause)

We pray for those whose lives have been changed because of illness…(brief pause)

We pray for those whose who want to change but find taking those first few steps difficult…(brief pause)

We pray for those who make changes to policies and laws…(brief pause)

We pray for ourselves that we will be embrace the change you bring in our lives…(brief pause)

God of hope, we offer up our prayers in the name of Jesus as we pray together the words he taught us saying:

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, 
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory
Forever and ever Amen. 

Offertory Prayer

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground
and takes on new life, it remains just a single grain.
With grateful hearts,
let us bring the fruit of our lives to God.

Dedication of Offering

Generous God, 
Thank you for all that you have given us, 
As a token of our love and appreciation
We bring you our offering, 
Use our money along with our time and talents, 
to change the world by building you kingdom. 
In Jesus name we pray
Amen. 

Hymn     One More Step Along the World I Go
Sydney Carter  © 1971 Stainer & Bell (admin. Hope Publishing Company) Printed and Podcast in terms with OneLicence # A-734713  Sung by Frodsham Methodist Church Cloud Choir produced by Andrew Ellison and accompanied by Andrew Ellams and used with their kind permission.

One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go,
from the old things to the new,
keep me traveling a long with you:

And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

Round the corner of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see,
you’ll be looking at along with me:

And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me traveling the way I should;
Where I see no way to go
you’ll be telling me the way I know:

And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough,
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me traveling along with you:

And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

You are older than the world can be,
you are younger than the life in me,
ever old and ever new,
keep me traveling along with you:

And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

Blessing 

People of God, 
Go out into the world
As agents of change
As bringers of hope
As beacons of God’s love
And the may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit 
with you now and forevermore, Amen. 

Saturday, 16 March 2024 St Mark 13: 28 – 36

St Mark 13: 9 – 27

Jesus said:  ‘As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.  Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

‘But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; someone on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away;  someone in the field must not turn back to get a coat.  Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!  Pray that it may not be in winter.  For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be.  And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days.  And if anyone says to you at that time, “Look! Here is the Messiah!” or “Look! There he is!”—do not believe it.  False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.  But be alert; I have already told you everything.

‘But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory.  Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Reflection

This is a crucial point in Mark’s gospel – Jesus is on his final journey to Jerusalem, soon he will die.   After that, because of him, there is no doubt that his followers will  be exposed to fierce persecution by religious and civic authorities.  But Jesus assured them that when they are brought to trial they will be empowered to testify to their faith.
 
Dark hints are made about the setting up of the obscure “desolating sacrilege”– direct language would have been politically dangerous for early Gospel readers for whom the meaning would have been clear. But we can scarcely ignore the graphic authenticity of what follows; the horrifying detail of Jesus’ vision is all too familiar. This is unmistakably our world.  A world where people are forced to flee for their lives – no time to go into one’s house for essentials, no time to stop to pick up a coat; and how awe-ful for pregnant or nursing women! Unimaginably so if it be winter.  Such catastrophes are played out for us daily with the emergence of corrupt political leaders and the carnage of war. 
 
So while in one sense these verses convey an apocalyptic  consciousness of life at the end of time they also have an unmistakable bearing on the present.  To read them is to engage with them, to try to discern the “signs of the times” and respond appropriately.  For in this dreadful context God is working out his project for good.  We are called to remain steadfast, to discern ways in which God’s promises are being fulfilled, called to watch and witness boldly to God’s truth.  So in God’s mercy, the elect will be vindicated, the tribulations of the Christian community will be curtailed and somehow the Good News will be proclaimed to all nations.
 
Prayer
 
Dear God,
We thank you for the assurance that we may face the trials of this life with the strength you supply.
 
We thank you for the community of saints and for the help we may find in their example.
 
And most of all we thank you for the example of your son, our saviour, Jesus Christ,
Through whom our prayers are made. Amen

St Mark 13: 1 – 8

As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’ When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,  ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’  Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray.  Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Reflection

A disciple marvels at the temple buildings; the Temple, working reality and symbol of God’s dwelling with God’s people, centuries of standing, each stone cut big and deep enough to seat three people side by side, speaking to any pilgrim of the strength and permanence of God, God’s presence, and their faith. Unimaginable that it could be turned to rubble and dust.

More unimaginable than Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris being destroyed by flames.
 
Jesus reminded his disciples that the unimaginable can happen, that what appears permanent is not necessarily so. Change occurs, leaves people seeking after power and control, needing security. The power hungry leap to fill the void, the fearful turn to whoever offers certainty, people wrestle to find their position and stand in the new landscape, wars break out in the birth pangs of a new reality.
 
It is a timely warning on his road to the Cross.
 
For soon the disciples’ lives will be turned upside down, they will be left questioning who Jesus was, what they were doing with him, who they are now, and what they are going to do. Questioning the nature of God’s plan for his people, God’s purposes in their own lives. Questioning the nature of their faith.
 
Jesus reminds us that the unimaginable can happen, what appears permanent is not necessarily so.
 
Change occurs, it is rarely without discomfort, things often seem to get worse before they get better.
 
Sometimes it is that unimaginable happening, pulling the carpet from underneath us, upending our world view, shattering a long held perception, that painfully brings us to new, deeper, fuller understanding.
 
Sometimes it is that unimaginable happening that draws us back to what is permanent and unchangeable with God, not found in the making of grand and showy gestures, but found instead in the gentle breath of love, that many waters cannot quench and death cannot overcome.

Prayer

Holy Jesus,
You turn our distracted heads back to the truth that matters.
Our permanence lies not in the things of this world, but in the life of your eternity.
Jesus, full of mercy and grace,
Turn our fears to trust,
As You, in love, hold us through every suffering and change.
Christ of the cross,
Sharer in our suffering,
 
We close our eyes,
We turn within,
To breathe your love and peace,
and feel your presence in our heart. Amen.

St Mark 12: 41 – 44

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’

Reflection

There was a time when watching the news was a life imperative, a way of keeping informed, even fuel for prayer. Recently, I find it near impossible to watch. My mind switches off, or my finger changes the channel. My soul is overwhelmed by the images of those facing devastation, of those experiencing our collective lack of humanity. 

When I close my eyes I see an amalgam of the grief, confusion, and terror of those caught up in suffering. I don’t want to look or be reminded of their pain, or confronted with my uncertainty on how to respond, my fear that I don’t have the resources to help. And maybe even my apathy? But the Scriptures encourage us to look, remind us of the human need of others, even though it may be painful. 

The story of the widow’s mite may be one such confrontation, right in the centre of our most sacred spaces. Sometimes she is seen as a trumpeter of faith – to give more, do more, be more; calling us to give up everything for our ideals. But what if she is a protester, a confronter, a confounder, a troublemaker? The woman has very little, just a few coins. Yet she publicly stands in the temple and gives them away. Now she has nothing. How will she eat, or provide for her?

According to the Scriptures, the community of faith should do this. She knows that and the people know that. But maybe like me, they did not want to see the human need in front of them. So, she pokes and prods, irritating our consciences, reminds us of her humanity, and in doing so, gives much more to the temple than those with bulging wallets. This woman is a living parable, wisdom calling out to all who would listen. 

Prayer

Find a quiet place.

Be mindful that God is love and seeks the good of all.

Take a few deep breaths to settle yourself. 

Imagine you encounter the woman in the temple – what does she say to you or ask of you?

Take a few deep breaths to draw yourself out of prayer.

Be mindful that God is love and seeks the good of all.

Take any action emerging from your prayer.

St Mark 12: 38 – 40

As Jesus taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets!  They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’

Reflection
We live in a celebrity society – who’s doing what, where, when and with whom.  Lives of the rich and famous followed on social media or headline news in our papers and often emulated by those who follow.

Beware the scribes ….  ring any bells??  Not much has changed apart, maybe, from the accessibility to the exhibition.  We still have those who would use the phrase “do you know who I am?” to get what they want. Even ordinary people will sensationalise their posts on social media to make their lives appear exciting, when the truth is much more mundane.  We just want someone to notice us.

But we have also seen the dangers of celebrity – the breakdowns of those in the spotlight or the wrongdoings of those in power.  Do not believe everything that you read or see or hear as the reality is often different to the headline. 

So what about the widows and the “ordinary” and the unnoticed?  Are they any less valuable just because we do not follow every second of their lives?  How often do we forget the “little people” in our quest to be noticed.  Why do we treat celebrity differently when at the end of the day they are people, just like us?

Lent is a time of preparation and reflection – do we spend our Lent looking forward to the chocolate eggs; the long weekend?  Or do we allow ourselves to be drawn into the reality and darkness of Lent – the desperation in the Garden of Gethsemane; the changing of the shouts from Hosanna! to Crucify!

Jesus was a celebrity – he was followed; emulated; worshipped and yet gave himself for us.  May we follow his example and not chase the hype, but live the reality of life in Him.

Prayer
Lord God, as we reflect this Lenten time, may our focus be on You and not ourselves.  May we remember all those who are in pain, the celebrity and the nobody.  For to you no-one is forgotten and everyone is valued and loved.  Help us to treat everyone with respect and show love and compassion, to all we meet.  Amen

St Mark 12: 28 – 37

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question. While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, ‘How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?  David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand,  until I put your enemies under your feet.’” David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?’ And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

Reflection

I recall walking through the gates of my local URC and being stopped by a curious (Christian) onlooker:
 
“What kind of church is this?” 
“The United Reformed Church.”
 
“What kind of church is that?”
“A Christian church.”
 
“What Bible do you use?” 
“The Bible.”
 
“Do people speak in tongues?”
 “We don’t actively seek for it to happen – but if it did, great!”
 
A puzzled expression…
 
“Speaking in tongues is one of the gifts of the Spirit – but the greatest gift is love.”
 
Further puzzlement!
 
“The Bible says only two things are required – love the Lord your God… 
and love your neighbour as yourself.  That’s it!”
 
“THAT’S IT???”  An expression of sheer incredulity. 
 
I suggested that we both go away and ponder.
 
I don’t understand the compulsion to believe that everyone else must believe like us.  Who gave any of us a monopoly on truth?
 
Whenever I hear the words ‘As Christians, we believe…’, I brace myself for the latest lesson in why I am not a Christian. 

Why do we make so complex that which God apparently makes so simple? 
 
And what if I share my conviction that adherents of other faiths do not need to be converted to Christianity to be alright with God?  (There’s that look of horror and incredulity again!)
 
We are commanded to love God – and love our neighbour.  Is that only possible within the context of Christianity?  Only within the context of Christianity as understood and practised by me – me, with my human limitations, biases and prejudices? 
 
And is it truly loving someone if my agenda is to change them – regarding faith, culture, sexuality… (I could go on)? 
 
Surely, claiming to love God, whom we cannot see, is meaningless until we actively commit ourselves to loving the people God has gifted into our midst.  And surely, if we truly practised loving our neighbours – in all their complex, challenging, confusing diversity – our world would be much closer to the place our One God created it to be.
 
 
Prayer

God who is Love,
Call us to love.
God who is One,
Call us to be one –
Not a self-focussed ‘oneness’
Requiring others to be ‘like me’,
But an open, self-giving, other-receiving love
In which all your children
Have space to live and breathe,
And be the selves you created them to be.  Amen