Weekly Bible Notes
Ordinary 11 Year A
Introduction
Be careful what you pray for .....
Our prayers are not like magic spells, they are best answered when we allow God to turn our own prayer thoughts and concerns into active service. This understanding of prayer was surely behind the request by Jesus that the disciples should ask God to send out workers into his harvest field. Jesus knew that there was an important work to be done and God needed willing workers. If nobody came forward, then it would be like having fields full of wheat, with nobody to go out and harvest it. Such a waste would only be avoided if the disciples were prepared to ask God to provide the labour, and then be prepared to answer that call themselves.
Once again this suggestion that there was a great harvest and few
workers was a bit of a criticism of the existing religious system.
Jesus thought there people were not being cared for, or shown the love
and compassion of God. That is why he went around and healing and
teaching and showing in practical ways just how much God loved
ordinary people.
So what do you pray for and how can you be a part of God's answer to
your prayer?
Opening Verses of Scripture Psalm 100:5
The Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues
through all generations.
Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. CW
God of truth, help us to keep your law of love and to walk in ways of wisdom, that we may find true life in Jesus Christ your Son. CW
First Bible Reading Exodus 19:2-8a
The Israelites had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God; the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.’
So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him. 8The people all answered as one: ‘Everything that the LORD has spoken we will do.’ NRSV
Second Reading Romans 5:1-8
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. NRSV
Gospel Reading Matthew 9:35-10:8
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.
See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 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. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’ NRSV
Post Communion Sentence
Eternal Father,
we thank you for nourishing us
with these heavenly gifts:
may our communion strengthen us in faith,
build us up in hope,
and make us grow in love;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. CW
Commentary
Putting theory into practice
There is a story of a student who being so anxious to capture everything
that his lecturers would teach him at university, when the professor in his
very first lecture said, 'Good Morning', he wrote it down. In Matthew's
gospel there are huge chunks of teaching where it's as if Jesus is going
through the theory of the Kingdom of God. But there are also large sections
where it is clear that Jesus is putting into practice what He has just
taught, and encouraging the disciples to do likewise. Similarly in Romans,
Paul has just given a lengthy explanation of justification by faith to the
recipients of his letter and in today's reading which follows that
discourse; he now begins to discuss what that means and what are the
implications for the believers in their lives. Whether we take the example
of Matthew or of Paul the message is clear. The Christian life is about
hearing and understanding the work of God and then living out the reality in
our lives. Earlier on just after the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says that
anyone who hears His words but does not put them into practice is like a man
who builds his house on sand. Alternatively, those that hear His words and
put them into practice are like the man who builds his house on rock.
Putting God's word into practice is therefore tied to having a solid
foundation in our spiritual lives. Failure to do so would seem to indicate
the opposite, that our faith becomes dry and academic and does not empower
our daily lives. Jesus was clearly aware of the temptation the disciples
would have to do nothing with the teaching but to reflect on the meaning of
His words. But he wanted them to get active, with the dual benefit of
strengthening their own faith whilst service God and their fellow men and
women. He wanted them to step out in faith and be his active ambassadors in
the world. He does not want his followers to adopt the Jewish trait of the
time of dissecting the minutiae of the words He had spoken, rather then
trying to live out what they meant. He sent them out as workers in the
harvest. Did the disciples get everything right first time? Scripture would
seem to indicate otherwise but they pressed on with the task, encouraged and
empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Likewise, Paul underlines that the concept of justification by faith, a key
doctrine of the church, is not just an academic theory, it has a fundamental
significance for our lives in that it gives us an eternal hope and future. A
hope borne out of a restored relationship with God and an invitation to
share in His glory. As we open ourselves to God's love being poured into our
hearts, we are enabled to put our faith into action and step out in faith.
Both Jesus and Paul know that the Good News would spread not just be people
talking about it and debating its meaning but by the believers demonstrating
God's love to the world around as justified, redeemed and empowered people,
people who care for the world and those around them. And as the disciples
and believers put their embryonic faith into action and stepped out into the
harvest fields so they were encouraged as they saw God's promises to them
fulfilled as the lives that they touched were changed. We too are challenged
and encouraged to step out into our harvest fields, the places where we
live, study and work, so that we can put God's words into action. As we do,
so our faith is strengthened. Sam Cappleman
Meditation
The opening verse of today's gospel reading sets out Matthew's perspective
on the three key strands of Jesus' ministry; firstly teaching about the
Kingdom of God, often in the Jewish synagogues; secondly preaching and
proclaiming by word and deed the Good News of the Kingdom; and thirdly
making the Kingdom a reality on earth by healing every disease and sickness.
Three facts of ministry which would turn the Jewish and Roman world upside
down and each strand of which critical to the God's Kingdom breaking through
on earth. How strange then that Jesus entrusted such an important mission to
the disparate bunch of disciples we read about just a few verses later. The
ambitious James and John, nicknamed the Sons of Thunder, not exactly the
names of people you'd necessarily want on your pastoral team. Judas, the
traitor, Simon Peter, enthusiastic but impetuous, Matthew, someone who had
given up on his religion and people to serve the occupying Romans and make
money through tax collecting. And so the list goes on. We all know when
you're building a team it's critical to get the right people on the team and
then get them into the right roles. But Jesus doesn't seem to care. Perhaps
He was demonstrating in His words and actions that the Kingdom of God really
is open to all, and all are welcome to join in the mission of making His
Kingdom a reality here on earth, irrespective of their background,
personality traits, strengths or weaknesses.
Hymns
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Awake my soul, and with the sun, (Tune Tallis Canon)
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Will you come and follow me
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Thy hand, O God, has guided (Tune Thornbury)
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Forth in thy name (Tune: Song 34)
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead
Prayer is a plant, the seed of which is sown in the heart of every Christian.
If it is well cultivated and nourished it will produce fruit, but if it is neglected, it will wither and die.
God our Father, you sent your Son to us: grant that filled with your Spirit we may be renewed in faith, and inspired in hope and love, to spread the Gospel of your kingdom to all people; through Christ our Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, we pray for those who have gone to other countries with the good news of Jesus; when their work is difficult and tiring, make them strong; when they are lonely and homesick, remind them that you are with them; when they are uncertain what to do, guide them. Keep us all diligent in our prayer for them. Amen
When we forget you love and your grace. loving God, and live our lives as though you are not here, relying on ourselves, forgetting to be thankful; speak to us, challenge us, nudge us and help us to remember that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Amen
Christ the good shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep, draw you and all who hear His voice to be one flock within one fold, and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. Amen
O great Lord of the harvest, send forth, we beseech thee, labourers into the harvest of the world, that the grain which is even now ripe may not fall and perish through our neglect. Pour forth thy sanctifying Spirit on our fellow Christians abroad, and thy converting grace on those who are living in darkness. Raise up, we beseech thee, a devout ministry among the native believers, that, all thy people being knit together in one body, in love, thy church may grow up into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; through him who died, and rose again for us all, the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Robert Millman 1816-1876
Additional Material
Meditation
One theologian (Barclay) has commented, "The Pharisees saw the common people as chaff to be destroyed and burned up; Jesus saw them as a harvest to be reaped and saved. The Pharisees in their pride looked for the destruction of sinners; Jesus in His love died for the salvation of sinners". Jesus' observation that the sheep have no shepherd is a damning critique of the Pharisees, who should have been their shepherds. Whose shepherds should we be?
For our meditation this week
The Franciscan blessing:
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and
superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
Amen.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of
people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to
comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. Amen.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a
difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be
done. Amen.
Commentary
Be careful what you pray for
- 'When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,
- because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd'
Jesus looked around him and saw the crowds and he had compassion (GK. splagchnizomai) on the people. The word used for compassion is a powerful one, it means that Jesus had something like a blow to the stomach. It is a strong word, not something which means a mild pity, Jesus had a stomach churning response to the plight of ordinary people. Jesus understood that the people were harassed and confused and he hurt and agonized over the lost, the wounded, and the excluded.
Of course these words which Jesus spoke must have angered the religious authorities deeply. Jesus was criticising the religious system. When Jesus said the people were like 'sheep without a shepherd,' he was criticising the religious leaders who believed that they were very good shepherds and that the people didn't need anybody else. Jesus was angry at the lack of spiritual provision which was being made for the people and he was angry at the beliefs which were held at the time. The Pharisees saw the poor and the sick as those who were being punished by God for their sins, they should be kept away and excluded. Jesus welcomed the sick, the poor and the sinners and saw them as children of God.
Of course Jesus was motivated by the helplessness of the people into direct action and we need to be reminded that Jesus shows just how much God is not a distant unconcerned observer in our lives. God is distressed when he sees the lost and is prepared to give completely of himself, even to death on the cross. I am sure it is true that if Jesus had compassion on those people he met during his earthly ministry, then that compassion remains undiminished today. Jesus must be moved with pity as he looks upon so many people with deep spiritual need.
Jesus spent a great deal of time healing and making people well, that was an important part of his ministry to show that God did not want people to be ill. However Jesus is clear that the most important need is not to make people physically well, but rather to meet the great spiritual needs. In our society and in many places across the world, people have much better medical care now than 2,000 years ago. We can easily cure physical diseases which were life threatening only a short time ago. However, we delude ourselves if we think that people today are more spiritually satisfied, more comfortable with their place in the universe. For many people life is aimless and the pursuit of material wealth as a source of spiritual satisfaction continually disappoints and leaves people dissatisfied.
In this context we can see that the most important work of the followers of Jesus, is to bring the medicine of the Gospel to an ailing world. This is the greatest work which we can do to bring healing to the nations. The teaching of Jesus is Good News to a world in which there is so much emptiness and only the message of God's love in Christ Jesus can bridge the void which separates us from understanding the deep love of God for us.
Undoubtedly the crowds and the disciples who followed Jesus wanted their immediate needs met. When they were hungry they wanted Jesus to feed them, when they were frightened by the storms they wanted Jesus to bring calm, when they were sick they wanted to be made well again. Jesus showed that he was concerned about these things too, but Jesus realised that the really important needs which all people have were not so obvious. People do not live on bread alone, they have a spiritual hunger which requires just as much attention if life is not to loose its real meaning.
This lays upon us all a serious burden, to recognise that the gift which we have in the Gospel of Christ is not ours to keep. We are called upon to ask God to send out workers to share the Good News, and we should be in a state of some desperation. The word which is used by Jesus (deomai) doesn't mean, “to ask,” it literally means “to beg.”
“Beg God for workers in the harvest.”
As we beg of God to send out people who will help the fallen and distressed sheep, we should immediately recognise that each one of us has a part to play in this mission. This may seem an onerous task, it is not supposed to be. Jesus tells disciples that the harvest is 'plentiful' and it is surely a privilege to be able to share in the important work of God. The work which the disciples and all Christians are called upon to carry out, is not our own work, it is the work of God. We are told to pray, but it is God who will send us out to do the tasks which he requires. God will give to us freely, we in turn must freely give.
Sheep Without a Shepherd
The phrase, sheep without a shepherd, is reminiscent of many Old
Testament passages that portray God's people as a flock neglected by its
shepherd. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel present 'David' as the future good
shepherd of Israel. In the gospel reading we see Jesus being presented as
the promised 'David', the Messiah and, as the agrarian allegory continues,
He calls others to assist Him in the task of bringing in the harvest.
The disciples are to pray for labourers. Our instincts might be very
different. How would we set about building a team to achieve great things?
Would we pray for labourers or would we look to recruit great preachers,
sharp thinkers, competent administrators, visionaries who could lead the
church forward?
How interesting then, that Jesus calls us to pray for common labourers. What a great reminder that while God can use talented people, most of His work gets done by ordinary, nearly anonymous, behind-the-scenes, faithful disciples. We know nearly nothing from the scriptures about many of the early disciples. Legend and tradition fill some of the gaps, but we have no way to judge their reliability. Most of the apostles were probably very ordinary. If we're not careful we might conclude that the lesser-known apostles achieved little, but that is unwarranted. Today, ordinary, unsung Christians do most of the church's work, and it is quite possible that ordinary, unsung apostles served both faithfully and effectively in the work of the early church.
After detailing Jesus' teaching on the sermon on the mount, Matthew devotes
2 chapters to Jesus' message of proclaiming and extending the kingdom
through healing and wholeness. Jesus then authorises, commissions and sends
out the 12 to declare the Kingdom of God is at hand and that through Him
healing and wholeness and a restored relationship (peace) with God is
possible. To declare that just at the right time, while we were still
sinners, Christ died for all. Not everyone that Jesus encountered was
hostile; many were inquisitive, misinformed or uninformed people looking for
freedom, healing, wholeness, hope and purpose. They were like sheep without
a shepherd. And there were many of them.
Bringing in the harvest was a labour intensive task. If not enough workers
could be found for the work then some of the harvest would be inevitably
lost. Jesus commands that we should ask the Father to send out workers into
the harvest field of our society. Bringing in that harvest is a labour
intensive task too, one to which we are all called. Called as ordinary
people to do extraordinary things.
Meditation
In our reading today from Matthews Gospel Chapter 9 we read this about Jesus
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’
I think that Jesus looking at us now might think that in many ways we are like sheep without a shepherd feeling harrased and helpless like those crowds.
It is good then to know that the feeling which God has towards us is one of compassion. in the midst of our crisis God cares.
The word which is used which we translate as compassion is a powerful word which speaks about the stomach of Jesus being upset, its not just a mild concern this is gut wrenching. Jesus is involved in this he moved
We have had a lot of trouble with statues at the moment. The statues of famous British figures are being boarded up, even Winston Churchill. The reason is that time has reflected upon their lives and revealed that even those who did some great things had things which are now regarded as unacceptable. The major criticism is of those who behaved badly towards people of other race and that has come about because of the tragic death of Georgy Floyd.
Now it is always going to difficult to have a statue erected and put on a pedestal, because we all have things which are best left in the cupboard and we would not want in the spotlight. We are all plater saints.
The remarkable thing about Jesus is that after 2,000 years his life and teachings are beyond reproach. He looked upon everyone and no matter what race or religion they were, no mater what crime they had committed, he treated all people with compassion. He tried to educate those who eyes were blinded by racism, he taught the parable of the good Samaritan because Samaritans were despised and he wanted folks to see the good in people whose race and religion were different.
Jesus was the presence of God on this earth and in all of his goodness he looked on our weakness and had nothing but compassion. This is the amazing God that we worship.
The short passage which we read finishes by Jesus asking for labourers to join him, He doesn’t ask for professors or scientists or anybody with great qualifications, just labourers to join him in bringing God’s love to the world.
May the God of peace who rauised our |Lord Jesus Christ from the dead be with you all this
Hymns
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Rejoice the Lord is King
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God forgave my sin
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Come on and celebrate
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Amazing grace
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I cannot tell
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City of God how broad and far (Tune:Richmond)
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After Confession God forgave my sin
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All I once held dear
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Will you come and follow me (In Glory to God)
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Forth in thy name (Tune Song 34)
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Thy hand O God has guided (Tune Thornbury)
Prayers
God our Father, you sent your Son to us: grant that filled with your Spirit
we may be renewed in faith, and inspired in hope and love, to spread the
Gospel of your kingdom to all people; through Christ our Lord. Amen
Heavenly Father, we pray for those who have gone to other countries with the
good news of Jesus; when their work is difficult and tiring, make them
strong; when they are lonely and homesick, remind them that you are with
them; when they are uncertain what to do, guide them. Keep us all diligent
in our prayer for them. Amen
When we forget you love and your grace. loving God, and live our lives as
though you are not here, relying on ourselves, forgetting to be thankful;
speak to us, challenge us, nudge us and help us to remember that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us. Amen
Christ the good shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep, draw you and
all who hear His voice to be one flock within one fold, and the blessing of
God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you
always. Amen
Blessed Jesus, Lord of the harvest, send forth, we beseech thee, labourers into thy harvest, and by thy Holy Spirit, stir the hearts of many, that they may be ready to spend and be spent in thy service, and if it please thee, so to lose their life in this world, that they may gather fruit unto life eternal; Lord Jesus, lover of souls. Amen. Robert Millman 1816-1876
O God of all the nations of the earth, remember the multitude who, though created in your image, have not known you, nor the dying of your Son, their Saviour Jesus Christ; and grant that by the prayers and labours of your Holy Church they may be delivered from all ignorance and unbelief, and brought to worship you; through him whom you have sent to be the Resurrection and the Life of all people, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Francis Xavier 1506-52
Words of Dismissal Christ has no other hands but your hands to do his work today; no other feet but your feet to guide folk on his way; no other lips but your lips to tell them why he died; no other love but your love to win them to his side. Teresa of Avila 1515-82
Alternative Blessing
The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few."
I send you forth in the name of Jesus Christ:
Proclaim the good news,
cure the sick,
raise the dead,
embrace the outcast.
Freely you have received; freely give.
And the blessing of.....
A Confession
We confess the blindness that is not even aware of sinning;
the pride that dares not admit that it is wrong;
the selfishness that can see nothing but its own will;
the righteousness that knows no fault;
the callousness that has ceased to care;
the defiance that does not regret its own sins;
the evasion that always tries to make excuses;
the coldness of heart that is too hardened to repent.
God, we are sinners; be merciful to us.