Weekly Bible Notes, 11th November, 2001
(Third Sunday before Advent, 32 in Ordinary Time, Year C, Red)
| First Reading: | Romans 8:31-39 |
| Second Reading: | Matthew 5:1-12 |
| Commentary: | More than conquerors! |
| Pause for Thought: | Poppies |
| Prayers: | for Sunday and the week ahead |
Opening Verse of Scripture Isaiah Chapter 25 v 8b
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of His people He will take away from the earth, for the Lord has spoken.
Collect Prayer for the Day—Before we read we pray
Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to His just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Bible Reading Romans Chapter 8:31 - 39
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (This is the word of the Lord—Thanks be to God)
Second Bible Reading Matthew Chapter 5:1 - 12
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (This is the Word of the Lord—Thanks be to God)
Post Communion Prayer
God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your healing power make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Commentary: More than conquerors!
Often there can be a great deal of triumphalism associated with these words from Romans. Words sometimes linked to our living of a victorious Christian life, our overcoming of evil with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. And it is right that we do remember that Christ has indeed won he victory over sin for us in His death and resurrection. He conquered death so that we might know His love and hope in this life and eternal life into the next.
But to the early Christians who would read Paul’s words, being conquerors carried a significance perhaps only they would fully understand. Paul is writing primarily to a small group of Christians located in imperial Rome, where being the conqueror meant everything. To him the triumphal arch was erected, and to keep his memory alive his statue was placed in the halls of fame. The military conqueror was considered to have reached the highest rung in the ladder of success. They were the greatest men that the world had ever known. And for those who lived in Roman territory, or under Roman occupation, they would never be allowed to forget the conquering might of imperial Rome and its military leaders.
It is to such groups that Paul’s letter was written and circulated. To small and obscure bands of men and women who, through Christ were more than conquerors, more than the great Roman military rulers, more than those who were heralded by the statues and arches they saw whenever they went about their daily business. Because their victory and glory was in, and through, Christ who had overcome the world. In overcoming sin through Christ, God demonstrated his love was, and is, all powerful, and that nothing could separate us from that love. And it is in the power of the Holy Spirit that we live our victorious life with Him.
But Christ’s victory was not the victory of a great military ruler; it was the victory of a suffering servant and of obedient service. And just as the early Christians would find it difficult to think of themselves as conquerors it would take time before they fully understood the life of service to which they had been called.
The same could be said of the many men and women who we remember today who were also called up for service. They too probably had no precise idea of what lay before them, or exactly what victory would mean, but they responded to the call to go and serve their country. For many there would be no return. For those that did return, the experience would leave them changed for life, with memories they would, or could not forget, possibly no matter how hard they tried. They can recall friendships forged in the heat of battle, bonds, fashioned by a common experience, which even death cannot break. They, and others too, remember loved ones lost or injured, not just as a name, rank or number but as person, an individual with a special place in their lives, as a father, son, mother, daughter, brother, sister, wife, husband, relation or friend. For all who live through war, even today, it was, and is, a life changing experience. And it is right that we remember those who gave their lives in war, and all those who suffer by its consequences today.
But because of God’s victory we are not just the survivors of some holy war, we are conquerors with Him in the final battle. Just as we continue to recall the dark shadow of war, we should constantly remember the reality of living in the bright shadow of the power of His Holy Spirit. We are more than conquerors, but we are also His servants. Part of that calling and life of service is to reflect the light and glory of Christ’s victory to the world around us however dark it feels. The Reverend Dr Sam Cappleman.
Meditation: Poppies
On this day in 1918, at 11.00am - the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - the First World War came to an end. Much of the war had been fought in dug-out trenches across Belgium and France. It is thought that about 9 million soldiers lost their lives, and about 27 million were wounded - many of them permanently disabled. At 11.00am, the fighting stopped everywhere, six hours after the Armistice was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne, northern France. Two years later the body of an unknown British soldier from one of the battlefields was laid in a coffin and brought over to England. On this day in 1920 the coffin of the unknown soldier was taken in procession to Westminster Abbey, past thousands of people lining the streets. During the service, the coffin was laid to rest with some soil from France in the floor of the central aisle of Westminster Abbey. The tomb commemorates all British casualties, especially those who have no known grave, and all who suffered during that war and since. Lying there amongst the tombs of kings and queens and many famous people, this “Tomb of the Unknown Warrior” bears the inscription, “Beneath this stone rests the body of a British warrior, unknown by name or rank, brought from France to be among the most illustrious of the land.” During that service, the hymn “Lead Kindly Light” was sung,. During the First World War, the soldiers in their dug-outs could see red poppies growing in the fields of Flanders, the name for an area that covers parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Each year, the Royal British Legion sells artificial red poppies to raise money for injured soldiers, sailors and airmen who have served their country up to the present day. Some countries mark Remembrance Day on the 11th of November itself, and others on the nearest Sunday. At 11.00am, many people remain silent for two minutes.
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead.
On this Remembrance Sunday, we remember past wars: those who fought in them; those who lived through them; and those who died in them. Amen
We pray for the victims of past wars, remembering before you, loving God, those who died in battle, or from the consequences of injury or disease, and for those who mourned or still mourn them. We remember those permanently maimed or disabled, and those psychologically scarred or disturbed. We pray for an end to the suffering of war. Amen
We pray for the victims of current conflicts, remembering before you, loving God, children trained to hate or fight, families turned into homeless refugees, and lands laid waste and made barren. We remember those blinded or crippled and those driven insane by nightmare experiences. We pray for an end to the destructive hatred of war. Amen
We pray for the peace of the world remembering before you, loving God, areas where there is armed conflict and all those who are working for peace. We remember that you have called s to strive together for the coming of Your kingdom of love and peace. We pray that you will equip us for the task with the faith that knows that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Amen. [From Companion to the Revised Common Lectionary, Intercessions, Christine Odell]
God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the people of every church and nation, peace and concord; and to us and all the servants of God, life everlasting; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen
| First Reading: | Romans 8:31-39 |
| Second Reading: | Matthew 5:1-12 |
| Commentary: | More than conquerors! |
| Pause for Thought: | Poppies |
| Prayers: | for Sunday and the week ahead |
| Intercessions: | Prayers used during the service |
| Sermon: | Conquerors, not just survivors |