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| Serving God and Sharing Good News |
Weekly Bible Notes
23 Sunday in Ordinary
Year B, Green
| First Reading: | Isaiah Chapter 35:4-7 |
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| Second Reading: | James 2:1-10, 14-17 | |
| Third Reading | Mark 7:24-37 | |
| Commentary: | Jesus heals a deaf man who cannot speak | |
| Meditation: | Meditation | |
| Hymns | Hymns | |
| Prayers: | Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead | |
| Intercessions | Prayers used in our Sunday service |
Introduction
We are surrounded by images of the successful and encouraged to try and become like famous people by using their shampoo or cologne. They are presented as aspirational characters and young people especially are given role models of these people, who are usually stars of film or sport.
Yet the rich and famous are poor examples for us or our children. With
their failed relationships and dysfunctional lifestyles they are usually
more to be pitied than copied. We need to lay before ourselves better
examples of authentic living, types of behaviour which are more constructive
and contribute to the happiness of ourselves and others. In our reading
today we read that people said of Jesus 'He has done everything well,' now
that really is a lifestyle worth looking at.
Opening Verse of Scripture— James 1:22
O Give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his loving memory is
forever……… he satisfies the thirsty: and fills the hungry with good things.
Ps 107 (v. 1 & 19)
Collect Prayer for the Day—Before we read we pray
O God, you bear your people ever on your heart and mind. Watch over us in your protecting love, that, strengthened by your grace and led by your Spirit, we may not miss your way for us but enter into your glory, made ready for all in Christ our Lord. Amen. Methodist Worship
Go before us, Lord, in all that we do, with your most gracious favour, and guide us with your continual help, that in all our works, begun, continued and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name; and finally by your mercy obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Methodist Worship
Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Common Worship
Almighty God, you search us and know us: may we rely on you in strength and rest on you in weakness, now and in all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Common Worship Shorter Collect
First Bible Reading
Isaiah Chapter 35:4-7Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. (This is the word of the Lord - Thanks be to God)
Second Reading James 2:1-10, 14-17
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show
favouritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and
fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show
special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good
seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the
floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become
judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen
those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to
inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted
the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones
who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering
the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law
found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right.
But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as
lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of it.
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no
deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without
clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well;
keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what
good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by
action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show
me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
(This is the word of the Lord - Thanks be to God)
Jesus left
that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not
want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact,
as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed
by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in
Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not
right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord,"
she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your
daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon
gone.
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea
of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought
to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to
place his hand on the man. After he took him aside, away from the crowd,
Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the
man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!"
(which means, "Be opened!" ). At this, the man's ears were opened, his
tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not
to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.
People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they
said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." (This is the word of
the Lord - Thanks be to God)
Post Communion Prayer
God our creator, you feed your children with the true manna, the living bread from heaven: let this holy food sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage until we come to that place where hunger and thirst are no more; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Commentary: Jesus heals a deaf man who cannot speak
Jesus wanted people to be less public about some
of the things which he did, the secret of who he was needed to be kept until
the right moment. Unfortunately, as we see almost daily in our newspapers,
news has a way of leaking out. Jesus could not stop excitement spreading
about him and what he did. In our story today the man is deaf and can hardly
speak. When Jesus heals him, Mark records the use of a graphic phrase "Ephphatha!"
which suggests that his tongue had been tied up in knots and was suddenly
untied. From silence to speech, just like that! Jesus takes him away
privately, but it cannot be kept secret. Perhaps Jesus wanted more time to
travel and speak with people, but when he performed miracles like this,
there was no way of stopping the news spreading or the crowds seeking him
out. He would soon have such notoriety that the authorities would have to
act against him. With a miracle such as this, it was not surprising that
onlookers had in mind the prophecy of Isaiah 35:5-6,
‘Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf
unstopped.’
This is for us a foretaste of what God’s healing is really all about, it is
more than just the ageing body being patched up, it is a sign of God’s love
breaking in to our painful and death—laden world. It was and still is, a
signpost to the great Healing that will occur when the secret is out and
Jesus is finally revealed to the whole world. Then all of the world will
praise. Charles Royden
Meditation
There is a really beautiful phrase in the reading from Mark today, it
says simply ‘He has done everything well.’
We live in an age of pop stars and notoriety, everybody want to be famous.
Young people especially face incredible challenges in our society, because
they are led to focus their aspirations on the rich and famous and
encouraged to believe that they can be the next pop idol or football star.
The old values of working hard and earning a living have been shifted
towards personal gratification and the aspirations and fashions of a
consumer society.
It is easy to be critical of this, but in a sense every single one of wants
to leave this world with some achievements to our name. We might find the
cure for a terrible disease, but we feel that we should leave behind us an
impression. If our lives are to be significant and remembered then we must
do something significant with them. However the truth is that whilst the
prevailing culture tells us that our achievements should be to earn lots of
money and have a glamorous lifestyle, we know that this is not something
which causes happiness or provides lasting significance. Few people draw
admiration when they die and are fondly remembered because of the size of
their yacht.
We should cast our attention upon Jesus and the type of life which he
lived and the example which he gives to us. He was a carpenter, a workman
who probably built houses and extensions and mended things. Anybody who
knows the pains of being a builder will know how difficult it would have
been for him to build the reputation ’He has done everything well.’ ! Jesus
did not belong to the rich and famous, he was just an ordinary man who lived
his life with the same issues which we deal with, paying bills, caring for
relatives and getting on with the ups and downs which life throws at us.
This is what life is really all about, not jet setting or appearing in Hello
magazine.
As Christian people we must try to provide examples of authentic living
by setting examples which are wholesome and yet attractive. We must seek to
lay before our children and grandchildren alternatives to the models which
society presents. This is not in any way to discredit the ideals, dreams and
vision of young people who want to achieve great things. However somebody
needs to reaffirm the value of living ordinary lives in which we care for
our families, our children and grandchildren. It is to stress that really
gifted people do not have to appear on the television, they get up in the
morning and do their jobs to the best of their ability, offer a helping hand
to those in need and take time to spread a little happiness. The role models
in society today seem to go change their marital partners like motor cars.
As Christians we have to affirm that successful people are strong people who
have the courage to work at their marriages and give time to their loved
ones. Each one of us can make a real contribution to our families and wider
society if we control our temper, show our appreciation to others, spread
peace as we go about our business and pray to become more joyful. This is
real achievement and the way to lasting success. Perhaps then people will
say about us ‘he has done everything well.’ Charles Royden
Hymns and Psalms
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Hymn of approach Number 50 "Be still for the Presence of the Lord"
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Hymn of adoration Number 109 "Crown Him with many crowns"
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Hymn Link to Epistle Number 170 "Give thanks with a grateful heart"
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Hymn Link to Gospel Number 226 " Healing God, Almighty Father"
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Hymn "Going out" hymn Number 405 "Lord, the light of your love is shining"
Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead
On the day when we have welcomed Harry and Luke into God's church, a prayer
for them and all children growing up in a world which daily seems to be
getting more confusing, challenging and with little sense of direction. God
our Father, be near to our children growing up in the peril and confusion of
these times. Guard them from the forces of evil at work in our society, and
lead them in the paths of goodness and truth; enable us as parents,
grandparents, family members or as friends to give them at all times the
security of our love and the help of our example and our prayers. Amen
Edward Peck
0pen my eyes that they may see The deepest needs of people. Move my hands
that they may feed the hungry; Touch my heart that it may bring warmth to
the despairing; Teach me generosity that welcomes strangers; Let me share my
possessions to clothe the naked; Give me the care that strengthens the sick;
Make me the share in the quest to set the prisoner free. In sharing our
anxieties and our love, Our poverty and our prosperity, We partake of your
divine presence. Amen Canaan Banana, Zimbabwe
Lord Jesus, you made a deaf man hear. When we refuse to hear your voice, Open our ears to your words of love. Lord Jesus, you made a dumb man speak. When we do not know what to say, Open our mouths to praise you and speak your words of love. Lord Jesus, you made a blind man see. When we cannot see the signs of your presence in the world around us, Open our eyes and show us your works of love. Amen Judy Bainbridge
O Lord my God, I adore you as my first beginning and I long for you as my last end. Conduct me, therefore, O gracious Lord, by your wisdom. Restrain me with your justice, comfort me with your mercy, and defend me with your power; and of your love, enlighten my understanding, enflame my will and purify my soul; for Jesu's sake. Amen Richard Challoner, 1691-1781
Additional Material
Verse of scripture
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146
Collect Prayer for the Day—Before we read we pray
Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray and to give more than either we desire or deserve: pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of 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. Amen.
Meditation
Telemachus was a monk who lived in Asia Minor about the year 400 AD. During his life the gladiatorial games were very popular. The gladiators were usually slaves or political prisoners who were condemned to fight each other unto death for the amusement of the spectators. People were fascinated by the sight of blood and gore upon the arena floor. Telemachus was very much disturbed that the Emperor Honorius, who was a Christian, sponsored the games and that so many people who called themselves Christian went to see them. What, he wondered, could be further from the Spirit of Christ than the horrible cruelty of the gladiatorial games? The bishops and priests spoke against them, but most people were deaf to their message. Telemachus realized that talking about this evil was not enough. It was time to do something. But what could he actually accomplish - one lone monk against the whole Roman Empire? He had no power. And the games had been part of Roman life for centuries. Nothing that he could possibly do would ever make a difference.
For a long time Telemachus agonized about the problem. Finally he could not live with himself any longer. For the sake of his own soul he decided he had to obey the voice of Christ within him - regardless of the consequences. He set out for Rome. When Telemachus entered the city, the people he met had gone mad with excitement. "To the Coliseum!", they cried out. "The games are about to start.!" Telemachus followed the crowd. Soon he was seated among all the other people. Far away in a special place he saw the emperor.
The gladiators came out into the centre of the arena. Everybody was tense. Everybody was silent as the two men faced each other. The men drew their swords. The fight was about to be on! One of them would probably die within a few minutes. Who would it be? At that moment Telemachus rose from his seat and ran down onto the arena floor. He held high the cross of Christ that he carried and threw himself into a position between the two gladiators. "In the name of our Master,", he cried, "Stop fighting!" The two men hesitated. Nothing like this had ever happened before. They did not know what to do. They put up their swords for a moment. The spectators were furious. Telemachus had robbed them of their entertainment. They yelled wildly and stampeded toward the centre of the arena. They became a mob. With sticks and stones they beat Telemachus to death.
Far down in the arena lay the battered body of the monk. Suddenly the mob and the spectators who had remained in their seats grew quiet. A feeling of revulsion at what had been done swept over them. Emperor Honorius rose and left the Coliseum. The people followed him. Abruptly the games were over. Emperor Honorius sensed the mood of the crowd that day. His ears were opened by the death of Telemachus. His tongue was loosened as well. He issued an edict forbidding all future gladiatorial games. And so it was, that in about the year 404 AD, because one individual, filled with the love of Christ, dared to say, "No!", all gladiatorial games ceased.
How many of us have the words of God's love fall upon our ears but have not heard them? How many of us have had the images of God's presence fall upon our eyes but have not seen them? How many of us have all the words of faith in our brains and have become familiar with heavenly mysteries and spiritual visions, yet do not live by faith or work the works of God? Even as Jesus opened the ears of the man born deaf, we must ask him to give us the ability to hear. To open our ears and our eyes and make the sensory signals that come to us from every direction get through to our spiritual centre, to that place where they can be translated from meaningless words and visions to the words and deeds of a living faith. We must not discriminate against some and show favour to others, we must seek to love all people as he loves all people - equally as brothers and sisters, without judgement or bias or reserve. We must seek healing, both inwardly and outwardly, to be whole, to be able to hear, and see, and speak, and do both in the body, and in the spirit. This is a cause for prayer.
Meditation
The deaf and mute man - Mark 7:31-37 by Claire Peck
My training to be a local preacher is very much in its early stages. In
addition to learning to lead worship I am frequently trying to write
assignments. I thought that I had finished with those when I graduated as a
teacher! Part of my first assignment was to retell a story from the Bible
from the point of view of one of the characters within the story. I hasten
to add that it wasn't the healing of a deaf and mute man! Yet the reading
today from Mark does lend itself to such a retelling. So sit back, imagine
that I am retelling the story of the deaf and mute man from his point of
view and then put yourself in his shoes - what story would you tell?
I can hear...1 can talk. It's a miracle. Oh I know Jesus told us to tell no
one but I can't help it. You see I've not known it any different, I've been
deaf and not able to speak for so long. I could make some noises, which some
people could understand, but it was never easy being that way. You miss out
on so much. So many people used to leave me out of things because I couldn't
join in properly and they weren't prepared to hang around long enough to
find out what I was trying to say. I am so grateful to those who were
prepared to take time with me. They put themselves out to take me to Jesus -
it couldn't have been easy for them. There were so many people around - I
must admit to have been scared at first. I thought to myself that this Jesus
bloke must be really popular. Why would Jesus want to help me? I was nobody
special. Yet he must have wanted to help me for he took me away from the
crowds. Did he know that I was scared with all those people around or did he
need a break from them too? You'll never believe what he did next. I've a
job believing it and it happened to me! It was so strange and yet... . ..
well he seemed to know what he was doing. He put his fingers into my ears,
spat onto his hand and then touched my tongue. How disgusting you must be
thinking! I'm sure I heard him then say "Ephphatha" (which means be opened)
but it might be that I've heard it told me so many times since! What joy - I
could hear and speak. The crowd went berserk. There was no stopping them in
their bid to tell as many people as they could about what had happened. I
realised that it wouldn't take long for my story to be known all over the
place. I'd like to think that Jesus knew that I was touched and that words
would never be enough to thank him. I hope so.' Claire Peck
Prayers for Sunday
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom.
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go. Flood our souls with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our lives may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through us, and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel your presence in our soul. Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus. Stay with us - and then we shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from you. None if it will be ours. It will be you shining on others through us. Let us thus praise you in the way you love best - by shining on those around us.
Lord our God, in you mercy and justice meet. With unparalleled love You have saved us from death and drawn us into the circle of Your life. Open our eyes to the wonders this life sets before us, that we may serve You, free from fear, and love one another as you love us - without regard to riches or poverty, class or place in life. God, the source of all health: So fill my heart with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy I may make room for your power to possess me, and gracefully accept your healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, we pray know for those who are known to us - and for those who are not - we pray for the dying and for those who mourn the dead, for the sick and for those who faithfully care for them, for the oppressed and for those who despair, for those who have hunger and thirst in body and in soul.
Hymn for this Sunday (Mission Praise)
- The Kingdom of God, No 139 H&P (Tune Hanover)
- When I needed a neighbour. on service sheet (Junior Praise 275)
- For the healing of the nations, No 402 H&P (Tune Rhuddland 409 H&P )
- The Church of Christ, in every age. No 804 H&P (Tune: Heronsgate)
- I want to walk with Jesus Christ. No 302 MP (On service sheet)
- Praise to the holiest in the height
- I have decided to follow Jesus
- Who would true valour see
- Through all the changing scenes of life
- Thy hand O God