St Barnabas Anglican Church, Warrington, New Zealand
Pastoral Letter in time of Covid Δ
2021, 5 Sept Trinity 14
Blessings and prayers for Hilary, Rosalie, Carolyn, Claire, Kieran and Casey and the greater Ireland family.
Readings:
Prov 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Ps 125
James 2:1-17
Mark 7:24-37
²⁴ From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, ²⁵ but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷ He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸ But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” ²⁹ Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” ³⁰ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. ³¹ Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. ³² They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. ³³ He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. ³⁴ Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” ³⁵ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. ³⁶ Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. ³⁷ They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Grace and peace to you from God.
I’ve been told the Lectionary is always appropriate to the occasion. It’s hard to see it when this story comes round, as it does so often. I have preached on this before, trying to argue that it was less bad than it sounded. You may remember that Roger took exception to what I said. I don’t know he wasn’t right. It seems really awful on any level, and trying to justify it sounds like making excuses for a friend. (Remember, what a friend we have in Jesus). My understanding of this narrative is limited. The only redeeming features are that the woman is not as horrified as we think she should be (presumably she understood better than I) and the child was cured.
Always read the Bible remembering that God and Jesus love us. I’m not going to put any of my arguments about this story down in black and white. None are strong enough or consistent enough not to be dismantled if you have time to think, but Jesus travelled all the way to Tyre, and this is what the evangelists remembered afterwards. It certainly made them think.
Psalm 125 A Song of Ascents.
¹ Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
² As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time on and forevermore.
³ For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous,
so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands to do wrong.
⁴ Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts.
⁵ But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers.
Peace be upon Israel!
A simple prayer that asks for sinners to be removed from the midst of Zion, so that it may be worthy of the Lord.
Proverbs 22
22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favour is better than silver or gold.
² The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all.
⁸ Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail.
⁹ Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.
²² Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate;
²³ for the Lord pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.
It’s not often we read proverbs, and today’s extract is messy. Three couplets picked out, perhaps the whole proverb would be too much good advice for a single Sunday.
There is a provisional plan to inter Basil on Tuesday morning at 11am. Sadly, because of the level 3 restrictions, you can’t be there. Please remember the family at that time, and give yourself a few moments to remember Basil’s love of Christ and his long service to St Barnabas. Long ago (1981, I think) Basil and Hilary picked a spot slightly below the church, next to a friend, and in the row below Father Geoff, if that helps you visualise it.
God’s blessing to you all, and to all in need at this time. Please use the prayers and scripture below.
Jeremy
Rev Dr JJ Nicoll, 0274 361 481
Priest-in-Charge
St Barnabas, Warrington, NZ
Collect:
Healing God,
you speak into the hurting and wounded places;
empower us to speak your vision of wholeness,
and turn us to action in the face of injustice,
that empowered by the Spirit we may be agents of your healing love.
Through Jesus Christ our Liberator,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen
Summary of the Law
Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
The first commandment is this:
‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen. Lord, have mercy
The Beatitudes
Let us hear our Lord’s blessing on those who follow him.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Confession
Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light. Amen.
Absolution
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who in his great mercy
has promised forgiveness of sins
to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith
turn to him:
have mercy on us;
pardon and deliver us from all our sins;
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness;
and bring us to everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
