Matthew 21: 28-32
Contributor Cecilia Skudder (Cjs)
Jesus told a story to the Priests and elders too.
He asked for their opinions, as to what they thought was true.
“A man he did have two sons, so the first he sent to work.
“Go ye to the vineyard, now I ask you not to shirk.”
“I do not feel like going, so no I won’t obey.”
Then he thought about it deeply, and went there anyway.
Time then for this father to direct his second son.
“Do as now I bid you, there’s much work to be done.”
“Of course I’ll go my father.” But then he failed to go.
He felt so very lazy, and thought his father wouldn’t know.
Now you’ve heard My story..who did the father’s will?
Of course they said the first son, it was obvious but.. still
they did not like His answer, they were so full of pride.
He had much to say now, nothing could they hide.
“I tell you tax collectors, and prostitutes*as well,
will reach the Lord before you , since they believed what John did tell.
For John came first to see you, but heard you not his voice,
And though they* knew the truth then, still you refused by choice.”
Are we like those proud people, or do we listen and obey?
Do we do Your will Lord, today and every day?
Make me humble Jesus, to seek and follow You.
To reflect on all my motives, and all I say and do. Cjs
It is precisely this kind of situation in this Gospel that makes people outside the Church accuse Christians of being hypocrites. “They say one thing and do another and come out of Church and sin.” It is also a great excuse for those who don’t want to go to Church for them to feel justified in not doing so. What we say and do is witnessed by many who will judge us accordingly.
Jesus was trying to make the Priests and Elders realise and accept that their behaviour was not what God wanted of them. But they would not listen to Him. They knew it all.
Are we like that? It is so easy to look at others and say they shouldn’t
be doing this or that, but that is judging them so we are not supposed to
do that either. Hate the sin and love the sinner, forgive as we are forgiven,
Lord, please help me to say yes and follow You always. Amen.
Matthew 20:1-16
Contributor: Bill Smith
The
Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
When we listen to this parable it is natural to side with the workers who had worked all through the heat of the day and to feel some sympathy with their indignation at not getting a greater reward than those who had just worked a short time. That would seem to be natural justice and what they deserve.
But then, what if our eternal reward were to be based on us receiving a fair
reward for what we had done in this life? We are all promised the same reward
of eternal life, peace and happiness if we die in a state of grace which will
pay little regard for what we actually merit.
John 3:13 - 17: True Love
Contributor: Dina Saggers
The
cross is not only a symbol of Christianity, but a reminder of the sacrifice
Jesus had to go through to pay for our redemption. The most quoted verse
in the Bible, John 3:16, is the essence of our existence.
The cross is a reminder of God's love and devotion to us. When Adam and
Eve sinned, not only was paradise lost, but so was the innocence man was created
with. Since then, man has inherited a nature that causes him to
forget God, to hate his fellow men, and to live a life of self-destruction.
The gap between God and man had to be resolved.
Jesus Christ was the answer. For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:17)
Now all we need to do is to put our trust in Him.
Matthew 18: 15-20
Contributor: Barbara Davies
This
seems to be a short chapter in spite of the fact that Matthew was most concerned
about the organisation of the Church of Jesus (the tax collector used to ledgers
and written down facts?).
We have words on structures that would emerge – “what you bind on earth, Heaven will keep bound and whatever you loose on earth, Heaven will keep unbound”. We have prayers for a community that has apostolic ambitions. But at the same time we have deep thoughts of developing community spirit; in private help your brother face his faults remembering that a structure exists to reinforce your loving endeavours to support him.
Jesus often speaks to us giving counsels of perfection knowing how able or
unable we are to hit such heights. “If two of you are united in asking..
it will be granted.
If NEEDED not if WANTED.
Acknowledgments to Christian Community Bible
Matthew 16: 21-27
Contributor: Mary Heady
“Get thee behind me, Satan!” Sounds dreadful, but not quite so bad if we substitute “tempter” for Satan. Many of us tend to read the Gospels putting ourselves in as the good guys – (we would be the good seed, say the right thing to Jesus etc.). But to steer our loved ones away from danger and pain is the natural thing to do.
Trouble is, we are called to choose the supernatural response if we possibly can. “What would Jesus do or say in this situation?” can be a very helpful guide. We are bound to fail repeatedly. What a good job that God’s love never fails to pick us up and help us to try again. He certainly had to with St. Peter!
August 24, 2008: Matthew 16: 13 - 20
Contributor: Branwen Jones
This important passage confirms Jesus as the Christ and shows Him conferring a unique position upon Peter - the first head of the Church.
It is interesting that Christ refers to Himself as the 'Son of Man' when He questions the disciples about His identity - a description which emphasises His humanity. He asks two questions: 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' and 'Who do you say I am?'
The 'people' - the public in general - hold varying opinions on exactly who Jesus is. In their view He could be John the Baptist, Elijah or Jeremiah. What all three have in common is that they are dead prophets and so it would appear the people think of Christ as a resurrected version of one of these greatly influential figures.
But what of the disciples? It is Simon Peter who confirms Christ's divinity: 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' An answer which evidently pleases Jesus who calls Peter 'a happy man' for it is not human reasoning ('flesh and blood') that has brought Peter to this conclusion but revelation from the Father.
It is at this point that Jesus elects Peter as the foundation 'rock' of the Church and endows him with the keys of the kingdom of heaven - an enormous responsibility.
So what can we learn from this passage? We too need to answer Jesus' question. Peter's response was a personal declaration - it did not come from any of the other disciples present. Their answers, if any, were not recorded.
We must ask ourselves who Jesus is in our lives? What role does He play? Each one of us is required to make a personal reply to the question 'Who do you say I am?' and maybe Christ will bless each of us individually, just as he did Peter, and give us the grace we need for our task in the establishment of the kingdom.
17 August 2008: Matthew 15: 21-28:
Contributor: Andrew Jones
This
reading is an introduction to an international Jesus. The story is repeated
in St Mark’s Gospel. After these verses it seems impossible that Our
Lord would ever again restrict His message of love and compassion to the children
of Israel.
Though it is seldom mentioned, in His travels Jesus crossed the borders from one small country to another. In this reading He and His disciples left Gennesaret, a village on the Sea of Galilee in Israel and crossed northwards to Tyre and Sidon in Syria. Suddenly they were confronted by a Canaanite woman who was shouting at Him in distress Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil. But Jesus aware that He was in Syria and had been approached by a woman who was a foreigner to Him, stood there without saying a word.
It is noticeable that she recognised his Jewish authority by calling Him Son of David.
Then His disciples pleaded with Him to help. At this point Jesus said I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. In the meantime the woman had knelt at His feet.
Lord, she said, help me but he replied It is not fair to take the Children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs; the children being the nation of Israel and the dogs being the Gentiles. She then showed her determination by replying to Jesus, Ah yes, Sir but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table. At this point her perseverance changed Jesus’ mind and he answered Woman you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.
Her daughter was healed instantly.
Matthew 13. 24 to 43: 20 July 2008: 16th Sunday of the Year
Contributor:- Cecilia Skudder (Cjs)
Heaven’s
likened to a sower, planting good seed in a field.
Expecting at the harvest, that there would be great yield.
But an enemy secreted, darnel with the wheat.
So when the crop was growing, not all was good to eat.
The servant asked the Master, should the weed be pulled right out.
But the answer was forthcoming, that showed there was no doubt.
For if the weed was taken, the wheat would be lost too.
Leave the wheat to ripen, then harvest both they’d do.
Destruction of the bad crop, will stop it causing harm.
The wheat would then be stowed, in the good Lord’s barn.
Puzzled now disciples asked the meaning be unfurled.
Jesus was the sower, the field it was the world.
His subjects were the good seed, darnel by evil grown,
planted by the devil, to make the world his own.
The reapers were the angels, the harvest this world’s end,
when all the evil doers, they’ll to the furnace send.
Then will be much weeping, and grinding of the teeth.
But the virtuous will shine brightly, not for them that fate of grief.
Thank you dearest Jesus, for the promise that you’ve made.
A place in Your own Kingdom, Your death the price that’s paid.
We have to live alongside, those who evil do.
But You would give them heaven, if they’d only turn to You.
We must strive to treat each other, with love and not with hate.
Seek forgiveness for our sins, before it is too late. Cjs.
In my nursing career I witnessed much sadness and pain. I was often asked why, if there is a God, does He allow evil people to live apparently without suffering, and yet He lets good people suffer and die. It is at these times that people can turn against their faith.
Does the devil work harder on those that love God the most? After all the devil already has the evildoers in his grasp. No effort needed there!
The truth is we don’t know why, but in this Gospel Jesus tells us why the ‘darnel’ is to remain.
But I believe the truth is much bigger than this. God loves us so much He wants us to be with Him and He gives us every opportunity for us to turn to Him. Perhaps those that do works of evil will soon repent, and ask for forgiveness and turn their lives around to do good.
Saul did much evil until that day on the road to Damascus. How he worked for the Lord after that. This is typical of so many Saints, who were a ‘bad lot’ until they let Christ into their lives. There is always that hope. Secretly I want to think there is no one in Hell, that in their last private moments the evildoers who were dying asked for and received forgiveness.
Could be even Judas is in that category.
Trust is the key.
Lord, I believe in You, trust in You, and will, with Your help, keep Faith in You. Amen.
The Parable of the Sower: Matthew 13: 1-23
Contributor: Dina Saggers
The
parable of the sower and the seed sums up our Christian faith, and the various
responses that people have to the Gospel. We are all given the gift of the
Word, and each one of us have an entirely different reaction to it, just like
the seed to the soil.
For some, it brings spiritual growth, "But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:23)
Others may seem to accept the Word, but stumble in their faith when faced with personal crisis. When difficulties arise, it tests the strength of our faith. A good friend of mine lost her mother just before Christmas last year. It definitely tested her faith, she stopped going to church and was very bitter about her loss. We practically grew up together, and although we don't live in the same country, we have kept in close touch through the internet. She called me up last week to share a personal problem. I advised her to go to church. I have always believed that the only One who can help us through anything is the One above. Everytime I am at a crossroads in life and I never know which path to take, I pray, and for some reason, I am led to the path that is right for me. I got another phone call from her today and she told me she took my advise and through prayers, her crisis is almost over. Praise and thanks to God.
How many of us go through the same thing in our everyday lives?
This is where Jesus tells us to "Trust in Him". It is our commitment as Christians. I was once told, that if you take away Christ from the word, Christian, you are left with the letters IAN which stand for I Am Nothing.
Truly, without Christ, I am nothing.
Matthew 11: 25 to 30: 6th July 2008
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder (Cjs)
“O
how I bless You Father, Lord of heaven and earth.”
This was Jesus speaking, of His glorious Father’s worth.
“You hide things from the learned, so expertly concealed.
So no one knows the truth, but to children it’s revealed!
For this so pleased You Father, it was what You wished to do.
No one knows the Father, except the Son who has full view.
To Me everything’s entrusted, since only the Father knows the Son.
Those who come to know their Lord?..., the Son chose every one!
Come to Me who labours, and I will give you rest,
if you My load will carry, and learn from Me the best,
for humble and so gentle, I’ll give your souls repose.
Yes My yoke is easy, and light my burden shows.”
Here’s another promise, Jesus makes to all!
Come to Him He offers, do we heed this wondrous call?
How often we forget, when on storms of life we’re tossed,
if we give our hearts to Jesus, we never can be lost.
The only stipulation? - we take up His precious load,
and carry out His wishes, as we travel on life’s road. Cjs.
How I love the hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus.” We don’t hear it much nowadays, but the words are so beautiful and so full of love and promise that Jesus gives us…..yes us ..the ones who let Him down so often. We do this mostly by just forgetting to take everything to Him.
Yes EVERYTHING! The stubbed toe, the spoilt meal, the traffic jam, family and neighbour’s squabbles, work etc. Tevye from “Fiddler on the Roof” (author Joseph Stein) takes everything to God, so does “Don Camillo.” (author Giovanni Guareschi.)
My mum used to say we should do things on our own and not bother God with them since He’s got enough to do. Sorry mum, rest in peace, you were wrong on this occasion because God wants us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives.
Jesus don’t let me wait until the desperate times, but let me not forget You, my best friend, and therefore bring the little daily irritations to You. Thank you for all Your blessings. Amen.
What a Friend we have in Jesus
1.What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
2.Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged— take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
3.Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge— take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.
4.Blessed Saviour, Thou hast promised thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded, there will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Lyrics Joseph M Scriven 1855 inspired by John 15: 13
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: 29th June 2008: Matthew 16:13-19
Contributor: Bill Smith
In
Jesus’ own lifetime he must have been a real enigma to those around him.
What did they make of him? He was a man, yes. He was the carpenter’s
son from Nazareth. But there was something special and mysterious about him.
He preached a strong message. He was unorthodox in his behaviour. He mixed
with sinners. So who was he? - a prophet?
Jesus wanted to know what his disciples thought - ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answers with that great statement of conviction ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’
Then follows from Jesus those great words of comfort for the church – ‘And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ The church has gone through stormy times in the last two thousand years and there will be more to come but we have the assurance of Christ himself that it will ride those storms.
Matthew 10: 26-33: Contributor Barbara Davies
Jesus
instructs his twelve disciples on how to ‘missionize’ (go to the
lost sheep of the people of Israel). “You must be like sheep among wolves,
as clever as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
He knew persecution would be their lot. If they couldn’t free themselves from fear, consider where the greater pain would come from: God or people?
This is the only time Jesus refers to ‘fear of God’. In the Old Testament ‘fear of God’ meant ‘give respect’. God does not threaten us with hell – he reminds us that to lose Him is to lose ourselves and THAT IS HELL.
Gospel Commentary 16 June 2008
Matthew 9: 36-10
Contributor Mary Heady
Jesus was often faced with the immense task of telling the Good News to vast crowds. Even though he was God, he was humble enough and human enough to enlist help.
When we look at the odd assortment that he chose for his disciples, we realise that God calls us to help spread his message, no matter what our background or moral history. He gives the Twelve wonderful powers but tells them to start where they are - with the people of Israel.
Maybe this is the message for us. We should show forth this wonderful gift
of faith by living it in our families and neighbourhood.
8 June 2006: Matthew 9: 9 – 13
Contributor: Branwen Jones
Little
has changed in two thousand years. The taxman is as unpopular today as he
was in Christ’s time. But to understand just how reviled Matthew would
have been we have to remember that he was a tax collector when Judaea was
under Roman occupation and he would have been looked upon as a collaborator
with the enemy, collecting money to pass on to the Gentile oppressor. The
Pharisees would have considered Matthew as ‘unclean’, a social outcast.
Despite all this Jesus calls this vilified and detested man to follow Him and without hesitation Matthew responds.
Matthew even holds a celebratory dinner and ‘a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at table with Jesus and his disciples. Undoubtedly the tax collectors referred to are Matthew’s colleagues. The Pharisees are aghast and question Jesus’ behaviour since in their eyes to consort with such people meant defilement.
As ever Jesus is ready for the Pharisees’ lack of comprehension and responds with ‘It is not the healthy that need the doctor, but the sick.’ It is the outcast, the sinner and those who are aware of their unworthiness who need Christ. The Pharisees, in contrast, are blind to their need of Christ’s healing.
In an attempt to make the Pharisees understand His actions Jesus echoes the words of the prophet Hosea in today’s first reading (6:6) ‘What I want is love, not sacrifice’. Put another way, God prefers love and mercy to the outward observance of rules and regulations.
Matthew 7:21-27: 2 June 2008
Contributor: Andrew Jones
The second paragraph of this Gospel is one that is so well-known with the example of the sensible man who built his house on the rock compared with a stupid man who built his house on sand. Sadly we have recently seen the physical results of both in the terrible earthquakes in China, as are often observed following such natural disasters.
Our Lord was using the examples, because they would have been understood by His contemporaries but His message was spiritual and not physical. He was teaching all future generations to build our lives so that we should please Our Father in Heaven.
Perhaps the rock should be the regular reading of the actual Holy Bible itself added to our own private prayer sessions, which hopefully are an integral part of our lives. We have so much to learn from The Gospels, let alone the whole of the rest of the Bible and time is so short.
Like some others, about 50 years ago I began an attempt to read the entire
Bible from cover too cover,
and still have not succeeded.
25 May 2008: Matthew 6: 24-34
Taken from: www.rc.net/wcc/readings/matt6v24.htm
What
does “serving two masters” and “anxiety” have in common?
They both have the same root problem -- being divided within oneself. The
root word for “anxiety” literally means “being of two minds”.
An anxious person is often “tossed to and fro” and paralyzed by
indecision. Fear of some bad outcome usually cripples those afflicted with
anxiety. It’s also the case with someone who wants to submit to God but
also live according to the world’s standards of success and fulfillment.
Who is the master in charge of your life?
Our “master” is that which governs our thought-life, shapes our ideals, controls the desires of the heart and the values we choose to live by. We can be ruled by many different things -- the love of money or possessions, the power of position, the glamor of wealth and prestige, the driving force of unruly passions and addictions. Ultimately the choice boils down to two: God and “mammon”.
What is mammon? “Mammon” stands for “material wealth or possessions” or whatever tends to “control our appetites and desires”. There is one Master alone who has the power to set us free from the slavery of sin and fear. That Master is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus uses an illustration from nature — the birds and the flowers — to show how God provides for them in the natural order of his creation. How much more can we, as his children, rely upon God’s providential care? God is utterly reliable.
In the Lord's Prayer we are reminded that God is our provider when we pray: Give us this day our daily bread. What is bread, but the very staple of life and symbol of all that we need to live and grow. Anxiety is neither helpful nor necessary. It robs us of faith and confidence in God’s help and it saps our energy for doing good.
Jesus admonishes his followers to put away anxiety and preoccupation with material things and instead to seek first the things of God — his kingdom and righteousness. Anxiety robs the heart of trust in the mercy and goodness of God and in his loving care for us. God knows our needs even before we ask and he gives generously to those who trust in him. Who is your master -- God or mammon?
“Lord, free me from needless worries and help me to put my trust in you. Make my first concern your kingdom and your righteousness. Help me to live each day with trust and gratitude for your providential care for me”.
John 3: 16-18
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder (Cjs.)
“The
Son of Man be lifted,” that’s what Jesus said.
To Nicodemus was He speaking, as in the Gospel now is read.
For Moses raised the serpent, in the desert in the past.
So all who do believe, may have eternal life at last.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,
that all would not be lost, not a single one!!
Christ came not to condemn, but just to save the world.
and this message that He brings, to all has been unfurled.
Who refuses to believe, is condemned by this one fact,
that they knew but still denied, God’s Son by their own act.
Because their deeds were evil, preferred darkness to the light,
save wrong actions be exposed, as certainly not right.
But those living by the truth, are openly to view,
So that all can see quite plainly, God’s way in what they do.
Thank you dearest Jesus, for showing us the way,
for teaching us what’s truth, in all the dealings of today.
To decide how we must act, we must listen to Your word,
and act upon Your truth, no matter what the world preferred.
We know deep in our hearts, for our conscience tells us so,
we must work for all Your people, so the love of God will show. Cjs.
Jesus promised we would have eternal life if we believe and follow His way.
God’s Son died for every single one of us, ….no exceptions!
Jesus does not condemn us, but if we refuse to believe we condemn oursleves.
This message is for those who have rejected their faith for one reason or
another.
Jesus does not mention those who have not yet come to believe in Him as rejecting
Him.
I believe this means that those who have other faiths are not considered as
‘refusing to believe.’
Those who prefer `darkness to the light,’ do as they please and have
no consideration for God’s commandments and His Way, if these are in
opposition.
There are times we may be tempted ‘off the way,’ but Each of us needs to nurture our faith, we feed our bodies so must also feed our souls, with the Word of God and act upon it.
Dear Lord, please let me ‘stay in the light.’ Let my life show that I am living by Your Truth. Amen.
Pentecost 2008: John 20:19-23
Contributor: Bill Smith
In
this year’s Pentecost readings we hear the account of Jesus appearing
to the apostles in the upper Room after his Resurrection. His greeting to
them is that lovely blessing “Peace be with you”. (Wouldn’t
that be a wonderfully more meaningful greeting for all of us to adopt in place
of the more traditional “Hello”?).
Then he bids them go out and spread the Good News in the same way as he had been directed by his Father. His mandate to the small band of apostles that night is the same mandate that we all receive. He breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, and especially in the sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit comes to us and endows us with his gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord. With the help of the Holy Spirit we aspire to display his fruits in charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.
The Holy Spirit sometimes gets relegated to third place in our worship when we concentrate on God the Father, and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is described as the “paraclete” which means comforter. He remains with us throughout life to comfort us when things are difficult and to inspire us to pass on the Good News of the Gospel.
Veni Sancte Spiritus
John 17: 1-11: Contributor: Barbara Davies
The Priestly Prayer
Was
Jesus the victim of the sacrifice offering himself to the Father, as Jesus
the Priest?
The word consecrated here applies to both: the Priest made worthy to offer the sacrifice and the victim made holy as the sacrifice.
The Israelites were holy in so far as they fulfilled their mission by serving God. Now Jesus has come to include all who wish it. In the midst of that confusion that was the crucifixion – humiliation, pain, loneliness (no sign in this passage of despair) did Jesus know that down the years countless millions would not be able to accept what he was doing for them. What would that emotion be called – sorrow, anger, frustration, bitterness – yet by his all loving, all understanding be made holy.
For inspiration: Christian Community Bible.
John 14: 15-21 - 27 April 2008
Contributor: Mary Heady
The
mystery of the Holy Trinity has been puzzled over by theologians and scholars
for two thousand years. Yet here, in this passage from the Gospel of St. John,
Jesus calmly speaks to his apostles of the relationship between Himself, his
Father and the Holy Spirit.
Anyone seeking the truth will be embraced by the Trinity. Sounds simple. All we have to do is to sustain our goodwill by prayer and action. Years ago we were urged to examine our conscience by asking; “have I neglected the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?”. “Did I think of contacting a lonely person and then not bother?”.
By our fruits he will know us….maybe it is simple.