reflecting on the 30th Sunday in ordinary time part 2 - Tues., Oct. 27

Psalm 119:41-48

 Exodus 34:29-35

 James 2:14-26

It is part of our way of live that governments make laws and citizens keep them to a greater or lesser instead. In fact some of us (many of us maybe all of us) try to bend the law slightly to suit our own circumstance.

In our present situation  new laws, or at least government restrictions, are happening all the time and it would seem that many of us have grown tired of trying to live within them and we are always pushing the boundary of what we should do. In short we find that these laws and guidelines limit our freedom. And our freedom is a precious thing.

Our psalm bears testimony to a counter cultural idea: that keeping law, specifically god's law, brings freedom. And we hear of Moses face shining like the sun after he has received the second set of tables in God's presence.

Often, the tricky thing is working out God's command for us. But James gives us a straightforward example: feed your brother or sister. Let us give thanks for all the many people who have been doing just that in recent months and are ready to continue through the winter.

 Reflecting on the 30th Sunday in ordinary time part 1

Mon., Oct. 26

Psalm 119:41-48 Numbers 33:38-39 James 2:8-13

James has a thing about favouritism or in some translations 'partiality'. It is a message with enduring impact because we know that favouritism is everywhere in our world. Sometimes unconscious, sometimes seemingly planned, sometimes even completely cynical.

We probably all know where we think we have 'lost out' because of someone else's favouritism.

But I wonder how often we ponder how often we are guilty of it, or even of unconscious bias.

James is also keen on showing mercy in God's name: we are called to show mercy on those we would look over or diminish in pursuance of our own interests.

 Approaching the 30th Sunday in ordinary time

Readings for Saturday 24th October 2020 (From RCL daily lectionary)

Psalm 90: 1-6, 13-17 (but read the whole psalm from beginning to end as the readings are short)

Deuteronomy 32:44-47

John 5:39-47

After finishing the son and before climbing mount Nebo Moses reflections on the words he has given to the people of Israel. they are not just idle words, they bring life. Jesus chastises the pharisees for searching the scriptures in the hope of find life, but not noticing Life in front of them.

The opening of John's gospel claims that Jesus is God's Word who brings life. How then will we relate to this to God's word that is the scripture? especially those book we call the Old Testament?

The words on the pages of our bibles are not just idle words nor are they a cypher that must be read with increasing subtlety to find something. When read daily and prayerfully under the Holy Spirt they become part of us and help us to find the Word for today that will enable us be disciples of Jesus living as God called us to be.

 Approaching the 30th Sunday in ordinary time

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 

Deuteronomy 32:1-14, 18 

Ititus 2:7-8, 11-15

Today we have two readings connected to leadership. From Deuteronomy we have the first part of the Song of Moses, a poem in the mouth of that great leader as he stands on the brink of the Jordan to usher the children of Israel into the promised land (though he will not cross himself). And from the little letter to Titus we have an exhortation about the kind of character he is expected to model as a leader.

You might like to ponder on issues of leadership today as the dust settles on the final presidential election debate in the US. What kind of leaders do we seek? and what leadership role might you be called to undertake in whatever sphere?