2nd Sunday after Trinity 2023 St Andrew’s Milngavie
Today we celebrated the second Sunday after Trinity.
Despite the reduced numbers we were all in good voice thanks to Abigail’s wonderful accompaniment.
This Week
Tuesday – 10am Prayer Group in the Garden Room
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in Friendship House
Readings for next Sunday – 3rd Sunday after Trinity – Jeremiah 20:7-13 Romans 6:1-11 Matthew 10:24-39
Today’s Readings – Exodus 19:2-8a, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35-10:8
As we approach Peter-tide, the feast of St Peter and St Paul, the church traditionally celebrates ministry with a particular focus on the ordination of priests and deacons. The bible readings this morning all speak of ministry – of God’s calling us to be his people and drawing us close to his kingdom.
We begin in the OT with the reading from Exodus. In this reading the Israelites camp at the foot of Mount Sinai. God summons Moses to the mountain and declares his intention to make Israel into a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” as he reflects on “How I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” Exodus 19:4
Such wonderful words illustrating the unmistakable majesty of an eagle flight, the expanse of their wings and the awesomeness of their appearance, the passage of flight swooping up to the heavens.
Then in our gospel this morning we hear how Jesus went about the cities and villages proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness. Here he makes a connection between his preaching of the kingdom and the healing of the whole person. He clearly shows distress at the state of the crowds who have come to him with their many needs. They are described in Matthew as “harassed and helpless” Matthew 9:36
Then Jesus complains to his disciples that there are not enough labourers to work at healing their ills. In response he calls them together and gives them a special commission. Jesus called his twelve apostles; he constructs a team who he would work closely with throughout his ministry and beyond.
Clearly, even at this early stage Jesus is relational in his work, showing his humanity in the need of friendship and support and perhaps more significantly, and in a strange sort of way, his need to affirm to the crowds that Christianity is for all people, believed and worthy to be preached by many and not just from the mouth of Jesus himself.
To begin with Jesus does not send his apostles to the world at large but to their own compatriots, the people of Israel. Those to whom the promises of the OT were made, promises which included that of the father who would bear them up on Eagles wings, watch over them, guard them forever, make of them a consecrated nation.
Jesus then instructs his disciples that in order to preach the kingdom they must first offer healing to those they meet, both of evil spirits and physical ailments. Jesus is implying that to preach the kingdom is to offer healing of the whole person, holistic healing as it is sometimes known.
The church has always been involved with physical as well as spiritual healing. Medieval monasteries began giving care to the sick which was later taken up by the great nursing orders, the fore runners of today’s medical service. Traditionally many hospitals are dedicated to Saints. The well-known programme Call the Midwife is based on an Anglican order of nuns who nursed for many decades in the East End of London.
Since the state has largely taken over the provision of physical care in the form of the NHS the church’s role has become more directed towards the spiritual soul through chaplaincy provision and visiting. Many religious orders today however still provide places of retreat and hospitality.
Today we are also called to continue this ministry of healing and wholeness. We may wonder how in such a secular age can this be done. We only have to observe the bookings in our own church hall of Yoga, tai chi and other alternative models of relaxation, renewal and mindfulness to realise that the gospel message of God’s healing love and forgiveness can be perceived as no substitute for today’s techniques and trends.
Or so I thought……
We have all been totally appalled and saddened by the violent death of the two teenagers and middle-aged man in Nottingham this week. Entire communities have been shaken to their core at such horror. Thankfully, it is at times like this that the church can help. And so, this has been the case as many have flocked to St Peter’s the parish church in Nottingham to hold vigil, reflecting and remembering or simply I suspect just to sit in shock in that sacred space. To allow the work of the Holy Spirit to bring comfort and hope.
Hope which is so important and is articulated so brilliantly by St Paul in the great words of his in his letter to the Romans.
“………we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us……..” Romans 5:1-15
Sometimes I think we, the church, has more to offer than we realise…..