12th Sunday after Trinity 2023 St Andrews Milngavie
Today we celebrated the twelfth Sunday after Trinity ably accompanied by Abigail.
Yesterday a collection of us enjoyed a stroll from church over to Veronica’s where we enjoyed a super tea. –– we returned via Milngavie golf course where upon the heavens opened, as a result half an hour later we emerged as drowned rats from Mugdock woods. Despite this we had much fun and thank you Veronica for such a splendid tea and Tim and Jane for mapping the route.
Don’t for get the next church walk!
Saturday September 9th All Saints and St Andrews Cakewalk 2023 – Depart from St Andrews Church at about 11.30am and then head up the West Highland Way stopping for picnic enroute to Ardbeg at Easter Carbeth where we will have tea and the opportunity to visit Mairi’s beautiful garden chapel.
This Week
Tuesday – 10am Prayer Group in the Garden Room
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in Friendship House.
Today we were thinking of Kath and Harry and the Monroe family as they participate in their 9th Walk on 27th August 2023, they would welcome donations to JustGiving.com to the account of ‘Off the Beatson Track 2023’.
Bricks without Straw – This is the title of a diocesan initiative to establish the position spiritually, missionally and financially of the charges throughout the diocese. The Bishop has asked us to consider each of these subjects in response to certain questions on three separate forms which I and the treasury team will deal with on St Andrew’s behalf. However, I would be most grateful for your input of any ideas, suggestions comments etc that you may have.
The Bishop would like an honest depiction of how we currently see ourselves now as a church.
The forms are on the notice board on the stairs for you to add your own comments on. You can also download the information and send me a form online with your thoughts or via email.
Please do participate if you can, even if its just a verbal contribution. Below is the link for the forms and more information.
https://www.glasgow.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Bricks-without-Straw-Materials-for-Congregations-FINAL.pdf
Readings for next Sunday – 12th Sunday after Trinity – Jeremiah 15:15-21 Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28
Today’s readings – Isaiah 51:1-6, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20
Identity politics is something we hear quite a lot these day in a way we didn’t in the past. How one identifies oneself seems to carry much weight. Of course, in a sense this is nothing new but perhaps the emphasis is different.
In the gospel reading this morning Jesus is determining whether his disciples truly understand his identity.
“Who do people say that I am?” Matthew 16:13 Jesus asks Peter.
Since Pentecost, over the last several weeks, the gospel readings have largely focused on the ministry of Jesus. We have heard the stories of Jesus’ miracles including Jesus walking on water, the feeding of the five thousand and last week, the healing of a Canaanite woman’s daughter.
There has been a lot happening and it’s a lot to take it in. Everywhere that Jesus and the disciples went, something significant has taken place. So, this morning Jesus is checking to see how much the disciples have been absorbing.
He sets them a test of his own. “But who do you say that I am?” he asks them. Matt 16:15
As we are about halfway through Matthew’s account of the gospel, Jesus might well have wanted to know at this stage exactly how much the disciples really understood about who he was and the point of his ministry. So, he asks them first “who do people say that I am?” And then “But who do you say that I am?” “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Peter gives the right answer. Matt 16:16
But Today’s gospel is about more than just giving the right answer because it’s about not just what is in our head but what’s in our hearts. It’s about what lies at the core of our existence. It’s about the transforming relationship with God.
I’m sure if we were all to sit some sort of basic scripture test most of us would score very well. After all we know about the events surrounding the birth of Christ, his baptism and subsequent ministry. We have heard and listened to the teachings and miracles, we recall the passion story each year in detail, the events of Holy Week, the crucifixion and then we celebrate the resurrection.
So, we might well have all the answers, it’s the significance that is more difficult to grasp. But who do you say that I am?”
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Son of the living God
Jesus wasn’t just someone who went around doing good and speaking wise and sensible words – He was the Son of God who through his life and resurrection brought new life to us all – an eternal life.
As Jesus says in John’s gospel “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; and everyone who believes and lives in me will never die” John 11:25
To embrace totally and faithfully this Christian truth is to transform our souls and bring a richness and hope to our lives. As Paul says in his letter to the Romans “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world But be transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2
This is all powerful stuff! we may well feel it’s beyond our reach, bordering fantasy even.
But I think Jesus understands this because despite our uncertainties doubts and frailties Jesus trusts us to be the rock on which he builds his church and he starts with Peter.
Peter – impetuous Peter who walks on the water, then sinks through lack of faith, who doesn’t understand the parables, who argues with Jesus and ends up being called Satan. Who falls asleep when he is supposed to be praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and who then denies knowing Jesus. Despite this it is Peter who took Christ words seriously “You are rock and on this rock, I will build my church,”
And he did, and these are words of life. They were for Peter, and they are for us. What Jesus says to Peter he says to all. “Who do you say that I am?” This is a question for all of us.
But we mustn’t just answer the question, we need to live the answer and so discover the “rockness” that Jesus knows we have. Live with hope in the midst of despair, love our neighbours, trust God for the future – offer forgiveness and love, pray when we can.
Deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him.
Above all we need to be the rock, be the rock on which Jesus’ church stands before the world.