13th Sunday after Trinity 2023 St Andrew’s Milngavie
Mairi’s chapel
Today we celebrated the thirteenth Sunday after Trinity ably accompanied again by Abigail.
Don’t forget the church walk on Saturday!
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 (Please bring your own) enroute to Ardbeg at Easter Carbeth where we will have tea and the opportunity to visit Mairi’s beautiful garden chapel. Everyone is welcome to come tea and see the chapel without having done the walk.
Mairi’s address is: Ardbeg, Easter Carbeth, Blanefield, GLASGOW G63 9AS
Tuesday – 10am Prayer Group in the Garden Room
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in Friendship House.
Readings for next Sunday – 14th Sunday after Trinity – Ezekiel 33:7-11 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20
Today’s readings: Jeremiah 15:15-21, Romans 12:9- end, Matthew 16 21- end
Jesus says in the gospel today “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” Matt 16:24
I’m not sure if Jesus were to say this to any of us today how we would feel. Tempted? I’m not sure…
The word deny does not always have positive connotations. Often as Christians we are urged to concentrate on the denying, this is especially associated with the season of Lent. While self-denial may have a place in bringing us closer into relationship with God, it’s not necessarily on its own effective. After all we can deny ourselves all the temptations in the world and yet not put a step towards Christ.
So, the key word here is follow me. And these are words that Jesus uses time and again in the gospels. He even starts his ministry with the words follow me. “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men” Jesus says to his first disciples. Mark 1:17;
“Come, follow me” Jesus says to the Rich Man. Luke 18:22.
But this following is also key to our discipleship. We too need to make that conscious decision to follow Christ if we really want to grow in our discipleship. And it’s not always an easy calling, especially in a life that may present many distractions. But it was the same for the disciples.
Last week Peter thought he had got it right with Jesus in his correct answer to the question “Who do you say that I am?” Matt 16:15 But no there was more to come, and it wasn’t easy.
“The son of man must undergo great suffering… be killed and in three days rise again” Matt 16:21
This is the first time in scripture we hear Jesus predicting his death and resurrection. Understandably Peter didn’t like it – he couldn’t grasp it. He’s outraged.
“You do not have in mind the things of God but the things of man”. Jeus says to him in response. Jesus then goes on to say,
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matt16:15
Difficult and confusing words – it was for the disciples, and it continues to be for us also because it seems counterintuitive to relinquish your identity in order to claim it, to lose your life so you can find life. In a culture that elevates the self, it may seem odd to give up the very thing we are supposed to value the most.
Following Jesus often looks like a paradox. Peter’s discipleship is a perfect example for us. Because he gets it wrong too. One moment he demonstrates deep understanding by first proclaiming Christ’s ultimate divinity as the son of God, and then in the next paragraph getting called ‘satan’ for thinking only of earthly things.
Jesus goes from calling Peter the rock on which Christ will build his church (v. 18) to calling him “Satan!” and “a stumbling block” (v. 23).
And what is getting in Peter’s way?
It’s a basic fear we all have. When Jesus tells Peter he is concerned with ‘human things’ (v. 23) he isn’t talking about earthly wealth or fame. He isn’t talking about recognition or political power. The very ‘human thing’ that has Peter talking back to Jesus is the fear of death.
Death is the problem we all eventually face and sometimes fear. Like Peter, we’d probably rather not focus on it.
Following Christ in a largely secular society is not easy. Committing yourself to divine mystery is not easy in a world which thrives on facts and reason and accountability. But the gospel tells us if we do commit ourselves to the love of God and engage in a relationship with him then the rewards are untold.
“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” Matt 16:27
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Corinthians 2:9
In the OT this morning the Lord said to Jeremiah “For I am with you, to rescue and save you” Jeremiah 15:20
Like Peter and Jeremiah, we need to show trust and faith in the face of uncertainty.
Taking up our cross and following God means giving of ourselves – divesting ourselves of ourselves – putting God first.
But above all trusting: trusting that we don’t have all the answers in this earthly life; trusting in the greater mysteries; trusting that God will ultimately take care of us and that he ultimately has the last word.