Marie’s chapel
14th Sunday after Trinity 2023 St Andrew’s Milngavie
Today we celebrated the fourteenth Sunday after Trinity ably accompanied again by Abigail.
Yesterday a sizable gathering from All Saints and St Andrew’s enjoyed a stroll along the West Highland Way to Mairi’s house at Easter Carbeth where a magnificent tea was consumed and very much appreciated. Thank you so much for all who supported and helped with the walk.
This Week
Monday – 3pm Vestry in Garden Room.
Tuesday – 10am Prayer Group in the Garden Room
7pm NWRC in church
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in Friendship House.
Readings for next Sunday – 15th Sunday after Trinity – Genesis 50:15-21 Romans 14:1-12 Matthew 18:21-35
Today’s Readings – Ezekiel 33:7-11, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 18:15-20
Today’s Gospel Reading is all about relationships, particularly our relationships with each other.
It has been said that Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship, and there is some truth in these words because at the heart of our faith is our belief that the one who created us, and all that is, wants to have a real, life-giving, loving relationship with us.
The heart of our faith is not a set of teachings and beliefs about God. It is not a set of rules to follow to please God. It is a relationship with God. A relationship that is made possible by the gift of God’s love in Jesus Christ; and a relationship that is made alive in our lives through our faith. It is the most important relationship we will ever have, our relationship with God. But a close second is our relationship with each other. That is why this morning’s gospel has significance.
Much of our lives centre around conflict and disagreement. We only have to listen to the news, watch a film, a television drama, read a novel or perhaps even just listen to ourselves speak to realise that this is so.
Particularly in this age of polarised political views and social media soundbites, it’s easy to appear to be opinionated and narrow in our view and so conflict with others.
This week Matthew writes about the guidance Jesus gives for managing arguments and conflict within the church. As we all know Christian organisations are not exempt from discord and conflict.
This is a rather strange passage in Matthew and in many ways is difficult to interpret as its contents do not really ring true. For as start it doesn’t sound like Jesus talking to his disciples – it sounds much more like the regulations of a church committee – a church that did not as such exist then. It also suggests tax collectors and gentiles are considered outcasts; a fact we know Jesus constantly disagreed with.
However, it must relate to something Jesus said on this matter of conflict and disagreement. I think Jesus is talking about the essence of communications. If there is a rift – we should sort it. If that fails speak to someone else…..and so the advice goes on…
The worst we can do, he is suggesting, is do nothing, let situations fester, neglect our relationships. But as I’m sure we all know that is often easier said than done and so we often take the path of least resistance.
But as in all challenges in life Jesus walks beside us.
He also calls us to love one another and so by implication to seek peace and reconciliation wherever there is conflict between us.
Perhaps we can look to the epistle for further guidance. Paul says “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Paul is implying that love and forgiveness are the essential tools for us in this earthly life. They are our armour for overcoming the challenges we face. However, he then goes on to say
“The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed”
We need to remember that Paul and his followers thought that day, the day of salvation was imminent…and they were expecting it at any time.
“The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So, let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light………. clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” Romans 13:11ff
Here Paul typically in this letter to the Romans forces us to imagine beyond our earthly lives to a time of salvation – a divine hope that trans sends our understanding. A Hope that is the essence of our Christian faith and has its origins entirely in the resurrection.
In the OT the prophet Ezekiel is making a call for repentance. “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! “
So, we have reconciliation and love as the themes in our readings today.
Both to be encouraged in our earthly life to transform our relationships but promised, as Paul points out, in the great divine reconciliation which comes on the day of salvation – that ultimate transformation – which is the resurrection!