3rd Sunday after Trinity 2024 St Andrew’s Milngavie
Today we celebrated the third Sunday after Trinity accompanied by Hugh.
Saturday 29th June St Mary’s Cathedral 11am farewell Eucharist for Bishop Kevin – all invited
This Week
Tuesday 10am – Prayer Group in the Garden Room.
Wednesday 2.30 for 2.45pm – Book Group – Helen’s
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in Friendship House
Readings for next Sunday – 4th Sunday after Trinity – Job 38:1-11 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-end
Todays’ Readings – Ezekial 17:22-end, 2 Corinthians 5:6-17, Mark 4:26-34
“Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light,
Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness, we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.”
Words from a19th century American childhood hymn which I’m sure some of you will recognise but I think very much speak to us today because as we all know life can be daunting!
When listening to the news, reading the papers and following conversations with friends, family and colleagues one can be so overwhelmed with the woes and complexities of world affairs, particularly at this time of elections that it is hard sometimes to keep a perspective. And that is before we start on the problems of our own lives…
In the church we are constantly challenged… The challenge to survive in a secular age … to be all things to all people.. Sometimes our calling can seem too great and over whelming.
So, it is a blessing and a relief to hear Jesus’ words this morning which encourage us to look for God’s presence in the little things…..because it is in the little things we see God’s kingdom. The kingdom of God starts very small, Jesus tells us. The kingdom is like seed scattered on the ground which is tiny to start with and appears to do nothing at first, but eventually if the farmer is patient it grows into a substantial harvest.
Or, in the second parable, the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which disappears into the ground, but given time and patience grows into a huge tree.
These are familiar parables… so familiar that perhaps we forget the shock with which they must have been received by Jesus’ first listeners.
Their “King” was Caesar, the Roman Emperor, ruling from distant Rome through his governors, with efficient authority. Caesar was the equivalent of a God. And indeed, sometimes was worshiped as one. His presence was attended by much pomp and ceremony. He lived in large and luxurious palaces and enjoyed a high standard of living. To the people of Jesus’ day that’s what a Kingdom must have looked like – big and grand and powerful. And if that was true of an earthly kingdom, how much truer would it be of the kingdom of God?
They must have imagined when the ruler of the universe came to reign on earth how grand and terrifying his reign would be. He would be heralded by a multitude of angels, accompanied by flames of fire and crashes of thunder. The earth and sky would shake and God would appear on the clouds – too splendid to look at!
So, the image Jesus portrays in his parables of the Kingdom must have come as something of a surprise because the Kingdom about which Jesus speaks is altogether quieter and smaller. It sneaks up on you like a thief in the night. It lies dormant in the ground waiting to produce a tiny sprout. It hides in everyday working life, at home and when we are out and about.
God’s reign is present everywhere, hidden, tiny, ordinary. It doesn’t arrive with fire and lightening for all to see. If you want to find it you have to look, very carefully, very closely at little things.
But we all need encouragement and hope.
In the reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel, God is encouraging his people after they have returned from their exile and are facing new beginnings. It’s a beautiful passage which uses the imagery of replanting and growing a cedar tree to shelter plants and wildlife illustrating God’s care for us.
In the epistle we are encouraged by Paul to have confidence in ourselves and our faith and trust in God. There is often a temptation to carry the world’s woes on our own shoulders and subsequently feel defeated by the enormity of the task. Instant communication affords our even greater involvement in so much.
But into the midst of this Jesus’ words encourage us to look for God at work in the little things. Small acts of love and generosity that grow into warmth and community. Locally we think of the work of the East Dumbarton Welcomes Refugees, the hope and support they have brought to families. The everyday kindness of people who serve others. Small groups of faithful people whose prayers are spread over their communities, again we think of the prayer group that meets here every week and has done for many, many years. All small signs of God’s Holy Spirit at work and alive in us which we can all be a part of this.
So, we must be reassured that this is not achieved by taking on the worlds woes and sorrows and trying to tackle all the huge issues of life ourselves. But by taking life one small step at a time, managing our own small corner.
And then, after a while, we will realise that we have grown closer to God and we will have increase the kingdom by our patience faith and trust!
“In this world of darkness, we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.”
Amen