|
Reuben's Sermon for the 2nd. Sunday within
Lent:
Reuben's Theme: "Turn to God and have nothing to fear"
(Lent 2) - MORNING MASS
0800hrs. and 0930hrs at Saint George's Parish Church - Cullercoats.
Sunday, 29th. March 2009 Anno Domini.
Morning Mass: Genesis 15.112,1718
Ps: Psalm 27 Philippians 3.17 4.1 Luke 13.3135
February 28, 2009 Cycle C Lent 2.
COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Almighty God, you show to those who are in error the light
of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness:
grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's
religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary
to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable
to the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
POST COMMUNION PRAYER
Almighty God, you see that we have no power of ourselves to
help ourselves:
keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls;
that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen
to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and
hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
February 28, 2010 Cycle C Lent 2.
Readings:
FIRST READING Genesis 15.112, 1718
A reading from Genesis.
The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, 'Do not be afraid,
Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.'
But Abram said, 'O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue
childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?'
And Abram said, 'You have given me no offspring, and so a slave
born in my house is to be my heir.'
But the word of the LORD came to him, 'This man shall not be
your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.'
He brought him outside and said, 'Look towards heaven and count
the stars, if you are able to count them.'
Then he said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'
And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as
righteousness.
Then he said to him, 'I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of
the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.'
But he said,'O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess
it?'
He said to him, 'Bring me a heifer three years old, a female
goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle-doves,
and a young pigeon.'
He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half
over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove
them away.
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and
a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. When the sun
had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire-pot and a flaming
torch passed between these pieces.
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, 'To
your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to
the great river, the river Euphrates.'
PSALM Psalm 27
R The Lord is my light and my salvation.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be
afraid?
2 When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, it was they,
my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell. R
3 Though an army should encamp against me, yet my heart shall
not be afraid;
4 And though war should rise up against me, yet will I put my
trust in him. R
5 One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; that
I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;
6 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his
temple. R
7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter;
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high
upon a rock. R
8 Even now he lifts up my head above my enemies round about me;
9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds
of great gladness; I will sing and make music to the Lord. R
10 Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; have mercy on me
and answer me.
11 You speak in my heart and say, 'Seek my face.' Your face,
Lord, will I seek.
12 Hide not your face from me, nor turn away your servant in
displeasure. R
13 You have been my helper; cast me not away; do not forsake
me, O God of my salvation.
14 Though my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will sustain
me. R
15 Show me your way, O Lord; lead me on a level path, because
of my enemies.
16 Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, for false
witnesses have risen up against me, and also those who speak
malice. R
17 What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness
of the Lord in the land of the living!
18 O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong and he shall
comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord. R
SECOND READING Philippians 3.17 4.1
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those
who live according to the example you have in us.
For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often
told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.
Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory
is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we
are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be
conformed to the body of His glory, by the power that also enables
Him to make all things subject to Himself.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for,
my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my belovèd.
GOSPEL Luke 13.3135
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
Luke.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to Him, 'Get away
from here, for Herod wants to kill you.'
He said to them, 'Go and tell that fox for me, "Listen,
I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I finish my work.
Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because
it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem."
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones
those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather
your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
and you were not willing!
See, your house is left to you.
And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when
you say, "Blessèd is the one who comes in the name
of the Lord."'
Reuben's Theme: "Turn to God...
...and have nothing to fear"
+ In the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
'Go and tell that fox for me,
"Listen, I am casting out demons
and performing cures today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I finish my work.'
Jesus' response, when He is warned that Herod
is out to get Him.
Today, we hear how those, who follow Jesus,
have nothing to fear.
But...
There are people...
...who, by their very lifestyle...
...are doomed to destruction.
Paul, tells us about it very forcefully.
Begging his brothers and sisters in Christ
to follow his own example.
And
Warning them that...
...there are many who live as 'enemies
of the cross of Christ'.
Telling us that...
'Their end is destruction;
their god is the belly;
and their glory is in their shame;
their minds are set on earthly things.
Paul begs us...
Don't be like them!
Beware of them!
All our humiliation and suffering will be
rewarded if we stand firm.
And that's the point Jesus was making.
In today's Gospel,
Jesus
(in an uncharacteristic moment of name-calling)
tells the Pharisees to tell Herod "That
Old Fox"
that He is casting out demons and performing
cures
today and tomorrow...
...and on the third day He will finish His
Work.
Jesus is not bothered by Herod's threats.
But more important still...
Jesus knows what is going to happen...
...and is still not bothered by Herod's
threats.
Jesus grieves at the fate of the city that
will destroy Him.
This week, the message from our readings...
...seems to be a little different from usual.
The message seems to be a personal message...
...to us...
...for us...
...and...
...about us.
On this, the second Sunday in Lent,
we find ourselves being asked to look inward...
...to ourselves...
and to beware of others and their lifestyles.
We are being asked to enter a period of self
examination...
...and reject the practices of "Enemies
of the cross of Christ"
who do not turn to God.
It's very much a call to regroup as friends...
and reassess our personal commitment to Christ.
To unite as Christians...
...and to support each other...
...in this period of spiritual "Spring Cleaning".
In the same way we must follow the teachings
of Jesus...
...and not worry what the worldly consequences could be.
Jesus is not bothered by Herod's threats.
Jesus knows what is going to happen...
...and is still not bothered by Herod's threats.
Jesus turns to God...
...knowing what is going to happen.
'Go and tell that fox for me,
"Listen, I am casting out demons
and performing cures today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I finish my work.'
Our psalm, today,
tells us that the person who turns to God,
has nothing to fear.
Turning to God,
when in trouble...
...is all that is needed.
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my
flesh,
it was they, my foes and my adversaries,
who stumbled and fell.
Our psalm is also our reading for today in
the "Big Read" ('Lent for Everyone').
And in Abraham's case, in our first reading...
...our standing in the eyes of God...
...is entirely dependant on faith,
...and turning to God.
So...
We should take this time of Lent...
...to make ourselves aware of all the
"Enemies of the cross of Christ... ...and their ways"
...as Paul puts it.
Draw closer to our fellow Christians...
...together we are strong.
Turn to God in prayer and reading.
And...
Spend more time with God in the Bible
(many of us are following the "Lent for Everyone" book)
...and if reading the Bible seems like hard work...
...why not come to extra services throughout
the week...
...and get the Bible read to you?
Why not come to evensong tonight...
...and I'll read the Bible to you.
This Lent, let me introduce you to three 'R's
Reuben's three 'R's for Lent:
Regrouping...
...share and support together...
...attending more services and courses if
possible.
Recharging... ...reading the Bible...
...prayer...
...and listen to scripture.
...and by Easter...
Rejoicing...
...experience the joy of the Risen Lord...
...and...
...be ready to take on the world!
+ In the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
|
