Questions about authority

Readings for the 26th Sunday of the Year, Sunday 25th September 2011 Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 ;Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 (proper 21) 
The authority of spiritual teachers 
is often called into question 
so we are not surprised to read this week
that Jesus's authority 
was called into account. 
In fact it happened on a number of occasions, 
and one thing we can see from the passage 
is that the question is complex. 
So there are a couple of observations we might make. 
One is that we often question authority, 
when we are trying to trip people up. 
So often, as in this case, the questioners are not interested in getting the right answer 
but rather in getting the replier to put himself offside with one group or another. 
We are used to this because we see it all the time in the political arena. 
Second,Matthew gives us a bit of an illustration to help us better assess. 
You would be better, he suggests, 
to look at what a person does 
rather than what they say. 
Even if a person says 
"I am going to do the right thing" 
but then doesn't do anything 
we should look at the action 
rather than believe the words. 
Even, bizarrely, if someone says they are not going to cooperate with you 
but then does 
Then believe the action rather than the words. 
Children do this all the time 
they believe what we do rather than what we say.  
It is interesting that as we read Philippians 2 
and we are here reading about the nature of Jesus again 
we read about what the action of being godly is like 
...it puts aside pride and selfish ambition, 
it is humble it is obedient it does not presume on greatness. 
And in fact it deliberately puts these things aside. 
How unlike you and me this is! 
So often, full of our self-importance 
we forget that we are urged to not presume on our own rightness, goodness, holiness, intelligence or strength.  
St Paul in another place reminds us that the reason for this is because 
it is not when we are strong, powerful and great 
that God is glorified 
But it is when we are weak 
aware of our limitations and trusting only in God 
that God can be God for us.  


THIS WEEK

• Where are we guilty of not practising what we preach? Is there a way we can better put into action what being a faithful Christian means?
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• Look for one opportunity this week to humbly follow Christ, so that we may better trust.

Lord Jesus, you became obedient you offered your life, that others may live. May that same Spirit infuse my life this week, and every day. AMEN

Oh what a gift!

Reading for Sunday 23rd December: Advent 4 (also known as O Emmanuel!) Isaiah 7:10-16 Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25

I like young kids
It is perhaps a politically incorrect thing to say.
I am now the oldest male in my generation of my family
So I had a real sense when I baptised Princess Zara recently,
My great niece
that I have become a patriarch!
I had also a wonderful encounter a few weeks ago with a class
of 5-7 year olds from St Peter's School, Blackwood
as we sat in the church
and talked about what we could see.
Chief amongst these things was a bird which had flown into the church.
We had a most alive conversation about what you do when a bird flies into your house!
One little girl told me "I can speak to birds"
and after they had left she offered to stay and tell the bird to leave.
So it is not surprsing to encounter at the heart of the discourses
about God's salvation of the world
That the prophet Isaiah should remind us that the surest sign
that God is with us -Emmanuel-
this is the word of Christmas
and the sign is that a woman will bear a child.
Not the most spectacular of signs
not a volcano, a burning bush, or an ark or a transfiguration
But perhaps the most alive sign
a human being has
is the birth of a child
The Christmas Bowl reminds us that
the aid that we give to communities overseas
will secure the future of children
pure water, economic security
is about the world we need to establish for children
We are challenged by Anglicare
to offer small offering of food
and gifts
for people right in our midst
who are at risk.
God's work...the Emmanuel work..
of Christmas,
will be about the realities of our life.
These realities are most sharply focussed
through the lens of our children.

The surest sign that God is with us
is that a young woman will give birth.
How does this speak to your life?
What have you made of Christmas so far....
do you hear the voice of the child speaking to you?
What is he saying?
What does she tell you
about the birdsong that she can utter?
About the dreams that they hold
about what we need to do
to nurture them
and create a world fit for children.

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,

exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:

veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.