Don't be led astray

In what is quite a funny sketch from the classic sixties revue Beyond the Fringe the question is asked of a seer like figure with a very silly voice
When will it be this end of the world?

Readings for Sunday 14th November 2010, 25th Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 28: Isaiah 65:17-25 and [Isaiah 12 or Malachi 4:1-2a] and Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19

We have a sort of religious fascination with the end time.

Some religious people waste their time (in my opinion) trying to work out signs, codes and instructions for when this time will be (hence the comedy sketch)

rather missing the point of what all this talk of end time is all about.

The reading from Isaiah 65 today, does remind us

that there is always a sense in which God is restoring, creating and making

Behold I am making all things new...this is not just about the physical environment of religion

it is the driving force in life

constant renewal

reforging, readdressing reality.....we might say in a rather pedestrian way

Upgrading!

Getting in touch with reality

The little snippet from the correspondence to the church in Thessalonika,

what is today Greece's second largest city and the capital of Hellenic Macedonia,

is part of a church which struggles to understand just when this fullness that is prophesied,

and which is associated with the return of Jesus, will come

This is the earliest of the early church coming to grips with what Jesus was talking about

when he talked about bringing this new creation to reality

Paul is reminding them to continue living

because the working out of the kingdom

does not mean that we put our lives on hold

or give up our jobs so that we can pray more earnestly, or what ever.

So he is quite blunt

DON'T GIVE UP YOUR DAY JOB

All this is quite in line

with what Jesus tells us

though the early Christians had to learn this

They had to learn that far from being removed

from the everyday life we lead

the kingdom of God was to be found right among it.

Instead of withdrawing from the world

to find holiness

we are to discover the truth

that the kingdom of God is right here in our midst.

It will be where we feel most alive!

Where is that place for you? It may be surprising

but that is where we ought to look.

It will almost certainly not be in the religious box,

and it will be unpredictable

so, says Jesus, don't waste your time trying to predict it

when you should be engaging with it.

In that curious little snippet

when we are called to account for our faith

Jesus reminds us that we shouldn't look for the right answer

or the prepared answer

but rather look deep within

allow the very depth of our being to speak

We already know this to be true.

The kingdom is within each of the baptised

it is within and bubbling up

a spring of life.

Like the Thessalonians, and all Christians we have to learn to normalise this experience

to earth it

to tap into what gives us life already.

Where do you feel alive today?

Where is God inviting you to live the kingdom?

To drink from the fountain of living water?

To become the new creation!

Readings for Trinity Sunday, 7th June 2009 can include Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17;John 3:1-17;Psalm 29

Perhaps the most ‘doctrinal’ Sunday of the year we celebrate the Christian mystery that God is Trinity.
But we misunderstand Trinity if we think it is highly theoretical or speculative.
At the core of the Trinity is the idea that our God is the God with whom we are in relationship.
The language, Father Son and Spirit
is the language of close relationships like a parent and a child
like those with a deep spiritual connection
it is not impersonal or abstract

So this week
Take a little time to nurture your personal relationship.
Listening and talking is the way to do this

The second dimension that we encounter today
is that each member of the Trinity is there as an agent of Love.
The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father, the Spirit is there to enable the love to deepen and grow.
This relationship or rather these relationships
are there to serve each other.
This is the nature of the Godhead
the mystery oif the Trinity
each person is there for the welfare of others
The Father loves the world so much
that he gives his Son
the Son loves the world so much
that he gives his life
the Spirit so loves us that we are filled with love for the Father and the Son.
The idea of Trinity
is that we are fulfilled in community
in so far as we give our life for others.

When Isaiah get his glimmer of God’s glory
he is reacting as Godly people have done throughout the generations
“How,” we ask “are others to hear about God?”
“Who will speak? Who will tell?”
The answer is that Trinity life...God-life is about living for others
“Here am I send me!”
the challenge

THIS WEEK
Where does God call me to live my life for others?
Is there someone who I am called specially to be here for this week?

As part of my call to be a worshipper of the Holy Trinity God I commit myself to this in this coming week.

Looking to the future, and looking to yourself

Readings for Sunday 18th November, 25th Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 28: Isaiah 65:17-25 and [Isaiah 12 or Malachi 4:1-2a] and Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19

In what is quite a funny sketch from the classic sixties revue Beyond the Fringe the question is asked of a seer like figure with a very silly voice
When will it be this end of the world?
We have a sort of religious fascination with the end time.
Some religious people waste their time (in my opinion) trying to work out signs, codes and instructions for when this time will be (hence the comedy sketch)
rather missing the point of what all this talk of end time is all about.
The reading from Isaiah 65 today, does remind us
that there is always a sense in which God is restoring, creating and making
Behold I am making all things new...this is not just about the physical environment of religion
it is the driving force in life
constant renewal
reforging, readdressing reality.....we might say in a rather pedestrian way
Upgrading!

Getting in touch with reality
The little snippet from the correspondence to the church in Thessalonika,
what is today Greece's second largest city and the capital of Hellenic Macedonia,
is part of a church which struggles to understand just when this fullness that is prophesied,
and which is associated with the return of Jesus, will come
This is the earliest of the early church coming to grips with what Jesus was talking about
when he talked about bringing this new creation to reality
Paul is reminding them to continue living
because the working out of the kingdom
does not mean that we put our lives on hold
or give up our jobs so that we can pray more earnestly, or what ever.
So he is quite blunt
DON'T GIVE UP YOUR DAY JOB

All this is quite in line
with Jesus tells us
though the early Christians had to learn this
They had to learn that far from being removed
from the everyday life we lead
the kingdom of God was to be found right among it.
Instead of withdrawing from the world
to find holiness
we are discover the truth
that the kingdom of God is right here in our midst.

It will be where we feel most alive!

Where is that place for you? It may be surprising
but that is where we ought to look.

It will almost certainly not be in the religious box,
and it will be unpredictable
so, says Jesus, don't waste your time trying to predict it
when you should be engaging with it.

In that curious little snippet
when we are called to account for our faith
Jesus reminds us that we shouldn't look for the right answer
or the prepared answer
but rather look deep within
allow the very depth of our being to speak

We already know this to be true.
The kingdom is within each of the baptised
it is within and bubbling up
a spring of life.
Like the Thessalonians, and all Christians we have to learn to normalise this experience
to earth it
to tap into what gives us life already.

Where do you feel alive today?
Where is God inviting you to live the kingdom?
To drink from the fountain of living water?

To become the new creation!