Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
In your tender compassion
the dawn from on high is breaking upon us
to dispel the lingering shadows of night.
As we look for your coming among us this day,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
Luke 7.18b-23
Messengers from John the Baptist
John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ When the men had come to him, they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” ’ Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’
Reflection
The Church is a strange organisation. Every one of its members have, to some degree, accepted that they are called into its membership. That membership of the Christian community we call ‘The Church’ is open to all and, whilst there is no membership fee, its members are expected to lead a life of self-sacrificial love and service, as modelled by its founder, Jesus Christ. The concepts of ‘belonging’ and ‘community’ are generally accepted, but then come the problems. It is when we get down to ‘self-sacrificial love and service’ that issues of doubt and inconsistency rear their ugly heads.
In today’s reading we can see a question of doubt being raised by John the Baptist and Jesus’ response to that question. John’s ministry as the forerunner of the Messiah was foretold in the ancient prophecies. Similarly, Jesus’ coming amongst us revealed the truth of those prophecies. The time of John and Jesus had been prepared for and, two thousand years ago, it became a reality. But, John still felt the need to send two of his disciples to ask: Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another? As Jesus’ ministry grew, so John’s diminished. Perhaps we should not be surprised that John experienced this very human moment of uncertainty, just us most of us experience similar feelings of doubt from time to time.
Jesus’ response to John’s question is one we should all heed. Jesus reminds John, and us, of all that he is doing, and he is reminding us in the language of the ancient prophecies. Jesus says: Go and tell … what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. Then Jesus says: … blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.
It is a natural human response to the extent of God’s call in our lives that we should ask sceptical questions, that we should have moments of uncertainty. But, when we feel overwhelmed by such uncertainty we should take all that negativity to Jesus. Then, we should listen to his words and re-dedicate ourselves to living that self-sacrificial life of love and service that will only ever be a pale imitation of the model he gave us.
Prayers
Watchful at all times, let us pray for strength to stand with confidence before our Maker and Redeemer.
That God may bring in his kingdom with justice and mercy, let us pray to the Lord.
That God may establish among the nations his sceptre of righteousness, let us pray to the Lord.
That we may seek Christ in the scriptures and recognize him in the breaking of the bread, let us pray to the Lord.
That God may bind up the broken hearted, restore the sick and raise up all who have fallen, let us pray to the Lord.
That the light of God’s coming may dawn on all who live in darkness and the shadow of death, let us pray to the Lord.
That, with all the saints in light, we may shine forth as lights for the world, let us pray to the Lord.
Let us commend the world, which Christ will judge, to the mercy and protection of God.
Almighty God,
as your kingdom dawns,
turn us from the darkness of sin to the
light of holiness,
that we may be ready to meet you
in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us,
scatter the darkness from before our path,
and make us ready to meet him when he comes in glory;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.
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