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Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Praise
Lord of creation,
whose glory is around and within us:
open our eyes to your wonders,
that we may serve you with reverence
and know your peace at our lives’ end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A Song of Tobit
Blessed be God, who lives for ever,
whose reign endures throughout all ages.
Declare God’s praise before the nations,
you who are the children of Israel.
For if our God has scattered you among them,
there too has he shown you his greatness.
Exalt him in the sight of the living,
because he is our Lord and God and our Father for ever.
Though God punishes you for your wickedness,
mercy will be shown to you all.
God will gather you from every nation,
from wherever you have been scattered.
When you turn to the Lord with all your heart and soul,
God will hide his face from you no more.
See what the Lord has done for you
and give thanks with a loud voice.
Praise the Lord of righteousness
and exalt the King of the ages.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Reading
Luke 9.1-6
Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money – not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.
Reflection
How do you prepare for a journey? Whether it be going to your place of work or going away for a holiday, what sort of preparations do you make? Do you make lists of things to pack, or do you make piles of things that you may need? If your trip is for leisure, rather than business, do you go through the added routine of buying new things? And what about preparing for unpredictable weather? Do you take multiple changes of clothes in various thicknesses and levels of waterproofing? All of these considerations tend to dominate our thinking before leaving the comfort and security of our homes.
Then comes another question: what happens if an emergency arises and you have to leave home unexpectedly and at very short notice? Does the lack of preparation (and worrying) make any difference? Do you still arrive at your intended destination? Do you fulfil the function of your journey? If some need suddenly arises, are you not able to plug the gap with comparative ease? What effect does travelling lighter make?
In today’s reading, Jesus sends out his disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God. We do not know how much notice they had of this commission, but we do know that he headed off the pre-journey crises by telling them to go just as they were. Jesus told them to: Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money – not even an extra tunic. I know they were living in different times, but Jesus’ instructions suggest that a prudent traveller would still have undergone some ritual of preparation and packing. However, Jesus heads this off with his very clear and firm injunctions against the disciples burdening themselves with ‘stuff’.
No matter which way you read this moment in Luke’s gospel, there is something new for us to learn. We are being shown the importance of trust as we journey through this world in Christ’s name. Like Matthew in yesterday’s reading, we are called to go where Jesus sends us, sweeping aside all that may delay our departure. We are being shown that our trust needs to encompass all that we may need. If we proclaim that God is everywhere and that God will provide out of his generosity and love, we need to demonstrate that trust in the way we conduct our own lives. And, when others reject us, we should not be disheartened or discouraged. There are always people who believe they have the right to dominate others. This domination encompasses criticising the faith of others just as much as it encompasses controlling their behaviours. Jesus’ message in the face of such opposition is simple: walk away and let them get on with it! Leave the matter of judgement to God. We are called to continue our journey in good faith, trusting that God is with us.
Let us pray that we might journey in faith, trusting in God alone. Let us pray that we might not be discouraged and disheartened by those who criticise and mock. Let us pray that we might be forever seeking new places to proclaim the Good News that is Jesus Christ.
Prayers of intercession
Let us pray to God, by whose authority we are called to his service.
Keep the Church steadfast, confident in the strength that comes only from your grace. Bless those who are chosen as your minsters and messengers, that they may preach the Gospel with assurance. Sustain those whose burdens are heavy as they work to relieve the burdens of others.
Wherever your word is preached, grant that it shall be heard with understanding and received with faith. Change the hearts of those who glory in their own strength and authority, and teach them to bear their power humbly.
Give us wisdom to discern the gifts that you have given to our friends and colleagues. Teach us to learn from one another and to give support where it is needed.
Uphold those who wish to help others but are frustrated by opposition and indifference. Give grace to all who suffer, that they may be open to accept relief.
We give thanks for the departed who in this world were granted a partial vision of your wonder and to whom it is now revealed in its fullness. Give us grace so to live in Christ that we too may behold his glory.
Through our prayers in the name of Christ, may we overcome evil.
Prayer for the week
Lord God,
you have taught us to pray to you as ‘Our Father’:
help us to see the world through your eyes,
and to love our neighbours with your love.
Show us how we can share with them
the knowledge and joy of our faith,
that they may be brought closer to you,
and enjoy the perfect freedom of your kingdom.
We make our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ,
our Lord and our God.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
The Grace
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.