27 September 2009

Welcome to  St Alban's Anglican Church       

Today's Scripture: Numbers 11: 4-6, 10-16, 24-29      James 5:13–end           S. Mark 9: 38-end

Today: 9.00 a.m. Matins;      9.30 a.m. BCP Holy Eucharist;         6.00 p.m. Evening Prayer

This Week: Tues (S. Michael & All Angels’ Day) 12.30 pm HC; Wed-Fri 12.30 pm Midday Prayers. Next Week: Sunday 4^th October 8.30 a.m. Matins; 9.00 Church School; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist.

16^th Sunday after Trinity

O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 FAITH IN FOCUS: JEALOUS OR ZEALOUS?

Moses and Jesus faced a similar problem. Moses picked seventy people who received the spirit of prophecy. But people complained that two other men had received the same gift even though they hadn’t been picked by Moses. And in today’s gospel John tries to stop a man from casting out devils because he wasn’t one of the disciples.

You can’t help thinking that there’s a bit of jealousy and envy in these two scenes. Why else would you complain about someone doing good, unless you were jealous of them? But jealousy easily parades as righteousness.

Jealousy is a strange emotion. On a human level it involves us feeling that we should be in the same position as the other person. We should be as popular, as important, as rich or as valued as the other. But on a religious level it shows a lack of trust in God: if we are jealous of others then we are fearful that God hasn’t given us enough.

If we find we’re envious of other people then it’s a sure sign that we’re not at ease with ourselves and with our relationship with God. For God loves each person as if they were the only one to exist. God doesn’t have favourites and he gives to each of us according to our needs. Maybe if some people “have all the luck” then it’s a sign that they need it? As for jealousy about other people having more money or possessions than us, St James puts it into perspective in today’s reading. What’s the point of flaunting your temporary wealth on this earth if you fail to prepare yourself for the life that will last for ever?

Oddly enough, God is spoken of as being a jealous God. What this means is that God is zealous for his people. God will never let us down. He will never leave us wanting and he promises us all we need. So if we try to become like God then we need to be zealous about our faith, not jealous.