29 March 2009

Welcome to  St Alban's Anglican Church       

Today's Scripture   : Jeremiah 31: 31-34        Hebrews 5: 5-10         S. John 12: 20-33

Today: 8.35 a.m. BCP Matins;  9.00 a.m. Church Sch/Script Study; 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion; EP 6 p.m.

This Week: Tues – Fri 12.30 p.m. Midday Prayers

 5^th Sunday in Lent – Passiontide begins

We beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

FAITH IN FOCUS: TOO MUCH TO LOSE?

For the last month we’ve been making our way through Lent on a voyage towards Easter. It’s as if we’ve taken to the road with Christ on his journey up to Jerusalem where he (and we) will embrace death so as to rise above it to a life that never ends.

But as we’ve journeyed with Christ we’ve been listening to his words guiding us along our route to Easter. These words take on a different colour each year in a three-year cycle that the Church’s liturgy uses. But this year the theme of Jesus’ message has been unmistakable: you must embrace the wisdom of God that the world considers to be sheer foolishness.

Jesus could have tried to buy us off with some easy words, like politicians who promise everything in return for votes. He could have told us that we can get to heaven just by praying and paying. He could have offered us salvation by keeping the law and being seen in the right places. He could have suggested a quick fix but he chose to offer the tougher route.

We’ve listened to a series of paradoxes over the last few weeks and today Jesus tells us that just as a grain of wheat must be buried before it can sprout, so too we have to die if we are to enjoy life. His message is one of self-sacrifice, cross-bearing, total service and a love which counts no costs. And unlike other philosophies that underline the skills and talents of their adherents, Jesus tells us that we reach our perfection the more like a servant we become, and that we achieve our dignity by putting ourselves last rather that first.

This message isn’t for everyone. It’s not for people who like to be thought of as important but now find they must consider themselves last of all. Not for people who prize possessions, now being told to give to the poor. Not for those who invest everything in the here and now. Not for those with status who fear that they’ll lose their respectability. Not for wise people who see it as sheer foolishness. Is it for you?

WORD OF GOD