Bible Sunday

This week we celebrate Bible Sunday, a day in which the church takes time to celebrate God’s word. We have a tendency, because it is usually found bound up all kept together, to think of it as a book, but of course, as it was written over several centuries, in different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) it is a library of books that contains poetry, history, theology, law and so much more. It is a mass of contradictions just like us humans. As Mark Twain wrote, “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.”

The people who wrote it were kings, shepherds, poets, prophets, farmers, a doctor, fishermen and a tentmaker, but also included cheats, murderers, adulterers, traitors and a tax collector, hated by others for collaborating with the Roman authorities.

Over 100 million copies are sold every year, it is the world’s most stolen book (hopefully those that do that will read and repent), but through it all, there is a thread. A thread that tells us that no matter what we go through, no matter how we fall and slip and stumble through our earthly pilgrimage, God is there, even when we think that he isn’t. That gives me great comfort.

There are parts that I love, there are parts that I really wrestle with, but studying the word, knowing that I don’t have all of the answers, helps me to keep going, day by day, week by week, year by year. I would encourage you to do the same.

Rev’d Mark

Readings for Sunday 23rd October (Bible Sunday)

Isaiah 45: 22-end

Turn to me and be saved,

   all the ends of the earth!

   For I am God, and there is no other.

By myself I have sworn,

   from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness

   a word that shall not return:

‘To me every knee shall bow,

   every tongue shall swear.’

Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,

   are righteousness and strength;

all who were incensed against him

   shall come to him and be ashamed.

In the Lord all the offspring of Israel

   shall triumph and glory.

Luke 4: 16-24

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

   because he has anointed me

     to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

   and recovery of sight to the blind,

     to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town.

Readings for the week

Monday 24th – Psalm 1, Luke 13: 10-17

Tuesday 25th – Psalm 128, Luke 13: 18-21

Wednesday  26th (Alfred, King and scholar) – Psalm 145: 10-20, Luke 13: 22-30

Thursday 27th – Psalm 144: 1-2, 9-11, Luke 13: 31-end

Friday 28th (Simon and Jude, Apostles) – Psalm 119: 89-96, John 15: 17-end

Saturday 29th – Psalm 42: 1-7, Luke 14: 1, 7-11