Jewel in the Crown
Having watched, like so many others, the funeral of the Queen on Monday, I came away with a mixture of emotions - sadness at the passing of an era, but also uplifted by the services and the processions between. The pomp and majesty on show, not something that I normally am drawn to, were unlike anything I have ever seen before.
The Queen’s life and her ministry were unique, but then again so is ours. For us who seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the interior moments of our lives, we have the potential to have jewels that sparkle in the sunlight, just like the crown we saw on Monday. Jewels that illuminate each aspect of the path of our lives, integrating all into a unique pattern of perfection.
We aren’t all called to have a ministry such as Her Majesty’s, but as long as we continue to relate lovingly and remain open to the grace of God which encourages and heals, it gives us hope for the rest of the journey.
Rev’d Mark
Readings for Sunday 25th Sept
Psalm 146
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
on that very day their plans perish.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith for ever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign for ever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Luke 16: 19-end
‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’
Readings for this week
Monday 26th Sept – Job 1: 6-end, Luke 9: 46-50
Tuesday 27th Sept – Job 3: 1-3,11-17,20-23, Luke 9: 51-56
Wednesday 28th Sept – Job 9: 1-12, 14-16, Luke 9: 57 - end
Thursday 29th Sept (Michael and All Angels) – Genesis 28: 10-17, John 1: 47 - end
Friday 30th Sept – Job 38:1, 12-21, 40: 3-5, Luke 10: 13-16
Saturday 1st Oct – Job 42: 1-3, 6, 12- end, Luke 10: 17-24
