Pew Sheet, Sunday, July the 7th 2024. Sixth Sunday after Trinity / Proper 9
Now that the polls have closed and the British people have made their minds up, it feels safe for me to say that I do not think I have ever encountered a more boastful set of election campaigns in all my 62 years of interest (from a very young age indeed) in politics. One of the things that annoyed me most during the last six weeks, is that none of the parties had very much to boast about, but it didn’t seem to stop them. And despite all the contrived sound and fury in their arguments, there seemed to be little real difference between them on any of the issues which mattered most to me, which were hardly mentioned at all, or if they were, were instantly pushed back into the draw labelled “Not for discussion until after the 4th of July 2024.” It really did feel very much like sound and fury signifying nothing – or as the French say, ‘plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose’, but I voted anyway for the person who seemed to have the most passion in their belly for the issues and concerns which mattered most to me, and I hope, to God.
Boastfulness seems to be a deeply ingrained part of the human psyche, and in our epistle today, we read of Paul’s response to the bragging nature of those false teachers and prophets who had infiltrated the church in Corinth, whom he sarcastically calls ‘super apostles’ in the verses which immediately follow on from our reading. At least one other letter Paul had written to the church in Corinth seems to have been lost to the mists of time, but from what we can glean from the two which remain, these false teachers and prophets appear to have arrived in Corinth boasting about their spiritual credentials to such an extent that some were even claiming superiority for themselves and their arguments over the teaching which Paul and the other apostles had received from the mouth and example of Jesus himself.
This is why Paul breaks the habit of a lifetime (or does he?) to boast a little bit about his own credentials, although he is careful not to name himself as the one who had some kind of mystical experience or audience with God beyond the physical realm in which he saw and heard things which he cannot relate to anyone on this side of eternity. He does so to remind the Corinthians who their real shepherd and pastor truly is, and to remind them that it is he who has their best interests at heart and has paid a heavy price in respect of the insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities he has suffered for them and for the Gospel. Indeed, it is of these that he is most proud, and boasts most
loudly. He has suffered in the flesh for them and for the Gospel far more than any interloper could, and continued to do so, although the exact nature of Paul’s thorn in the flesh, the ailment or condition given to remind him that he can do nothing in his own strength, but only in the strength of God, is never revealed. Much speculation exists as to what this thorn was, but in a sense, it really does not matter. The important thing is that it reminded him that he could do and achieve nothing without God’s enabling, for it is most often in our weakness that God is able to use us most effectively, when the ego and the self have largely retreated, and there is nothing we can do without God’s help.
Paul was not alone in feeling rejected by the believers in Corinth whom he had served in so selfless and costly a manner however, for in our Gospel reading we see that Jesus too knew what it was like to be rejected by those closest to him, the very people whom he had grown up with and worshipped amongst in that synagogue in Nazareth while awaiting his call to ministry. And there is little doubt that it must have been a painful experience for him too, so much so, that he could ‘do no deed of power there’ such was their unbelief in the message he brought to them. They could not see beyond the young man they thought they knew to the Father revealed in him, but in that, they were no different from any of their forebears, as the reading from Ezekiel reminds us. They mistook his prophetic words of wisdom for idle boasting, ‘and took offence at him’ to such an extent that they tried to stone him for heresy (as we are told elsewhere), and one can only wonder what incredible blessings they missed in their midst as a result of their rebellion and disbelief. Let us pray then, in line with today’s Collect that for our part, we will clearly discern God working with us and among us when God does so, and that God’s grace may be made sufficient in all our weaknesses, no matter what they may be so that we hear and respond to his calling.
Collect
Creator God,
you made us all in your image.
May we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ezekiel 2:1-5
He said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you.
And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to
the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. The
descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven, whether in the body or out of the body I do not know. God knows. And I know that such a person, whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows, was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Mark 6:1-13
He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses, and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honour, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two; and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Please pray this week for:
All those in distress or anxious about the results of the general election. That they would look above to the one who holds all things in his hands; and have a valid hope and true faith for the future.
This Week’s Events
Monday
Bell ringing at 7.30pm in St Laurence. Contact Jan on 07835 461361.
Tuesday
Zoom Morning Prayer at 9am ID: 748 9970 4493 Password: Trinity or contact Didier on [email protected]
Daytime Bible Group (2nd and 4th Tuesdays) contact Paula: 07722 808 988.
Evening Home Groups, contact Jo on 07803 942 687.
Wednesday
Morning Coffee from 10.00-11.45 in the St Laurence Rooms.
Midweek Holy Communion at 12 noon, St Laurence Church.
Thursday (Benedict of Nursia, Abbot of Monte Cassino, Monastic, c550)
Friday
Junior Choir at 6.30 pm followed by full Choir Practice at 7.30pm. Contact Derry on [email protected] if you would like to know more.
Saturday
Repair Café, 10-12 am St Laurence Room, Third Saturday of the month only. If you have skills you would like to share, please contact Jo on 07803 942 687.
Pastoral Care
Steve is on leave from the 4th to the 18th of July. Please call the usual number: 07305 271148 and the churchwardens will pass any urgent calls on as needed.
Winslow Show Monday 26th August