YES!
Saying ‘yes’ is a vital part of our relationship with God, because it means something. We are always free to say ‘no’ if we want, but by saying ‘yes’ to God, it enables us to be a living presence of love, joy and mercy in this world. The ‘yes’ that we say always draws us to love and value ourselves, others and the world around us.
In Christian history and tradition there are numerous people who said ‘yes’ : Mary, Jeremiah, Moses and Peter, for example. Their yesses changed the course of what it means to be human - they undoubtedly wouldn’t have known exactly what they were saying ‘yes’ to, but they had the wisdom to know that God was asking and they should go along with it.
If you are faced with a difficult yes, remember that you are in good company with those above (and so many others). Know this too: those who say ‘yes’ are gifted for that yes. Peter, who we remember around this time (and who I love), was an uneducated fisherman who became a learned scholar, leader of a new movement and a saint because he said ‘yes’ without conditions or any ‘buts’. How can we say ‘yes’ more fully?
Thank heaven for ‘yes’ men and women!
Rev’d Mark
Readings for this week
Sunday 26th June
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel.
Then Elijah said to him, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
Luke 9:51 - end
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ To another he said, ‘Follow me.’ But he said, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’
Monday 27th – Amos 2:6-10, 13 – end, Matthew 8:18-22
Tuesday 28th – Amos 3: 1-8, 4:11-12, Matthew 8 : 23-27
Wednesday 29th - (Feast of Peter and Paul) Acts 12: 1-11, Matthew 16: 13-19
Thursday 30th June – Amos 7:10 – end, Matthew 9: 1-8
Friday 1st July – Amos 8: 4-6, 9-12, Matthew 9: 9-13
Saturday 2nd July – Amos 9: 11 – end, Matthew 9: 14-17
