The Collect for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity
O God, the protector of all that trust in You, without Whom nothing is strong, nothing is Holy ; Increase and multiply upon us Your Mercy ; that, You being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things Eternal ; Grant this, O Heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
The Epistle. Romans 8:18-23
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
The Holy Gospel of St Luke 6:36-42
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Bishop Ian’s Thoughts
Today’s Epistle Reading is taken from St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans Chapter 8, Verses 18-23.
In this passage of his Epistle St Paul gives us an extremely clear insight into the effects of sin in our world, and a glimpse of the renewing power of the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
St Paul strongly asserts that all the troubles of this present life, such as suffering, whether from health issues or persecution by others, amounts to nothing compared to the Heavenly Glory that has already been revealed to us by the Glorious Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven of the Lord Jesus Christ, and which will shortly be revealed, to the world, in each believer:
“18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
St Paul was not being dismissive or disrespectful of any believer's personal troubles, some of which are very severe, especially in the case of lifelong, painful, and debilitating terminal illnesses.
On the contrary St Paul is saying that our present miserable, painful, life compared to our Glorious Resurrection Life, lived for Eternity in the Glorified Body that awaits us when the Lord Jesus returns to our world, is so much more Wonderful, that we, at this present time, are unable to appreciate the contrast.
One of my favourite verses of Scripture that has always given me inspirational hope is recorded in the First Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians Chapter 2, Verse 9:
“9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
No one has ever even imagined all the good and wonderful things that God has created for us in His Eternal Kingdom.
Imagine the cleanest beaches, the most grand mountains, the most crystal clear rivers, lakes and seas, the most fragrant and vivid flowers, trees and shrubs, together with all our most beloved animals, birds, and sea creatures.
The Eternal Kingdom of God will be include all these things, but their beauty, and the pleasure that they bring us will be multiplied many, many, times over.
There will also be many additional things of beauty, pleasure and wonder, that we have not seen, or ever conceived in our imagination.
All of these things our loving God has prepared for those who Love and Trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and King.
And the final Crowning Glory of God’s Eternal Kingdom is this........No sickness, or pain, no anger and hate, and no death, only Holy Love for our Holy God, His Beloved Son and His Mighty Holy Spirit, together with the fellowship of God's Holy Angels and all other Chosen People of God.
St Paul then tells us that the physical world was affected by man’s sin, and all creation looks forward to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus for renewal:
"19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed."
"20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God."
The sin of Adam and Eve brought decay and hardship to the physical world.
The corruption of nature is clearly detailed in the narrative of man’s fall from Grace as recorded in the Old Testament Book of Genesis Chapter 3, Verse 17:
“17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
St Paul then uses the imagery of a woman during childbirth to describe the pain of creation, burdened down and dying because of man’s sin, frustratingly awaiting the renewal that the establishment of God’s Eternal Kingdom will bring:
“22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”
Unlike the natural world we, as Christians, have received a glimpse, in the Glorious Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, of what God has promised lays ahead for all those who Love and Trust His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus.
By the solemn Word of God and His Only Begotten Son, reinforced through the Ministry of His Mighty Holy Spirit we, together with all believers from all the ages of History, can confidently and joyously join our voices with all of God’s Holy Angels and declare:
“9 Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Let us continually give thanks to our Loving and Holy God for His wonderful Gift of the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, by which we are made His adopted Children and Heirs of His Eternal Kingdom. Amen.
Today’s Holy Gospel Reading is taken from the Holy Gospel of St Luke Chapter 6, Verses 36-42.
St Luke opens this portion of our Holy Gospel Reading with a passage of Scripture taken from what is known, by scholars specialising in the study of the Holy Gospel of St Luke, as the Sermon on the Plain.
The Sermon on the Plain is distinct from the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in the Holy Gospel of St Matthew Chapter 5, however both Sermons have common content.
In our Holy Gospel reading the Lord Jesus is instructing His hearers on their relationship and duty to other people. He issues a number of very practical Commands concerning believers’ daily interaction with those they encounter, whether they are friends or strangers:
“36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Mercy is an indispensable quality for Christians to possess, and freely extend to all others, as it acknowledges and honours God’s Mercy shown to us.
Judgement of others, by us, is forbidden, as Judgement is the sole prerogative of God.
Our judgement of any other person is imperfect, as it is never based on full and detailed knowledge of that person’s character, motives or actions.
God alone sees the innermost thoughts of an individual and so He Judges fairly, unlike us, who judge only according to what we see outwardly.
The Lord Jesus told us to love our enemies.
The Lord Jesus then commands us:
”37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned."
Forgiveness is essential for a Christian as it honours God’s forgiveness extended to us through the Lord Jesus Christ:
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Generosity and fairness are also essential attributes for a Christian, as God always treats us fairly and His Provision is always rich and generous, giving us more that we could ever expect, even though we may not see this at the time it is given.
As we give, so also will we receive:
“38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
In the Old Testament God demanded that all dealings with others, whether Jews or foreigners, must be one hundred percent fair and honest. Deceit in both personal matters and business dealings was strictly forbidden. The Old Testament Book of Proverbs Chapter 11, Verse 1 records this warning that sums up God’s attitude to deceitful business dealings:
“11 A false balance (crooked weighing scales, or any deception in business dealings) is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.”
God’s Blessings to us are always given in “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”
Our blessing and giving to others must be the same.
The Lord Jesus then told two parables (an earthly story with a Spiritual meaning), regarding our suitability, and readiness to lead.
Failing to understand our own abilities, and even arrogance, that can often come with the acquisition of even a little knowledge, can render us unsuitable, and ineffective, to successfully lead and help others improve their earthy and spiritual lives:
"39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."
Arrogant pride is the greatest sin, as it gives rise to almost all other sins.
The Lord Jesus then used a humorous example of how pride can destroy our ability to effectively help others amend and improve their spiritual lives:
“41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
The Lord Jesus requires us to carefully examine ourselves to ensure that what we say and do to others is said and done out of Love and genuine concern for the welfare of others, and not for the building up of our own egos.
We must be genuine in our desire to help others, sometimes at great cost to ourselves, for this is Holy Love and God is pleased and honoured by our selfless giving.
God set us an enduring example of His Love when He gave us the Blessings of the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, at a tremendous and unfathomable cost.......... the humiliation, torture, and death of His Only-Begotten Son.
Let us always give grateful thanks to God for His Great Love for us, shown in His Gift to us of the Holy Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
With this Holy Gift always before our eyes and in our minds, let us give to others with an honest heart and mind, knowing that God sees and hears all that we do, and may we also always seek to please Him by following His Great Example of Love, shown to us, and to all the world, in the Person and Work of His Beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bishop Ian