In touch | Check-in | Intercessions
In touch
Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues
Misunderstandings
‘Tell me, if you have understanding’. (Job 38:4);
‘You do not know what you are asking’. (Mark 10.38)
Context
Ideas for sermons or interactive talks
News stories highlight misunderstandings.
The stories about prisons illustrate that most of what is said about prisoners is just about numbers needing to be locked up. The appointment of Lord Timpson as prisons minister immediately after the election in July marks a complete change of culture. Here is someone who understands people who are locked up and tries to help. Unfortunately the acceptance of freebies gave the electorate the impression that the new Prime Minister had lost touch.
After all the adverse stories about bad behaviour by participants in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, an attempt at a joke is misinterpreted.
Asylum seekers are just categorised by numbers without any consideration of the needs of the people involved.
The failure of the Vatican to consider even a diaconate including women indicates that the men in charge are not listening to the voices of women. This is extraordinary given that women today are frequently heads of governments. Women, as well as men, are made in the image of God - try Galatians 3:28.
Equally seriously, the fossil fuel lobby continues to campaign for its continued existence when those who study the natural world warn of the extreme dangers. Climate protestors are even jailed without being able to plead that their civil disobedience is to highlight the approaching disaster of irreversible change.
If we do not understand each other, how much more difficult is it to understand our Creator? Clearly the sons of Zebedee do not understand the impertinence of their request, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ This is not the way to address prayer to God, but it is easy to slip into an attitude which says something like, ‘I’ll believe in God if my prayer is answered the way I want.’
Here indeed was Job’s problem, because God had not continued to give him good things throughout his life. And it does become harder to believe and to pray when things go wrong. The ultimate example of this from todays’ readings must be from Hebrews (5:7) - ‘Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears’, a clear reference to Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane before his arrest (Mark 14:34-6).
Anthony de Mello in ‘One minute wisdom’ tells a simple story about miracles:
A man traversed land and sea to check for himself the Master’s extraordinary fame.
“What miracles has your Master worked?” he said to a disciple.
“Well, there are miracles and miracles. In your land it is regarded as a miracle if God does someone’s will. In our country it is regarded as a miracle if someone does the will of God.”
Tom Ambrose is a former geologist and priest in the Parish of the Ascension, Cambridge.
Check-in
Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm.”
Our passage this week joins Job as he receives the awaited reply of God. Job was coming out of the storm which appeared to be surrounding his life and actions. And on reflecting on this passage our hearts and prayers go out to all of those families, communities, businesses, churches deeply affected by the horrendous hurricanes in Florida this month; oh how they must be longing for the Lord to speak to them too and for the storms to be over. Our prayers are with them that they hear the Lord loud and his feel his love in abundance.
So how would we react in the same situation?:
- Do we call out to God in our seasons of stormy times?
- Do we hide away?
- Do we call out for help from people?
- Or do we believe ourselves to be above the storms, above God?
Have you seen the different responses on the news around Florida? God pouring out his love via the emergency services, people running to bunkers for protection… and also this: an American influencer using the storm to make money on his social media page, by staying out in it, with only a tent for protection. It appears he feels he is above the storm - untouchable and invincible. This has caused many debates on how his actions could be deeply affecting others should he need to be rescued due to his reckless actions.
This imagery, against the backdrop of this week’s passage and theme ‘ Do you know who I am?,’ is a striking one and challenging. And one that we can all also face. How many times have we felt we can:
- weather the storm in our own strength?
- make our lives better, more comfortable, more exciting, on our own?
This is a fault in our culture. Actually we are not made to be facing these storms on our own, or indeed fighting against them with a mere tent! We find our strength in Jesus, and in the Love of God. If we don’t then let’s seek more this week to discover ‘Who I am’ really is. Pray this week for the Lord to open our hearts and minds to his power, majesty and protection throughout our lives, throughout any storm.
Natasia Bullock is Director of The B Tales, a Christian theatre company specialising in bringing the Bible to life through drama for children, young people and families.
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