Epiphany 3

Opening Verse of Scripture Psalm 19 v 7 - 10

The law of the LORD is perfect, the precepts of the LORD are right, the fear of the LORD is pure, and the ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. 

Collect Prayer for the Day—Before we read we pray

Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. CW

God of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord.  CW

First Bible Reading Nehemiah Chapter 8 v 1 - 3, 5 - 10

All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen,’ lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’ NRSV

Second Reading 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 v 12 –31a

Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. NRSV

Gospel Reading Luke Chapter 2:41-52

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ NRSV

Post Communion Prayer

Almighty Father, whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world: may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.  CW

Commentary  -

Both our Old Testament and New Testament readings today have as their focus the reading of scripture. They both speak, not just of proclamation, but of action too. For Nehemiah, best remembered for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem when the exiles have returned when Cyrus allowing the Jews to go home from exile in Babylon in 538 BC.  Nehemiah asks Ezra to read the scriptures in the square by the Water Gate. Nehemiah was a man of action who inspired others to act too. But he wasn’t just about building a city and its walls, he was about building a new and better society and people. He asks the King, Artaxerxes, if he can go to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls, which despite opposition from several sources and people, particularly Sanballat and Tobiah, he achieves, and for some time stayed on as a very generous governor. He ensured the poorer elements of society had provisions. Crucially, he was able to mix both the strong sense of religious identity and the ceremonial with practical ethics and concern. In today’s reading, after all the action, we hear the proclamation of the law to all who are gathered there. Proclaimed to the exiles who have returned, to the Jews who were never taken into captivity as they were deemed to have little to offer, to those who had intermarried, and to those who had not, to those who had kept the faith, and to those who had faltered. All were gathered to hear the word of the Law proclaimed. In his actions and words, we can see Nehemiah understood the importance of action and proclamation of the word of God, and demonstrated that knowledge of God should not just be abstract but deeply practical inspiring care and concern for all people wherever they find themselves in society. It’s clear to Nehemiah that God works through common means and people, not just divine intervention and miracles.

In our New Testament reading we almost certainly have Jesus reading the second reading of the Synagogue service, the one from the prophets. The first would normally be a reading from the law. It may well be that Jesus Himself chose the passage, as was customary, and read out the words which are now some of the very foundations of our faith. Sharing good news to the poor, setting those who are captives free, enabling people to see clearly and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favour; universal release, when things are returned to their rightful owners. As we saw with Nehemiah, it’s a combination of action and proclamation. Both speak of caring for those who are oppressed and have little in material terms. Both elicited responses. Unsurprisingly, throughout Jesus’s ministry we see the pattern of speaking out and action combined, very often followed by a response and reaction. When He speaks and acts people are healed, demons are cast out, and the dead live again. There is a reaction and a response from creation, but there is also often a negative reaction too as people try to stop Him, kill Him, deride Him and undermine Him. What also unites Jesus and Nehemiah, and many other of the Old Testament prophets, is that their proclamation and action, their words and their deeds are based not just on a religious observance but on a deep conviction about what they believed and the injustices and irregularities they saw and heard about.

For both Jesus and Nehemiah, that conviction came from a close relationship with the Father God. Despite his position in Babylon, we must assume Nehemiah was an observant Jew. He was distressed about the state of the Nation of Israel when he heard news from Hannani. Distressed enough to believe that it was not right, and action had to be taken. Jesus was one with the Father and knew that what was happening in His creation was far from that which God intended. God, in Jesus acted and proclaimed very loudly that things were changing. The readings challenge us to consider what are we convicted about in our society, what are the things we feel moved to try to change. What is it we want to speak out about and take personal action? What moves us to do something? They also challenge us about our relationship with God and the closeness we have with Him, as it would seem that this should be central to our convictions and the words and actions which result from these convictions. 

In the week ahead we recall the atrocities of the Holocaust, the Shoah. The theme this year is ‘One Day’. It’s also the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, with some of the materials being prepared by churches in the Middle East. What is it that God would have us as individuals speak out about now, ’One Day’, a day when things change? What action does He call us to so that we actively engage with Him in His work and His world so all can live in peace and unity with others? With Jesus, proclaiming the good news, what are we called to do in playing our part to set the prisoners free, heal the sick and strive for the universal freedom for all, to live as God intended.

Lord, you led us out of darkness to hope in Jesus.

Unite us in our commitment to establish your reign of love, justice and peace,

bringing light to those living in the darkness of despair and disillusionment.

Shine your light upon us and surround us with the warmth of your love.

Lift us up to you, so that our lives may glorify you,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.      Prayer from the Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Sam Cappleman

Meditation

Over the past few weeks, which has included the holiday period, I’ve been able to read a number of books. Whilst completely unrelated, and certainly not heavy academic or theological tomes, one of the themes that seems to have been running through them is the different perceptions of reality that can be experienced, often quite different from the norms of the day. An understanding of reality, and actions and outcomes which arise from it, which are completely logical to those who hold them, but difficult to comprehend for those who don’t. It must have been a bit like this for the people sitting in the synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus is handed the scroll of Isaiah and invited to read from it, and he reads the words which are in our gospel reading this morning. He would then be expected to share some thoughts and wisdom from the scripture, in line with Jewish Rabbinical teaching of the time.  That’s why people’s eyes were on Him, perhaps a little puzzled as to why He had sat down. Even more puzzling would be the words that then came out of His mouth announcing that, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’. It’s not so much that the old teaching and understanding where being challenged, although this was clearly happening, but that Jesus presented the hearers with a new reality. The words with which they were so familiar were being fulfilled as they heard them. What they had read and heard for years needed to be understood and lived out in the light of this new revelation and reality. Sometimes it can be the same for us as we let God speak to us in new and different ways from the scriptures we know so well.

Sam Cappleman

Hymns

1. To God be the Glory
2. Praise my soul
3. For I’m building a people
4. Broken for me
5. To him we come
6. O for a thousand tongues to sing
7. God’s Spirit is in my heart
8. Take my life and let it be
9. Make me a channel of your peace
10. Go forth 
11. Give me joy in my heart
12. Make me a channel of your peace
13. O breath of God come sweeping through

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

Let us worship the Christ who draws near to each of us. Let us praise the Christ who loves the worst among us. Let us bless the Christ who shares with the least among us. Let us glorify the Christ who intercedes for all among us in the presence of God the Father. Amen. Ann Griffiths (1776-1805)

God of the living, of the present moment, your word contains truth for each new generation. We pray for fresh and exciting reminders of the power and glory of your sovereign love. Speak to us anew, living God, of your concern for the poor and oppressed. Help us to announce your good news; to proclaim your liberty to those held captive; to work and pray for a better world. Help us to share the hope we have in you; to proclaim your love for every individual; to work and pray for a new life for all people. Help us to be united in love and respect for one another; to proclaim your salvation to the world; to work and pray under the guidance of your Spirit. Amen

Father we ask for your encouragement and inspiration in all areas of ministry in the church; pour out your blessings on all who work towards the spreading of your Kingdom, we ask for guidance and protection in all areas of conflict and confusion in the world; pour our your wisdom on all who lead, we ask for reassurance and comfort wherever people are hurting or crying inside the brave face; pour out your welcoming love and give them the peace they crave, we ask for your firm holding, wherever our journey leads. Amen

As the beautiful, dew covered rose rises from amongst its thorns, so may my heart be so full of love for you my God, that I may rise above the storms and evils that assail me, and stand fast in trust and freedom of spirit. Amen. Hadewijch of Brabant - 13th Century 

Bless to us, O God, the road that is before us, bless to us, O God, the family and friends who are around us, bless to us O God, the love that is within us, bless to us, O God, the light that leads us home. Amen

Additional Resources

Commentary

As Jesus starts His adult ministry, in His first real public words He reads from the prophets and then states why He has come and what His mission on earth is all about. Fulfilling the words he has just read. The word has indeed become flesh as John would put it. It’s probably difficult to imagine how profound His statement is and the reaction it would have received in the synagogue. Picture the scene in the synagogue in today’s gospel reading. The majority of the service is over, the reading from the Torah the Parashah, the long prayers and blessings all finished. There is only the short scripture reading from the prophets to come, it’s called the Haphtarah, and then it’s the dismissal so there can’t be long left. You can almost smell the lunch the end of the service is so close… They’d probably be wondering who the Director of the synagogue had asked to read the lesson and give an exposition (targum), would it be someone interesting or the same old teachers. What did it say on ‘Synagogue News’ last week or did the rota change? Jesus gets up, picks up the scroll of Isaiah that has been passed to him and decides which bit to read and He reads the section from Isaiah 61 which speaks of the radical change in cosmic world order when the Messiah comes: Good news to the poor, release to the captives, and the oppressed, from whatever is keeping them from being free, recovery of sight to the physically and spiritually blind and the year when everything will be returned to the Lord as in the year of jubilee. It’s not a particularly religious message, not one of complex theology or even deep over spirituality or so it seems. He reads the lesson and sits down (which was customary for teaching) and starts to give the explanation, which really is quite simple… …today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. That’s quite some explanation – and if people had not really been paying attention before, now they were! The prophecies in the book of Isaiah related to the coming of the Messiah and Jesus had just declared that He is the Messiah and that the coming of the Kingdom starts today. In both the Old and New Testament readings we have the proclamation of God’s word to an assembly. Jesus is reading the book of the prophets and Ezra is reading the book of the law. Each are speaking about the beginning of a new era and a new type of community in God’s reign as they unroll the scrolls and begin to read. 

We too are anointed with the Spirit through our relationship with Christ and it is He that enables us to preach the Good News, heal the sick and bring release to those who are trapped and ensnared in life’s dark places. Perhaps not in quite as dramatic way as Christ, but in what we say and do in our everyday lives to help bring about His Kingdom on earth. To be part of creating the new community that Jesus inaugurated in the synagogue at Nazareth. His radical mandate is our radical mandate and commission too. We are to be part of releasing creation from captivity, part of the healing work of God as he transforms and restores all people to Himself, part of helping people see the truth for what it is and not be hoodwinked by the materialistic and relatively unimportant distractions of the world. That’s some task, but it might be as simple as doing more to reach out and look for those who need help and support, or just offering a kind word or a cup of tea. Or perhaps God is calling us to be a bit more radical and explicit as we are each called to live out the Good News and bring hope to the world. To bring about the new community of hope that Jesus worked for. To put into practice the gospel message day by day

Today we remember Holocaust Memorial Day, the day in 1945 when Auschwitz was liberated. For many that we remember, the Holocaust was an utterly hopeless time. For many there would be no release and liberty for them as captives in this world and in their human lives. Their release was still to come. Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, showed that there was hope and fulfilment in the words of God for everyone. Today, many people feel that the world is a nasty, hopeless place to be, perhaps not in the same way as the days of some of the world’s worst atrocities, but still a world in which they feel dislocated and ill at ease. God’s love, grace and mercy reaches everyone. When Luke quotes the passages from Isaiah, one which is noticeably missing is the one which comes shortly after today’s quote. It is from Is 63 and speaks of vengeance and wrath. In God’s new transformed order there will be judgement, but the days of vengeance and wrath are over. Grace and forgiveness now reign supreme for all the world. Today, we are called to have that same spirit, to reach out to those around us with love, grace and mercy, those we don’t normally even think of, those who perhaps feel hope-less, perhaps as the first stage in them coming to know the healing, forgiveness, release and freedom that a relationship with Christ, the Messiah who has come, can bring. Sam Cappleman

Commentary Conviction and Action

The Old Testament readings take us back to the time of Ezra and Nehemiah when the exiles return to Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah were different individuals with different roles. Ezra was a scribe, and Nehemiah was a governor. Ezra is known for rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem and Nehemiah is known for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem about 50 years later. Together they made a powerful partnership and the books of Ezra and Nehemiah forms an exciting and inspiring story. The book of Ezra begins with Cyrus of Persia’s decree, in 538 BC, permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple and his order that the sacred vessels taken from the Temple in 587 be returned. Nehemiah is ashamed when he hears about what is happening. Ashamed because he knows the people have fallen away and forgotten the law but ashamed about what that might imply about a God whose faithfulness could be called into question as a result. Nehemiah sets out tto rebuild the walls, and, as difficult as this was, it was the easy bit. The harder part is to rebuild the people so they are fit to live in the city according to the manner God intended. So in today’s reading the scribe Ezra begins reading out loud from the book of the torah law, the Pentateuch, to all the people who are now assembled within the completed walls, just by the Water Gate as part of that greater rebuilding process. It’s a motley crowd gathered there. Some of them are the dregs of the population who were left behind in Jerusalem during successive waves of invasion, not even deemed worthy of the effort of taking them into captivity. Some are wealthy and independent and for whom the exile has served them well financially. Some are faithful Jews but who have forgotten some of the basic things about God. Some have wives and families from other nations and now have divided loyalties. But they are united as a nation once more and back in the land of the covenantal promises. The reading is therefore their story and rejoicing in God they celebrates their unity. But as they moved back it would have been very easy, and perhaps even understandable for factions and divisions to emerge. In the epistle reading too we can see that claims regarding different spiritual gifts had begun to lead to divisions and disunity in the Corinthian church. It’s a potentially very destructive scenario for the fledgling early church as it would also have been for the Jews on their return. Fortunately throughout the bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, the ultimate focus is in unity. People are all different, have different backgrounds and experiences of the world which brings them to where they are and who they are today. And all have difts and functions. As communities, both Nehemiah and Paul encourages the believers to focus on their unity, which stands behind them all, rather than anything else. 

History and the bible teaches us that we are all part of that greater whole and that there can be significant dangers when we fall into factions and parties. One of our challenges is to see ourselves as a church which is the embodiment of Christ and His Kingdom in the world, not primarily as individuals. As local communities, which are part of God’s larger Kingdom and plan. It is important we acknowledged our differences; people are not all the same, we don’t all have the same abilities, gifts or perspective on the world. But we are held together by our common life in Christ. Our sense of identity lies not in the role we play, nor the status we have, nor the reward our role brings, but in the sense of who we are in Christ. How Christ sees us as individuals and as the united body of the church and as a community is far more important than how we see ourselves. On their return to Jerusalem many would need to learn again about God and His Kingdom. That they did so as a society together, reminded of their need to focus on worshiping God and, celebrating who they were whilst having a care and concern for justice and the less fortunate in their community, ‘to send some to those who have nothing prepared’ is a powerful model for the world today. It was about making God’s Kingdom real to all. In the gospel reading Jesus speaks about His mission in the world, which is ours too. A mission of creating God’s Kingdom of inclusion, justice, freedom, acceptance and love. A mission of conviction, proclamation, speaking out, and action as we make His Kingdom real in the seemingly fragmented world in which we live. Sam Cappleman

Commentary 

In the epistle reading we can see that claims regarding different spiritual gifts had begun to lead to divisions and disunity in the Corinthian church. It’s a potentially very destructive scenario for the fledgling early church. Fortunately Paul gives some very clear advice. He understands that people are different and have different gifts and functions, but he encourages the Corinthians to focus on the unity and community which stands behind them all. For Paul there is one body with many parts, all of which need each other, and all of which are vital for the life of the Christian community. We are all part of that greater whole. He challenges us to see ourselves as a church which is the embodiment of Christ in the world, not primarily as individuals, but as local communities, which are part of God’s larger Kingdom and plan. It is important we acknowledged our differences; people are not all the same, we don’t all have the same abilities. But we are held together by our common life in Christ. Our sense of identity lies not in the role we play, nor the status we have, nor the reward our role brings, but in the sense of who we are in Christ. How Christ sees us as individuals and as the united body of the church and as a community is far more important than how we see ourselves.

Building Communities The readings today are all about building communities, one of the key themes of the St Albans Diocese Mission Action Planning initiative in which we’ve been involved. The Old Testament readings take us back to the time of Ezra and Nehemiah when the exiles return to Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah were different individuals with different roles. Ezra was a scribe, and Nehemiah was a governor. Ezra is known for rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem and Nehemiah is known for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Together they made a powerful partnership and the books of Ezra and Nehemiah form one story. The book of Ezra begins with Cyrus of Persia’s decree, in 538 BC, permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple and his order that the sacred vessels taken from the Temple in 587 be returned. More than 42,000 leave Babylon for Judah and construction of the new Temple begins (a more modest structure than Solomon’s) and the walls of the city are rebuilt under the direction of Nehemiah. In today’s reading the scribe Ezra begins reading out loud from the book of the torah law, the Pentateuch, to all the people who are now assembled within the completed walls, just by the Water Gate. It’s a motley crowd. Some of them are the dregs of the population who were left behind in Jerusalem during successive waves of invasion, not even deemed worthy of the effort of taking them into captivity. Some are wealthy and independent and for whom the exile has served them well financially. Some are faithful Jews but who have forgotten some of the basic things about God. Some have wives and families from other nations and now have divided loyalties. Ezra reads but as the torah is read their initial responses are difficult to gauge. Are their tears of shame, having forgotten so much and have failed to keep God’s Holy laws, or are they tears of nostalgia for a life that is now past, the great days of Moses? Whatever their motivation and rationale, their leaders encourage them to look forward and not back, to celebrate their return and celebrate the unchangeable fact that they will always be the God’s chosen people, a community of faith. They are united as a nation once more and back in the land of the covenantal promises. The reading is their story and rejoicing in God they celebrates their unity.

The theme of community is one which Paul addresses in the epistle reading. It’s about building a new people. They need to see themselves less as individuals and more as community. The need to be less concerned with seeing themselves as the most important or most gifted person around, thinking of their individual needs, rights and privileges, but as contributors to a common community. He urges the Corinthians to focus on their unity whilst continuing to value their diversity, perhaps a lesson to be learned by the Anglican Communion at the current time. It’s certainly an apt theme for our society today. 

Jesus too, in our gospel reading, focuses not so much on teaching better spirituality but about doing God’s justice and building God’s community in His statement of intent in the synagogue. It would appear that for both the returning Jews in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and the early Christians that Paul addressed at Corinth, sometimes it was difficult for them to see and experience that community. For them, like us there were different factions, factors and events which seemed to underline failure, disunity and division. The way forward for both was to be still and quiet amidst all the clamour of everyday life and to hear the voices of hope and unity which would guide the path to the future. To live out being God’s community on earth. In today’s fractured world we have the responsibility to both hear those same voices and to speak those same words. Throughout the bible, community is a fundamental concept to understanding God and therefore fundamental for us to live out (and in) as we live out His words and love. Sam Cappleman 

Meditation

In the epistle reading we can see that claims regarding different spiritual gifts had begun to lead to divisions and disunity in the Corinthian church. It’s a potentially very destructive scenario for the fledgling early church. Fortunately Paul gives some very clear counsel. He does not deny that there are differences of gifts and functions, but he strongly encourages the Corinthians to focus on the unity which stands behind them all. He emphasises that there is one body, although it has many parts, all of which need each other, and all of which are vital for the life of the Christian community. Paul stresses that we’re all part of a greater whole. He challenges us to see ourselves as a church which is the embodiment of Christ in the world, not primarily as individuals, but as local communities, which are part of God’s larger Kingdom and plan. It is important we acknowledged our differences; people are not all the same, we don’t all have the same abilities. But we are held together by our common life in Christ. Our sense of identity lies not in the role we play, nor the status we have, nor the reward our role brings, but in the sense of who we are in Christ. How Christ sees us as individuals and as the united body of the church is far more important than how we see ourselves.

Meditation

Over the past few weeks, which has included the holiday period, I’ve been able to read a number of books. Whilst completely unrelated, and certainly not heavy academic or theological tomes, one of the themes that seems to have been running through them is the different perceptions of reality that can be experienced, often quite different from the norms of the day. An understanding of reality, and actions and outcomes which arise from it, which are completely logical to those who hold them, but difficult to comprehend for those who don’t. It must have been a bit like this for the people sitting in the synagogue in Nazareth. Jesus is handed the scroll of Isaiah and invited to read from it, and he reads the words which are in our gospel reading this morning. He would then be expected to share some thoughts and wisdom from the scripture, in line with Jewish Rabbinical teaching of the time.  That’s why people’s eyes were on Him, perhaps a little puzzled as to why He had sat down. Even more puzzling would be the words that then came out of His mouth announcing that, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’. It’s not so much that the old teaching and understanding where being challenged, although this was clearly happening, but that Jesus presented the hearers with a new reality. The words with which they were so familiar were being fulfilled as they heard them. What they had read and heard for years needed to be understood and lived out in the light of this new revelation and reality. Sometimes it can be the same for us as we let God speak to us in new and different ways from the scriptures we know so well.

Sam Cappleman

Commentary

It was John Wesley himself, who, from the very beginnings of Methodist Societies, invited Methodists to renew their covenant relationship with God, a covenant that promises new life in Christ. And, in renewing our baptism vows we confirm our allegiance to that new life in Christ and our rejection in all that is evil. Our service reflects these themes, as we praise God for his goodness to us, confess that our lives have not always adequately demonstrated the reality of our faith, and recommit ourselves to His work and service. 

The covenant theme is one which pervades the whole of the bible, from the earliest covenant between God and Noah, His covenant with Abraham, which promises the multiplication of his offspring and inheritance of the promised land, the Sinai covenant with Moses remembered in the Passover as Israel escaped the bondage of the Egyptians, through to the covenant God made with David as the King of Israel and the new covenant we have in Christ, which we remember in our service of Holy Communion. Each of the covenants expands and builds on those already established. But it was not back to the existing covenants of the Old Testament to which Jeremiah looked, it was forward to the New Covenant, which would be fulfilled in Christ. 

While continuing to build on those of the past, this covenant would be significantly different. It was not so much to do with material blessings and plentiful harvests, but concerned the hearts of the men and women who embraced it. It was about an intimate fellowship with God, where the old intermediaries of the priesthood and the prophets were no longer required. All could have immediate access to God. And, not only was it was for everyone, it spoke about the forgiveness we can know in Christ for our past wrongs. ‘…they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord… …and I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more’. 

As we renew our baptism vows and our own covenant with God, perhaps we should reflect on the changes that have affected us in the year since we last made our commitment. Did we achieve all that we set out to do, or did circumstances and human nature conspire against us? And perhaps, like Jeremiah, we too need to look forward, not just back. We need to cherish, build on, and learn from, our experiences of a past that is behind us, and, safe in the knowledge of God’s love and forgiveness, we need to gently move on as we look to the future and the year ahead. To let Christ do with ourselves, and others, far more than we dare think or ask as we recommit ourselves to Him. Sam Cappleman

Commentary 

The Old Testament readings take us back to the time of Ezra and Nehemiah when the exiles return to Jerusalem. Ezra and Nehemiah were different individuals with different roles. Ezra was a scribe, and Nehemiah was a governor. Ezra is known for rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem and Nehemiah is known for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Together they made a powerful partnership. Indeed the books of Ezra and Nehemiah form one story. The book of Ezra begins with Cyrus of Persia’s decree, in 538 BC, permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the Temple and his order that the sacred vessels taken from the Temple in 587 be returned. More than 42,000 leave Babylon for Judah and construction of the new Temple begins (a more modest structure than Solomon’s) and the walls of the city are rebuilt under the direction of Nehemiah. In today’s reading the scribe Ezra begins reading out loud from the book of the torah law, the Pentateuch, to all the people who are now assembled within the completed walls, just by the Water Gate. Ezra reads in Hebrew; the Levites (priestly assistants) translate into Aramaic (the common language) so that everyone can understand the significance of what is being read to them. They are finally back in Jerusalem, back from being in exile, they are home. But as the torah is read their initial responses are of guilt, fear and regret at having fallen short of the law. They fall down to the ground in despair. Fortunately their leaders encourage them to look forward and not back, to celebrate their return and celebrate the unchangeable fact that they will always be the God’s chosen people. They are united as a nation once more and back in the land of the covenantal promises. This reading is their story and rejoicing in God they celebrate their unity.

The theme of unity is one which Paul addresses in the epistle reading. He urges the Corinthians to focus on their unity whilst continuing to value their diversity. It’s an apt theme for our society today. But it would appear that for both the returning Jews in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah and the early Christians that Paul addressed at Corinth sometimes it was difficult for them to see and experience that unity. For them, like us there were different factions, factors and events which seemed to underline failure, disunity and division. The way forward for both was to be still and quiet amidst all the clamour of everyday life and to hear the voices of hope and unity which would guide the path to the future. In today’s fractured world we have the responsibility to both hear those same voices and to speak those same words. Sam Cappleman 

Meditation 

Holocaust Memorial Day

In 1941 there were about 11 million Jews living in Europe; by May 1945 six million of these had been killed, one-and-a-half million of them children. These are the events we now call the Holocaust or Shoah. The biblical word Shoah which has been used to mean “destruction” since the Middle Ages became the standard Hebrew term for the murder of European Jewry as early as the 1940s. The word Holocaust, which came into use in the 1950s as the corresponding term, originally meant a sacrifice burned entirely on the altar. The selection of these two words by the Jews reflects recognition of the unprecedented nature and magnitude of the events. With either of these two words we should also remember whilst the Jews of Europe were the primary target, many millions of other people were also imprisoned, enslaved and murdered. These people included Roma, those with mental or physical disabilities, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, trade unionists, political opponents, Poles and Soviet prisoners of war. On the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp, 27 January, we share the memory of the millions who were murdered in the Holocaust and subsequent atrocities such as Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur in order to challenge discrimination, hatred and persecution in the world today. The theme of the Holocaust Memorial Day of 2016 is ‘Don’t Stand By’. The Holocaust and many subsequent events like it took place because insidious persecution took root. Many stood by silently, often afraid to speak out. Others perhaps were just indifferent. On the Holocaust Memorial Day web site http://hmd.org.uk/ Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel has written powerfully about the impact of bystanders: ‘I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.’ Speaking out can sometimes be uncomfortable, and sometimes feel like we are a lone voice. God still speaks to His world. Sometimes, however uncomfortable it may feel, He asks us to be His voice.

Prayers for Sunday

God of the living, of the present moment, your word contains truth for each new generation. We pray for fresh and exciting reminders of the power and glory of your sovereign love. Speak to us anew, living God, of your concern for the poor and oppressed. Help us to announce your good news; to proclaim your liberty to those held captive; to work and pray for a better world. Help us to share the hope we have in you; to proclaim your love for every individual; to work and pray for a new life for all people. Help us to be united in love and respect for one another; to proclaim your salvation to the world; to work and pray under the guidance of your Spirit. Amen

Father we ask for your encouragement and inspiration in all areas of ministry in the church; pour out your blessings on all who work towards the spreading of your Kingdom, we ask for guidance and protection in all areas of conflict and confusion in the world; pour our your wisdom on all who lead, we ask for reassurance and comfort wherever people are hurting or crying inside the brave face; pour out your welcoming love and give them the peace they crave, we ask for your firm holding, wherever our journey leads. Amen

As the beautiful, dew covered rose rises from amongst its thorns, so may my heart be so full of love for you my God, that I may rise above the storms and evils that assail me, and stand fast in trust and freedom of spirit. Amen. Hadewijch of Brabant - 13th Century 

Bless to us, O God, the road that is before us, bless to us, O God, the family and friends who are around us, bless to us O God, the love that is within us, bless to us, O God, the light that leads us home. Amen

Gracious God, look upon a sinner who is yet created in your image. Look upon a disciple into whose heart you gaze. Look upon a child who longs to love you with a heart yet more perfect, and looking, forgive, and gazing, pardon and bless; for your truth and your mercy's sake. Amen. Francois Fenelon, 1651-1715

Almighty God, you have revealed the incarnation of your Son by the bright shining of a star, which the wise men saw and offered costly gifts on adoration; let the star of your justice always shine in our hearts, that we give as our treasure all that we are to you service, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Gelasian Sacramentary 8th century)

Lord, teach me the silence of love, the silence of wisdom, the silence of humility, the silence of faith, the silence that speaks without words. O Saviour, teach me to silence my heart that I may listen to the gentle movement of the Holy Spirit within me and sense the depths which are God, today and always. Amen (Frankfurt, 16th century)

Let us rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life. By Him we are born into the family of God, and made members of the body of Christ; His witness confirms us; His wisdom teaches us; His power enables us; He will do for us far more than we ask or think. Amen Father, we thank you for revealing yourself to us in Jesus the Christ, we who once were not your people but whom you chose to adopt as your people. As ancient Israel confessed long ago, we realise that it was not because of our own righteousness, or our own superior wisdom, or strength, or power, or numbers. It was simply because you loved us, and chose to show us that love in Jesus. As you have accepted us when we did not deserve your love, will you help us to accept those whom we find it hard to love? Forgive us, O Lord, for any attitude that we harbour that on any level sees ourselves as better or more righteous than others. Will you help us to remove the barriers of prejudice and to tear down the walls of bigotry, religious or social? Lord, help us realise that the walls that we erect for others only form our own prisons! 

Will you fill us so full of your love that there is no more room for intolerance. As you have forgiven us much, will you enable us with your strength to forgive others even more? Will you enable us through your abiding Presence among us, communally and individually, to live our lives in a manner worthy of the Name we bear? 

May we, through your guidance and our faithful obedience, find new avenues in ways that we have not imagined of holding the Light of your love so that it may be a Light of revelation for all people. 

We thank you for your love, praise you for your Gift, ask for your continued Presence with us, and bring these petitions in the name of your Son, who has truly revealed your heart. Amen 

God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with Him in His risen life; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen

O Holy Spirit, 

come as the wind to forward our goings. 

Come as the dove to launch us heavenward. Come as the water to purify our spirits. 

Come as the cloud to abate our temptations. Come as the dew to revive our languor. 

Come as fire to purge our souls; 

for your truth and your name’s sake. Amen 

Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894

God of the living, of the present moment, your word contains truth for each new generation. We pray for fresh and exciting reminders of the power and glory of your sovereign love. Speak to us anew, living God, of your concern for the poor and oppressed. Help us to announce your good news; to proclaim your liberty to those held captive; to work and pray for a better world. Help us to share the hope we have in you; to proclaim your love for every individual; to work and pray for a new life for all people. Help us to be united in love and respect for one another; to proclaim your salvation to the world; to work and pray under the guidance of your Spirit. Amen

Father we ask for your encouragement and inspiration in all areas of ministry in the church; pour out your blessings on all who work towards the spreading of your Kingdom, we ask for guidance and protection in all areas of conflict and confusion in the world; pour our your wisdom on all who lead, we ask for reassurance and comfort wherever people are hurting or crying inside the brave face; pour out your welcoming love and give them the peace they crave, we ask for your firm holding, wherever our journey leads. Amen

As the beautiful, dew covered rose rises from amongst its thorns, so may my heart be so full of love for you my God, that I may rise above the storms and evils that assail me, and stand fast in trust and freedom of spirit. Amen. Hadewijch of Brabant - 13th Century 

Bless to us, O God, the road that is before us, bless to us, O God, the family and friends who are around us, bless to us O God, the love that is within us, bless to us, O God, the light that leads us home. Amen

Living God, we pray for all people: For those women shut off from a full life by tradition and practice, for those people who are oppressed and exploited, for those denied their freedom and dignity by systems and authorities, for those forced to leave their homelands because of their ideologies, for those seeking answers and meaning to their lives within their own cultures and religions, for those who labour too long and too hard only to barely feed and clothe themselves and their families, for those forced to sell their bodies to survive, for those women and men who live lives of quiet desperation at the hands of the powerful and prestigious, for these and all who suffer. We pray, asking that the Church may once again give joyful expression to your creative love which breaks down barriers and unites person to person and community to community, which gives meaning and hope to empty lives and allows us to reach out to each other in generous self-giving, which makes us more fully alive. O God, fulfill your promise in us for the sake of all human beings through Jesus Christ. Amen.