Dear All,
This Sunday our readings have a theme of love, both Paul’s love for the Christians in Thessalonica (he describes caring for them like a mother nurturing her children), and Jesus describing the two most important commandments in answer to a question from a lawyer. We are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
We can sometimes forget that loving God with our whole being is so important. Its origins go right back to Deuteronomy 6.5 (‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’) It’s something that is reflected in the Northumbria Community morning office that we use at Friday coffee and prayers (now online), in answer to the call ’who is it that you seek?’ The response, that we seek the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, is a good one to start each day with, to get things in perspective before we turn our attention to the needs of the day. Having a pattern of prayer throughout the day, and a way of living (what some would call a ‘rule of life’) is something that the Church of England, and groups like the Northumbria Community, have been encouraging people to do for years.
The diocese of Leeds has recently published details of a new initiative, ‘Rhythm of Life’, designed to help us refresh our prayer and spiritual lives, and to grow in spiritual maturity. At this time when many of us are feeling weary because of the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, I would like to commend it to you. The idea of a rhythm of life is inspired by a quote from Matthew’s Gospel “Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:29 (The Message). If you have access to the internet, do take a look at the Rhythm of Life information on the diocese website. There are lots of resources, from new ways of praying, to suggested daily readings and books, and Zoom sessions to help you get started.
The second commandment that Jesus quotes is from Leviticus 19.18, word for word, ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’ The lawyer who asked Jesus about the greatest commandments is trying to test Jesus, and Jesus responds with what any Jewish scholar should know. Then it is his turn to test them. He asks, ‘what do you think about the Messiah, whose son is he?’ And he demonstrates his thorough understanding of scripture, that even king David recognised him, Jesus the Messiah, as being his Lord. They didn’t want to face up to what that meant, who he really was, so they stopped asking questions after that!
In this time when we often don’t know who to trust, because of the frequency with which new advice is released on how to ‘stay safe’ in these Covid times, let's hold on to the fact that our God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, and he calls us to love him with all of our very being, and to love others. May this be the foundation of our lives, and our first thought each day.
A Blessing (Northumbria Community)
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
With grace and peace,
Sue McWhinney
sue@stjohnsfarsley.org.uk
07484 181699