READINGS AND REFLECTIONS:   MONDAY 6 JULY 2020

 THOMAS MORE, MARTYR, 1535

 

A distinguished scholar and one of the leading lawyers of his time, More was chosen by Henry VIII to succeed Cardinal Wolsey as Lord Chancellor of England. His reputation for uprightness and holy living persuaded the king that in More he had a man whose loyalty was not to be deflected by ambition.  But More recognized also a higher loyalty to God, and did not hesitate to speak his disapproval of the king’s divorce.  He resigned his high position and sought obscurity by retiring to his home in the country.  When Parliament declared the king also to be head of the Church, More refused to acknowledge him as such.  He was tried for treason and beheaded.  Thomas More stands out as one of the few people of his time who, being involved in the great affairs of the state, unfailingly acted from a pure Christian motive.

                                                                                                            (Saints and Seasons (ACSA)

Collect : 

Lord God,

your martyr Thomas More defied his persecutors

and through his great love for you

endured the pain of death:

grant that we may love you daily more and more

and faithfully bear witness to the name of Jesus;

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit

one God, for ever and ever. 

Amen 

 

Hosea 2 : 16 – 23            Psalm 145 : 1 – 9         Matthew 9: 18 – 26

  

Collect : 

O God our Saviour

You reveal your salvation

through Jesus Christ –

our wisdom and strength:

teach us to shoulder our burdens

and give us the strength to carry

each other as you have carried us;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and

the Holy Spirit, one God now and

for ever.  Amen

 

Today’s scripture readings speak to the power of faith.  They also speak of doubt and the contrast between faith and doubt.  In the book of Hosea, God writes us a love letter and speaks to us as a loving husband to his bride.  “I will espouse you to me forever”.  The psalmist proclaims, “The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works”.  In Matthew, Jesus performs two miracles.  He heals a woman who suffered haemorrhages for twelve years and raises a young girl from the dead.  Strong evidence for the power of faith.

Miracles.  They seem to produce strong and different reactions in people.  Some believe and some don’t.  Some think miracles happen on a daily basis.  Some think there is no such thing. There is really nothing wrong with doubt.  Jesus did not condemn Thomas when he doubted.  Doubt offers an opportunity for dialogue, for searching and for finding and knowing Jesus in situations. The crowd ridiculed Jesus when he stated the girl was not dead.  They did not expect a miracle.  Am I like the people in the crowd? 

Do we believe we are part of God’s plan?  Do we believe God’s plan is so great that we simply cannot comprehend it?  Do we believe God loves us (even in our doubt)?  Jesus puzzled people then and now.  

There is plenty of evidence that faith has great power.  Jesus tells the woman suffering from haemorrhages, “Your faith has saved you”.  The father of the daughter who has died tells Jesus, “Lay your hand on her and she will live”.  How can I have such faith?

We often expect the worst and God provides a miracle. 

A strong faith does not just happen.  Faith comes from practice.  Spending time with God and in God’s word.  Praying with God, with others, and searching God’s word for the miracles in our own lives.  My prayer today is for those of us, who at times, are overwhelmed by doubt, that we would have the faith that recognises and produces miracles. 

Let us Pray : 

Lord Jesus Christ

the length, breadth, depth and height of your love

is beyond our understanding:

grant that this love may so transform us

through your suffering

as to make us reach our to the despairing

and the desperate

and to work for justice, reconciliation and peace

among all people;

for your Name’s sake

Amen