The Archbishop has requested that we ring the bell every day at noon and say this Angelus prayer together
Angelus
God Bless the world
Give it wisdom at this time
Grant us relief and release
Be with those who are ill
And bless the carers fighting this pandemic
For Jesus Christ sake.
Amen
Eucharist readings for the week:
Monday 20th April
Acts 4:23-31 John 3:1-8
Psalm 22
Tuesday 21st April
Acts 4:32-37 John 3:7-15
Psalm 93
Wednesday 22nd April
Acts 5:17-26 John 3:16-21
Psalm 34:1-8
Thursday 23rd April
Acts 5:27-33 John 3:31-36
Psalm 34:15-22
Friday 24th April
Acts 5:34-42 John 6:1-15
Psalm 27:1-7,16-17
Saturday 25th April
Ecclesiasticus 51:13,23-30 Ephesians 4:7-16
Psalm 119:9-16 Mark 1:1-15
Reflection Day Twenty Eight National Lockdown Thursday 23 April 2020
Acts 5:27-33 Psalm 34-15-22 John 3:31-36
Good Day dear Friends,
After having been miraculously released from jail and returned to the Temple the apostles were re-arrested and brought again before the Council and accused of two things:
- They had continued to preach in “that name” (the name of Jesus) all over Jerusalem, even though they had been strictly forbidden to do so; and
- They were blaming the Jewish leadership for Jesus’ death.
The apostles were not intimidated by these accusations and these previously timid men now spoke out boldly. “It is better for us to obey God than men!” they told their judges. “The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.”
Their accusers were without doubt accessories in the death of Jesus and their motives a mixture of pious parochialism and party-political selfishness. The Apostles however were not going to be pulled into this fight and with their firm believe that Jesus was now in glory as Ruler and Saviour “to bring repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sin” continued their ministry with strength and conviction. The gave Jesus a title which corresponded with ‘Prince and Redeemer’, titles applied to Moses, as a foreshadowing of Christ, by Stephen in his address to the Council, where he said that Moses too was rejected by his people (Acts 7:35). There is an inherent comparison here of Jesus with Moses, something that the apostles’ accusers would certainly not have liked. The Apostles continued their ministry with boldness and certainty, because they witnessed, what they were conveying, not as someone ‘else story, but their own. Irrespective of what the powerful leaders and others may have said, it was their conviction that forced them even into a confrontational mood. Their testimony was guided and established by the Holy Spirit, who is given to all those who respond to God with “the obedience that comes from faith”.
For refusing to compromise their faith and integrity the lives and the security of the Apostles were often threatened, but for them, there was no other choice. And there have been many others like them down the ages. Many Christians today waste away in jails and camps for no other reason.
It is therefore no surprise that the standpoint of the apostles enraged their accusers who wanted them put to death for what seemed the use of offensive language.
Verses 9-14 in the portion of our appointed psalm sets out a series of commands followed by a series of assurances in verses 15-22to which we will confine ourselves today. The previous six verses are more about God and less about the attitudes towards God and bring together the themes from verses 1-6 which emphasized the corporate nature of this psalm, that God “rescue from all troubles,” protect all bones,” and “vindicate all those who take refuge.”
After the positive confirmation that the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry”, follows the negatively disturbing word, “The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” This reflects the two sides of God’s nature, wrath and love and calls upon the hearers of the psalm to tread more carefully through life.
These are closely followed by two more statements of contrast “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles”, and “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit”. God will hear their outward cry for liberation, but will also save the inward spirit and affirms that even those faithful to God will experience bad things, but will be preserved by God. In contrast to this the wicked will be condemned, unless they seek refuge in God, in which case, “none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”
Helping those with afflictions is something we don’t always handle well. We tell people that if they do the right thing, or follow the right paths, things will get better. The Christian community also deals with distress, struggle, fear and sickness poorly. We ignore the reality of people by insisting that God will deal with it and that they should pray and then we leave them to do so alone. We’re guilty of reducing trouble to only the bodily when trouble might be emotional, intellectual, interpersonal, or any combination of these. These are the hurts and troubles that affects, because we live in a broken world where we all need the redemption that only God can bring. Psalm 34 is where we can turn to be reminded that God’s people can turn to God who will hear their complaints because his ears are open to our cry. The God of David promises help in Psalm 34, and the God of David promises to fully redeem the life of his servants. “Come, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt God’s name together.”
In rather intellectual language, the Gospel today contrasts Jesus to those who see the world with purely worldly eyes. Jesus is the One who comes “from above” although he lives in the world. The “one who is from the earth” can mean any of us in the sense that we speak simply as human beings as opposed to Jesus as the Word. Jesus testifies to what He has seen and heard, through His, Jesus’s direct communication with the Father. Those who are entirely occupied in the world and its temporary pleasures pay no attention to this personal testimony. There are some who do listen and who do accept what Jesus is saying and they know that what God says is trustworthy. When we fully accept Christ’s witness, we accept that Jesus is truly from God and that God continues to act through him for the formation of the Kingdom and the salvation of the world. Jesus is the word of God and likewise He is the light of the world and calls His followers to be light too. The Son is the perfect image of the Father and shares generously with us what he has received from his Father. Life without end awaits all those who believe in the Son, His words and accept them as their way of life. Do not think that God takes revenge on those who disobey Jesus, God is simply saying that those who choose to go the way of darkness and evil can only expect to meet death. They are the victims, not of God’s anger, but of their own determination to live in darkness. With God’s help, the choice is ours to make.
Let us pray:
Father, we realize that you will perform great wonders for anyone who faithfully serve and obey your instructions. Therefore, we want to obey you and maintain good a relationship with you. Please help us to avoid every form of ungodliness so that we can enjoy you deeply. Let us love and serve you well, and let us qualify to receive your carefree blessings on earth and in heaven. For in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Oordenking Dag Agt-en-Twintig Lockdown Donderdag 23 April 2020
Handelinge 5:27-33 Psalm 34-15-22 Johannes 3:31-36
Goeie dag liewe vriende,
Nadat hulle op ‘n wonderlike wyse uit die tronk bevry en na die Tempel beveel was, word die Apostel weer ge-aresteer, voor die Raad gebring en van twee dinge beskuldig.
- Hulle het voort gegaan om in “daardie naam” (Die naam van Jesus) oor die hele Jerusalem te preek, nadat hulle uitdruklik verbied was om so te doen; en
- Hulle het die Joodse leiers geblameer en verantwoordelik gehou vir Jesus se dood.
Die Apostels was nie hierdeur ge-intimideer nie en die eens bang mans, het nou met moed gepraat “ Dit is beter vir ons om aan God gehoorsaam te wees as aan mense” en vir hul aanklaers gesê “Die God van ons vaders het Jesus opgewek, wie jullle omgebring het, deur Hom aan ‘n kruishout te hang.”
Hul aanklaers was sonder twyfel deelnemers aan die dood van Jesus en hul motief ‘n mengsel van skynheilige gebeidseiening en party-poletieke selfbelang. Die Apostels laat nie toe dat hulle in die geveg ingetrek word nie en met hul ferm geloof dat Jesus in heerlikheid hul Regeerder en Redder is “om aan Israel bekering en vergifnis van sonde te bring”, het hulle, hul bediening met moed en oortuiging voortgesit. Hulle gee Jesus ‘n titel wat ooreenstem met “Prins” en “Redder” , titels wat vir Moses gebruik was as ‘n voorbeskouing van Jesus Christus deur Stefanus in sy toespraak voor die raad, toe hy gesê het dat Moses ook deur die mense verwerp was (Handelinge7:35). Hier is ‘n vergelykking van Jesus met Moses, iets wat die aanklaers van die Apostels nie van gehou het nie.. Die Apostels het hul bediening met moed en sekerheid voortgesit, want hulle het getuig van wat hulle gesien en ervaar het en nie iemand anders se storie nie. Ongeag van wat die aanklaers en ander mag sê, was dit hul oortuiging wat hul in ‘n gemoed van konfrontasie gedryf het. Hul getuienis was gelei en bevestig deur die Heilige Gees, wie gegee word aan almal wie reageer op God met “die gehoorsaamheid wat van geloof kom”. Hul weiering om kompromieë oor hul geloof en integriteit aan te gaan het dikwels hul veiligheid bedreig maar vir hulle was daar geen ander keuse. Daar was baie ander soos hulle deur die eeue heen. Baie christen vergaan vandag in tronke vir geen ander rede.
Verse 9-14 in ons Psalm sit voort ‘n stel gebooie, gevolg deur ‘n reeks versekeringe (Verse 15-22) tot wat ons, ons sal beperk. Die vorige ses verse is meer oor God en minder oor benaderinge tot God en bring die temas van verse 1-6 byeen wat die gesamentlike natuur van die God wie almal wie in moeilikheid is red, vrymaak en wie in Hom skuil.
Na die positiewe bevestiging dat “die oë van die Here op die regevrdiges is en Sy ore tot hul hulpgeroep”, volg die negatiewe versteurende woorde “ die aangesig van die Here is teen die kwaaddoeners, om hul gedagtenis van die aarde uit te roei”. Dit reflekteer die twee kante van God se natuur, wraak en liefde en roep tot die hoorders om meer versigtig deur die lewe te wandel. Dit word gevolg deur twee meer verklarings van kontras “Hulle roep en die Here red hulle uit al hul benoudhede” en “ die Here is naby die wie gebroke van hart is, en Hy verlos die wie verslae is van gees.”
God hoor hul uiterlike roep vir verlossing, maar sal ook die innerlike gees verlos en bevestig dat selfs diegene wie getrou met die Here wandel, moeilikhede sal ervaar, maar deur God beskerm word. In teenstelling hiermee sal die goddeloses veroordeel word, behalwe as hul toevlug by die Here soek want “almal wie by Hom skuil, hoef nie te boet nie”
Om mense in nood en lyding te help is iets wat ons nie goed doen nie. Ons sê dat as hulle die regte ding doen, die regte weg volg sal dinge beter word. As Christene deel ons ook sleg met lyding, stryd, vrees en siekte. Ons dring aan dat mense moet bid en dat God daarmee sal deel en dan stap ons weg en los hulle alleen. Ons maak lyding net liggaamlik en vergeet dit is ook emosioneel, intelektueel, in verhoudings of ‘n kombinasie hiervan. Dit is die seer en die probleme wat ons affekteer, want ons leef in ‘n gebroke wêreld waar ons almal die redding benodig wat net God kan bring. Na Psalm 34 kan ons draai om herinner te word dat God se mense na God kan kom wie hul geroep sal hoor. Die God van Dawid belowe hup in Psalm 34 en Hy belowe om ten volle die lewens van Sy diensknegte te verlos. “Maak die Here saam met my groot, en laat ons Sy naam verheerlik”
Met intelektuele taal stel die evangelieskrywer kontras tussen Jesus en hulle wie na die lewe met wêreldse oë kyk. Jesus is die een “wie van bo kom” al leef Hy in die wêreld. Die “een wie van die aarde is” kan enigeen van ons wees en praat van ons as mense teenoor Jesus as die woord. Jesus getuig van wat Hy, Jesus gehoor en gesien het deur Sy direkte kommunikasie met die Vader. Hulle wie ten volle in die wêreld en sy plesiere vasgevang is, gee geen aandag aan die getuienis van Jesus nie. Daar is diegene wie wel luister en wie aanvaar wat Jesus sê en weet dat wat God sê getrou en geloofwaardig is. Wanneer ons ten volle Jesus Christus se getuienis aanvaar, aanvaar ons dat Jesus waaragtiglik van God is en dat God aanhou optree deur Jesus om die koningkryk van God en verlossing te vestig.
Jesus is die woord van God en netso ook die lig van die wêreld en roep Sy volgelinge om ook lig te wees. Die Seun is die volmaakte beeld van die Vader, en deel oorvloediglik met ons wat Hy van die Vader ontvang het. Ewige lewe wag op hulle wie in die Seun, Sy woord en die waarheid daarvan glo en dit aanneem as hul lewensweg. Moenie dink dat God wraak neem op hulle wie ongehoorsaam aan Jesus is nie, God sê eenvoudig aan hulle wie die weg van duisternis verkies dat hulle met die dood sal ontmoet. Hulle is die slagoffers nie van God se woede nie, maar van hul eie onderneming om in duisternis te wandel. Met die hulp van God is die keuse ons s’n om te maak.
Laat ons bid:
Vader ons besef dat U groot wonders sal doen vir elkeen wie getrou u sal dien en U instruksies sal gehoorsaam. Daarom wil ons aan U gehoorsaam wees en goeie verhoudinge met U handhaaf. Help ons asseblief om enige vorm van onheiligheid te vermy, sodat ons u kan geniet. Laat ons U goed liefhê en dien, en maak ons gekwalifiseerd om u sorgelose seninge op aarde en in die hemel te ontvang. In die Naam van Jesus Christus bid ons. Amen.