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 Nine National Lockdown Friday 24 April 2020
Acts 5:34-42 Psalm 27:1-7, 16-17 John 6:1-15
Good day dear friends,
At the end of yesterday’s reading we saw the members of the Council so incensed by the confidence of the Apostles that they wanted them dead. Enters a man by the name of Gamaliel, a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, who ordered the Apostles to be dismissed for a short while. He was a teacher of Paul, an advocate of a more compassionate interpretation of the Law and respected by the council members. He advised and warned the Pharisees not to be too hasty in their judgements. He gave them the example of Theudas and Judas the Galilean, who started rebellious movements and attracted a large following of supporters. However both leaders died or were killed and their movements fell apart and their followers scattered.
Gamaliel suggested that, this ‘Jesus’ movement should be left alone, and that this may be a short-lived movement of diminishing glory. ”If it is human, it will die, but if it is from God, well you cannot go against God”. The Council was convinced by Gamaliel’s argument, had the apostles flogged and repeated their orders to stop preaching. Far from being intimidated or dejected the Apostles left the court “full of joy that they had been judged worthy of ill-treatment for the sake of the Name”.
This kind of manifestation occurs and is regularly seen in our Church and, like Gamaliel; we should have confidence in the principle that, the truth will always prevail. We get worried about new ideas or movements that surface in our Christian communities but the same principle applies. In current debates about married priests, women in ministry, problems about marriage and human sexuality we should be confident that truth and justice here too will win whatever decisions are made.
Psalm 27 expresses trust in the lord and claims absolute dependence on God, in the opening verse “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” The psalm is a prayer for help and it presumes that the psalmist is in some kind of trouble. Psalm27 like many others of its kind characteristically contain appeal, protest, and expressions of trust.
The opening verse describes the Lord with language that suggests his presence is life-giving and protective. “Stronghold” is a common description of God in the Psalms and this image suggest, therefore, that whatever trouble concerns the psalmist, the Lord’s protection is sufficient. The psalm actually petitions God for more, namely for deliverance from an enemy’s false accusations, but suggests that such deliverance comes under the care of God’s sheltering protection. The images continue and expand on the notion of God as stronghold. The psalmist speaks of safety in terms of being hidden, covered, and placed “high on a rock.” “Stronghold”, “shelter”, “cover of his tent”, and “rock” are expressions related to the all-embracing notion of refuge that appears in Psalms. The psalmist declares the intention to worship with song and sacrifice in response to God’s salvation and shortly hereafter turns to complaint and petition for the rest of the prescribed reading or citation. The first and latter part of our appointed psalm in the lectionary hold together around themes of salvation , enemies , trust and seeking after God.
Today we hear the familiar Gospel of the increases of the loaves and the fishes. When Jesus crossed over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, many people who had seen the signs that He had performed, were impressed and charmed and followed Him to get to know more about this miracle worker. Upon arrival He went up a mountain and sat down with his disciples, with whom He wanted to have some fellowship and prayer as part of a retreat. Jesus anticipated some time with his friends, strengthening relationship and working at the rough edges of his compatriots, when He, Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd of people. Jesus enquired from Philip about food to feed the crowd, who with sarcasm answered that they would not have enough money to provide for the crowd. It was Andrew who saved the situation with his report on a boy who had five loaves of barley bread and two fish, willing to share his meal. The food amounted to just enough to feed between six and ten people and the situation seemed impossible.
John informs us that there were 5000 men, accompanied by women and children and we can safely assume a total of almost twenty thousand people to feed. This was a huge crowd to control and eventually the disciples had everyone seated, at which point, Jesus took the five loaves of bread and fish, gave thanks and blessed them. He, Jesus entrusted the process of distribution to His fellow workers, who did an excellent job at feeding so many, with what appeared to be too little. Surprisingly they had more than enough to eat and filled 12 baskets with the leftovers. The miracle performed by Jesus gave confirmation to the earlier expectation and being awestruck and intrigued led to a deep- seated faith and trust in the prophet and teacher. They said: “This truly is the Prophet, the One we have been waiting and longing for.”
What is our need? What are we hungry for? What is our lack? Do we truly believe that Jesus will provide us with what we need? Do we trust that Jesus will satisfy our hunger, our longing? When we are in great need, it is difficult to trust that our needs will be met. However, Jesus will not fail us! Will we trust Jesus to satisfy our hungers?
Let us pray:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Lord, we thank you that you are the God of refuge. You are mighty, powerful, righteous, and true. Today, we come to you in prayer asking for your love, protection, and provision.
We know you are the one true source of hope.
Please be a place of refuge and a constant presence of love and support for all those experiencing fear, anxiety, and loneliness. Please care for the physical needs of those who are struggling to provide for their families. Bring peace and healing to those who have lost loved ones or are dealing with life-threatening illnesses.
Please help us come to you for hope and guidance during times of uncertainty. It’s through your grace that we can continue to serve one another in your name no matter the circumstance. We ask for your peace in place of our anxiety.
We pray these things in your heavenly name. Amen.
Oordenking Dag Nege en Twintig Nasionale Lockdown Vrydag 24 April 2020
Handelinge 5:34-42, Psalm 27:1-7, 16-17 Johannes 6:1-15
Goeie dag lewe vriende,
Die einde van gister se les openbaar die kwaad van die raadslede oor die vertroue van die Apostels en hulle wil hul dood hê. Dan tree ‘n man met die naam van Gamaliel in, ‘n Fariseer en lid van die raad, wie versoek dat die Apostels buitentoe geneem word. Hy was die leermeester van Paulus, ‘n aanvoerder van ‘n meer sorgvolle verstaan van die wet en was gerespekteer deur die ander raadslede. Hy adviseer en waarsku die Fariseers om nie te haastig te wees in hul oordeel nie en hou aan hulle voor die voorbeeld van Theudas en Judas die Galiliër wie ook opstande gelei het met groot gevolg. Hulle is egter beide vermoor en hul bewegings het tot niks gekom. Gamaliel versoek dat die “Jesus beweging” gelos word aangesien dit kortstondig mag wees en self sou ontbind. Sy beroemde woorde “as dit van mense is sal dit doodgaan, maar as dit van God kom, wel niemand kan teen God gaan nie”
Die Raad was oortuig deur Gamaliel se argument, het die Apostels slae laat gee en hulle weer uitdruklik verhoed om in die naam van Jesus te predik. Die Apostels was nie hierdeur ge-intimideer of verslae nie en het die hof verlaat bly dat hulle vir die evangelie kon ly.
Hierdie tipe verskynsel het ditself al dikwels in die kerk gewys en soos Gamaliel moet ons vertroue hê in die beginsel dat die waarheid altyd sal seëvier. Ons word bekommerd oor nuwe idees en bewegings in die kerk, maar dieselfde beginsel is toepaslik. In huidige debate oor getroude priesters, vroue in bediening, seksualiteit, veilige en insluitende kerk en Kerk van Engeland of van Afrika, moet ons vertroue hê dat waarheid en geregtigheid hier ook sal oorwin in die besluite wat gemaak word.
Psalm 27 druk vertrou in God uit en eis absolute afhanklikheid van God in die inleidings vers “Die Here is my lig en my heil; wie sal ek vrees? Die Here is die toevlug van my lewe, vir wie sal ek bang wees?” Die psalm is ‘n gebed om hulp en dit neem aan dat die digter in een of ander moeilikheid is. Hierdie psalm in karakter deel met versoek, protes en uitdrukkinge van vertroue.. Die openingswoorde beskryf die Here met taal wat aandui dat Sy teenwoordigheid, lewegewend en beskermend is.”Vesting” is ‘n algemene beskrywing van God in Psalms en hierdie beeld dui daarop dat God se beskerming genoeg is vir die digter. Die digter versoek meer van God, soos onder meer verlossing van sy vyande se valse aantuigings onder God se omgee. Die beelde van God as “vesting”word verder gevat en uitgebrei. Die digter praat van “versteek”, “bedek” en “plasing op ‘n hoë rots”. “Vesting”,”beskutting”, “bedeking van sy tent” en “rots” is uitdrukkinge wat verband hou met met die alsomvattende idee van veiligheid. Die psalmdigter verklaar sy gereedheid om God te aanbid met liedere in reaksie tot God se verlossing en draai kort daarna na klaery en petisie vir die res van die les. Die eerste en laaste gedeelte van ons voorgeskrewe psalm in die leesrooster hou temas rondom verlossing, vyande, vertroue en soeke na God bymekaar.
Vandag hoor ons van die oorbekende evangeliestorie van die vermeerdering van die brode en vissies. Toe Jesus na die ander kant van die see van Galilea vertrek het baie mense wie Sy tekens en wonders gesien, en daardeur be-indruk en meegevoer was, Hom gevolg om meer van hierdie man te sien en te leer. Met Sy aankom klim Hy op die berg en sit met Sy dissipels, met wie Hy so bietjie wou kuier en bid as deel van hul ontrekking om rus te vind. Hy het homself tyd met Sy vriende voorgestel om hul verhoudinge te versterk en so bietjie afwerking te gee aan die growwe kante van sy vriende, en toe Hy, Jesus opkyk sien Hy ‘n groot skare van mense.
Hy doen navraag oor kos vir die mense by Fillipus, wie Hom met ‘n mate van sarkasme antwoord deur te sê dat hulle nooit genoeg sou hê om almal te voed nie. Dit is Adreas wie die situasie red met sy verslag van ‘n seuntjie met vyf broodtjies en twee vissies wie bereid was om sy kos te deel. Die kos was net genoeg om tussen ses en agt mense iets te gee om te eet.
Johannes vertel ons dat daar 5000 mans was, vergesel deur vroue en kinders so ons kan amper met veiligheid praat van twintig duisend mense byeen. Dit was ‘n groot skare om te beheer en na ;n rukkie het die dissipels almal laat sit. Jesus neem toe die vyf broodtjies en twee vissies offer dank daarvoor en seën dit. Jesus breek self die brood en visse, maar vertrou die proses van uitdeel aan Sy dissipels toe, wie ‘n goeie werkie daarvan maak om so baie mense met so min kos te bedien en voed. Verbasend het alaml meer as genoeg gekry en daar was twaalf mandtjies wat oorgebly het. Die wonderwerk bevestig die vroeëre verwagtinge van die mense wie beindruk en meegevoer was deur Jesus en bring diep gevestigde geloof en vertroue in die profeet en leermeester mee. Hulle sê “ Hierdie is waarlik ‘n Profeet, die een op wie ons gewag en na uitgesien het.”
Wat is ons behoeftes? Wat honger ons na? Wat is ons gebrek of tekort? Glo ons regtig dat Jesus kan voorsien in wat ons nodig het? Vertrou ons Jesus om ons honger te stil en ons soeke te vervul? Wanneer ons in groot nood verkeer soos nou, is dit baie moeilik om te vertrou dat ons behoeftes vervul sal word. Weet verseker dat Jesus ons nie sal faal nie. Sal ons Jesus vertrou om ons honger te bevredig?
Laat ons bid:
Liewe Hemelse Vader,
Here, ons dank U dat U die God van ons toevlug is. U is magtig, kragdadig, regverdig, waaragtig en opreg.
Vandag kom ons na U in gebed en versoek U liefde, beskerming en voorsiening.
Ons weet U is die ware opregte bron van hoop.
Wees asseblief ‘n plek van veiligheid en ‘n konstante teenwoordigheid van liefde en ondersteuning vir almal wie vrees, angs en alleenheid ervaar.
Sien asseblief om na die liggaamlike behoeftes van diegene wie sukkel om vir hul families te voorsien.
Bring vrede en genesing aan diegene wie geliefdes verloor het of wie met lewensbedreigende siektes deel.
Help ons asseblief om na U te kom vir hoop en leiding in hierdie tyd vann onsekerheid. Dit is deur U genade da tons kan voortgaan om mekaar te dien in U naam ongeag die omstandighede. Ons vra vir U vrede in die plek van ons angstigheid.
Ons bid dit in U hemelse Naam Amen.