The world belongs to God
The earth and all its people
How good and lovely it is
To live together in unity
Love and faith come together
Justice and peace join hands
“Every Praise”
Let us in silence remember our faults and failings
Christ have mercy on us, deliver us from ourselves and help us to put right our lives.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer in our own language
Song “I am the bread of Life”
Reading- Matthew 23v1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Song “Salvation Song”
Reflection
The sermon is addressed to the Scribes and the Pharisees, the legalists, who thought they were the most important people. Moses' seat" is a stone block in the synagogue where the teacher taught the congregation.
Orthodox Jews wear large phylacteries, a box worn on the arm or forehead with four texts inside. They wanted to show how good and holy they were. They honoured dead teachers with the title "Father", which is why Jesus started the Lord’s prayer with “Our Father which art in heaven.”
Pharisees taught the Law of Moses, with an emphasis on minutia. Jesus says about the Pharisees “they do not practice what they preach". Do we nit pick and ignore Jesus two commandments to love one another and love God ?
The covenant God made with Abraham was based simply on faith in God. Jesus was reminding the Jews of this. The Pharisees used to sit in the place of honour at banquets in the most important seats. They loved to be greeted with respect and for people to call them Rabbi, master, teacher.
So Jesus' is warning his disciples and us about pride, about being puffed up with our self importance. He says but you are not to be called Rabbi, teacher, For you have one Father, master or teacher. You are all brothers, all sisters. Do not call anyone on earth "father" - In Aramaic, abba, because you have one Father and he is in heaven. The greatest among you will be the least, a servant in Gods kingdom, "The first will be last and the last will be first". Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, made low.
Leadership in the community of Jesus is exercised by serving others in love rather than by ruling. Humility is the principle which should rule a leader. And us. May God help us to follow Jesus and not the example of many of our political leaders. Amen.
Song “How Great thou art”
Our Prayers
We pray for the family who drowned this week, the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Greece, people coping with lockdown, people with Covid19, countries at war with themselves and others and places we never hear about, rising fascism, the government, the Rohinga Muslims, Muslims being persecuted in China, protection for key workers and adequate PPE, protection for Black and Asian people, for people on low or no incomes, for those with underlying health conditions and those over 60, care for those who are alone and those struggling, suffering with depression, protection for asylum seekers and refugees and ensuring that food is reaching the vulnerable and global warming.
May we not fail you. Amen
Song “Come ye thankful people”
The blessing of God be upon you
On those you love and those you meet
This day and for evermore. Amen
With thanks to the ©Iona Community adapted
