.
Yesterday, Saturday morning, in the pouring rain, I ran a 5 km road race and came first in my age category. Well I was the only runner in my age category, but a win is a win, right, eh?
I tell you that, for as a runner for over forty years, my all time favourite verse
is from the New Testament, the Book of Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked
out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him
he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
John O'Donohue, who writes about Celtic Spirituality notes that
"Inspiration is always a surprising visitor." How right he is!
The other day in conversation with someone, he told me that 20 years ago he and his wife, just married, decided they would attend Church. During the Sermon a parishioner stood up and
demanded that the preacher denounce same-sex relationships or she would leave the church.
20 years later, they decided they would try that same Church again, and 20 years later Anglicans
were still divided over same-sex relationships, although no-one challenged the preacher this time.
If you have been around the Anglican Church any length of time, you will recall, starting
in the 1970's, the discussion, heated debate and division over the Book of Common Prayer
and the Book of Alternative Services - the B.C.P. versus the B.A.S. Controversy that
divided parishes not only here in Canada but throughout the Anglican Communion.
There was also during the 1970's and well into the 1990's discusssion, heated debate and division over the ordination of women as priests, causing many Anglicans to leave the Church. And twenty years later, the church is still divided over same sex relationship and same gender marriage.
Luke's Gospel is the Gospel of Good News .... for everybody! There is a wonderful story of how Jesus healed a man suffering from leprosy. The man, viewed as an outcast, an untouchable,
even his own family would have nothing to do with him, and who had to shout "Unclean!
Unclean!" when other people were near. This untouchable unclean man falls at the feet of
Jesus, his face to the ground, and pleads, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
.
What happens next is what the Gospel of Good News is all about. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, "I am willing!: Jesus said, "Be clean!" In that reaching out of his hand to touch
the untouchable man, Jesus closes the distance between us and God. Luke's Gospel, the Gospel
for everyone. God is the God of compassion, The God of Love. The God of everyone.
.
Someone has made the comment that the Gospel of Good News is like a pearl necklace.
Jesus himself likened the Kingdom of Heaven to a pearl. Luke's Gospel, the Gospel of Good
News, The Gospel, which is good for the mind, body and soul, is full of wonderful pearls.
THE GOSPEL OF JOY
The first 3 chapters of Luke's Gospel is known as the Gospel of Joy. The birth of John
the Baptist would be a "joy and delight to his parents and many would "rejoice" at his birth.
When Mary went to visit Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, Mary exclaims that
when the baby in her womb heard Elizabeth's greeting, the baby leaped for joy!
When Luke records the birth of Jesus, we are told that the angels urged the shepherds
"Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Today, in the town of David, a Saviour has been born ...."
THE GOSPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. Zexhariah & Elizabeth, Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
all respond to the Holy Spirit working in their lives by offering praise and thanksgiving!
Jesus is lead into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil.
The Holy Spirit is active throughout the ministry of Jesus and especially at his baptism.
THE GOSPEL OF THE POOR, THE OUTCAST AND THE SICK.
As we have already noted, Jesus was a friend to those who were sick and considered unclean.
The religious leaders accused Jesus of eating and drinking with tax-collectors and sinners ...
Luke's way of saying Jesus associated with the lowest of the low. Jesus response was to
say that "It was the healthy who needed a doctor but those who were sick."
THE GOSPEL OF PRAYER
Jesus at prayer is one of the key elements of Luke's Gospel. We find Jesus praying at his
baptism, he often withdrew to quiet places to pray. He spent the night in prayer, on a
mountainside before he chose his twelve disciples; He prayed during his transfiguration
and he prayed the night he was betrayed, and he prayed when nailed to a Cross.
There are many challenges and changes ahead for you. The people came in their thousands to hear Jesus' message of inclusion, of God's love for everyone. In our baptism we have made a vow to "respect the dignity of every person" and in our Christian journey, we are to run the race of life
with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith.
I tell you that, for as a runner for over forty years, my all time favourite verse
is from the New Testament, the Book of Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked
out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him
he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
John O'Donohue, who writes about Celtic Spirituality notes that
"Inspiration is always a surprising visitor." How right he is!
The other day in conversation with someone, he told me that 20 years ago he and his wife, just married, decided they would attend Church. During the Sermon a parishioner stood up and
demanded that the preacher denounce same-sex relationships or she would leave the church.
20 years later, they decided they would try that same Church again, and 20 years later Anglicans
were still divided over same-sex relationships, although no-one challenged the preacher this time.
If you have been around the Anglican Church any length of time, you will recall, starting
in the 1970's, the discussion, heated debate and division over the Book of Common Prayer
and the Book of Alternative Services - the B.C.P. versus the B.A.S. Controversy that
divided parishes not only here in Canada but throughout the Anglican Communion.
There was also during the 1970's and well into the 1990's discusssion, heated debate and division over the ordination of women as priests, causing many Anglicans to leave the Church. And twenty years later, the church is still divided over same sex relationship and same gender marriage.
Luke's Gospel is the Gospel of Good News .... for everybody! There is a wonderful story of how Jesus healed a man suffering from leprosy. The man, viewed as an outcast, an untouchable,
even his own family would have nothing to do with him, and who had to shout "Unclean!
Unclean!" when other people were near. This untouchable unclean man falls at the feet of
Jesus, his face to the ground, and pleads, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
.
What happens next is what the Gospel of Good News is all about. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man, "I am willing!: Jesus said, "Be clean!" In that reaching out of his hand to touch
the untouchable man, Jesus closes the distance between us and God. Luke's Gospel, the Gospel
for everyone. God is the God of compassion, The God of Love. The God of everyone.
.
Someone has made the comment that the Gospel of Good News is like a pearl necklace.
Jesus himself likened the Kingdom of Heaven to a pearl. Luke's Gospel, the Gospel of Good
News, The Gospel, which is good for the mind, body and soul, is full of wonderful pearls.
THE GOSPEL OF JOY
The first 3 chapters of Luke's Gospel is known as the Gospel of Joy. The birth of John
the Baptist would be a "joy and delight to his parents and many would "rejoice" at his birth.
When Mary went to visit Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, Mary exclaims that
when the baby in her womb heard Elizabeth's greeting, the baby leaped for joy!
When Luke records the birth of Jesus, we are told that the angels urged the shepherds
"Do not be afraid, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Today, in the town of David, a Saviour has been born ...."
THE GOSPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is the Gospel of the Holy Spirit. Zexhariah & Elizabeth, Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
all respond to the Holy Spirit working in their lives by offering praise and thanksgiving!
Jesus is lead into the desert by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil.
The Holy Spirit is active throughout the ministry of Jesus and especially at his baptism.
THE GOSPEL OF THE POOR, THE OUTCAST AND THE SICK.
As we have already noted, Jesus was a friend to those who were sick and considered unclean.
The religious leaders accused Jesus of eating and drinking with tax-collectors and sinners ...
Luke's way of saying Jesus associated with the lowest of the low. Jesus response was to
say that "It was the healthy who needed a doctor but those who were sick."
THE GOSPEL OF PRAYER
Jesus at prayer is one of the key elements of Luke's Gospel. We find Jesus praying at his
baptism, he often withdrew to quiet places to pray. He spent the night in prayer, on a
mountainside before he chose his twelve disciples; He prayed during his transfiguration
and he prayed the night he was betrayed, and he prayed when nailed to a Cross.
There are many challenges and changes ahead for you. The people came in their thousands to hear Jesus' message of inclusion, of God's love for everyone. In our baptism we have made a vow to "respect the dignity of every person" and in our Christian journey, we are to run the race of life
with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith.
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