May the grace, mercy and love of God be with us all. Amen.
Collect
Merciful God, teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty, that trusting in your word and obeying your will, we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession
Jesus says, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” So let us turn away from sin and turn to the Lord, confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
When we are slow to answer the call of discipleship, Lord, have mercy:
Lord, have mercy.
When we do not take your word as our guide, Christ, have mercy:
Christ, have mercy.
When we fail to love our neighbours as ourselves, Lord, have mercy:
Lord, have mercy.
May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God’s Word - Hebrews, chapter 7, verses 23 to the end :-
There have been many levitical priests, because death prevents them from continuing in office; but Jesus holds a perpetual priesthood, because he remains for ever. That is why he is able to save completely those who approach God through him, since he is always alive to plead on their behalf. Such a high priest is indeed suited to our need: he is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and raised high above the heavens. He has no need to offer sacrifices daily, as the high priests do, first for their own sins and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered up himself. The high priests appointed by the law are men in all their weakness; but the priest appointed by the words of the oath which supersedes the law is the Son, who has been made perfect for ever.
Mark, chapter 10, verses 46 to the end :-
They came to Jericho; and as he was leaving the town, with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was seated at the roadside. Hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me!’ Many of the people told him to hold his tongue; but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him’; so they called the blind man: ‘Take heart,’ they said. ‘Get up; he is calling you.’ At that he threw off his cloak, jumped to his feet, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbi,’ the blind man answered, ‘I want my sight back.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has healed you.’ And at once he recovered his sight and followed him on the road.
Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.
Reflection on the Readings
Our two readings today give us two ways in which the way of the world is dramatically different from the way of Christ. Let’s look first at the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.
We don’t know who wrote this letter. It may have been Apollos, some think, whose preaching is mentioned by Paul, but there is no hint as to its authorship either in the letter itself or in any other ancient record. What we do know is that it was a letter written in a very Jewish setting, to answer some of the sort of questions that might be asked by Jews who had become Christians. This is different from the letters of Paul, which were for the most part written to Christians who were non-Jews.
Jews were used to the round of sacrificial liturgies that took place in the great Temple of Jerusalem, presided over by Temple priests, all taken from the line of Levi, whose task it was plead to God on behalf of the people. And that’s why the writer of this letter goes to great pains to ensure that the priesthood of Jesus is contrasted with that of the Temple clergy. What they do can never fully suffice, but the priesthood of Jesus is all-sufficing.
Today we read that the priestly work of Jesus is not limited by time or death, as was - inevitably - the priesthood of the Temple. Nor is it limited by human sin, unlike those levitical priests who must first offer expiation for their own sins before they can do so for the sins of the people. What Jesus has done he has done once, and for all: he offers himself, a willing sacrifice for the sins of everyone.
This was something very important to Jewish people, which is why the writer to the Hebrews spends so much time on it. It may seem a lot less important to us; and the concept of a burden of sin that needs to be expiated, cancelled, removed, is I think something quite different from the way the world understands itself these days, at least in the secular west. And yet the uniqueness of Christ for me still resonates. I might well follow him anyway, just as a good teacher and a persuasive example of goodness. But I follow him as more than that - as Lord.
So what do I think about the weight of sin? We’ve moved on from needing to make animal sacrifices to persuade God into forgiving our sins; that way of thinking seems primitive and uncivilized to our minds I think. But I do still cringe when I think of mistakes I’ve made, wrong things I’ve done, good things I meant to do and never got round to. Some of the things that still haunt me come from as long ago as my school days - much else is forgotten, but somehow the mistakes I’ve made still smart, still bounce around in my memory. In that sense they do still weigh me down. But I learn from Jesus that I am more than merely the sum of my mistakes and misdemeanours.
And so to my second example, from our Gospel reading. An affliction like blindness would have been linked in the Jewish mind with sin. Why else would God be angry in such a way? Why else would he visit such misfortune? The way of the world dictates that some people are worth more than others, and those towards the top of the pile can always come up with good reasons why they should be where they are, and why those far below them are also in exactly the place they deserve to be.
Bartimaeus was rightly where he was, and as he was, in that point of view. Either his sins or maybe his father’s sins were what had sentenced him to blindness and beggary. It’s interesting to see that he seems to have been called only his father’s son. He was so unimportant that he didn’t even merit a name of his own. So maybe it was some sin of his father’s that in the minds of the people had condemned him to his fate. He calls out to Jesus, but those around him tell him to shut up. In any case, they probably assume that any good rabbinical teacher is going to agree with their assessment, that Bartimaeus is as he is because that’s where God has put him.
But our Gospel shows us that God isn’t partial. Everyone is equally precious in this new world, in this new kingdom. God desires our freedom, and God desires that we desire our neighbour’s freedom, and welfare, and peace. A man once asked to be shown heaven and hell. He was taken first to hell, and was amazed to see people at a huge feast of rich foods, and yet they were starving. Why? Because they had to use spoons with incredibly long handles, of which they could only hold the very tip. There was no way they could bring the spoon to their lips. He was taken then to heaven, to an identical feast, but with well-fed, happy people. “Ah, shorter spoons?” he asked. “No,” came the reply; “but here they feed each other.”
Statement of faith - We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayers - Today is Bible Sunday: pray for the mission of the Church world-wide, and for the Bible Societies and all they do. Pray too for mission where we are, and for Mark Hackney and all the Intergenerational Missioners of our diocese. In the world church we pray for small churches, and for the various extraprovincial dioceses in the Anglican Communion. In our own diocese pray for Richard our Bishop, and for all that develops and resources good and confident ministry.
On United Nations Day, pray for the work and witness of the United Nations Organisation, and for all the ensures peace and justice in those parts of our world where there is division and conflict, and promotes education and development where people are struggling.
Pray for all who are ill today, including those infected by the Covid virus. Pray for all who work in hospitals and healthcare, and for their own safety and wellbeing. Pray for all who are working to provide vaccination against Covid and flu and other winter ailments.
Pray for our families and friends, and for the life of our churches and communities. Pray for children and families in half-term week, and for those taking holidays at this time. Pray we may continue to act with responsibility and care, looking out for each other, and keeping safe ourselves.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessing - May we walk in the light of our Lord, and may his love be our guide and strength. May his blessing rest upon us, and give us the courage, the kindness and the compassion to be a blessing to others in his name. Amen.
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