ST. MAXENTIUS WORSHIP AT HOME – Trinity 18, Sunday 16th October

INTRODUCTION

As you can see from the picture above today’s Gospel reading is about persistent prayer from Luke’s Gospel. The reflection is by myself and Intercessions are by Sue Usher this week, and we especially hold Rev Peter and his family in our prayers after the death of his father last weekend.

Here at St Maxentius we are well into our Holy Communion classes and we have a group of 12 children attending. They are an absolute delight to be with and are a credit to all. We hope to admit them on the 30^th October in the Sunday service. Our Confirmation classes start tomorrow and the confirmation by Bishop Mark will take place on the 20^th November, so far we have 4 young people and two adults.

The Tuesday 10.30 service and the Wednesday family service are going well and it has been lovely to see some more new faces joining us, the children have planted bulbs and also up-cycled rubbish to make new objects and pictures.

Jan B.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Loving God, we have come to worship you,

Help us to pray to you in faith, to sing your praise with gratitude, and listen to your word with eagerness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF PENITENCE

Lord God, we have sinned against you; we have done evil in your sight.

We are sorry and repent. Have mercy on us according to your love.

Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from sin.

Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of your salvation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

THE GLORIA

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

THE COLLECT

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us your gift of faith that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE NEW TESTAMENT READING

2 TIMOTHY 3. 14-4.5

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is^* useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you O Lord.

LUKE 18.1-8.

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ’ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.

REFLECTION

The Gospel reading today tells us another of Jesus’ parables, but the message is really about persistent prayer and not giving up if you do not get the answer you want. Jesus talks about a woman who is a widow, which immediately puts her at the bottom of the pecking order. In those days the only person who could make a decision about a dispute was a judge, it was a small town so he was the only source of justice in the area. The widow not having a husband to support her would have no money so it was unlikely that the judge would hear her case.

He probably took bribes and gave favour to those who could pay the most. The widow wanted justice against her so called enemy but she didn’t have a chance, she would be ignored as a woman in a man’s world and also had no way of competing with them, or did she? What a strong character she is, she makes a nuisance of herself and will not stop hassling the judge until he cannot stand it anymore and hears her case, he rules in her favour as he certainly does not want any come back from her.

So what is Jesus trying to tell us? He starts the parable with instruction to always pray and not to give up or lose heart. Jesus shows admiration that this strong character knew what was right and therefore would not let it drop. He does not want people to stop praying even if they do not get what they want, but to keep their faith and worship and pray to God. We must not expect instant gratification but be ready to wait until God deems it appropriate and right for us.

Jan B.

THE CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.

INTERCESSIONS

During the intercessions, we pray for the church, our country, our government, people in difficulty and those who have died. You can use your own prayers or if you prefer here are some on today’s theme.

Almighty God, you watch over our going out and our coming in, you hear all our prayers, and know our needs.

Creator God, we know that all we have comes from you,

and that we are totally dependent upon you for all that we have;

give us persistence, perseverance and patience,

so that we may never give up on you, or on others or on ourselves.