As seems to be normal these days, a mixed bag. First is an all-age talk on God’s kingdom, based on the Canaanite woman of Mathew 15. It includes printable PDFs for the ‘paper magic’ and a vague suggestion of a talk (which I didn’t stick to very much). There’s also a video of me in action.
Below that, is a reflection of the themes in this week’s readings: not just one of them, not two, nor three, nor four but FIVE! Oh my goodness yes. Five out of the six readings in one reflection. How amazing is that?
And finally, just to calm you down a bit, are your liturgy resources, based on the sixth reading, so that it doesn’t feel left out.
Thank you and goodnight.
All-age Talk – God’s Kingdom and the Canaanite woman of Mathew 15
Click here for a printable PDF: talk and three pages of cut-out-ables.
God’s Kingdom paper circle Matt 15 21-28
Genesis 37 and Psalm 105
… and 1 Kings 19
… and Romans 10
… and Matthew 14
It’s not much of a surprise that gloves have five fingers and fit on hands – that’s what they’re designed for. It’s more of an eyebrow-raiser when your underpants fit on your head*. When my kids were small, pants-on-the-head was a favourite spiderman dress-up. (Perhaps still is. One does not like to ask.) Bit of a co-inkidink that your bum is the same size as your head, don’t you think?
[* Your milage may vary]
So for this week’s readings, it’s not surprise that the ‘related to the NT’ OT reading is, well, related. That’s why it was chosen. But when the ‘not related to the NT, just reading through a book in sequence’ OT reading also has the same theme, you know there’s something going on. Let me take you through them.
Genesis 37. This is the ‘unrelated’ reading. Last week we had Jacob becoming Israel, and this week he’s had a bunch of kids. And the boys are fighting. Again. But does Jacob give them each a slap round the head and change the wifi password until they all say they’re sorry? Nooooo. He stokes the fire of sibling disharmony and then wonders why his house goes up in flames.
Joseph is a minor character in this section, a passive character, done to rather than doing. But we’ve all seen the show, we’ve sung along with Donny, Jason D or that guy from Steps. We know what’s coming. And just in case we didn’t, the accompanying Psalm 105 gives us spoilers. Joseph will be second in command in the world’s super-power nation and decide life and death for millions. And the poor lad’s only seventeen. Can you imagine putting that weight of responsibility on a kid just finished his GCSEs?
On to the ‘related’ OT reading. We’re in 1 Kings 19 and the Elisha story. One of my favourites. Fleeing for his life from the murderous Jezebel, he lies down under a bush and hopes to die. God doesn’t let him, but feeds his body and soul then sends him to mount Horeb/Sinai. There we meet him in today’s reading, being commissioned to go back and anoint Jehu as king of Israel.
If that doesn’t make you go, “WHAT?!?!?!?!?” then go back and read it again. Israel already has a king thank you very much, and it’s Ahab, and he hates Elijah’s guts. And God wants Elijah to anoint the king’s successor? Well, that’s going to be popular, isn’t it? (Spoiler: Jehu slaughtered the house of Ahab and took the throne in a coup d’état around 840 BCE.)
I’ve got to say, Lord, that’s a pretty big ask. You’re telling Elijah to commit public treason in a land with a human rights record slightly less exalted than North Korea’s.
And Romans 10. You might think we’d be on safe ground here. Romans is full of good, juicy theology. No life-altering commands to step out of our comfort zones here, right? It might challenge our brains, but our feet are safe, surely?
Nope. But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ Even Romans has us being sent to proclaim God’s good news. More stepping out. More putting faith into practice.
So with all that, it was hardly a surprise when Matthew 14 popped up. I mean, what else could it be? “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
That’s a heck of a lot of ‘Step out of your comfort zone and do something you’d never have thought you could’ stories. Co-inkidink, much?
I’m just going to leave that there,
… and step always slowly,
… wearing underpants on my head.
Liturgy Resources for Proper 14
Psalm 85
Confession and Absolution
Come, people of God,
let us confess together to the Lord our maker,
for salvation is near to those who fear him
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Let us confess the sins we have knowingly committed,
[pause]
for salvation is near to those who fear him
that glory may dwell in our land.
Let us confess our sins of weakness,
[pause]
for salvation is near to those who fear him
that glory may dwell in our land.
Let us confess our sins of omission,
[pause]
for salvation is near to those who fear him
that glory may dwell in our land.
Let us hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful ones,
to those who turn to him in their hearts.
for salvation is near to those who fear him
that glory may dwell in our land.
Blessing and Dismissal
May God’s steadfast love and faithfulness be with you this day.
May righteousness and peace fill your hearts.
May God make a path for your steps,
and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you and those you love
this day, this week and for ever.
Amen.
Go out now, and live for God
that glory may dwell in our land.
Amen.
The Reflectionary 