Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Fourth Sunday after Epiphany – 2 February 2020 The Faith Nurture Forum would like to thank Rev Jonathan Fleming, Minister of Cumbrae with Largs St John’s, for his thoughts on the fourth Sunday after Epiphany. Our new online music resource is now live: here you can listen to samples of every song in the Church Hymnary 4th edition (CH4). The search function allows you to bring up a list of songs by keyword, tune, theme, author, composer and metre, covering all of the indexes in the hymnbook. The site features Weekly Worship and thematic/seasonal playlists, alternative settings and background information on the hymns. Introduction ................................................................................................... 2 Micah 6:1-8 .................................................................................................... 2 Psalm 15 ........................................................................................................ 3 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ..................................................................................... 3 Matthew 5:1-12 ............................................................................................. 4 Sermon ideas ................................................................................................. 4 Prayers .......................................................................................................... 5 Alternative Material ....................................................................................... 7 Musical suggestions ...................................................................................... 13 Introduction On Sunday 2 February, the Church celebrates Candlemas, the Presentation of Jesus to God in the temple 40 days after His birth. In Catholicism, it is also a celebration of the Virgin Mary’s purification. Many people associate this day with the start of Spring – the appearance of snowdrops, known also as Candlemas Bells. In the Christian faith, these flowers are also synonymous with hope. The passages for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany appear to emphasise the need for standards, which the people of the time seemed to be falling short of in a multitude of ways. Can we read these passages through the same lens today? My approach to these texts explores this possibility. Micah 6:1-8 If we were to imagine this passage from Micah as a courtroom scene, the people of Israel are in the dock on trial. God, the Judge, proceeds to list the ways God’s people should be behaving, followed by the variety of ways in which they have spectacularly fallen short of God’s expectations as well as letting one another down. Continuing the courtroom analogy, the mountains are called as witnesses – the place where sacrifices would have been offered to false gods and pagan altars built. What has God done to deserve such behaviour from the accused? Nothing! In fact, God has been nothing but a patient, loving guide and companion who has given them countless opportunities to repent and return. And when God’s people realise the error of their ways, what do they do? They offer to sacrifice all sorts of objects and livestock in the hope of appeasing God, for fear of acts of wrath. How short a memory they have! God does not work in this way… God does not want to be kept happy – that is not enough! God wants changed lives; God longs for a transformed people who seek nothing but justice, humility and love. Like many other times in the lives of Israel (cf. the Book of Judges), the people of God are travelling like a ship without a rudder and lose sight of all that God has done for them and continues to do for them, in spite of their short memories… Thank goodness we have a God of patience, grace and mercy! Psalm 15 The Psalmist presents us with a list of ten standards expected of God’s people, which each of us should want to live up to at any point in our life; be it refusing to harm others with our words or actions, striving to always tell the truth or always keeping one’s promises. Like this Sunday’s passage from Micah, the hilltop, a place of height and significance, is seen to intertwine with tent (or sanctuary) – both places where God can be found. This is a common pattern in Hebrew poetry, where the repeating pattern is found more in the thought than in the sound or rhythm. Verse 3 reminds us of the power of words. As we read in the Book of Proverbs, “Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). As we read in Psalm 15, a life lived lovingly and faithfully in relationship with God affords us the benefits of now and of eternity. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 In these early verses from Paul’s letter to Corinth, we read of the wisdom of God and how it cannot be compared to any conventional, earthly wisdom. God’s wisdom is beyond the comprehension of many, as seen in the reaction of the Jews and the Greeks to the preaching of Christ crucified, who take offence or brand it as folly respectively. For those who do not believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ, the message of His death and resurrection may sound foolish, as for many, sadly, death is perceived as the end of the road with nothing to follow. Paul’s explanation of the meaning of the Cross reminds us that we should be compassionate to each other because of what Christ has been prepared to do for us in love. One should not seek pride or an attitude of one-upmanship; rather we should seek to be Christ-like in our words and deeds. If boastfulness is to factor in our lives, it should be to boast about God and God alone (v31). Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus uses His longest known sermon to outline what is expected of followers of the Way in the giving of the Beatitudes. William Barclay describes the Sermon on the Mount as ‘the opening of Jesus’ whole mind to His disciples; […] the summary of the teaching which Jesus habitually gave to His inner circle’(1). The Beatitudes essentially formed Jesus’ code of ethics for His disciples and all who sought to follow Him. They also demonstrated the expectations of the Old Testament manifesting themselves in the new Kingdom. They are not a pick and mix, however – Jesus expects us to accept them in their entirety and to live by them as Christ’s followers. Rather than ‘blessed’, some translations open each beatitude with the word ‘happy’. In order to find the truest form of happiness in hope and joy, one is called to follow Christ without counting the cost. While this may not result in happiness in terms of a smile on one’s face, living a Christ-like life leads us to a happiness beyond understanding in the Kingdom of God – in sacrificing your personal rights and privileges in service and care to others, one can look forward to the gifts of God that are beyond our wildest dreams… [1. Barclay, W., The Daily Study Bible – The Gospel of Matthew Vol 1 Chapters 1-10, (Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh, 1979), p. 87] Sermon ideas Whether we are of school age, in employment or part of a group or organisation, each of us are bound by rules, procedures and codes of conduct. Some roll their eyes at the sight of a policy document, rulebook or checklist, but these things are often in place to protect everybody present and to allow everyone to feel valued, included and safe. The texts for today show a variety of ways in which God wants us to live our lives lovingly, faithfully and authentically. A number of these ‘rules’, commandments and beatitudes are hard to read and to aspire to, but if we were to live by them, what a wonderful world we would live in! If we were to live our lives demonstrating the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ in our day to day activities, showing the compassion of Christ through our mouths and our hands and demonstrating the humility and grace of our Lord, even when times are hard, we would live in a world where, as it is written in Micah 6, one could truly act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with one another and with God. Prayers Prayer of Adoration God of light and revelation, as the darkness of winter gives way to the hope and renewal of spring, we praise You for the beauty of the Earth around us. For hilltop and sanctuary; for ocean bed and landscape, we give You thanks and praise. Lord, Jesus Christ, may Your light shine upon us this day as we gather to lift our hearts and voices in praise, open our ears to Your Word and offer our very selves in service. Inspiring and challenging Spirit, be with us in this place. Fill us with Your love and peace so that we share these gifts with all and with each other. Confession Lord God, You have done so much for us, more than we deserve; more than we can list; more than we can comprehend. For the times when we fall short, forgive us. For the times when we fail to acknowledge just how blessed we are, forgive us. For the times we show little care to those who are struggling, forgive us. Lord, Jesus Christ, we are sorry for the words we use, or actions we commit that harm others and cause tension. Yet as we approach You, we discover that Your care for us remains strong. You call us blessed, for despite our ways, we remain ‘right with You’. Forgiven, loved and free, may we enter Worship this day ready to seek Your will and Your will alone. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen Intercession God of love, whose foolishness is greater than any human wisdom, You challenge us with standards to aspire to and yet You overflow with love, openness and acceptance. Today, we pray for the World that You have gifted to us and called us to steward, as we seek to look on it through Christ-like eyes: eyes that help us to see a clearer vision of the world; eyes that help us to see people as they really are; eyes to recognise that despite the trials that are experienced by some, they are blessed… We pray this day for those who are financially poor.