Every Sunday, across the world, Christians share an agreed three year cycle of Bible Readings in Sunday worship, this is called the Common Lectionary. We offer materials including prayers bible study and worship resources for each one of these Sunday's via our Lectionary Bible Notes Section.

September 24 Ordinary 25

The first thing to recognise about the reading from Matthew this week is that it is not fair. Jesus says that somebody who works all day, slogs and toils will be rewarded exactly the same as somebody who has only made a tiny amount of effort at the end of the day.

We are all geared up to believe that those who work hard should be rewarded, and those who make no contribution get meagre returns. We were all told that at Christmas presents would be brought to the good boys and girls, whilst the naughty ones would get a piece of coal from Santa. What is the point of seeking to live a good life only to find that somebody who has not made the effort receives the same recompense? Why bother to try and live good lives, avoid temptation if we are all going to be treated the same?

The Gospel of Jesus demands a completely different way of thinking. God does not operate on the human system of good deed and subsequent reward. God is dominated by the principle of love. If God gave us our just rewards then we would discover that we all fall far short. Each and everyone of us requires forgiveness, not rewards!

Click here to read more

Read or listen to sermons

Read this week's prayers

Lectionary Material for every Sunday in Years A, B, C

 

Holy God, help us to clear space in our lives where your holy presence my grow and produce fruit worthy of our great calling. Remove far from us those things which cause hurt to others and hurt ourselves. Plant seeds of joy and peace that love might grow and be shown as we live in harmony with others.

We thank you generous God for the world in which we live. We praise you for the beauty of the seasons with the varied opportunities which they provide to enjoy creation. We give thanks for night and day, a time for rest and sleep, and a time for play and work. We give thanks for people, all so wonderfully different, yet each created in your image. We give thanks for Jesus, our Saviour, at whose birth in Bethlehem a star lit up the sky, who died on a cross to show your great love for us all. Amen.

Eternal God, in the darkness of winter, and in the darkness of our broken world, the light of Jesus shines to give us courage and hope. Light up our hearts as we praise you and our minds as we hear your word. Give strength we pray to those who seek to bring your light into the dark places of our world. Bless those who are called upon to fight as they serve in armies in conflict zones. Give wisdom to those politicians and world leaders who negotiate to bring about reconciliation. Strengthen all of those who work to protect the vulnerable or show compassion to those whose lives have been subject to physical and spiritual distress.

We pray that your Holy Spirit would work in us to help us to serve you day by day. Give us eyes to see you at work in our lives and those around us. May the joy of your salvation burn brightly in our soul that your lost children would be drawn closer you.

Hear our humble prayers that we may serve you in holiness and faith  and give voice to your presence among us  until the day of the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ,  who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

Each morning and each evening
let the peace of the Father, be ours.
Each day and each night
let the peace of the Son be ours.
Each dawn and each dusk
let the peace of the Spirit be ours.
Let the blessing of the three in one be ours;
both now and for ever. Amen.
Carmina Gadelica