Hymns:
Hymn 156: “Morning has broken”
Hymn 546: “Lord Jesus, think
on me”
Hymn 522: “Christ is the
heavenly food” (Soll’s Sein)
Hymn 531: “Sent forth by God’s blessing” (Ash Grove)
Hymn 778: “Shalom to you”
Readings:
The First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The Gospel Reading: John 2.13-22
Call to Worship
Passion
consumed Jesus as he overturned the tables of the merchants and moneychangers
in the Temple grounds. As we follow Jesus toward the cross, may we too be
consumed by a righteous passion to do what is right and honourable.
The heavens
declare the glory of God.
The earth
proclaims God’s
handiwork.
In speech
without words, their voices are heard.
In praise
without language, their sounds extend
throughout
creation.
The law of God
is perfect, reviving the soul.
The teachings
of God are sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts
of God are right, rejoicing the heart.
The ordinances
of God are true and are righteous altogether.
Come and
proclaim with the heavens the glory and majesty of our God.
Opening prayer
God of
righteous fire, just as Jesus was consumed with passion as he cleared the
Temple, may we be consumed with passion as we seek justice and righteousness in
our world; just as Christ never flinched on his journey to the cross, may we
never waver in our devotion to you and our defence of the poor. On this great
journey of Lent, teach us the perfection of your ways, as we keep our eyes
fixed upon your Son. Amen.
Today's reading and the subject of Rev. John’s sermon and
then his blog was the scene in the Temple when Jesus overturned the tables of
the money changers and drove out all those that were involved in the sale of
Temple offerings. Given that it was legal for these people to be there doing
what they were doing, why did Jesus act the way he did and with such ferocity?
It was because they were dealing dishonestly with the people
who went to the Temple to give offerings in an effort to have their sin
forgiven. The people could hardly be poorer and were being forced to use what
little funds they had to purchase acceptable offerings….at inflated prices.
The traders in the offerings were betraying not only these
poor people who were bound by the law to seek reconciliation with God for
assumed sins, but they were also betraying God by polluting the way of
relieving people of their burden of guilt.
No wonder Jesus was furious.
Of course we would never act in any way that was similar
to these traders…..would we?
Rev. John spoke to us about “Holy Habits.” Do we always
behave in Holy ways or are there times when we are as guilty as the people in
the Temple who took advantage of the ordinary people and acted in a way which
was not as God wants? Are we ever guilty of making anyone feel uncomfortable at
church? Do we ever use the church or any position we have in the church
community for our own ends rather than the building of God’s kingdom?
Rev. John pointed out that we are different from God, we are
not pure light and love but can we show that light and love to others?
Some of us do for much of the time and some of us do for some
of the time but if we are ever using our life in the church for our own ends it
will show, and God’s light and love will not show.
Rev. John sent us out with these words:
Walk in the
ways of God. Go forth with the song of the heavens in your ears. Listen to the
words of life. Go forth to live fully and completely: with the teachings of God’s law to lead you, with the grace of Christ Jesus to
guide you, and with the peace of the Holy Spirit to sustain you. Go with God.
And the
blessing of God almighty, Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life be with you
always.
Amen. Amen.
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