Includes Sermon Audio
21st Sunday after Pentecost
Sentence:
There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for Jesus sake, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
Mark 10:29-30.
Collect of the day.
Merciful God, in your Son you call not the righteous but sinners to repentance: draw us away from the easy road that leads to destruction, and guide us into parts that lead to a life abundant, that in seeking your truth, and obeying your will, we may know the joy of being a disciple of Jesus our saviour; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
Today’s readings:
Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Psalm 22:1-15
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:17-31.
A thought to ponder upon-Mark 10:17-31
In today’s gospel a man comes to Jesus and says he wants to follow. Jesus challenges him to go beyond observance of the law and to make a serious commitment to God by giving up his riches and following him. This is too much for the man and he goes away that. Jesus challenges the young man where he had least expected it, in his attachment to his well. Like many Jews of his time, he had thought that his wealth was assigned a blessing from God.
Jesus’ challenge to the man is twofold: first, he is to sell his possessions and give the money to or. Such a positive injunction surprises. He was used to think of the law of God in negative terms, “you shall not…” Now, he realises that he must not only avoid doing bad things, but take positive action too. The 2nd challenge is Jesus invitation to come and follow him. The reason why he should sell his possessions is to be free to follow Jesus and to allow Jesus to give a new orientation to his life.
One popular kind of expression in the language of the Jews is the use of an exaggerated image. The camel passing through the eye of a needle is such an exaggerated image. Everybody knows it is impossible. But this exaggeration contains a deep truth. It is impossible for a rich person who is attached to his wealth to be a meal disciple of Jesus and into his way of life. It becomes possible only by God’s grace!
Sermon Audio
The Reverend Josie Steytler preaches from the Gospel after the gospel reading.
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