13th October 2024 10.30am – 20th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

The Readings

Hebrews 4.12-end

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mark 10.17-31

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.” ’ He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’

Peter began to say to him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

Scripture Quotations are from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

The Sermon
By Joe, Reader at St Mary's.

May I speak in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Our Gospel reading is quite well known – the reading from Hebrews
probably less so, I think it acts as a useful lead-in…

The author of Hebrews tells us that
"the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-
edged sword."

God's Word wasn’t just written down and intended to sit on a page –
or these days, on a web server – as an interesting historical note. It
is dynamic, living, active – a weapon. It is as relevant today as it was
when written. It cuts right to the core of our identity, discerning the
thoughts and intentions of our hearts. This is not always
comfortable. In fact, it can be deeply unsettling.

God's Word doesn’t just inform us; it transforms us. It challenges us
to confront the parts of ourselves we may prefer to hide—the parts
that cling to worldly values, that seek comfort and security sourced
from earthly things over faith and trust in God. God’s Word reveals
our true motivations, our struggles, our good intentions, our hidden
fears, our hidden sins.

There is no hiding place. In His presence, we can have no secrets.
When we engage with Scripture, we’re not just reading words on a
page. We’re encountering the living God. We’re treading on
dangerous ground, where we’re invited into a process of
transformation, a deepening relationship where we are constantly
being shaped into Christ’s likeness. This is inevitably going to be….
Uncomfortable. I don’t know about you, but I have a few things I’d
like to keep hidden in my life – things that I’m not entirely
comfortable about – and also some parts of my personality that I’d
like to keep for me, if you don’t mind. How much are we willing to
give up and expose? In the presence of God’s word – everything.

We don’t have a choice.

We come before a God who knows us completely—our failures, our
weaknesses, our brokenness—and yet still loves us deeply. Jesus
sympathizes with our weaknesses. He knows what it’s like to be
tempted, after all, He was fully human as well as being fully God.
With Jesus’s intercession, we can approach God with confidence,
knowing that we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our
time of need.

In our Gospel reading, Jesus and his disciples meet a rich young man.

This is one of those Gospel stories that tends to make us
uncomfortable, especially if we’re honest about how much we value
our possessions, our financial security and our way of life. This young
man could actually be any of us; feel free to shuffle uncomfortably if
you wish to!

The young man approaches Jesus with a sincere question:

"Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

He’s clearly someone who has lived a moral life, keeping the
commandments from his youth What we’d probably refer to as a
decent, law-abiding citizen – a pillar of the community. But Jesus
sees the one thing that is holding this man back from fully embracing
the Kingdom of God: his attachment to wealth.

When Jesus tells the young man to sell all he has and give to the
poor, He isn’t making a general rule for everyone to follow. He’s
identifying something very particular to this man; something that is
so big in his life, that it will stop him becoming more Christ-like. His
wealth.

Each of us has something within us that can potentially be that road-
block. It might be wealth and possessions; it might be our careers,
obsessive hobbies – any number of things that we can make the
centre of our lives, and that would prevent us from trusting and
serving God fully. Because that is what following Jesus is all about;
trusting and serving God in a whole-hearted and full manner.
The young man’s reaction is telling.

"His face fell, and he went away sad, because he had great
wealth."

Jesus doesn’t chase after him. Instead, He turns to His disciples and
says something that, for the people around him, would have been
truly shocking:

"How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!"

This was a radical statement at the time, because wealth was often
seen as a sign of God’s blessing. Jesus turns this idea upside down,
telling us that wealth, if we are not careful, can become a stumbling
block—a barrier between us and the more abundant life that God
offers.

Today we live in a world that often equates success with financial
prosperity. We’re constantly bombarded with messages that tell us
we need more—more money, more stuff, more security. What I’ve
occasionally referred to as the ‘You’re worth it’ culture.

But Jesus calls us to a different kind of wealth. He calls us to trust in
God and to live according to the Gospel teachings – with love,
generosity and mercy. This doesn’t mean that everyone is called to
sell all they have, but it does mean that we’re called to ask ourselves
a few questions. Are we placing our trust in our wealth and worldly
circumstances, or in God? Are we clinging to the things of this world,
or are we willing to give and share with those in need? In the song
‘Once in a lifetime’, David Byrne sings:

And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"

And later in the song, we hear:

You may ask yourself, "What is that beautiful house?"
You may ask yourself, "Where does that highway go to?"
And you may ask yourself, "Am I right? Am I wrong?"
And you may say to yourself, "My God, what have I done?"

We are being prompted to ask ourselves what stops us from fully
following Christ. It’s going to be something unique for all of us. And
we almost certainly will find ourselves asking ‘Am I right or wrong in
how I lead my life?’ And we may well find ourselves asking God, in a
prayerful manner ‘What have I done?’

Jesus goes on to tell His disciples that it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the
Kingdom of God. A well-known story and saying, but we can now see
it differently. Entering the Kingdom requires total dependence on
God. It’s not something we can achieve through our own efforts,
wealth, or status – it relies on God’s grace.

The disciples – probably aware of their own shortcomings, and likely
concerned about their own future - ask, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus answers:

"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are
possible with God."

This is good news for all of us. Whether we struggle with wealth,
pride, fear, or anything else, salvation is not something we can earn
or achieve on our own. It’s a gift of grace, made possible by God’s
love and mercy. Our job is to trust God, to follow Christ, and to let go
of whatever is keeping us from fully embracing God’s call on our
lives.

So, what can we take away from these readings today? First, we are
reminded that God's Word is alive and relevant. It challenges us,
questions us, and can transform us. We are invited to let the Word of
God do its work in our hearts, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Second, we are reminded that following Jesus requires surrender.
What we have to surrender is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit –
through study of scripture, prayer and making ourselves open to the
idea of change. Whether it’s our wealth, our plans, or our sense of
control, we are called to let go and trust in God. This isn’t easy. Like
the rich young man, we might find it hard to part with the things we
hold dear; such sacrifices are costly. But Jesus promises that those
who give up everything for His sake will receive a hundred times
more in this life—and in the life to come, eternal life.

May we, like the disciples, have the courage to ask, "What must I do
to follow You more fully, Lord?", the greater courage to follow
through with actions based on the answer we get, and may we trust
that with God, all things are possible.

Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared By Barbara.

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.

O God, the creator and preserver of all, we pray for people in every kind of need; make your ways known on
earth, your saving health among all nations ...

We pray for all those affected by war, thinking particularly of people in Israel and Lebanon, but not
forgetting conflicts such as those in Ukraine, Myanmar and Sudan. Please bring strength and comfort to all
those affected and help every one of us to be part of a path to peace throughout the world.

We pray for our new government here in the UK. Please help them to reach all those struggling to keep
warm this winter, helping people who are not currently claiming all the benefits to which they are entitled
to do so. Please help us to do what we can to help them.

We pray for all those employed in social services in the UK. We pray for all the hard decisions they have to
make, giving thanks for their service and the assistance they provide to those who need their help, thanking
them for their patience and care. We pray that the government finds ways to better fund social services,
thinking particularly of those that are helped, including children, the elderly and those who cannot find
gainful employment. Please help us to recognise their needs and the need for the government to meet those
needs.

We pray for all those in the USA who will be voting this year to choose a new government for their country.
Please help all of those who can vote to consider the future of the world and what government would be best
placed to achieve a future free of war and able to support all the world’s population. Help them to vote for a
world that is more considerate of all its inhabitants, both human and non-human.

We pray also for all those involved in trying to fight the climate crisis, as our government develops
initiatives to increase solar and wind power in the UK. Please give all governments the political courage to
resist further use of fossil fuels and to invest in sources of renewable energy instead.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for your Church throughout the world; guide and govern us by your good Spirit, that all who
profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit,
in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life ...

We pray especially for our worshipping community of St. John’s Ranmoor, St. Mark’s Broomhill and St.
Mary’s Walkley, that we may continue to bear witness to our faith in the way we live our daily lives.

We pray for the church in Canada, celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend. We thank you for your
bounty and for the understanding encouraged by the recent Truth and Reconciliation Day. Please help your
church in Canada to make amends for all the wrongs we have done to Canada’s aboriginal peoples.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed, in mind, body
or estate; comfort and relieve them in their need, give them patience in their sufferings, and bring good out
of their troubles ...

In moments of peace and contemplation, we name to you all those known to us who are suffering. Please
care for them and for all those of whose suffering we are unaware.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We remember those who have gone before us in the peace of Christ, and we give you praise for all your
faithful ones, with whom we rejoice in the communion of saints. Today we particularly remember Alex
Salmond, thinking of his family and friends at this time.

We name to you in our hearts all those known to us both near and far who are suffering the loss of friends
and loved ones, asking that you bring your comfort and healing to them at this time of grief.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

St Marys Walkley

The Church on the Road: inclusive, eucharistic, a safe place to be with God

13th October 2024 10.30am – 20th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist