Good Morning,
Welcome to your online worship from St. Mark’s for Sunday, September 1, 2024 as we begin the Season of Creation.
In my sermon for this Sunday, we explore how Jesus challenges us to look beyond outward rituals and focus on the true intentions of our hearts. By examining the deeper meaning of traditions and their impact on our spiritual lives, we are called to align our actions with a genuine love for God and God’s creation.
Also, just a note that I needed to spit up my summer holidays this year and I will be away this coming week. Please direct any pastoral emergency calls to Debbie Belowitz our Parish Nurse, who can help or will connect you with a clergy person. I will be back in the office on September the 10th.
Today’s Opening Sentence
The Father brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. – James 1:18
Today’s Reading – Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
“This people honours me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.”
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’
Then he called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’ For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’1
Your Online Message and Prayers
Click on the above image to view our online worship on YouTube.
Reflection questions for the week:
- In what areas of my life do I find myself going through the motions? How can I realign my heart to ensure my actions are driven by a genuine love for God and God’s creation?
- What motivates my actions, particularly in my spiritual practices and care for the environment? Are my intentions rooted in sincere faith, or are they influenced by a desire to appear good to others?
- How can I simplify my lifestyle to better reflect my respect for God’s creation? What steps can I take to reduce consumption and make more sustainable choices?
- How can I actively live out my faith in a way that goes beyond rituals and traditions? What specific actions can I take this week to demonstrate my love for God and all creation?
A continued reminder that if you are at all uncomfortable being in-person for worship, or if you are not feeling well, please join us here online.
Thank you again for joining with your parish family in our online worship today.
Find out how you can support our ministry and good work in the community here.
God Bless you and have a blessed week. Be well!
Peace,
The Rev’d Canon Rob Park
- Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.