Good Morning,
Welcome to your online worship from St. Mark’s for Sunday July 9, 2023.
I hope everyone’s month of July is safe and joyful. After all those years in school, July and August will always be “summer holiday” time and the remind me of the time off and summer adventures of youth.
It is the voice of the our children, youth, and young adults that Jesus is speaking about in our reading today. They are our next generation. Their desires for their future have an energy and hope for making their world right that I remember having. Jesus certainly seems to champion their voices and the voices of those calling out to the those in power to do the right thing for the good of all in our reading today.
Today’s Opening Sentence
Blessed is our Father, Lord of heaven and earth, who has revealed these things to the simple.
Today’s Reading – Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”1
Your Online Message and Prayers
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Reflection questions for the week:
- The rising call for change so often comes from the young and is born out of the youthful and hopeful hearts of those who haven’t been jaded by time. What changes were you hopeful about in your youth?
- I think history is an excellent teacher. It is helpful to remember and recall those moments in history that saw great changes that made lives better. What changes in our human understanding from our history stand out in your thoughts?
- What changes have you found yourself being most resistant to in your life, but that you found later to have found to discover was actually for the better?
- The change that Jesus brought was motivated by and directed by God’s love and compassion for all humanity. Although the changes that the Gospel message made possible in Jesus day in opening a path to right relationship with God and each other for all people was foundational, what aspects of our modern relationships and systems do you feel are next for us a Christians to attend too? Who voices do we need to better tune our ears and whose cause we need to champion?
This week music is provided by Ryan Van Dijk, our Music Director, and the choir. Thank you to them all for their ministry of music!
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.