RCL Readings Sunday 21 November 2010
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 46
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43

The Colossians reading (Col 1:11-20) provides a wealth of material to shape our praying this week. Begin periods of prayer by slowly reading verses 15-20 and let these verses shape your understanding of who Christ is. Allow this reflection to lead you into prayers of adoration as you sense the wonder of who Christ is: “the image of the invisible God”, “before all things”, the source of all creation, holding all creation together, head of the Church, the one in whom “the fullness of God was please to dwell”, the agent of reconciliation. A sense of awe and wonder grows as the nature of Christ is laid out in these verses.

The first part of the Colossians reading (vv 11-14) is a reminder of what we receive from Christ and form a framework for our prayers for one another. Pray that you and others may be “strengthened” by Christ’s glorious power and enabled to “endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father”. Realise what God has done for you through Christ, verses 13-14, and live as those who have been “transferred” into Christ’s kingdom and forgiven. While verses 15-20 focused on the nature of Christ and lead to adoration, verses 11-14 focus on what Christ has done and lead to praise and thanksgiving.

Jeremiah 23:1-6 is a profoundly challenging and in some ways disturbing reading for Church leaders – those called to be shepherds among God’s people. The reading prompts a searching question “what is it that ‘destroys and scatters’ God’s people?” or turning the question around “what is it that builds up and unites God’s people?” As we honestly answer the first question we should be led to confession and as we consider the second we should be moved to action. Consider what it is that you can do this week that will build up God’s people. Pray too for those who are ‘shepherds’ within the Church.

Psalm 46 is a reminder of the nature of God – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present (well proved) help in trouble.” This is the psalmist’s experience and as a result, in the midst of change and tumult, the psalmist doesn’t fear. God “in the midst” (v.5) is central to this faith and so whatever may be happening the exultation is: “Be still, and know that I am God!” It is not always easy to be still and we tend to like to be in control (god like?). An awareness of who Christ is and what Christ has done (the Colossians reading) and the nature of God reflected in this Psalm are the grounds for this stillness.

It will seem strange to many to focus, as the gospel reading does (Luke 23:33-43), on the crucifixion as we approach Advent and the celebration of the coming of Christ. The reading was selected by those who devised the lectionary as this Sunday is “Christ the King” and the reading portrays a very different model of what it means to be a king! But for our prayers I suggest we meditate upon the words spoken by one of the others crucified that day “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v.42) and the response “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise”. I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be “re-membered” – put back together, made whole, healed – for that was the purpose of Christ’s coming, “to reconcile to himself (God) all things” (Col. 1:20). This is possible “today”.