RCL Readings Sunday 10 October 2010
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
Psalm 66:1-12
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19

Last week’s Old Testament readings were dominated by the mood of lament as the people found themselves in exile, in a foreign land, and looking back to the devastated Jerusalem. This week’s reading from Jeremiah (29:1, 4-7) is part of a letter written by the prophet to the exiles in Babylon (modern Iraq). The exiles are urged to put down roots and build community – this exile is going to be a long time. There is always the danger of looking back to the “good old days” but God’s people are told to live in the present and in the present to build community. How are we building community? And how are you sharing in the building of community? In what ways do your words, actions and thoughts contribute to the wellbeing of community?

More significantly God’s people are to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (v.7). What contributes to the welfare of your town or village? What are the characteristics of a healthy community? We need to answer these questions from the perspective of being ‘exiles’ – that is not an easy task but an essential one if we are not to fall into the trap of simply being concerned with the protection of our own interests. As you pray for your town or village divide your prayers into:

v  thanksgiving for the things that create good community;

v  confession of those things that divide and the prejudices that exclude;

v  intercession for the welfare of the town – its caring agencies, medical services, schools, public services, commercial life and the church communities.

Psalm 66:1-12 is an invitation to praise and worship God. This praise and worship is prompted by a marvelling upon what God has done (v.1-4), a recounting of his saving acts (v.6) and a realisation that even in the tough times God has been at work (v.8-12). We are called to be a people of praise and the same things should prompt our praise – let these things feed your worship and praise. Being a people of praise and worship also contributes to the welfare of the community – the worship of God is the one thing that distinguishes us from all other groups within the community.

Thanksgiving for what God has done in Jesus Christ is at the heart of worship and the focus of the reading from Luke 17:11-19. The challenge is that it is often the unexpected one who is truly thankful and those who should have been by virtue of their alleged faith take God’s actions for granted. It was the ‘foreigner’ in the story who acknowledged his indebtedness to Jesus and expressed his gratitude. Let us, individually and corporately, be a thankful people focusing upon what God has done (see notes on Psalm 66 above).

Paul’s instruction to Timothy (2 Tim. 2:8-15) also focuses upon what God has done in Christ Jesus, as it did in last week’s reading. Two further things to reflect upon: we can’t chain or shackle God’s word to make it more acceptable to ourselves or others (v.9); we need to handle God’s word carefully (v.14-15). Pray for those who have special responsibilities in this respect: preachers, Junior Church leaders and House Group leaders. Finally reflect upon the nature of God: “If we are faithless, he [God] remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).