Sunday 2nd October 2022

We sat down and wept!

Readings:
Lamentations 1:1-6:  Lamentations is a book commonly known for sorrow and its ‘lamenting’ of the destruction of Jerusalem. Jeremiah is thought to be the author of the book, expressing his sadness at all that has happened.
Luke 17: 5-10: This is Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed, and an admonition to do what we ought.
 
How honest can we be with God? How much are we able to expose our inner thoughts and feelings to God and to those around us? I suspect that most of us tend to be rather reserved and say, “God wouldn’t want to know what I really think! God has more to do than listen to my grumbling. There are people worse off than me!”
 
Guilt harms us and inhibits our faith in God.
Forgiveness is the gift which increases our faith. Forgiveness is given to open the way of life in all its fullness.
It is mine. Whatever has happened in the past is in the past. I lay it down and leave it there, living now and in the future as a forgiven, beloved child of God.  Thanks be to God. Amen
 
The recording of this week’s sermon can be watched here: https://youtu.be/Jr0ocGUi7YA​

​Somehow, we have to learn to trust the power of the God who is with us rather than trusting our own power. The writer of Lamentations expressed his trust in God this way, “This I call to mind and therefore I have hope…”(3:21)
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In times of suffering we call to mind what endures and is everlasting – the basis of our ultimate hope. Can we, with the writer of Lamentations, sing, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (3:22-23)