This week's reflection
WEALTH AND CARE FOR OTHERS
Complacency can be a misguided, illfounded and inappropriate response to power and privilege. The northern kingdom of Samaria was one that had a period of expansion and wealth while the southern kingdom suffered economically. Amos fearlessly proclaimed that a time of reckoning was approaching when such wealth would be no defence against the forces that would drag them into exile.
He points out that it is their lack of concern for their brothers and sisters in the south that will result in them being the first to be exiled. In a similar manner, Jesus used the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to remind his listeners that with wealth comes the responsibility to be attentive to the suffering of those who are less fortunate. The sudden reversal of the situations of the poor man and Lazarus is a powerful reminder that the time of accounting may find us unprepared, and our complacency at best a delusion.
As the first letter to Timothy concludes, Timothy is reminded of his responsibilities as a Christian leader and exhorted to keep faithful to the instructions he has been given. There is an air of solemnity as he is called to fulfil his duty in a spirit of faith, love, patience and gentleness until the return of the Lord at the end of time. As Jesus stood up to witness to the truth before Pontius Pilate, Timothy is challenged to let his leadership of the community serve as his testimony when the Lord returns.
Christopher Monaghan CP
2nd October 2022
INCREASE OUR FAITH
On the journey of faith there are moments when we may lose heart or be
discouraged. Faced with opposition or misunderstanding it is no easy matter to
maintain our trust in the Lord. At times the responsibilities of our Christian lives
may be experienced as a burden. Like the first disciples, we find ourselves turning
to Jesus saying, ‘increase our faith!’
When we look around us there is so much suffering caused by injustice and our
violence to one another. It is only natural that we question how God’s plans will
come to fruition when they clash head-on with human weakness. Habakkuk found
himself dealing with many of the same issues. His time was one of violence and
his hope and faith in God’s power and the realisation of God’s plans was flagging.
Habakkuk is reminded in a vision that while the wheels move slowly, they are
moving nonetheless, and God’s purposes will come to pass for the upright who
remain faithful.
In the second letter to him, Timothy is also called not to lose heart and remain
faithful to his responsibilities as a young pastor. Having been commissioned and
called to this ministry he may have been discouraged by its demands and
complexity. The sound advice that is given is to remember there is no need to rely
solely on his own resources. The precious gift of the Spirit has been given. In
the ministry of leadership, it is the Spirit that will guide, empower and strengthen –
there is no need to fear.
Christopher Monaghan CP
9 October 2022
WORD OF GOD CANNOT BE CHAINED
While the people of Israel rejoiced in the unique call they had received, their
experience of the world taught them that people of goodwill and faith could be
found in other places and cultures. Called to be a light to the nations they knew
that sometimes it was others who were light to them. Naaman the Syrian general
was prepared to risk trusting the word of his wife’s Israelite servant in order to be
healed of leprosy. He had come to Elisha with gifts to ensure he would be healed
but he leaves not only healed but richer in faith.
In a similar vein, it is a heretical Jew, a Samaritan, who has the eyes to see
what the living God is offering in Jesus. He alone has the openness of heart to
give thanks for the precious gift he has received through regaining his health. All
the lepers were healed but only one has been saved. The outsider is the one who
has been saved by means of his faith.
The letter to Timothy reflects on the fact that the Good News cannot be chained
or confined. Even though Paul and other early Christian missionaries experienced
opposition, hardship and imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel, they knew
that their efforts were not in vain. The message of Jesus was not to be confined to
Israel and Timothy is encouraged not to lose heart because being immersed in the
death of Jesus and in his sufferings means sharing in his resurrected life as well.
Christopher Monaghan CP
Complacency can be a misguided, illfounded and inappropriate response to power and privilege. The northern kingdom of Samaria was one that had a period of expansion and wealth while the southern kingdom suffered economically. Amos fearlessly proclaimed that a time of reckoning was approaching when such wealth would be no defence against the forces that would drag them into exile.
He points out that it is their lack of concern for their brothers and sisters in the south that will result in them being the first to be exiled. In a similar manner, Jesus used the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to remind his listeners that with wealth comes the responsibility to be attentive to the suffering of those who are less fortunate. The sudden reversal of the situations of the poor man and Lazarus is a powerful reminder that the time of accounting may find us unprepared, and our complacency at best a delusion.
As the first letter to Timothy concludes, Timothy is reminded of his responsibilities as a Christian leader and exhorted to keep faithful to the instructions he has been given. There is an air of solemnity as he is called to fulfil his duty in a spirit of faith, love, patience and gentleness until the return of the Lord at the end of time. As Jesus stood up to witness to the truth before Pontius Pilate, Timothy is challenged to let his leadership of the community serve as his testimony when the Lord returns.
Christopher Monaghan CP
2nd October 2022
INCREASE OUR FAITH
On the journey of faith there are moments when we may lose heart or be
discouraged. Faced with opposition or misunderstanding it is no easy matter to
maintain our trust in the Lord. At times the responsibilities of our Christian lives
may be experienced as a burden. Like the first disciples, we find ourselves turning
to Jesus saying, ‘increase our faith!’
When we look around us there is so much suffering caused by injustice and our
violence to one another. It is only natural that we question how God’s plans will
come to fruition when they clash head-on with human weakness. Habakkuk found
himself dealing with many of the same issues. His time was one of violence and
his hope and faith in God’s power and the realisation of God’s plans was flagging.
Habakkuk is reminded in a vision that while the wheels move slowly, they are
moving nonetheless, and God’s purposes will come to pass for the upright who
remain faithful.
In the second letter to him, Timothy is also called not to lose heart and remain
faithful to his responsibilities as a young pastor. Having been commissioned and
called to this ministry he may have been discouraged by its demands and
complexity. The sound advice that is given is to remember there is no need to rely
solely on his own resources. The precious gift of the Spirit has been given. In
the ministry of leadership, it is the Spirit that will guide, empower and strengthen –
there is no need to fear.
Christopher Monaghan CP
9 October 2022
WORD OF GOD CANNOT BE CHAINED
While the people of Israel rejoiced in the unique call they had received, their
experience of the world taught them that people of goodwill and faith could be
found in other places and cultures. Called to be a light to the nations they knew
that sometimes it was others who were light to them. Naaman the Syrian general
was prepared to risk trusting the word of his wife’s Israelite servant in order to be
healed of leprosy. He had come to Elisha with gifts to ensure he would be healed
but he leaves not only healed but richer in faith.
In a similar vein, it is a heretical Jew, a Samaritan, who has the eyes to see
what the living God is offering in Jesus. He alone has the openness of heart to
give thanks for the precious gift he has received through regaining his health. All
the lepers were healed but only one has been saved. The outsider is the one who
has been saved by means of his faith.
The letter to Timothy reflects on the fact that the Good News cannot be chained
or confined. Even though Paul and other early Christian missionaries experienced
opposition, hardship and imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel, they knew
that their efforts were not in vain. The message of Jesus was not to be confined to
Israel and Timothy is encouraged not to lose heart because being immersed in the
death of Jesus and in his sufferings means sharing in his resurrected life as well.
Christopher Monaghan CP
