2nd Sunday in Lent
16/03/2025
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OPENING SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE –
The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27)
HYMN
GREETING
Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this:
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.”
The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
God is love and we are God’s children. There is no room for fear in love. We love because God loved us first.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
SILENCE
God our Father,
we confess to you
and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
Forgive us our sins,
and deliver us from the power of evil,
for the sake of your Son who died for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
ABSOLUTION
God, who is both power and love,
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by the Holy Spirit,
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
KYRIE
sung by Dougie Byers
COLLECT
O God, you see that we lack the strength to help ourselves:
protect us inwardly and outwardly;
that our bodies may be guarded from adversity,
and our minds may be defended from such thoughts
as assault and harm the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
one God world without end. Amen
PROCLAIMING & RECEIVING GOD’S WORD
FIRST READING:
Genesis 15.1–12, 17–18
read by Robyn Brotherston
1 The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ 2 But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ 3 And Abram said, ‘You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.’ 4 But the word of the LORD came to him, ‘This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.’ 5 He brought him outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’
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6 And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7 Then he said to him, ‘I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.’ 8 But he said, ‘O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?’ 9 He said to him, ‘Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.’ 10 He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.
17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire-pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.’
SILENCE
SECOND READING:
Philippians 3.17 – 4.1
read by Mark Toner
17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
GRADUAL HYMN:
GOSPEL READING
read by the Rev Chris Wren
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke,Chapter 13, beginning at verse 31.
Glory to Christ our Saviour
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’
32 He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me,
“Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.” 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious Gospel
Praise to Christ our Lord.
SERMON/POINTS FOR REFLECTION
(Sometimes this will be an actual sermon; at other times it will be a few points to reflect on)
It was the end of a glorious summer day when a hen flew up and settled in the rafters of a barn to roost. Just as she was about to put her head under her wing, her eyes caught a flash of red and the glimpse of a long-pointed nose. Below the hen stood a fox.
“Have you heard the wonderful news?” cried the fox, in a joyful and excited manner. “What news?” asked the hen calmly, but she had a troubled feeling inside because she was very much afraid of the fox.
“The good news,” said the fox, “is that your family and mine, and all the other animals, have agreed to forget their differences and live in peace and friendship from now on. Just think of it – I simply cannot wait to embrace you, so do come down my dear friend and let’s celebrate this joyful event.”
“That’s marvelous,” replied the hen, “I’m truly delighted at your news” but she spoke in an absent-minded way, and stretching up she seemed to be looking at something far off.
“What can you see?” asked the fox, a little anxiously
“Well,” said the hen, “it looks to me like a couple of dogs are coming this way. They must have heard the good news too” But the fox didn’t wait to hear anymore and off he started with a run. “Wait!” cried the hen. “Why are you running away? The dogs are friends of yours now.”
“Yes,” answered the fox, “that may very well be, but they might not have heard the news. Besides, I have a very important errand I had almost forgotten about.”
The hen smiled as she buried her head in her feathers and went to sleep, happy that she had succeeded in outwitting a very crafty enemy.
This story, in fact, is a very old one and it goes right back to the storyteller Aesop. As you’ll know, Aesop’s fables have morals attached to them, and the lesson from this story is that cunning often results in its own downfall.
In the short Gospel passage today, from Saint Luke, these two figures, the fox and the hen are also present.
We know that there was a great deal of enmity between Jesus and the Pharisees. This was down to his liberal interpretation of the law and his actions, the most serious of which, in their own eyes, they regarded as blasphemy. This, however, seems to have been a group of Pharisees who were friendly towards Jesus. While other Pharisees were plotting to destroy him, these were giving Jesus the heads up that Herod was after his blood. So, to be safe, they advised Jesus that he needed to leave those parts.
It’s at this point in the narrative that Jesus refers to Herod as “that fox”. The only message that Jesus suggested they give Herod was an account of what he was already doing. He was healing the sick and casting out demons, and then we get the reference to the third day when Jesus would finish his work.
Throughout this season of Lent the drama builds as we journey with Jesus towards Jerusalem, the city which rejected and killed some of the prophets and stoned those who were sent to it. In stark comparison with that fox, i.e. Herod, Jesus applies the image of the hen to himself who longs to gather God’s errant children under his wings.
What we have here, in this Gospel passage, is a reference to two types of kingship. One is represented by Herod. This was the Herod, you might recall, who had John the Baptist beheaded in his cell. He was too weak to resist the schemes of his wife and her daughter, Salome, when they called for the Baptist’s death.
It’s not until the Passion narrative itself, though, that the contrast between these two types of kingship is brought into sharp focus. It becomes evident in Jesus’s trial and mockery before Herod and later when Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who asked Jesus, “are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answers, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. My kingly authority comes from elsewhere. If it did my servants would fight for me.”
One of the intriguing things that happened the day Jesus crucified, St Luke’s Gospel tells us, is that Herod and Pontius Pilate who were formerly hostile towards one another from then on, following Jesus’s trial, became friends. Two cunning foxes throwing in their lot together!
A question. How many types of earthly rulers do we see in the world today who follow in the paths of Herod, that fox? Corruption of what is true, self-aggrandizement instead of self-sacrifice for the genuine good of the people political leaders serve seems to be all too common both east and west. Jesus counselled us to be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves and how we need this wisdom in today’s world to make sense of its rapidly shifting sands to discern whose side people are on. How few people in positions of power in our world today, would you say, are more in character like Jesus the servant king than Herod, that fox?
Yet we all know the adage that we shouldn’t throw stones if we ourselves live in glass houses, and it does us little good if we apply today’s Gospel message simply to people at the top who live in echelons of power that we will never aspire to reach. We need to apply what we hear in the Gospel to ourselves as well.
So, what is it that God saying to you and me this morning? It’s quite possible that what God has to say to you may be quite different to what God needs to say to me, and that’s why, before I deliver any sermon, I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to everyone who will hear it in a personal way that meets their own needs.
One of the things that stood out to me when I read this Gospel passage which mentions Jesus as a hen gathering God’s children under his wings, is that the imagery of wings is also there in Psalm 91 ‘He (that is the Lord) will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge.’ (verse 4). These are challenging times, but the good news is that all of us can place ourselves under God’s protection, whose love for us is steadfast.
Scripture is a wonderful resource and shifting the metaphor, but only slightly, there’s also a wonderful verse which speaks not of God’s wings like Jesus does in today’s Gospel, but God’s everlasting arms. It comes in Deuteronomy chapter 33 where we read, ‘The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.’ For myself personally then, the Gospel message given to me was the reminder that in life and in death God holds us, whether we are aware of it or not, in his everlasting arms.
At Passiontide we shall sing the hymn, ‘O sacred head, sore wounded’ which ends with reference to the arms of God. Its last verse runs,
‘My days are few. o fail not, with thine immortal power,
To hold me that I quail not, in death’s most fearful hour.
That I may fight befriended ,and see in my last strife,
To me thine arms extended- upon the Cross of Life.
So, this morning I’ve shared what God through this morning’s Gospel has been saying to me. What is God saying to you?
THE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one substance with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son,
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYERS
In our intercessions we bring before God the needs of the church, the world, our fellow citizens and ourselves.
Heavenly Father, hear our prayer for the church throughout the world. Help us to be mindful of the needs of our fellow Christians who are persecuted for their
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faith in you. May they know the help and comfort of the Holy Spirit and may they be aware of the prayers of many for them. We pray too for those who persecute them that their attitude may become one of accepting truly held beliefs that differ from their own.
Lord, hear us Lord graciously hear us
Almighty God, hear our prayer for the world, its people and its leaders
We pray for the world of which we are stewards. Forgive us for our neglect and exploitation of the resources you have made freely available for all people. Help us to be mindful that our greed may compromise the earth’s ability to meet someone else’s need.
We pray for our fellow citizens throughout the world but particularly for those living through war or civil unrest. We remember the people of Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Syria and pray that they will be kept safe and have what they need to sustain life.
We pray for the leaders of the world. Heavenly Father, they have the power of life or death, of economic prosperity or poverty, of peace or warfare. May they be aware that all power rests in you and that they are your servants whose responsibility it is to ensure that peace and justice are spread throughout the world.
Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us
Loving Father, in his earthly life Jesus healed the sick and comforted those who were sorrowing.
Hear our prayer that those who are sick and those who must live with chronic pain or long term disability will know that they are always in your keeping. Bless all who care for them. Give them strengths and patience.
Loving Father, be with those who mourn the dearth of someone they love. May they know the truth of Jesus’ promise that they who mourn will be comforted.
Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us
We pray for ourselves asking that the Holy Spirit will be with us in all that we say and do this week
Merciful Father, accept these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those+
who sin against us.
Do not bring us
to the time of trial+
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
Christ the Son of God gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
HYMN
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen
