As we gather, we recognize that we
live, work, pray, and play in the traditional,
unceded lands of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves to
the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship:

God so loved the world that
he gave his only Son, 
that whoever believes in him
should not perish but
have eternal life. 

John 3.16 

O, Come.   Let Us Worship.

Gathering:

Collect for Today:

Father of mercy,
alone we have not power in ourselves to help ourselves. When we are discouraged by our weakness, strengthen us to follow Christ, our pattern and our hope; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:
John 2.13-22

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

“The Gift of the Law”

There are three essentials in teaching Confirmation classes: The Creeds, The Lord’s Prayer, and The Ten Commandments.          

The Commandments begin with a statement that because God alone has freed us from the powers that oppressed us, we are to let nothing else claim our lives.           

The lesson on the Commandments today is followed by Matthew’s account of Jesus throwing the merchants out of the temple. With this action Jesus is defending the worship of God alone and shows rejection of the ways of propheteering and profit-making. The reason Jesus does this is to illustrate how easy we become gods of profit-making.           

Some of us remember when Gary Nicolosi was brought to our diocese as a ‘Congregational Development Officer.’ His theory was ‘churches should not be balancing their budgets on hall rentals.’           

The gift of the Law (the Ten Commandments) is essential to our baptismal call.

The Commandments are an interesting gift to us from God. The first four deal with our relationship to God and his liberating love for us. The other six are about how we can live in justice and mercy as a community in the world.

Each is a tall task. Before we get to that point it is good for us to have a small history lesson.            

The Israelites have just escaped (remember this is the Book of Exodus) from slavery. They have arrived at Mount Sinai. As they stop to rest God takes this moment to give them a lesson on living in community. 

God begins with these words: (Exodus ch. 20)

Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me.

4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

8 Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son, or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore, the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

 Or the version we all learned by memory in Sunday School:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make idols.

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

The first quote from the Lesson today tells us something of the importance God placed on just how significant our understanding of God needs to be. The next six verses for today basically follows the version we all remember:

12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 You shall not murder.

14 You shall not commit adultery.

15 You shall not steal.

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

17 You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.

As previously stated, these last six talk about how life in community can flourish. If we live by these last six in community, then our community will flourish as a community based on honesty, trust, fidelity, and respect for life, family, and property.

When teaching confirmation classes, I attempted to show those attending, not to place an emphasis on our understanding of law in our culture today as in a legal system. Rather to think about the commandments as a ‘prescription for living in community’—a community of peace and harmony.

Now, to back up for a moment to the lessons from Wednesday Eucharist.

First, we had a reading from Jerimiah where we heard in Chapter 18.18-20 how Jeremiah’s words challenged the people’s social and moral behavior. Jeremiah was very public in his criticism about the king, officials, and the wise. He had little problem making criticism of the ‘powers-to-be’ as I like to put it.

Except, it was not a popular theory. 

For Jeremiah, the people could either obey the way of God, or their false prophets. We know the people chose the latter.

The quote from the reading on Wednesday goes like this: ‘The community says, “let’s attack him with our tongues and pay no attention to him.” ‘

This was followed by a reading from Matthew 20.17-28 when we read:

24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,  and to give his life a ransom for many.”

This 3^rd covenant, 'The Gift of the Law' calls us to be mindful of the will of God. Our place in heaven is not for our choosing. Like Jesus, it is to be servants 'in accordance with the will of God'.

I know we all want the best for our children, just as the mother of the two disciples’ wish for her children, except Jesus says you ‘do not know what you are asking and besides it is not my position to grant such a request.’

What is important, is the covenant God makes with the people of ancient Israel. At Sinai, God shows the community a glimpse of what a harmonious community looks like.

As we proclaim--each time we celebrate the Eucharist in the BCP or at Morning Prayer: 
‘Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbour as yourself.’

God has given us one of the greatest covenants.

We close then with these words as a reminder of what our life is to be: 
‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.’

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let Us Pray

Trusting in God’s promise to reconcile all things, let us pray for the church, the well-being of creation, and a world in need.

You alone are God.
We thank you for the gift of sabbath rest. Awaken the church to the mystery of your presence and give us glad hearts as we receive the good news of your deliverance.
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

You renew creation.
Drive out those who would make the earth a marketplace. Protect rainforests, mountaintops, oceans and wilderness from commercial exploitation. Unite nations, policymakers, and businesses in efforts to reduce carbon emissions. 
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

You judge the nations.
We pray for an end to war and strife in every land. Strengthen international efforts to negotiate peace and provide humanitarian aid to people fleeing from conflict. 

You bring healing and hope.
We give thanks for physicians, nurses, researchers, therapists, and public health workers who prevent and treat illness. We pray for those who are sick, in body, mind, and spirit.
 In our parish we pray for: Gail; Sue; John; Sheila; and those on our hearts.
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

You abide with your people.
Sustain any in this community under-going the life transitions of: marriage, divorce, childbirth, adoption, moving,  graduation, employment change, or a death in the family. 
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

You bring life from death.
We remember our loved ones who have died, confident that they have new life in you. May we trust that nothing can separate us from your love. 
Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great.

Accompany us on our journey, God of grace, and receive the prayers of our hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour.  Amen.

As our saviour taught us to pray, we say:

Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us fom evil.   For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen.

Creator God:
You have created the heaven, and the earth. You have given us a covenant: to protect that which you have given us. May we now share those gifts in the world around us, through your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.   Amen.

And the Peace of God, 
which passes all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge
of the love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you, always.  Amen.