Today is the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus going on the sabbath to a meal in the house of a leader of the Pharisees.  First, Jesus sees there a man who had dropsy (verses 2-6) and challenges the Pharisees’ view about healing on the sabbath. Then he observes closely the social etiquette of the occasion and makes two points of stark criticism.  The purpose of offering hospitality, he argues, should not be the hope of hospitality returned, but the joy of selfless giving to those who are in no position to offer anything in return. 

For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of open tables. In today’s picture from their book, The Big Chapel, Aled and Sian are serving at table for the lunch club.    

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Lord Jesus Christ, 

you open your table to all people. 

Give us generous hearts 

that we may be open to the needs of others; 

for you are our God, 

now and always. 

Amen. 

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Next week, the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel continues Jesus’ final journey toward Jerusalem. Jesus urges his followers to be well prepared. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is squirrels. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.  

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