Today is the Fifth Sunday after Trinity. Today’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel compares the ways in which people responded to John the Baptist and to Jesus. John the Baptist and Jesus presented highly contrasted images of God’s messenger. John withdrew to the desert and lived as an ascetic. Jesus lived among people and drew large followings. He accepted the company of tax collectors and sinners. Both, however, were rejected by their generation. They accused John of being possessed and Jesus of being a drunkard. In this passage Jesus likens the generation to quarrelsome children satisfied with nothing.
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 children’s games. In today’s picture from their book, Hide and Seek, Teddy Horsley looks for Betsy Bear in the wardrobe, but Betsy Bear is not hiding there.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught your followers
to love life and to do good.
Teach us to love what is good,
that we may live our lives to your glory;
now and always.
Amen.
Next Sunday is the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. The reading from Matthew’s Gospel is the parable of the sower. The image to help prepare for this theme is farmer. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.
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What’s On at Liverpool Cathedral This July