Today is the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity. Today’s Gospel reading comes from Matthew’s fourth block of Jesus’ teaching (chapter 18). This is the chapter on the relationships among Christians, or life in the church, and is sometimes described as a community rule. In the first part of the chapter Matthew deals with the two issues of causing others to sin and of calling sinners to repentance. In verses 10-14 (immediately before this week’s passage) Matthew says that Christians have a responsibility to seek those who have lost their way, just as the shepherd seeks the lost sheep. In the present passage Matthew sets down the method for calling those who have lost their way into line.
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 losing the way. In today’s picture from their book, Journeys, Aled and Sian are looking carefully at the map to find their way back home.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you put right those who have lost their way.
Be gentle with us when we lose our way
and call us back to the right path,
that we may walk with you;
now and always.
Amen.
Next Sunday is the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. The Gospel reading concerns Matthew’s fourth block of teaching from the community rule, turning attention now to forgiveness. The image to help prepare for this theme is the mender. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.