Today is the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching to the crowd, saying that they are better at reading the weather than reading the signs of the times and reading the mind of God. At this point in Luke’s Gospel Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem and the events leading to his crucifixion. On that journey, Jesus understands his own ministry and impending suffering as signalling the moment of crisis and judgement for God’s chosen people.  The signs are there, if only the people would read them.    

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 weather forecast. In today’s picture from his book, Good Morning, Teddy Horsley has read the weather signs carefully and taken his umbrella.    

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Lord Jesus Christ, 

you teach your people 

to read the signs of the times. 

Open our eyes to the signs of your presence, 

that we may serve you as you desire; 

for you are our God, 

now and always. 

Amen. 

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Next week, the Tenth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel continues Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem where he will be arrested and crucified. On the way Jesus heals someone on the sabbath. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is healing hands. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources. 

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