The Call to Mission

These Weekly Reflections have been written by Father Walter McEntee - chaplain at Melbourne Girls’ Grammar School.

Walter challenges us to really consider what God’s call to mission is all about. Is providing money to the poor mission? Food, water or shelter to those who have little or are entirely without? Time to listen to someone’s story? Fighting for a good cause? Challenging those who would see themselves as able to sit at the top of the banquet table? Seeking to raise the head of a bent-over woman by loosening her bonds, whatever those bonds may be? Continuously being shocked by the oppression of others and striving to end domination over those who are always powerless? Living a simple life, offering hospitality to all? Freeing up world debt? Telling the good news of Jesus Christ? Perhaps mission is all of these and more.

July 2007 marks the halfway point for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals – eight goals that seek to change the world by giving practical hope to those who have little – the poorest of the poor in the world’s developing countries, - the most vulnerable in our world today, women and children in need of education, communities in need of fresh water, good health, proper immunization and proper sanitation.

Please pray for all those who walk in Jesus footsteps, seeking justice for those in need and working to make a change in our world.

To find out more about the Millennium Development Goals and their application please visit:

www.un.org/millenniumgoals

www.makepovertyhistory.com.au

Debra Saffrey-Collins

Editor – Pew Reflections

Communications Program Co-ordinator

Reflections for Weekly Bulletins

Third Quarter 2007

15 July – 30 September

Readings from A Prayer Book for Australia

Year C

Written by the Reverend Walter McEntee

Chaplain Melbourne Girls’ Grammar

Diocese of Melbourne.

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

15 July 2007

Amos 7.1-17; Psalm 82;

Colossians 1.1-14; Luke 10.25-37

When the world was lying half-dead down, Jesus, the Good Samaritan, came from a far country. He bypassed inhibiting ethnic rivalries and outworn sectarian practices. He still comes to our insecurity and loneliness. As we reach out to him in welcome, in turn may we apply the Word heard, the wafer and wine to human wounds, for as long as there is human need, we are indispensable. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for the readiness to share the gospel story; and to listen to the stories of others.
Pray for St Andrew’s Theological College Manila.

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

22 July 2007

Amos 8.1-12;Psalm 52;

Colossians 1.15-29; Luke 10.38-42

Worn out by the madding crowd’s insistent clamour, when Jesus came to Bethany, Mary saw a heart crying for consoling companionship, for a receptive confidante to nod quiet confirmation of his calling before he took the road to Calvary’s Cross. Martha, fixed in her female role, overkilled with kindness, hurtfully, not helpfully. May we never be such a domestic dynamo when people seek in us an oasis of calm. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for the lonely and solitary, that they may know the presence and love of God the Trinity, the community of love.
Pray for the many volunteers who serve ABM throughout Australia.

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

29 July 2007

Hosea 1.2-10; Psalm 85;

Colossians 2.6-15 (16-19); Luke 11.1-13

God does not cheat those who pray with child-like intimacy and persistence for the kingdom to come, for daily bread for all, for God’s forgiveness to flow into our forgiveness for one another, for salvation in trial, and then do everything to make it happen. Are we embarrassed by this begging letter approach or by the supposed unscientific assumptions of petitionary prayer? Or by its necessity? Jesus truly expected situations to alter by his prayer. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for the strength to mend brokeness, challenge destructive attitudes and build trusting relationships.
Pray for the Anglican Missions Board of the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

5 August 2007

Hosea 11.1-11; Psalm 107.1-9, 43; Colossians 3.1-11; Luke 12.13-21

The rich fool strove for additional wealth that gave no secure investment in eternity; his reliance on transitory things made him forget God. Jesus is the futures consultant who offers a gilt-edged investment in life here and hereafter. The clauses of his portfolio are such a loving relationship with him and humanity that death will be a full realization of the assets we have sent ahead. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for those who feel isolated; the aged, and any whose infirmities make then feel lonely; those who care for people who are ill or disabled; those who care for children and often feel isolation.
Pray for the many ministries which support Indigenous people throughout Australia.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

12 August 2007

Isaiah1.1, 10-20; Psalm 50.1-8, 23-24;

Hebrews 11.1-3, 8-16 (17-28);

Luke 12.32-40

When Jesus calls us to discipleship or to eternal life with him, we would like to be ready with our life-skills not half-done nor deferred. We would like to be at peace with all, having no bitterness or enmity with anyone. We would like to be at peace with him as friend. There is no such thing as plenty of time. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for the power not to manipulate, but to heal and love in the name of Christ.
Pray for the dioceses of Papua New Guinea: Port Moresby, New Guinea Islands, Dogura, Popondota and Aipo Rongo.

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

19 August 2007

Isaiah 5.1-7; Psalm 80.1-2, 8-19;

Hebrews 11.29-12.2; Luke 12.49-59

It cost Jesus the cross to bring peace in human relationships. To receive his peace costs us too. Led by his grace, our repentance costs a complete change of mind and attitude: to own our shortfalls, to become less of a trouble-maker and nicer to know, to choose continually to love those with whom we differ, to exemplify his alternative message and witness of peace in this warlike world. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for those who work to reconcile opposing views; for peace; for protection of the environment.
Pray for the Church in the Province of Myanmar (Burma) and all who work for freedom and peace.

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

26 August 2007

Jeremiah 1.4-10; Psalm 71.1-6;

Hebrews 12.18-29; Luke 13.10-17

Jesus noticed the bent-over woman and against hard-headed hypocrisy he loosened her bound-over state, for suffering once seen must not go on a moment more. People are bent over by separation and loss, crippled by worry and confusion. There are crooked situations that cry to be made straight. No helpful deed we can do today can be postponed until tomorrow. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for faithfulness as followers of Jesus – that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.
Pray for the peoples of the Philippines many of whom lack ready access to clean water, sanitation or sustainable food.

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Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

2 September 2007

Jeremiah 2.4-13; Psalm 81.1, 10-16;

Hebrews 13.1-8, 15-16;

Luke 14.1 (2-6) 7-14

Status conscious Pharisees had scrambled for chief seats at the top of the Sabbath table; their traditional precedence had become exclusivity. In extremely bad taste, Jesus embarrassed the proud puritans, suggesting exclusiveness should play no part in our common life. To witness this and as an example for us to follow, Jesus later rose from table, took towel and water and washed his disciples’ feet. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007).

Give thanks for the celebration of life and pray for a turning away from greed and materialism.
Pray for the staff and students of Nungalinya College in Northern Territory and Wontulp-Bi-Buya in North Queensland.

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

9 September 2007

Jeremiah 18.1-11; Psalm 139.1-5,

12-18; Philemon 1-25; Luke 14.25-37

As disciples, Jesus calls us to give him priority in our life, over family and friends, even over anonymous entities who have a hold on us. We can allow no personal attachments to immobilize our committed conviction to the call of the King. If we are daunted by Jesus’ high demands, may we take comfort in knowing that he who calls us to the steep road, will walk with us every step. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for all medical workers and all who treat the ill and dying.
Pray for the theological centres in Papua New Guinea training people as lay and ordained leaders and for all who proclaim the good news.

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

16 September 2007

Jeremiah 4.11-12, 22-28; Psalm 14;

1 Timothy 1.1-2, 12-19a or

1 Timothy 1; Luke 15.1-10

This is how God acts: like a shepherd inspired by tender pity in unwearying searching for the plaintive stray. God acts like a peasant woman, tirelessly searching for her lost headdress ornament. God’s grand design needs us complete, rescued, repentant, with all our jewellery in place. God, like the shepherd, like the woman, cannot rest until humanity is found, and made complete once more. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for those who suffer from violence; those who inflict it on others; those who ignore it.
Pray for the Diocese of Egypt and its work with Sudanese refugees – for peace, equity and reconciliation.

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

23 September 2007

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; Psalm 79:1-9;

1 Timothy 2:1-10 or

1 Timothy 3:14-4:6; Luke 16:1-13

Christians live with money; poor Christians need not go penniless or live in rags. The wealthy are called to a modest life-style where the love of money is no obsession. Money is part of the riches God has created. Dirty money can be changed by the use to which it is put. In gratitude for God’s goodness and reliability, money can be given out of concern for Christ’s needy. In turn, receivers will be indebted to us in friendship and appreciation. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray for those who, in times of economic hardship, do not have enough – that those who have plenty may share.
Give thanks for the growth of the Anglican Church in Korea and the dioceses of Seoul, Pusan and Daejon.

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 30 September 2007

Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 6-15;

Psalm 91.1-6, 14-16; 1 Timothy 6: 6-19 or 1 Timothy 4:12-5:8; Luke 16:19-31

If like Dives we see sorrow to be comforted, needs to be supplied and pain to be relieved and are not moved to sympathy; if like Dives we accept unreflectively as perfectly natural that glutton gourmets will feast sumptuously while the Lazaruses at the gate will starve, neglected; if like Dives, we accept world pain with total indifference and do nothing about it; if we are like Dives, we will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. (Anglican Board of Mission Weekly Pew Reflections 2007)

Pray that we may be ready to receive the greatness of God’s love.
Pray for the work of the ABM Auxiliary throughout Australia in promoting, supporting and praying for ABM’s work in God’s mission.

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