Sunday October 16

Today is World Food Day, a worldwide day to remember that many do not have enough on their tables.  Coming so soon after Thanksgiving, I found it particularly important for me to remember that not everyone has all the blessings I'm able to enjoy.  As I listened to Andrew read the readings from Proverbs, (19:17, 22:9, 29:7) I realised it wasn't going to be a pleasant, relax-in-your-pew sort of morning.  We were going to be called to action.

But listening to Andrew speak on Mark 3, it turns out that we don't have to be pushed or guilted into change.  The truth is that we have the freedom to change.  We don't have to be trapped by the old ways of doing things, the old institutions and the old traditions.  We are free to follow the better way.  Jesus has bound the "Strong Man" and he no longer controls us.

Right away, my mind was brought to the Occupy Wall Street movement.  Now there are some people trying to change the old, unjust, unequal ways of doing things.  These are exciting times when people are recognising that being the richest is not the best and only goal.  And there's even more we can do - we've been freed, remember?  What about some personal things that we've been called to change in our own lives?  What about the gifts we've been given that we can share with those around us?  We don't have to be afraid, we can choose to walk in the new way.

From the last hymn, Lord, you give the great commission:

Lord, you show us love's true measure:
"Father, what they do, forgive."
Yet we hoard as private treasure
all that you so freely give.
May your care and mercy lead us to a just society;
with the Spirit's gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Maureen.