Luke 16 - Generous June

Today’s Speakers

Marion De Quidt Miriam Cavanagh

20th June – Marion De Quidt – Luke 16

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Marion De Quidt

Winchester

Where does our security lie? We are deeply shaken, individually and internationally, by the impact of the coronavirus. We are rethinking our priorities. Do we trust in God? Or do we trust in our bank balances and pensions? Is it really as clear cut as that? In Luke’s gospel we see that some of Jesus’ first disciples gave up everything to follow him for three years; and others supported them in offering homes and hospitality (Luke 8.4, 10.38). Jesus had worked for 30 years in the family business before he was called by his Father to preach and heal. His security was in obedience to his Father throughout.
From today’s reading, which deeply challenge our self-interest, three responses might help us with our Lord’s command in verse 13.
Firstly, let us reach out to those in need, befriend ‘the poor among us’, and not step over the person sitting by our gate (Luke 16.20). It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are on an important mission, day after day after day, when God is asking us to encounter him in Lazarus. The idol of money or ‘Mammon’ might then lose its attraction.
Secondly, let us not delude ourselves into thinking that by being religious, like the Pharisees, we are on the right track. The Lord knows our hearts (Luke 16.14-15), and with true repentance we may know that we are compromised and deeply dependent on our financial resources. If we say ‘this is not a problem for me’, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Finally, above all else, stay safe. Keep close to our Lord in daily trust in his provision. Rejoice and give thanks! Be real about our temptations. Keep short accounts. Receive his gracious mercy and Holy Spirit’s power to lead and transform. And live generously.

20th June – Miriam Cavanagh – Luke 16

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Miriam Cavanagh

Sheffield

If you remember sometime in March of this year, there was a shortage of toilet rolls in some cities including here in Sheffield, the Coronavirus had made people develop fear and began panic buying!
Then out came The Shrewd managers” as some retailers started to inflate prices to profit from people’s fears and panic!
The question is, was this Shrewd or Unjust, I personally think it was unjust and wrong.
But If we are honest with ourselves, we can see ourselves in this parable too or at some point in our lives we have come across “The Shrewd Manager”.
Like The Shrewd manager, we too panic, but God is a generous God, who is always giving us a chance to change.
As Church we struggle to talk about money, because, we have labeled money as the root of all evil. I think we must make a switch and change the narrative.
To see money as a tool to do good, to help people in our communities and wider world out of poverty, as much as we don’t like to admit it as Church, money has to be used in order to achieve this.
Let us see money as a Gift from God to use for building his kingdom here on earth and not let our egos distract us from the work at hand by putting money first before God and service to others. When we give to others that is our way of giving God gratitude to the love and gifts and He gives us.
Our egos is what stops us from embracing our true Christian identity that is founded on the Way of The Cross that is full of Grace, hope and Love for all God’s creation.
Our calling in life as Christians is that of helping others and in turn, we are serving God who gives generously whether we want to receive the gifts or not.