St Paul's Anglican Cathedral Bendigo in Bendigo, Victoria | Christian church

St Paul's Anglican Cathedral Bendigo

Locality: Bendigo, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 5443 5061

Address: 8 Myers Street 3550 Bendigo, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.stpaulsbendigo.org.au

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24.01.2022 Monday prayers 9th November Opening Prayer Lord, you are good and gracious to all, merciful and forgiving when we stumble and fall. Should I forget you, or igno...re you, or wilfully turn away this day, call me back with you firm and tender voice, and enable penitence and a new start, for I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen. Bible Reading Luke 17:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples, Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! 2 It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive. 5 The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith! 6 The Lord replied, If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Reflection I recently went headlong off my bicycle, with my pride bruised and hurting more than the knees and elbows. I did it to myself, of course. Peter was there to pick me up and take me home. We can do similar things in relationships, decisions, actions inattention, a wrong move, a deliberate decision and we stumble and fall in the eyes of the world, ourselves, our faith even. Yet God is always ready to pick us up, dust us down and put us back on our spiritual bicycle, when we return in penitence and faith. We are to offer that same compassion and new start to others. Who do you need to forgive today? Don’t delay do it now. Intercessions Pray today for: those who will stumble and fall today, including yourself for individuals you know who in distress because of unforgiven sin the people of Melbourne, released from their long confinement the people of USA, and their new President-Elect Joe Biden Hymn TIS 560: All my hope on God is founded All my hope on God is founded; all my trust he will renew, through all change and chance he guides me, only good and only true. God unknown, he alone calls my heart to be his own. Human pride and earthly glory, sword and crown betray our trust; all we build with care and labour, tower and temple, fall to dust. But God’s power, hour by hour, is my temple and my tower. God’s great goodness lasts for ever, deep his wisdom, passing thought; splendour, light and life attend him, beauty springing out of naught. Evermore from his store new-born worlds rise and adore. Daily the almighty giver will his bounteous gifts bestow; in his will our souls find pleasure, leading us where’er we go. Love will stand at his hand, joy shall wait for his command. Still from earth to God eternal sacrifice of praise be done, high above all praises praising for the gift of Christ his Son. Hear Christ call one and all: those who follow shall not fall. Robert Bridges 18441930 alt. after Joachim Neander 165080 Closing prayer Lord, may this day be full of hope and light and love. May I give to all the same generosity that you give me. May I be of use to you and to others, as I speak and act, consider and decide, forgive others and receive forgiveness; in and through the strong name of Jesus, Saviour and Lord. Amen.

23.01.2022 Friday prayers 27th November Opening Prayer Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after You, Lord, because you satisfy our starving and arid souls with bread ...from heaven and living water, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you Jesus. Amen. Bible Reading Psalm 84:1-7 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah 5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. Reflection I am tired: tired from the strictures of pandemic; tired from the demands made by government, society, people, my own inner drives. Yet, when I look to the Lord, when I spend time in his presence, everything changes and I am refreshed, renewed. ‘Happy are those whose strength is in you’, in the Lord of hosts. Are you in need of renewal and strengthening? Go to the Lord and sing! (With or without a COVID mask he’s OK with that!) Intercessions Pray today for: the renewal of your strength in the Lord Christians who are worn down and dis-spirited agencies that work to find homes for homeless individuals and families refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons around the world, looking for home Hymn TIS 628: In faith and hope and love In faith and hope and love with joyful trust we move towards our Father’s home above. Christ, our star, our map, our road to the Father’s high abode. In faith and hope and love with joyful trust we move towards our Father’s home above. Christ, our bread along the way; Christ our rescue when we stray. In faith and hope and love with joyful trust we move towards our Father’s home above. Christ our shelter, Christ our friend, our beginning and our end. In faith and hope and love with joyful trust we move towards our Father’s home above. Christ, our hope and our reward; our redeemer and our Lord. In faith and hope and love with joyful trust we move towards our Father’s home above. James Phillip McAuley 191776 Closing prayer Father God, you prepare a home for your family and a place for all who seek you. Open the doors of your home ever more widely, that all may find shelter within. Amen.

23.01.2022 Monday prayers 16th November Opening Prayer God of creation and recreation; you made us to work and to rest on a regular basis,... but we so often think we know better. Thank you for times of fruitful work and for the Sabbath of worship and renewing leisure. Teach me your timetable, Lord! Amen. Bible Reading Luke 18:35-43 35 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. 38 Then he shouted, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 39 Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, Son of David, have mercy on me! 40 Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41 What do you want me to do for you? He said, Lord, let me see again. 42 Jesus said to him, Receive your sight; your faith has saved you. 43 Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God. Reflection People who follow Jesus, like the crowd in this incident, can be observers and hanger’s on but without personally responding to Jesus’ teaching and example. They can be the very ones that keep the needy away from him. They stand between Jesus and others, getting in the way, blocking the view and even sending the true seekers away! Jesus hears the cry, parts the crowd and calls to the blind man, responding to the faith he has to reach out to Jesus. Healing and worship then follow. What is your church like? Does it open the way for people to find Jesus, receive healing and worship God? Or does it block the way to Jesus, spoil the view and send the seeker away empty-handed? What will you do about it? Intercessions Pray today for: the mission of your church to those who need Jesus the healing ministry of the Church and those with the spiritual gift of healing those in the optical medical field, preserving and restoring eyesight charities and not-for-profits serving people with loss of eyesight Song Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You I want to see You To see You high and lifted up Shining in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love As we sing holy, holy, holy Open the eyes of my heart, Lord Open the eyes of my heart I want to see You I want to see You Michael W Smith Closing prayer Holy Lord, whose power is stronger than death and whose love overcomes our sin and weakness. Forgive us when we remain bystanders or get in the way of what you want to do for others. Thank you for gifting us with your Holy Spirit. Teach us to grow your gift in us to serve your purposes in us and your world, to bring glory to the Father. Amen.

23.01.2022 Wednesday prayers 11th November Opening Prayer My Lord and my God; you are a safe haven in every storm, shade from the scorching heat of the sun... and refreshing water after hard work is done. I come! I come! Amen. Bible Reading Luke 17:11-19 11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! 14 When he saw them, he said to them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner? 19 Then he said to him, Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well. Reflection Society always has it’s scapegoats and outcasts the out-crowd that we, the in-crowd don’t associate with. In Jesus’ day it was the lepers; today the out-crowd might be: addicts of one kind or another, those who prey on the weak, young and vulnerable, those who are ‘different’ in colour, religion or sexual identity. And how unkind we humans can be! Have you been on the receiving end of this discrimination? It hurts and it is meant to hurt, just so the in-crowd can feel better about themselves and their prejudices. Jesus did not treat people like that. He showed a different way, a higher way, a godly and gracious way to relate to others. He had mercy on all who called out to him. And you? What attitudes do you need to reform? Do you need to cry out to Jesus for healing? Intercessions Pray today for: those individuals that society shuns today the courage to relate with people that way Jesus would individuals struggling with poor mental health and its consequences mental health professionals, and the willingness in government to fund this care Hymn TIS 638: O Christ, the healer, we have come O Christ, the healer, we have come to pray for health, to plead for friends. How can we fail to be restored when reached by love that never ends? From every ailment flesh endures our bodies clamour to be freed; yet in our hearts we would confess that wholeness is our deepest need. How strong, O Lord, are our desires, how weak our knowledge of ourselves! Release in us those healing truths unconscious pride resists or shelves. In conflicts that destroy our health we diagnose the world’s disease; our common life declares our ills: is there no cure, O Christ, for these? Grant that we all, made one in faith, in your community may find the wholeness that, enriching us, shall reach the whole of humankind. Frederick Pratt Green 19032000 Closing prayer Christ our Healer, you receive all who come to you no-one is turned away. You embrace us in our pain, support us when rejected, comfort us when sorrowing and soothe us in distress. Thank you for your acceptance and love. Amen.

19.01.2022 Friday prayers 13th November Opening Prayer God of freedom and peace; you call us out of bondage to sinful and selfish ways to live in the wideness of your love.... May we hear your voice and work for that day when the world will live in peaceful abundance through Christ our Lord. Amen. Bible Reading Luke 17:26-37 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed all of them 30 it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. 34 I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left. 37 Then they asked him, Where, Lord? He said to them, Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Reflection Have you noticed how many adverts there are that refer to ‘lifestyle’? From furniture to outdoor dining, and holidays to retirement resorts and insurance you are urged to have a lifestyle! The daily grind, the rat race, the monotony of the minutiae all these can undermine our joy in life and our vision of abundant living which are not, and indeed cannot, be based on stuff and things! Abundance comes from within, from our attitudes to God and others and life itself. I often talk about joy being the result in our lives from putting Jesus first, then Others and Yourself next. J_O_Y! Try it today and see what a difference it makes when you lose your life and actually gain it! Intercessions Pray today for: JOY in your life to increase those who are preoccupied with selfish ambition and greed those who are weighed down by the cares of life though lack of work, income or health individuals with mental health issues Hymn TIS 136 There‘s a wideness in God’s mercy There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea, and forgiveness in his justice sealed for us on Calvary. There is plentiful redemption in the blood that has been shed; there is joy for all the members in the sorrows of the Head. For the love of God is broader than the measures of our mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind. But we make his love too narrow by false limits of our own, and we magnify his strictness with a zeal he will not own. If our love were but more simple we should take him at his word; and our lives would be illumined by the goodness of our Lord. Frederick William Faber 181463 alt. Closing prayer Father God, in the abundance of your love, remind us that there is more to this life than we can see and more to your Kingdom than we can understand. Open our arms and open the doors of our churches to receive all those who are lost and lonely, that we might create here on earth a foretaste of heaven. Amen.

19.01.2022 Saturday prayers 14th November Opening Prayer Lord our God, mighty and glorious are your works and all creation sings your praise! the mountains and seas, majestic and wonderful;...Continue reading

18.01.2022 Saturday prayers 28th November Opening Prayer Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after You, Lord, because you satisfy our starving and arid souls with brea...d from heaven and living water, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank you Jesus. Amen. Bible Reading Psalm 95:1-7 1 O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed. 6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice! Reflection Kneeling when did you last do some kneeling? I was on my knees in the garden at the weekend, pulling out the weeds, attempting to give the plants I wanted the space and light and nutrients they needed without the encroaching plants I didn’t want! Not unlike what we are doing when we kneel before God he is weeding out the sin, selfishness and ungodly habits that crowd out the fruit of the Spirit that he wants to grow in us. Kneel before the Lord today and ask our heavenly Gardener to do the necessary weeding for today. Intercessions Pray today for: the will to tend the garden of your soul clergy and ministers preparing worship for their congregations tomorrow farmers and gardeners, toiling to produce enough food for all all those involved in feeding the hungry around the world Song You are the Vine You are the Vine We are the branches Keep us abiding in You And we will go in Your love And we will go in Your Name That the world will surely know That You have power to heal And to save You are the Vine We are the branches Keep us abiding in You Danny Daniels and Randy Rigby Closing prayer Lord God, may your working in my life, your cultivating of my soul, bring fruitfulness, holiness and fullness of life, and attest to your eternal faithfulness; through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

12.01.2022 Intercessions for Sunday 15 November 2020 led by Sandy.

11.01.2022 Thursday prayers 12th November Opening Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, gentle Saviour and Good Shepherd to us all; gentleness is in such short supply in our world, an...d it takes time and patience and concern for the other above our own need. Grow your gentleness among your people, that we might show the world a different way, and become more like you. Amen. Bible Reading Luke 17:20-25 20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you. 22 Then he said to the disciples, The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. Reflection While waiting for Christmas as a child, time drags, patience wears thin and tempers get frayed; it all gets too much and there are tears before bedtime! Jesus talks about waiting and watching for the Kingdom of God and for the day of the Son of Man. The Kingdom, he says, is already here so what are you waiting for? Get on with living the reality of its presence! The day of the Son of Man is yet to be, with much to take place in terms of suffering and rejection an unpleasant and painful process to go through first, for him and for his disciples. But when his day doescome, it will not be missed, a spectacle greater than the Sydney New Year fireworks! So, in the waiting and the suffering, serve the Kingdom which is among us already, and be ready for the sudden appearing of The Son of Man. Advent is almost here, the season of penitent preparation before our Christmas celebrations. What will colour your Advent observance this year? Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in to Kingdom building before He comes again. Intercessions Pray today for: your spiritual preparations for Christmas, and for the return of the Son your participation in the work of the Kingdom now and in the coming weeks businesses and organisations rushing to be fully open before Christmas and the summer holidays those who find the business of Christmas distressing and daunting Hymn TIS 450: Spread, O spread, almighty word Spread, O spread, almighty word, spread the kingdom of the Lord, where the breath of God has given life to people meant for heaven. Tell them how the Father’s will made the world, and keeps it still; how his only Son he gave all from sin and death to save. Tell of our Redeemer’s love, who, for ever to remove all the guilt that in us lies, gave himself as sacrifice. Tell them of the Spirit given now to guide us on to heaven, strong and holy, just and true, working both to will and do. Up! the ripening fields you see, mighty will the harvest be; but the reapers still are few, great the work they have to do. Lord of harvest, kind and true, give us strength to work for you, till the nations everywhere see your light, and know your care. Jonathan Friedrich Bahnmaier 17741841 tr. Catherine Winkworth 182778 alt. Closing prayer King Jesus, your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and you rule with justice and mercy and love. May we abide as citizens of your Kingdom and work to see it established more and more in our world, through our lives, and for your glory. Amen.

10.01.2022 Tuesday prayers 17th November Opening Prayer Father of all; I praise and thank you for human love and relationships which echo the beauty of the Trinity.... Be in the relationships, encounters and conversations of this day, to bring love and joy and peace to your people, and to me. Amen. Bible Reading Luke 19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today. So, he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner. Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much. Then Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. Reflection Yesterday, I wrote about observers and followers. Here, Zacchaeus wanted to be an observer from the safe distance of the tree; the crowd thought they were followers. The tables are turned when Jesus invites himself into Zacchaeus’s house and life, turning him into a follower, a disciple whose life is transformed by his relationship with Jesus. The crowd grumbles as they view what is happening, becoming onlookers carping from the bleachers. As you read again this story of a life transformed and the intentions of the hearts of all concerned are revealed, where do your sympathies lie? Are you with the crowd in criticism or with Jesus as he offers compassion, forgiveness, acceptance and a new start? Intercessions Pray today for: the willingness to look at the intentions of the heart rather than make assumptions on prejudice compassion for those caught up in unjust systems those whose stature of physical appearance puts them at disadvantage in society those who work in local, state and federal government departments, especially finance Hymn TIS 568: O for a heart to praise my God O for a heart to praise my God, a heart from sin set free, a heart that always feels your blood so freely shed for me: a heart resigned, submissive, meek, my great Redeemer’s throne, where only Christ is heard to speak, where Jesus reigns alone: a humble, lowly, contrite heart, believing, true, and clean, which neither life nor death can part from Christ who dwells within: a heart in every thought renewed, and full of love divine, perfect, and right, and pure, and good your life revealed in mine. Your nature, gracious Lord, impart: come quickly from above; write your new name upon my heart, your new, best name of love. Charles Wesley 170788 alt. Closing prayer Gracious, merciful and loving Father, You look on us with compassion And see into the heart where nothing is hidden from you. Light the way for us to follow, so that we see with your compassion, love with your mercy and are transformed in our actions. Amen.

10.01.2022 Reverend Peter Dyke has been inducted today as MU Chaplain for the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo - by Zoom!

08.01.2022 All ready for the Ordination on Saturday and worship on Sunday!

03.01.2022 Tuesday prayers 10th November Opening Prayer Creator God, the beauty of your world takes my breath away and I stand in awe of your amazing works. Open my eyes t...o the beauty inside the people I meet and help me to respond with beautiful words, actions and kindness. Amen. Bible Reading Luke 17:7-10 7 Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ Reflection Well, you just wouldn’t would you? It doesn’t work like that. The master is the master and the worker works! So how come we expect God to repay us for the work we do, the service we give, the worship we owe? We don’t deserve God’s attention, love, esteem, care or anything else we might consider. We are fallen humans living in a broken world that has wondered away from the marvellous light of God into the darkness of sin and going our own way. And yet God DOES love us, and cares and has compassion and seeks our blessing, to enable us to live differently and thrive. THAT is the impetus for our love and worship and service what we can do for God and not what he can do for us! Jesus turns the world’s thinking and acting upside down. The world might well deal with us like the master treats his slaves in the parable, but in the great economy of the Kingdom of God, all is different and explosively renewed! Thank you Jesus! Intercessions Pray today for: Church workers, ministers, missionaries and volunteers, all working for the Kingdom of God those whose work is unrecognised or inadequately rewarded individuals you know who want to work but are unable to find work they can do those working to develop a vaccine and effective treatment for coronavirus Hymn TIS 681: Lord let me see, see more and more Lord let me see, see more and more, see the beauty of a person, not the colour of the skin, see the faces of the homeless with no-one to take them in, see discouragement because she’ll never win: see the face of our Lord in the pain: Lord let me see. Lord let me hear, hear more and more, hear the sounds of great rejoicing, hear a person barely sigh; hear the ring of truth, and hollowness of those who live a lie; hear the wail of starving people who will die; hear the voice of our Lord in the cry: Lord let me hear. Lord let me care, care more and more, care for those who feel the loneliness, for those who have no say, care for friends who have no job and find it hard to face the day, care for those with whom we sing and work and pray: and in care Jesus Christ will be found: Lord let me care. Lord let me learn, learn more and more, learn that what I know is just a speck of what there is to know; learn from listening to my neighbour when I’d rather speak and go; learn that as we live in faith and trust we grow; learn to see, hear and care, with our Lord: Lord let me learn. Lord let me love, love more and more, love the loveless and the fragile, help them be what they can be, love the way that I would like them to be looking after me; for to know you is to love them and be free, and in love Jesus Christ will be found: Lord let me love. Ross Langmead 1949 Closing prayer Heavenly Father, your heart is open to all who look to you. May all who seek you, find you among your people. May those who want to know you, learn through the Church. May those who want to serve you, have eyes to see the need and courage to follow where you lead. Amen.

02.01.2022 Wednesday prayers 18th November Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, you are the Lord of peace and call your children to be people of peace:... peace-makers and peace-keepers. Fill us with the peaceful fruit of your Spirit, that we might be more and more like you, for your name’s sake. Amen. Bible Reading Luke 19:11-28 11 As they were listening to this, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 So he said, A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13 He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17 He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19 He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’ 20 Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24 He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25 (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26 ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over thembring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’ Reflection Power and authority and the ability to change or influence things these are the currency of everyday situations, decisions and actions. The nobleman, his slaves and the citizens of his country each had a measure of agency in the story. The nobleman decided to travel to ‘get royal power for himself; he left his wealth in the hands of slaves. The slaves chose how to employ that which was entrusted to them. The citizens acted against the nobleman and tried to subvert his mission. The key to the story is that Jesus and his entourage are nearing Jerusalem and speculation was rife about how he would exercise his authority, gain power and take control. He did not conform to any of their speculations! Each of us, you and me, have agency every day to choose, to decide, to act. How do you deploy your agency? Is it for the Kingdom or against it? Jesus said: ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’ Intercessions Pray today for: your agency in the situations, decisions and actions of today for wisdom and courage those who feel they have no agency and are victims of circumstance or others children, women and men who are trafficked for money or sex those who are discounted, exploited or abused for whatever reason Hymn TIS 335: To Christ, the Prince of peace To Christ, the Prince of peace and Son of God most high, the Father of the world to come, we sing with holy joy. Deep in his heart for us the wound of love he bore: that burning love he kindles still in hearts that him adore. O Jesus, victim priest, what else but love so fine could move you so to welcome us into your heart divine? O fount of endless life, a spring of water clear, a flame celestial, cleansing all who will to you draw near, hide us within your heart, for there we all would be, to live in grace, and after death gain immortality. Praise to the Father be, and sole-begotten Son; praise, ever holy Paraclete, while endless ages run. Anon., Latin from Catholicum Hymnologium Germanicum 1587 tr. Edward Caswall 181478 alt. Closing prayer Lord, I want to choose you, to follow your way, to live to please you, to stay close to you. But when the world presses in and distracts me, alluring with empty promises of power, may your love glow warmer, your hand hold tighter, and my heart grow stronger, so that I may not fall. Amen.