Dear Friends,
The rich Bible readings set for this week (links below) give us the creation story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 2, a vision of heaven in Revelation 4, and the stories of Jesus calming the storm on the lake and healing a demon-possessed man in Luke 8. Together they challenge us to consider who we worship: the Almighty God who is the Creator of all, seated on his throne in heaven calling us to deeper faith and trust in his Son.
The creation story in Genesis reminds us that through his grace God chose to make humanity a co-creator with him, responsible for cultivating and caring for the our precious planet home. Scripture tells us that creation requires both divine intervention (rain) and human effort (tilling the ground) to flourish. Our role, therefore, is not to dominate creation but to partner with God, recognising the limits of what can be done to and with our fragile earth.
In the Gospel of Luke (8:22-35), we hear two miracles which demonstrate Christ’s authority over both nature and humanity. The calming of the storm reveals Christ as the Lord of Creation, while his power to calm a tormented man reveals Christ’s dominion and authority over human chaos. As usual, the disciples seem to have grasped the wrong end of the stick, here, missing the task that Jesus has sent them to do. Although Christ has sent them to the other side of the lake for a purpose, they treat the boat as a place of safety rather than as an opportunity for mission. Christ’s question, “Where is your faith?” challenges their shallow trust and ours—it is a question which still confronts us, exposing our fears and doubts. The Gospel passage concludes with Jesus and his disciples arriving in Gentile territory where they encounter a man possessed by demons who recognises Christ as the Son of the Most High God. In contrast to the disciples’ fear, this man, transformed by Christ, becomes a missionary to his people, embodying the mission of the Church which is our responsibility today.
So, two deep and complex readings which emphasise that Christ is both Lord of creation and humanity, and that the mission of the Church involves working in partnership with God to fulfil his plan. This relationship is painted vividly in our third passage from the Book of Revelation in which all of creation is seen as participating in the worship of God and where the whole of creation is invited into God’s Kingdom.
Our worship matters. It is central to the Church’s mission, and our concern for the earth and all of creation is integral to its loving purpose.
Yours in Christ,
Ian
