Lectionary Devotions by Bishop Hawkins

Our Gospel brings us a compelling picture of the mission of the Church, drawing all men to Christ in common obedience to his word. There is a beautiful and unexpected joy in the miraculous draught…

He says, “Love ye your enemies, and do good, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” But we find it hard to love our family and friends, let alone our enemies!

I often think that this sentence should be written above every altar: “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.” That is the Gospel Word, and that is the Gospel sacrament. That is the good news for you and me today…

So on the one hand, we have this anger and hatred and murder, and its end is death. On the other hand, we have this love and its end is life…

What is life? Does it consist merely in all those things we have and enjoy: riches, clothing, and food? Jesus tries desperately to get us to see beyond these possessions. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

We are half-way through the Church year, and Trinity Sunday is the fulcrum, the turning point. We celebrate today what God has made known to us, the fullness of his saving self-revelation, and we shall in the next weeks consider how we are to live, in response to and in accord with that revelation.

So in the Gospel words of Jesus to us today, he tells of how the Holy Spirit will empower his followers to keep his commandments, to love as he loved, and will teach them the truth and bind them to God, and in God, for ever.

“He dwells with you, and will be in you.” Humanity is divided in so many ways and along so many lines. Some of these distinctions are part of that glorious symphony of creation…

The Church embraces the season of growth, with Rogationtide on one side and Harvest Thanksgiving on the other. And we are taught in this that every endeavour is to be held together by prayer and thanksgiving to God…

Christ Ascends to reign on high, and in that glory He also establishes the hope of our calling, our eternal joy obtained, by Him who loves us— “I go to prepare a place for you.” The way is at last prepared, so that we who longed for a peace and blessing beyond the world’s fleeting treasures, might follow after Him.