St. Barnabas Anglican Parish, Bluff. 
31/5/24

Today's gospel 
Luke 1 v39 to 49.

This is a very significant reading.
Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who is also pregnant. Elizabeth's baby leaps into her womb when Mary enters and greets her.
This significant incident shows that even though they are not yet born. John acknowledges the superiority of Jesus and recognizes that Jesus is God's SON.

Let us pray.

Father God,  we come before you today with a heart full of gratitude and Thanksgiving. 
We declare that you are Mighty and powerful and that you have done great things for us. We thank you for your mercy and goodness. May we give you all the honor and praise that you deserve.
In Jesus mighty name we pray. 

Amen

St. Barnabas Anglican Parish, Bluff. 
30.05.24
The Gospel reading taken from Mark 14 12-16, 22-26

Jesus blessed the bread, broke it, and passed it around. He did the same with the wine. He explained that the bread was his body, and the wine was his blood. Jesus' death would be the final sacrifice, enabling all people to receive God's forgiveness.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you that in this wonderful sacrament, you have given us the memorial of your passion: grant us so to reverence the sacred mysteries of your body and blood that we may know within ourselves and show forth in our lives the fruits of your redemption; for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

St. Barnabas Anglican Parish, Bluff. 
29/5/24
Today's gospel 
Mark 10 v32-45.

This reading tells us that our true victory lies in our service to humanity.
Jesus not only teaches us about this new path to greatness. But he lives it so the son of man in all his humility came not to be served BUT to serve.
So ultimately, we need to say NO to our selfish desires. 
We have to become servants to Jesus' authority.

Let us pray.

Father God, we thank you for allowing us to experience your power.
We always thank you for the Holy Spirit coming to our aid.
Grant us the light of faith to carry out your work.
We pray for a fair and safe election day. 
In Jesus mighty name 

Amen.

St. Barnabas Anglican Parish, 
27.05.24
Today's gospel 
Mark 10:17-27:

In the story, a man ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

As a response, Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, ...’”

The man answered that he had kept the commandments since he was a boy. But Jesus said to him, “One thing you lack, go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The man went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

This passage is a famous encounter between Jesus and a wealthy young man who asks about eternal life. Jesus challenges him to sell his possessions and follow Him, which the man finds difficult to do. Jesus then teaches his disciples about the difficulty of the rich entering the kingdom of God but emphasizes that all things are possible with God.

Let us pray

Lord teaches us to be mindful of those in need. Teach us to share what You have blessed us with.

Amen.

St. Barnabas Anglican Parish, Bluff. 
22/5/24
Today's gospel 
Mark 9 v38-41

In this reading, Jesus is telling his disciples that we need to remember that unity is better than exclusivity.
We need to remember that they are being driven by pride to protect the name of Jesus, but Jesus welcomes people who operated outside of the disciple's circle.
Hence the punch line "whoever is not against us is for us"
So, anyone who performs miracles in His name recognizes Christ's authority.

Let us pray. 

Father God forgives us when our trust in you has been in doubt. Strengthen us o Lord and help our unbelief.
Help us to fulfill the work that you have prepared for us to do in the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray. 

Amen.

St Barnabas Anglican Parish ‐Bluff 
21.05 2024
Today's Gospel 
Mark 9:30‐37

30 They left the place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were
31 Because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them the son of man is going to be delivered into the hands of man. They will kill him and after 3 days he will rise. But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it they came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them what were you? arguing* about on the road?
34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the *Greatest*. Sitting down Jesus called the 12 and said anyone who wants *to be first must be the very last* and the *servant of all* 
36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms he said to them
37 Whoever welcomes one of these little *Children* in my name welcomes *Me* and whoever welcomes *Me* does not welcome me but the *one* who sent me.

 *Reflection*

Jesus is preparing the disciples how to live after he's gone. They failed to understand that betraying and death awaits Jesus. Greatness comes from accepting the lowest social status in order to serve others. Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else. 

Let us pray 

Lord Jesus Christ's son of God has Mercy on us may we never fail to see your glory and victory in the cross. Help us to conform our lives to your will and to follow in your way of holiness 

Amen

St. Barnabas Anglican Parish, Bluff 
18.05.24
Today's gospel 
John 21 vs 20 to 25

Reflection

It's so hard for us not to compare! We want to compare our lot with others. We want to compare our future, our faith, our church, our efforts, our ... with others. Our discipleship shouldn't be about comparing ourselves to others.
 [1] God doesn't grade on the curve. He calls us to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. He calls us to uniquely important and distinctive lives of influence and grace. Comparing ourselves to others can be the cause of envy, jealousy, strife, covetousness, resentment, and a host of other sins. Of course, we can look at mature disciples for our examples. 

[2] We certainly must look to Jesus as us 
goal, pioneer, and hero.

 [3] And we must serve, help, and encourage others to pursue Jesus!

Prayer

O God, the Almighty and gracious Father, thank you for judging me with grace, empowering me with your Spirit, and calling me to a wonderfully unique life in your service. Forgive me for the times I've been envious of other believers. Forgive me for comparing my faith with others, whose hearts I could not know. Focus me on your will and lead me to you so the glory that others see in me is attributed to your grace and presence in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray.

Amen.