St James' Church of Scotland, Lossiemouth
For Christ, For You
24 April 2022 is the Second Sunday of Easter and where in our Bible Lectionary readings we reach the story of Thomas (set out below, from John’s Gospel).
Like Thomas, we learn to trust.
The joyous news on 17 April 2022 – and every day after – is that it is always “the
third day”.
It is always the day of resurrection.
But how easily can we keep that front-of-mind on a daily basis?
It’s Palm Sunday: 10 April 2022.
The main scripture this week is from Luke’s Gospel.
Jesus, our Saviour, comes to us humbly, riding a donkey and proclaiming a message of
peace.
On Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus approaching Jerusalem. The “camera is on him” and he is fully in character. We are familiar with this story – like a movie, watching it in our mind’s eye. We can see it. But there’s a potential problem. We’ve seen the film before and so we’re no longer watching it very carefully…
Luke 19:28-40 (The Message)
God’s Personal Visit
28-31 After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem. When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: “Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘His Master needs him.’”
32-33 The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, “What are you doing untying the colt?”
34 They said, “His Master needs him.”
35-36 They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.
37-38 Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:
Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!
39 Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”
40 But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”
[Read more…]
It’s the Fifth Sunday in Lent – 03 April 2022.
God says: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!”
But, what does that mean in practice?
Isaiah 43:16-21 (New International Version)
16 This is what the Lord says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18 “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals honour me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.
