Single minded urgency




Some first thoughts on this Sunday’s readings.
These readings carry a sense of urgency about them. And they all call us into a single mindedness based on God’s loving actions towards us. Paul reminds us that we do not earn this through obedience but by accepting that love and allowing God to change us within from self-indulgence to loving our neighbour as ourselves. And to allow that to happen needs both a sense of urgency and single mindedness of attitude.
This Sunday will also be our harvest festival (a randomly picked date that doesn’t clash with anything else, including the harvest) – a day to give thanks for the harvest and more importantly God’s ongoing goodness and generosity. Our harvest festival is set within Matariki – the Maori New Year which marks the beginning of the time to prepare the ground for the new harvest. This reminds us that we are to care for creation so that/as well as reaping its reward. What might it mean to treat the earth as our neighbour? How might we show the fruit of the spirit to creation rather than a spirit of self-indulgence?

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