The Fifth Sunday after Trinity - Reflection by Canon Leslie

Today’s Gospel reading continues our journey through Mark’s Gospel and brings us to chapter 6 when Jesus sends his disciples out on their first missionary journey.
 
In chapter 3 of Mark’s Gospel Jesus appointed twelve ‘to be with him, and to be sent out to preach, and have authority to cast out demons’.  Following their call, the twelve listen to Jesus’ teaching, witness his acts of power, and experience the way in which he is rejected.  Now they are sent out in pairs on their first missionary journey.  The urgency of the task is reflected in the way in which they are to travel light, unencumbered by unnecessary baggage and preparation.
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of travelling light. In today’s picture, from their book Special People, Aled and Sian are setting out on their journey, travelling light with just the map in their hands.  
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught your followers
to travel light in your service.
Help us to follow in their footsteps,
that we are not weighed down
with the baggage of life;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday our journey through Mark’s Gospel takes us further into chapter 6 as a dark shadow emerges over the disciples’ missionary journey. They learn about the assassination of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is martyr. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to [email protected].
 
To read the book, Special People, in its entirety, follow this link to the resource on the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Our%20World%20Series/Special%20People/Special%20People%20Short%202016%20WEB.pdf. For more adventures with Aled and Sian, you are invited to follow this link to the Exploring Our World series page on the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Our%20World.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
Aled and Sian send their Sunday greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie