The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity – Reflection by Canon Leslie

The Gospel for this Sunday continues the lectionary journey through Matthew’s Gospel and we reach the point when Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem and kicked the money changers out of the temple. The religious leaders try to set a trap for Jesus by asking him to give an account of who gave him authority to act in the way that he does. Jesus sidestepped the trap by asking them an equally controversial question, about the authority on which John the Baptist acted. Here is a clear example of how religion and politics get so quickly confused.
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To appreciate the complexity of the conflict between Jesus and the chief priest and elders, we have first to appreciate the political complexity that threatened the working relationship between the temple and the occupying Roman forces. Jesus was acting out the God-given authority of the Messiah and that was politically provocative.

To prepare for this Sunday’s service I invited those of you who want to do some thinking beforehand to focus on the image of setting traps. In today’s picture from his book The Grumpy Day, Teddy Horsley falls into a trap that has been set for him on the carpet. Literally he falls over the vacuum cleaner.

Next week the image to help us prepare for participation in the Sunday service, whether offline in the cathedral or online at home, is the vineyard, when the Gospel reading continues to develop Jesus’ interaction with the chief priests and the elders of the people, challenging them to open their eyes to see what God is doing to bring about change. 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].

If you’d like to learn more about Teddy Horsley and his writings, visit his website: https://teddyhorsley.org/, or his page on the website of St. Mary’s Centre: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/TeddyHorsley.html.
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We warmly invite you to join us in worship online here: 

Teddy Horsley sends his Sunday greetings to all. 

Canon Leslie
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