The Third Sunday after Trinity - Reflection by Canon Leslie

Today’s Gospel reading continues our journey through Mark’s Gospel and brings us to the end of chapter 4. Chapter 4 had begun with Jesus teaching the crowd on the shore while he sat in a boat. When evening came, Mark shows Jesus crossing to the other side of the lake in the boat. But then a great storm arose and the waves beat into the boat. The opening chapters of Mark’s Gospel portrayed Jesus as one who has authority over the powers of evil.  In chapter one, Jesus said to the man with an unclean spirit ‘Be silent.’  Now the same Greek word is addressed to the storm, translated this time ‘Be still.’  In both cases the result is instantaneous and peace is restored.  Peace is that context in which God’s will for the creation is realised.  Jesus says, ‘Peace!  Be still!’
 
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 hands, since hands communicate the sign of peace within the eucharistic liturgy. Today’s picture of hands is taken from the illustrated communion book, The Lord is Here!
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you brought peace to the storm.
Teach us to turn to you
when our lives are stormy and rough,
that we may hear your words of peace
and experience your calm in our hearts;
today and every day.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday our journey through Mark’s Gospel takes us into chapter 5 where two healings are presented within one narrative. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is ambulance.  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 learn more about The Lord is here! and other communion resources, please follow this link to the relevant page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/childrenandcommunion.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our said 8:30am Eucharist on our Facebook page, linked here: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. This will be our sole offering online today, as many of our live streaming volunteers are self-isolating in compliance with official regulations. 
 
I send Sunday greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie