The Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity - Reflection by Canon Leslie

Six weeks ago our lectionary journey through Mark’s Gospel reached the end of Chapter 6. For five weeks our attention has been on John’s discourse concerning the bread of life. Now today’s Gospel reading picks up Mark’s narrative at the beginning of chapter 7. Jesus’ radical attitude toward the Jewish law had already brought him into open conflict with the Pharisees on several occasions.  In chapter 2 the Pharisees accused Jesus of disregard for the sabbath when his disciples plucked ears of grain.  Now the Pharisees accuse Jesus of disregard for the ritual laws of washing.  Jesus replies that a clean heart is more important than attention to the ritual laws of washing. 
 
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 washing. In today’s picture, from his book, Water, Teddy Horsley reflects on the physical and spiritual significance of washing.   
 
Lord Jesus Christ, 
you call your people to 
pure and holy lives. 
Wash from us all that defiles 
that we may serve you with clean hearts; 
now and always. 
Amen. 
 
Next Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark presents Jesus’ remarkable conversation with the Gentile woman who came to him seeking help. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is dogs. 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].  

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.

​Canon Leslie