Thank you for your interest in the material for exploring the Sunday Gospel.

This material is produced by the Canon Theologian of Liverpool Cathedral Revd Canon Professor Leslie Francis to enable people to prepare for engaging with the gospel material in services. As such we have moved it to the Liverpool Cathedral main website.

You can find the material here

https://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/exploring-faith/exploring-the-sunday-gospel-resources/

This material is also sent to interested parties via the Liverpool Congregation newssheet.

You can sign up to receive that here.

Meanwhile you can see any archive resources published before August 2022 on this site. Later material will be on the Liverpool Cathedral Website

With our prayers and blessings

Today is the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus going on a sabbath to a meal in the house of a leader of the Pharisees.  First, Jesus sees there a man who had dropsy (verses 2-6) and challenges the Pharisees’ view about healing on the sabbath. Then he observes closely the social etiquette of the occasion and makes two points of stark criticism.  The purpose of offering hospitality, he argues, should not be the hope of hospitality returned, but the joy of selfless giving to those who are in no position to offer anything in return.
         
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 open table. In today’s picture from their book, The Big Chapel, Aled and Sian are serving at table for the lunch club.   


Lord Jesus Christ,
you open your table to all people.
Give us generous hearts
that we may be open to the needs of others;
for you are our God.
Amen.


Next week, the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel continues Jesus’ final journey toward Jerusalem. Jesus urges his followers to be well prepared. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is squirrels. 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.

​Today is the Tenth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ healing a woman on the sabbath. This healing brings Jesus into controversy with the authorities, this time the leader of the synagogue.  Jesus’ reply sees healing as release from bondage to Satan and therefore a clear sign of the reign of God.  Such release is highly appropriate on the sabbath, the day God gave to Israel as a weekly release from the bondage of labour.  Jesus effects the healing and the release by placing his hands on the woman.
 
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 healing hands. In today’s picture from their book, Special People, Aled and Sian are being welcomed by the healing hands of the nurse at the Health Centre.   
 
 
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you laid your hands on the sick
and brought them healing.
Teach us to follow your example
that we may bring healing to others;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel continues Jesus’ final journey toward Jerusalem. On the way Jesus was invited on a sabbath to a meal in the house of a leader of the Pharisees. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is open table. 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

Today is the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching to the crowd, saying that they are better at reading the weather than reading the signs of the times and reading the mind of God. At this point in Luke’s Gospel Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem and the events leading to his crucifixion. On that journey Jesus understands his own ministry and impending suffering as signalling the moment of crisis and judgement for God’s chosen people.  The signs are there, if only the people would read them.   
 
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 weather forecast. In today’s picture from his book, Good Morning, Teddy Horsley has read the weather signs carefully and taken his umbrella.   
 
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you teach your people
to read the signs of the times.
Open our eyes to the signs of your presence,
that we may serve you as you desire;
now and always.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Tenth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel continues Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem where he will be arrested and crucified. On the way Jesus heals someone on the sabbath. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is healing hands. 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. 

Today is the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching to his disciples to be alert and to be prepared. This teaching comes at the very beginning of Jesus’ final journey toward Jerusalem, when the precise timing and strategy for his arrest remain uncertain. It is like the owner of the house being prepared for a break-in. He does not know precisely when the thief will come. The owner of the house needs to stay alert.


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 home security. In today’s picture from his book, Teddy Horsley Feasts with Jesus, Teddy Horsley makes sure that the front door is securely locked before he sets off on his journey to church.   


Lord Jesus Christ,
you call your people
to be ready for your coming.
Prepare our hearts,
that we may be ready to welcome you;
for you are our God.
Amen.


Next week, the Nineth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel continues Jesus’ teaching as he progresses his final journey toward Jerusalem where he will be arrested and crucified. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is weather forecast. 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.

Today is the Seventh Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of the parable of the rich fool. This parable illustrates how wealth and possessions can become a distraction from the things that really matter in life.  The rich fool made the mistake of thinking that he owned a great deal and that, as a consequence, he was most secure.  The truth of the matter was that he did not even own his own life.  Later in verses 33 and 34 Jesus interprets the parable by exhorting his followers to build up treasure in heaven, for ‘where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’.
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 money. In today’s picture from the illustrated book, The Lord is Here!, Teddy Horsley is adding his precious possessions to the offertory procession.   
Lord Jesus Christ,
you teach your people
that wealth does not last forever.
Give us a proper attitude
toward our wealth and possessions,
that we may value the things which last;
for you are our God.
Amen.


Next week, the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching to be alert and to be prepared. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is home security. 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.

Today is the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. The Gospel reading takes us back to our journey through Luke’s Gospel, with the disciples request to Jesus to teach them to pray. In response, Jesus teaches them what we have come to know as the Lord’s Prayer. Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is somewhat shorter than Matthew’s version. Matthew adds the clauses ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’, and ‘but rescue us from the evil one’.  Other ancient manuscripts of Matthew also add the doxology ‘For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours for ever.’  In its developed form the Lord’s Prayer has become the family prayer of the Christian community, uniting Christians across many languages, across the world, and across the generations.


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 prayer. In today’s picture from his visit to Bangor Cathedral Teddy Horsley is adding his prayer to the prayer board in the Lady Chapel.  


Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught your disciples to pray.
Teach us to build our lives
on your way of praying,
that you may reign in us,
to the glory of God, our Father.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Seventh Sunday after Trinity, the Gospel reading in Luke’s parable of the rich fool who creates a bigger store for his possessions. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is money. 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.

Today is Consecration Sunday for Liverpool Cathedral, the annual festival and celebration of consecration of the (partly constructed) cathedral in 1924. The Gospel reading is John’s account of Jesus’ cleansing the temple in Jerusalem. In John’s account, Jesus made a whip of cords, overturned the tables of the money changers, and rebuked those who were selling doves for sacrifice, saying ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace’.


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 house of prayer. In today’s picture Teddy Horsley is on his way to join us in Liverpool Cathedral.  
Lord Jesus Christ,
you entered the temple in Jerusalem
and restored it as a house of prayer.
Shape within us your house of prayer
to be a place of encounter,
for all people,
now and always.
Amen


Next week, the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, the Gospel reading takes us back to our journey through Luke’s Gospel, with the disciples requesting Jesus to teach them to pray. In response, Jesus teaches them what we have come to know as the Lord’s Prayer. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is prayer. 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.

Today is the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, when the reading from Luke’s Gospel is the narrative of the Good Samaritan. The context is set by a conversation between Jesus and a teacher of the law. The teacher of the law poses the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ Jesus addresses the question by telling the story of a traveller who was ambushed and left for dead. The priest and Levite pass by; after all contact with a corpse would have made them ritually unclean.  The Samaritan who helps is a foreigner and an outcast.  Jesus tells us to follow that Samaritan’s example.
 
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 neighbours. In today’s picture from their book, Myself and Others, Aled and Sian are meeting their neighbours from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds.  
 
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you teach your disciples
to follow the example of the good Samaritan.
Help us to respond to the needs of others,
with sensitivity, generosity and care,
that we may show your love to the world;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next week is Consecration Sunday for Liverpool Cathedral, when we recall and celebrate the consecration of the Cathedral in 1924. The Gospel reading for today is John’s account of Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is house of prayer. 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. 

​Today is the Third Sunday after Trinity, when the reading from Luke’s Gospel concerns the mission of the seventy. All three Synoptic Gospels tell of Jesus sending the twelve disciples on a missionary journey.  Luke alone among the Synoptic Gospels tells of the mission of the seventy.  Quite similar instructions are given to both groups.  They are to carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and to greet no one on the road.  Haste and speed are all important.  The number seventy is highly symbolic. For example, Genesis 10 suggests that there were seventy gentile nations.
 
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 courier. In today’s picture from their book, Veil, Aled and Sian see the young courier delivering his message by bicycle.
 
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you sent your messengers
to prepare the way before you.
Send us out in your name
to share your good news with others,
that all may hear of your love and power;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel is the narrative of the Good Samaritan, told by Jesus to address the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ posed by a teacher of the law. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is neighbours. 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.