Hymn, readings and prayers for Sunday

Almighty God, you show to those who are in error the light of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness: grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen

A reading from Genesis 15:1-12,17-18 

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ‘You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.’ But the word of the LORD came to him, ‘This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.’ He brought him outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Then he said to him, ‘I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.’ But he said, ‘O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?’ He said to him, ‘Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.’ He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire-pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.’ 

This week the theme that connects our readings is “promise”. The promises that were made to Abram were fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Christ.

The way in which God’s promise to Abram was formalised may seem barbaric to us in the twenty first century but in Old Testament times covenants were sealed by the dividing of an animal and when agreement had been reached, the two parties would pass between the two halves. In our reading today it is the fire of God that seals the deal. But what is important to us is not the ritual of symbolic animal sacrifice, but the making of an eternally binding agreement between God on one side and Abram and his descendants on the other.

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?   

When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who
stumbled and fell.   

Though an army should encamp against me, yet my heart shall not be afraid;   

And though war should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him.   

One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; To behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.   

For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter;  he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock. Even now he lifts up my head above my enemies round about me. Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness; I will sing and make music to the Lord. .   

Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me.   

You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." Your face, Lord, will I seek.   

Hide not your face from me, nor turn away your servant in displeasure. 

You have been my helper; cast me not away; do not forsake me, O God of my salvation. 

Though my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will sustain me.   

Show me your way, O Lord;  lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.   

Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and also those who speak malice. 

What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness of the Lord  in the land of the living!  O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart;  wait patiently for the Lord.

Try reading the psalm from the point of view of a citizen of Kyiv and pray for Ukraine.

Second Reading Philippians 3:17 – 4:1   

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 

Paul urges us to trust in God’s promises.

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 13:31-35

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.” Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”’

Mother hen mosaic from Dominus Flevit Church in Jerusalem.

Jesus has compassion over Jerusalem despite being met with stubborn human rejection and knowing that it is there that he will be killed. Jesus will die but not at the hands of Herod. He will die in obedience to the will of God to fulfil the promise made to Abram that he will be with and will protect his people to the end of time.

We give thanks for the assurance of  God’s promise that, however bleak the world may at times appear, he will never abandon us.

• We pray that during this Lent we will engage more wholeheartedly in the loving partnership that God offers to us that we may play our part in building a world where peace reigns.
• We continue to pray for the leaders of the world as they seek to use diplomatic means to ease political tensions and restore peace among the nations.
• We pray for the people of Ukraine and all victims of warfare.
• We continue to pray for the growing numbers of refugees and displaced people in the world and for those giving them sanctuary.
• We pray for those known to us who are in poor health, thinking of ..........................................
• We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have recently departed this life, thinking of ......................  We ask you, loving Father, to be with the bereaved, wherever they are, that they may be comforted by your constant presence.

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine.  We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort will draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious sons and daughters, at risk and in fear, that you will hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.  Amen