The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time | Sunday 4 September 2022

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Today is Sunday 4th September, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.

Molly Parden and Jonathan Ogden with The Porter’s Gate sing, ‘The Promise’. As you listen, does a particular lyric or musical phrase stay with you? Notice what arises…

This gift you gave from the beginning

Warm light, dry land, blue water brimming

And more, from the earth there came a growing

From seed to bloom, all the while you were sowing

It was love, love given in the water

And peace, God's peace written in the letters

Of the earth, God's earth, given with a promise

Can we keep it

Can we keep it

And stars in the night to gaze on them kindly

Great light, cool moon, all aligned in the sky, see

From water came life and so from the land

To feed, not to fight, to stand hand in hand

It was love, love given in the water

And peace, God's peace, given in the sunshine

And the earth, God's earth, given with a promise

Can we keep it

Out from the silence I hear a voice, I follow it onwards

You whisper to me, I am reminded of every gift you gave

So, spirit lead me unto the waters, unto the earth you made

Teach me the secret to ever care for, to look after it

It was love, love given in the water

And peace, God's peace written in the letters

Of the earth, God's earth, given with a promise

Can we keep it

Can we keep it

Today’s reading is from the book of Wisdom.

Wisdom 9:13-18

For who can learn the counsel of God?

Or who can discern what the Lord wills?

For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,

and our designs are likely to fail;

for a perishable body weighs down the soul,

and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.

We can hardly guess at what is on earth,

and what is at hand we find with labour;

but who has traced out what is in the heavens?

Who has learned your counsel,

unless you have given wisdom

and sent your holy spirit from on high?

And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,

and people were taught what pleases you,

and were saved by wisdom.’

Our reading today presents a series of questions which point us towards honouring the place of God's wisdom on our lives.

There are two distinct halves in our reading. Listen now, to some of the phrases from the first half, which describe our experience without wisdom.

Designs are likely to fail

A perishable body weighs down the soul.

Earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.

What is at hand we find with labour

How do these phrases sit with you?

Do any of them remind you of a situation in your life at the moment?

Now listen to these phrases from the second half:

Traced out what is in the heavens

Learned your counsel

Given wisdom

Sent your holy spirit from on high

Paths on earth were set right

People were taught what pleases you.

Saved by wisdom

How do these phrases sit with you?

As you listen to the reading again, notice where the change occurs as the writer turns their gaze from early struggles up to the heavens, towards the wisdom of God.

Which of these can you relate to as a gift or gifts from God that have helped you on your journey?

As you come to the end of this prayer time, you might like to turn your gaze upward, towards the heavens, and spend a few moments in gratitude to God for these gifts.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.