Friday 18th February 2022
The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1
You Lord, are the source of all good things: We praise you.
You call us to tend and care for your creation: May we strive to do your will.
You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: May we live together in peace.
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
A Reading: Matthew 6: 19-26 The Message
“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!
“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.”
A reflection on Proverbs 1:10, 13-15:-
If shop windows say, Buy all kinds of costly things;
fill your houses with luxury:
Do not be seduced, follow rather the way of righteous simplicity.
If magazines say, here are the solutions to all life’s problems;
check out this month’s lifestyle:
Do not be seduced, follow rather the way of righteous simplicity.
If neighbours say, Come, be like us,
keep up with our standards:
Do not be seduced, follow rather the way of righteous simplicity.
If adverts say, Enjoy today and
throw away tomorrow:
Do not be seduced, follow rather the ways of righteous simplicity.
If money-makers say, Here, make a quick buck;
don’t worry about the risk:
Do not be seduced, follow rather the ways of righteous simplicity.
If businesses say, Enjoy what we promise,
forget the environmental cost:
Do not be seduced, follow rather the ways of righteous simplicity.
Merciful God,
protect us from ourselves – our ignorance and our gullibility –
Give us wisdom to discern your truth
and insight to see your ways,
that we may live with simplicity,
enjoying your gifts and sharing your bounty.
Amen.
Praise be to God! For simple things:-
Clean air and the scent of the flowers,
wind that lifts and freshens.
For water, crystal clear or dark as bronze,
now skittering, now languidly flowing.
For trees that grow, ring upon ring,
and bats and beetles and tiny tree creepers.
For the musical interruption of robin and blackbird,
and the chit chat of sparrows.
For fresh picked leaves and fruits in season:
our daily bread.
For the times to pause, to focus our eyes
and attune ours ears: for peaceful observation.
For all these we give you thanks,
Generous, ever-caring God.
Amen.
The Green Tau 