Sunday Spotlight - 11th October 2009

Roman Catholic/Methodist/URC - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Anglican - Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost, Proper 23

Job 23:1-9, 16-17 or Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 * Psalm 22:1-15 or Psalm 90:12-17 * Hebrews 4:12-16 * Mark 10:17-31

Today's readings put into focus our views on personal possessions self sacrifice. There's nothing wrong with personal wealth, it's what we do with it that is important. For some people following Christ will involve the sacrifices that Peter points out that he has made, leaving everything and going where the Lord wants. For others it will be less dramatic but no less worthy. There are many examples in the past of rich people doing good with their wealth without ever leaving home. We are reminded that there will always be persecutions even when we make great sacrifices. Some people might not be keen on what we do as Christians in pusuit of spreading the Gospel, but that should not stop us. If it takes every penny we have we should carry on regardless, at the end of the day the message is much more important than money, and we can't take it with us !!!!

This weekend so many of the Christians of Frome have done exactly what today's Gospel asks for by making personal sacrifice for the good of the Gospel. They have given up their time to read in the Bible Marathon and in doing so have not only made a difference to the lives of the people of Zimbabwe but also to getting the Gospel message across in our town. With only a few hours to go, we are tired ( especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and did without sleep ! ) but bouyed up that we did it and what was another of David's crazy ideas has come off !