I’ve made some scribbles on my tablet as I’ve been out and about. Just catching ideas when they strike me.
Not being self-centred so facing outward.
No ostentation so being humble.
Also going from mountaintop experience in Mk 9 to “help me in my unbelief”. It’s tempting to be inward focussed when we are down.
Parallelism and connecting fasting/self-denial to generosity and consideration.
Two sides to everything and seeing the other side.
7 sermons over the last 11 years, and Is 58 is a constant feature. The second reading has varied enormously and often throws a particular light on Isaiah 58.
Two weeks ago – Lords Prayer, intimate and ultimate. Yet Christ encourages us to a solitary prayer which has no I, me or mine in it. It is an outward-facing prayer, never self-centred; a prayer for our community, for humanity.
Today, a mountaintop experience, perhaps mirroring Moses on the mountain. But Moses, having met God face to face, came down to the golden calf, a bitter low-point. After the transfiguration in Mk 9? The demon the disciples could not cast out. The father who said “I do believe. Help me in my unbelief!” Maybe the epitome of heartfelt prayer. In our mountaintop experiences we may see God in all his glory, yet at our bitter low points he is there as our father, gathering up his skirts to run to usher us home.
And we draw on our recent study of Mt 6 – our response is not self-centred; not ostentatious; we are called to be generous, to pray and to fast quietly and humbly: to bless others and call down God’s blessing on others while denying ourselves.
It’s not about me, it’s all about you, Lord.
