Sunday 17 July 2022 | Does God punish?

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Theme: Intimacy with you/Lord, is the better part COLLECT Lord Jesus Christ, you are the image of the invisible God: empower us to proclaim you, so that all the world will choose the better part, intimacy with you; for you live and reign in the Unity of the Blessed Trinity, one God, now and for ever. Amen. READING from Amos 8: 1-12 I had another vision from the Sovereign Lord. In it I saw a basket of fruit. 2 The Lord asked, “Amos, what do you see?” “A basket of fruit,” I answered. The Lord said to me, “The end has come for my people Israel. I will not change my mind again about punishing them. 3 On that day the songs in the palace will become cries of mourning. There will be dead bodies everywhere. They will be cast out in silence.” READING from Colossians 1: 15-28 15 Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things. 16 For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. 17 Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. 18 He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. 25 And I have been made a servant of the church by God, who gave me this task to perform for your good. It is the task of fully proclaiming his message, 26 which is the secret he hid through all past ages from all human beings but has now revealed to his people. 27 God's plan is to make known his secret to his people, this rich and glorious secret which he has for all peoples. And the secret is that Christ is in you, which means that you will share in the glory of God. GOSPEL according to Luke 10: 38-42 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her. BENEDICTION Go now, trusting in God’s love forever and always giving thanks. Do not be worried or distracted, nor shift from the hope promised in the gospel, but choose the better way, uprooting injustice and proclaiming Christ with all wisdom. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen. James Webb Space Telescope images: https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2022/news-2022-028