Thursday Evenings at All Hallows (October 29, 2026)
Welcome to Thursday Evenings at All Hallows.
In this evening’s message we revisit our Lord’s teaching, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” Anglican divine Charles Gibbon is credited with first naming this teaching the Golden Rule in 1604, a name by which it would be widely known in that century and since. It was also called the royal law after James 2: 8, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” in the seventeenth century, but that name did not catch on.
GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
Open this link in a new tab to hear Bryan Ratliff’s arrangement of the Irish hymn tune SLANE for harp.
Silence
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth
stand in awe of him. Psalm 96:9
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and
just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9
Let us now confess our sins to almighty God.
Silence
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much
the devices and the desires of our own hearts.
we have offended against your holy laws,
we have left undone what we ought to have done,
and we have done what we ought not to have done.
Yet, good Lord, have mercy on us;
restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Grant, most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a godly, righteous, and sober lives,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Merciful Lord,
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open our lips, O Lord;
And we shall declare your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
Open this link in a new tab to hear The Grail’s “In the Silent Hours of Night” (Psalm 134).
In the silent hours of night,
In the silent hours of night,
Bless the Lord,
Bless the Lord.
In the silent hours of night,
In the silent hours of night,
Bless the Lord,
Bless the Lord.
1 O come bless the Lord,
All you servants of the Lord,
Who stand by night in the courts
of the house of the Lord.
In the silent hours of night,
In the silent hours of night,
Bless the Lord,
Bless the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands to the holy place,
Come, bless the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion,
He who made heaven and earth.
In the silent hours of night,
In the silent hours of night,
Bless the Lord,
Bless the Lord.
3 Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and will be forever. Amen.
In the silent hours of night,
In the silent hours of night,
Bless the Lord,
Bless the Lord.
Silence
Blessèd are you, Lord our God,
our creator and sustainer:
in the darkness we look to your light
and we place ourselves and all your household
under your protection through the night.
Blessèd be God for ever! Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Psalm 139:1-16 (Domine, probasti) from St. Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter.
1 O Lord, thou hast searched me out and known me :
thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising,
thou understandest my thoughts long before.
2 Thou art about my path, and about my bed :
and spiest out all my ways.
3 For lo, there is not a word in my tongue :
but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.
4 Thou hast fashioned me behind and before :
and laid thine hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me :
I cannot attain unto it.
6 Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit :
or whither shall I go then from thy presence?
7 If I climb up into heaven, thou art there :
if I go down to hell, thou art there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning :
and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;
9 Even there also shall thy hand lead me :
and thy right hand shall hold me.
10 If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me :
then shall my night be turned to day.
11 Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee,
but the night is as clear as the day :
the darkness and light to thee are both alike.
12 For my reins are thine :
thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
13 I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made :
marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.
14 My bones are not hid from thee :
though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.
15 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect :
and in thy book were all my members written;
16 Which day by day were fashioned :
when as yet there was none of them.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Psalm 139:17-24 (Mihi autem) from St. Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter.
17 How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God :
O how great is the sum of them!
18 If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand :
when I wake up I am present with thee.
19 Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God :
depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.
20 For they speak unrighteously against thee :
and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee :
and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 Yea, I hate them right sore :
even as though they were mine enemies.
23 Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart :
prove me, and examine my thoughts.
24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me :
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Silence
Creator God,
may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way,
that, trusting in your presence in this world,
we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 7
‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
‘Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.
‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.’
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Owen Alstott’s “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord” (Magnificat).
1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
My spirit sings to God, my saving God,
Who on this day above all others favored me
And raised me up, a light for all to see.
2 Through me great deeds will God make manifest,
And all the earth will come to call me blest.
Unbounded love and mercy sure will I proclaim
For all who know and praise God's holy name.
3 God's mighty arm, protector of the just,
Will guard the weak and raise them from the dust.
But mighty kings will swiftly fall from thrones corrupt.
The strong brought low, the lowly lifted up.
4 Soon will the poor and hungry of the earth
Be richly blest, be given greater worth.
And Israel, as once foretold to Abraham,
Will live in peace throughout the promised land.
5 All glory be to God, Creator blest,
To Jesus Christ, God's love made manifest,
And to the Holy Spirit, gentle Comforter,
All glory be, both now and ever more.
Blessèd are you, Lord our God,
our creator and sustainer:
in the darkness we look to your light
and we place ourselves and all your household
under your protection through the night.
Blessèd be God for ever! Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Psalm 139:1-16 (Domine, probasti) from St. Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter.
1 O Lord, thou hast searched me out and known me :
thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising,
thou understandest my thoughts long before.
2 Thou art about my path, and about my bed :
and spiest out all my ways.
3 For lo, there is not a word in my tongue :
but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.
4 Thou hast fashioned me behind and before :
and laid thine hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me :
I cannot attain unto it.
6 Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit :
or whither shall I go then from thy presence?
7 If I climb up into heaven, thou art there :
if I go down to hell, thou art there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning :
and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;
9 Even there also shall thy hand lead me :
and thy right hand shall hold me.
10 If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me :
then shall my night be turned to day.
11 Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee,
but the night is as clear as the day :
the darkness and light to thee are both alike.
12 For my reins are thine :
thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
13 I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made :
marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.
14 My bones are not hid from thee :
though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.
15 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect :
and in thy book were all my members written;
16 Which day by day were fashioned :
when as yet there was none of them.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Psalm 139:17-24 (Mihi autem) from St. Dunstan's Plainsong Psalter.
17 How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God :
O how great is the sum of them!
18 If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand :
when I wake up I am present with thee.
19 Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God :
depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.
20 For they speak unrighteously against thee :
and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee :
and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 Yea, I hate them right sore :
even as though they were mine enemies.
23 Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart :
prove me, and examine my thoughts.
24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me :
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
Silence
Creator God,
may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way,
that, trusting in your presence in this world,
we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.
Matthew 7
‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
‘Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.
‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
‘Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.’
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
Silence
Open this link in a new tab to hear Owen Alstott’s “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord” (Magnificat).
1 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
My spirit sings to God, my saving God,
Who on this day above all others favored me
And raised me up, a light for all to see.
2 Through me great deeds will God make manifest,
And all the earth will come to call me blest.
Unbounded love and mercy sure will I proclaim
For all who know and praise God's holy name.
3 God's mighty arm, protector of the just,
Will guard the weak and raise them from the dust.
But mighty kings will swiftly fall from thrones corrupt.
The strong brought low, the lowly lifted up.
4 Soon will the poor and hungry of the earth
Be richly blest, be given greater worth.
And Israel, as once foretold to Abraham,
Will live in peace throughout the promised land.
5 All glory be to God, Creator blest,
To Jesus Christ, God's love made manifest,
And to the Holy Spirit, gentle Comforter,
All glory be, both now and ever more.
The Golden Rule Revisited
What prompted me to revisit this particular teaching of our Lord was two memes on a Facebook page and the remarks made in the comment section. The Facebook page is that of a self-professed Pagan and his Facebook page provides a window into the Pagan world in the British Isles, a world which has grown with the decline of Christianity in the British Isles.
Christians tend to live in their own bubble out of touch with the rest of the world. This is not a good thing. While Christians are expected to be not of the world, they are expected to be in the world. They cannot hope to fulfill our Lord’s Great Commission, making disciples of all people groups, the purpose for which he created his Church, if they keep themselves apart from the very people from whom the Lord has commanded them to make his disciples.
The first meme was about how this individual went to some length to maintain a persona which was intimidating to other people, particular to Christians. This led a number of comments in which those making the comments described what they did to cause unease and even fearfulness in their Christian neighbors. There was a lot of venting of ill-will toward Christians arising from past bad experiences with Christians, particular those of former Catholics with nuns at parochial schools. From a psychological perspective there was a lot of recounting of passive aggressive behaviour, the different ways that they expressed anger or annoyance with Christians indirectly rather than directly.
The second meme was about how the same individual had put the hairy pips from wild rose hips down the backs of other unfortune youngsters when he was a schoolboy, causing them excruciating itching. This meme produced several comments in which those making the comments admitted having done the same thing. The meme and the comments prompted me to think about how malicious children can be and how cruel they can be to other children and how their maliciousness and cruelty over time can develop into malevolence in adulthood. They may even come to regard causing harm and doing evil as giving them an advantage in life and consequently in their perspective a good thing. They may be drawn to philosophies, to ways of thinking about life and dealing with it, that blur the boundary between good and evil and even treat good as evil and evil as good. Their character becomes twisted and so does their soul.
It also prompted me to think about the benefits of learning the Golden Rule at an early age and living in an environment both at home and at school that encouraged children to frame and fashion their lives according to that teaching. Indeed, it may be regarded a work of God’s grace that a child is provided with such an environment, and the teaching leaves a deep impression upon the child, a impression that lasts throughout their lifetime and contributes to the shaping of their character.
The Golden Rule is found in two places in the new Testament, in the Gospel of Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount, from which this evening’s reading, Matthew 7, is taken, and in the Gospel of Luke, in the Sermon on the Plain, in the context of our Lord’s teaching about loving your enemies, Luke 6:27-36.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus, after pointing to his disciples’ attention that the kindness of God, their heavenly Father, is far greater than that of an earthly father, instructs them, in everything, to do to others what they would have others do to them. This suggests that he is talking about showing kindness to others. In other words, treat others the way that they themselves would like to be treated by others. He explains treating them this way is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
What Jesus does not tell his disciples is to expect those whom they are treating with kindness to reciprocate that treatment, to treat them in the same fashion. Nor can we expect that they will. This knowledge, however, should not keep us from treating others as Jesus commanded. As Jesus’ disciples we are expected to live his teaching, not just in front of others but all the time. It is one of the means by which we are witnesses to our Lord. Our lives show his influence.
In Luke’s Gospel the Golden Rule is embedded in the instructions that our Lord gives his disciples about they should treat their enemies. It forms one of those instructions.
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-31).
What Jesus says next is significant in understanding what he meant by the Golden Rule.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:32-36).
Our Lord infers that in doing to others as they would have others do to them, his disciples are not to expect those whom they treat in a way that they wish to be treated to reciprocate. He also infers that following the Golden Rule is a part of being merciful as God is merciful. Treating others with compassion, forgiveness, generosity, kindness, and respect is the right thing for disciples to do. They are to do so regardless of how others treat them.
Among the things that our Lord is saying is that his disciples are to set a good example for others even though others may not follow it. While they may be tempted to respond to rudeness with rudeness and to unkindness with unkindness, they are to resist these impulses. They are to respond according to the teaching our Lord has given them, according to the standards he has set for them.
Trusting Jesus and his words and framing and fashioning one’s life according to his teaching and being a wholesome example and pattern for others is what distinguishes a disciple of Jesus from the rest of the world. A life over which Jesus is clearly Lord is what marks a Christian as a true disciple.It also shows they they are doing their heavenly Father's will. They are giving heed to his only begotten Son in whom he is well-pleased.
Silence
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord, show us your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness,
and make your chosen people joyful.
Lord, save your people,
and bless your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
for you are our help and strength.
Create in us dean hearts, O God,
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.
Almighty and eternal God, grant that we may grow in faith, hope,
and love; and that we may obtain what you promised, make us
love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal God, from whom all holy desires, all good purposes,
and all just works proceed: give to your servants that peace
which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to
obey your commandments, and that free from the fear of our
enemies we may pass our time in trust and quietness;
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great
mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Isaac Williams’ “Be Thou my Guardian and my Guide.”
1 Be thou my guardian and my guide,
and hear me when I call;
let not my slippery footsteps slide,
and hold me lest I fall.
2 The world, the flesh, and Satan dwell
around the path I tread;
O save me from the snares of hell,
thou quickener of the dead.
3 And if I tempted am to sin,
and outward things are strong,
do thou, O Lord, keep watch within,
and save my soul from wrong.
4 Still let me ever watch and pray,
and feel that I am frail;
that if the tempter cross my way,
yet he may not prevail.
Silence is kept.
Those present may offer their own prayers and thanksgivings, either silently or aloud.
Gracious God,
you have given us much today;
grant us also a thankful spirit.
Into your hands we commend ourselves
and those we love.
Be with us still, and when we take our rest
renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Ernest Bode’s “O Jesus, I Have Promised.”
1 O Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
Be thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my guide.
2 O let me hear thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou guardian of my soul.
3 O Jesus, thou hast promised
To all who follow thee,
That where thou art in glory
There shall thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.
4 O let me see thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in thy strength alone;
O guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in heaven receive me,
My Saviour and my Friend.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear John A. Behnke’s “Benediction.”
The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen.
Christians tend to live in their own bubble out of touch with the rest of the world. This is not a good thing. While Christians are expected to be not of the world, they are expected to be in the world. They cannot hope to fulfill our Lord’s Great Commission, making disciples of all people groups, the purpose for which he created his Church, if they keep themselves apart from the very people from whom the Lord has commanded them to make his disciples.
The first meme was about how this individual went to some length to maintain a persona which was intimidating to other people, particular to Christians. This led a number of comments in which those making the comments described what they did to cause unease and even fearfulness in their Christian neighbors. There was a lot of venting of ill-will toward Christians arising from past bad experiences with Christians, particular those of former Catholics with nuns at parochial schools. From a psychological perspective there was a lot of recounting of passive aggressive behaviour, the different ways that they expressed anger or annoyance with Christians indirectly rather than directly.
The second meme was about how the same individual had put the hairy pips from wild rose hips down the backs of other unfortune youngsters when he was a schoolboy, causing them excruciating itching. This meme produced several comments in which those making the comments admitted having done the same thing. The meme and the comments prompted me to think about how malicious children can be and how cruel they can be to other children and how their maliciousness and cruelty over time can develop into malevolence in adulthood. They may even come to regard causing harm and doing evil as giving them an advantage in life and consequently in their perspective a good thing. They may be drawn to philosophies, to ways of thinking about life and dealing with it, that blur the boundary between good and evil and even treat good as evil and evil as good. Their character becomes twisted and so does their soul.
It also prompted me to think about the benefits of learning the Golden Rule at an early age and living in an environment both at home and at school that encouraged children to frame and fashion their lives according to that teaching. Indeed, it may be regarded a work of God’s grace that a child is provided with such an environment, and the teaching leaves a deep impression upon the child, a impression that lasts throughout their lifetime and contributes to the shaping of their character.
The Golden Rule is found in two places in the new Testament, in the Gospel of Matthew, in the Sermon on the Mount, from which this evening’s reading, Matthew 7, is taken, and in the Gospel of Luke, in the Sermon on the Plain, in the context of our Lord’s teaching about loving your enemies, Luke 6:27-36.
In Matthew’s Gospel Jesus, after pointing to his disciples’ attention that the kindness of God, their heavenly Father, is far greater than that of an earthly father, instructs them, in everything, to do to others what they would have others do to them. This suggests that he is talking about showing kindness to others. In other words, treat others the way that they themselves would like to be treated by others. He explains treating them this way is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
What Jesus does not tell his disciples is to expect those whom they are treating with kindness to reciprocate that treatment, to treat them in the same fashion. Nor can we expect that they will. This knowledge, however, should not keep us from treating others as Jesus commanded. As Jesus’ disciples we are expected to live his teaching, not just in front of others but all the time. It is one of the means by which we are witnesses to our Lord. Our lives show his influence.
In Luke’s Gospel the Golden Rule is embedded in the instructions that our Lord gives his disciples about they should treat their enemies. It forms one of those instructions.
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-31).
What Jesus says next is significant in understanding what he meant by the Golden Rule.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:32-36).
Our Lord infers that in doing to others as they would have others do to them, his disciples are not to expect those whom they treat in a way that they wish to be treated to reciprocate. He also infers that following the Golden Rule is a part of being merciful as God is merciful. Treating others with compassion, forgiveness, generosity, kindness, and respect is the right thing for disciples to do. They are to do so regardless of how others treat them.
Among the things that our Lord is saying is that his disciples are to set a good example for others even though others may not follow it. While they may be tempted to respond to rudeness with rudeness and to unkindness with unkindness, they are to resist these impulses. They are to respond according to the teaching our Lord has given them, according to the standards he has set for them.
Trusting Jesus and his words and framing and fashioning one’s life according to his teaching and being a wholesome example and pattern for others is what distinguishes a disciple of Jesus from the rest of the world. A life over which Jesus is clearly Lord is what marks a Christian as a true disciple.It also shows they they are doing their heavenly Father's will. They are giving heed to his only begotten Son in whom he is well-pleased.
Silence
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father
almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord, show us your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Keep our nation under your care,
and guide us in justice and truth.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness,
and make your chosen people joyful.
Lord, save your people,
and bless your inheritance.
Give peace in our time, O Lord,
for you are our help and strength.
Create in us dean hearts, O God,
and renew us by your Holy Spirit.
Almighty and eternal God, grant that we may grow in faith, hope,
and love; and that we may obtain what you promised, make us
love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eternal God, from whom all holy desires, all good purposes,
and all just works proceed: give to your servants that peace
which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to
obey your commandments, and that free from the fear of our
enemies we may pass our time in trust and quietness;
through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great
mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Isaac Williams’ “Be Thou my Guardian and my Guide.”
1 Be thou my guardian and my guide,
and hear me when I call;
let not my slippery footsteps slide,
and hold me lest I fall.
2 The world, the flesh, and Satan dwell
around the path I tread;
O save me from the snares of hell,
thou quickener of the dead.
3 And if I tempted am to sin,
and outward things are strong,
do thou, O Lord, keep watch within,
and save my soul from wrong.
4 Still let me ever watch and pray,
and feel that I am frail;
that if the tempter cross my way,
yet he may not prevail.
Silence is kept.
Those present may offer their own prayers and thanksgivings, either silently or aloud.
Gracious God,
you have given us much today;
grant us also a thankful spirit.
Into your hands we commend ourselves
and those we love.
Be with us still, and when we take our rest
renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us, heavenly Father,
to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Open this link in a new tab to hear John Ernest Bode’s “O Jesus, I Have Promised.”
1 O Jesus, I have promised
To serve thee to the end;
Be thou for ever near me,
My Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If thou wilt be my guide.
2 O let me hear thee speaking
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
To hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou guardian of my soul.
3 O Jesus, thou hast promised
To all who follow thee,
That where thou art in glory
There shall thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.
4 O let me see thy footmarks,
And in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly
Is in thy strength alone;
O guide me, call me, draw me,
Uphold me to the end;
And then in heaven receive me,
My Saviour and my Friend.
THE SENDING FORTH OF GOD’S PEOPLE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear John A. Behnke’s “Benediction.”
The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
The Lord bless you
The Lord keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious
And be gracious
The Lord look upon you with favor
And give you peace.
Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen.
Amen. Amen.
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