Lectionary resources Ordinary 31 A

Joshua 3:7-17 Joshua leads the people across the River Jordan
Psalm 107:1-7 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 You remember our labour and toil
Matthew 23:1-12 The greatest among you will be your servant

Readings for All Saints Day:
Revelation 7:9-17 Before the throne of God
Psalm 34:1-10,22 I will bless the Lord at all times
1 John 3:1-3 See what love the Father has given us
Matthew 5:1-12 The Sermon on the Mount -- The Beatitudes

Suggested Hymns (TIS Together in Song; AHB Australian Hymn Book; SA Sing Alleluia)

A	Hymns for Sunday 31, Yr.A
lesson	Hymn	TiS	AHB	SA
	A charge to keep I have	573	487
G	A mighty fortress is our God	103	[8]
G	All my hope on God is founded	560	465
Ps	All people that on earth do dwell	59	10
	All praise to our redeeming Lord	442	367
E/G	All who love and serve your city	634	562
G	Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)	129	56
Ps	Beauty for brokenness	690
O/Ps/E	Because he lives
hc	Break now the bread of life	429	334
E/G	Brother, sister, let me serve you	650		14
Ps	Captain of Israel's host and guide	574	485
E/G	Christ be my leader by nght as by day	624		17
E	Christ from whom all blessings flow	440	364
	Christ is our cornerstone	433	344
	Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands	364	283
Ps	Come let us sing
G	Come thou long-expected Jesus	272	200
E	Comfort, comfort all my people	647		25
hc	Eat this bread, drink this cup	714		29
O/Ps	Eternal Father, strong to save	138	74
E	Fairest Lord Jesus	203	131
	Father all-loving and ruling in majesty	160	104
	Father we praise you, now the night is over		2
E	For ourselves no longer living
Ps	For the fruits of all creation	168		37
	For the might of your arm we bless you		535
	From all who dwell below the skies	72	42
E/G	From heaven you came, helpless babe	256
Ps	Give thanks with a grateful heart	717
Ps	Give thanks, give thanks unto the Lord	67
Ps	God is good, we sing and shout it
Ps	God is so good
G	Great is your faithfulness	154
O/Ps/E	Guide me, O thou great Redeemer	569	478
	Have faith in God, my heart	619	552
Ps	He has made me glad
E	Head of the Church, our risen Lord		380
E	Help us, O Lord, to learn	428	340
O	How firm a foundation, you people of God	578	491
G	I danced in the morning	242	183
O/G	I set the Lord before my eyes	673		48
	I sing a song of the saints of God		551
O	If we will trust in God to guide us	554	[459]
Ps	I'm so secure
	In faith and hope and love	628	555
Ps	Irresistible
G	Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love	640	561
E	Jesus calls us here to meet him	477
	Jesus friend of little children		524
	Jesus' hands were kind hands	236	178
E	Jesus put this song into our hearts	670
G	Jesus thy boundless love to me		462
E	Jesus where'er thy people meet	445	372
G	Kneels at the feet of his friends	640	561
Ps	Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim	351	271
G	Lord Jesus we belong to you	686
	Lord of creation, to you be all praise	626	557
G	Lord of light, whose name shines brighter		392
G	Lord, make me like you
E	Love divine, all loves excelling	217	148
G	Make me a channel of your peace	607		66
G	Make me your servant
	May the mind of Christ my Saviour	609	537
E	My God how wonderful you are		71
G	My gracious Lord, I own thy right		483
O	Now in the name of him who sent	488	413
O	Now Israel may say, and that truly	79	23
G	O day of God, draw near	616	547
	O God of truth, whose living word		507
G	O Jesus, I have promised	595	514
G	O Master, let me walk with thee	601	522
G	Our Father, by whose name			71
	Praise and thanksgiving, Father, we offer	627	569
E/G	Purify my heart
E	Rejoice in God's saints, today and all days	470		73
G	Robe yourself, my soul, with gladness	503	[424]
E	Spread, O spread, almighty Word	450
Ps	Thank you, thank you, Lord	170		80
E	Thanks to God whose word was spoken	431	339
E	The church's one foundation	457	385
G	The Lord will come and not be slow		194
Ps	The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
Ps	Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return
G	There's a spirit in the air	414
G	There's a wideness in God's mercy	136	[72]
	Through all the changing scenes of life	112	30
Ps	Thus will say the Lord's redeemed	67
E	Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
O	Wade in the water
G	Wake awake! For night is flying	266	195
E	We are one in the spirit
E	We are your people	468		90
G	We have this ministry
E	We limit not the truth of God	453	335
G	What does the Lord require of you	751
E	Worthy of my days
O	You are before me, Lord, you are behind	87		97
hc	You satisfy the hungry heart	539
E	You servants of God, your Master proclaim	215	144
O	Your hand, O God, has guided	456	389

Who do you listen to when you want to learn something of spiritual value or something of faith? Or do you learn from what people do rather than what they say? Jesus was very critical of the teachers of Israel for their hypocrisy [Matthew 23:13], yet he told people to listen to them and do what they taught [Matthew 23:1-3]. Do what they say, not what they do! How was that possible? The hypocrisy of teachers and leaders does do damage: it is a barrier; it can lock people out of the kingdom [Matthew 18:6-7; Mark 9:42]. It is much easier to learn from good examples and a great responsibility rests on all teachers [James 3:1].

Yet in spite of their bad example Jesus told the crowds they should follow what the scribes and Pharisees taught. [Matt 23:2-3a]. They should still be followed because they followed Moses; that is, they presented the word of God from the law of Moses [See also Matt 5:17-20; John 4:22]. So it was too that the apostles were to be believed in their witness to the gospel in spite of their being charged too with hypocrisy and weakness [Gal. 2:11-14; 2 Timothy 3:13-17]. Nevertheless pastoral leaders in the church were expected to be people of good reputation [1 Timothy 3:7-9]. The human weakness of the messengers created obstacles to belief, but it did not render the whole enterprise invalid.

My fear is that we are going through a breakdown of authority and trust in the church. The big challenge today is to remain relevant and effectively involved without, in our relative weakness, being captured by special interest groups and used for their purposes rather than those of the gospel. You need then to be able to discern the truth in the midst of falsehood. [1 Thessalonians 5:20-22] Seek the truth from unworthy teachers, remembering the warnings Jesus gave about the authority of teachers [Matthew 23:9-10] and the contrast of good examples [1 Thessalonians 2:11-13.] We look then to "saints" more in hope than in confidence because we trust in God and not in humanity.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus, preaching good tidings to the people, proclaiming release to captives, setting at liberty those who are bound:

Lord Jesus, friend of the outcast and the poor, feeder of the hungry, healer of the sick:

Lord Jesus, denouncing the oppressor, exposing the hypocrite, overcoming evil with good:

Lord Jesus, dying to save us from our sin, rising to give us eternal life, ascending to prepare our heavenly home:

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -- 1 Timothy 1:15

Eternal Father, from whose love neither death nor life can separate us: grant us grace to follow Christ as true saints, that here on earth we may serve you faithfully, and in heaven rejoice with all your saints who ceaselessly proclaim your majesty and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

[The great prayer of thanksgiving continues, recalling God's goodness in caring for his people, the life and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he commanded his disciples to remember him with the bread and the wine, and we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit on us and what we do.]