Mothering Sunday 2026
Collect
Luke 2:25 – 35
…the consolation of Israel…
There are several annoying pieces of advice that have been around for centuries when people are looking for help and reassurance. ‘It’s always darkest just before dawn’ ‘it is what it is’. The technological version of helpful (not) suggestions is ‘Try switching it off and on again’.
Having said which, sometimes a complete reset is indeed the only option.
Since the beginning of time, God has given Israel plenty of opportunity to turn away from sin and obey His Commandments. They don’t; they follow their own way. And every time, disaster follows.
An impatient god would get sick of being ignored and leave humanity to it. The true God who created us isn’t about to do that – He loves His creation too much. He resorts to the only option that can work – the total reset that allows the world to start again. He sends His only Son to be the ‘consolation’ of Israel.
“Consolation” in this context refers to comfort or solace, pointing to the long-awaited hope of deliverance and restoration, rooted in the promises of the Hebrew Scriptures. This hope identified a person (the Messiah) who would bring redemption to Israel and, ultimately, to the world.
Isaiah spoke about it and prophesied.
40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.
Unfortunately, no-one listened. They refused to believe, relying on strict (and impossible) adherence to the Law for their salvation. Prophets came and went with the same outcome, but you have to wonder whether the Jewish authorities actually wanted a Messiah at all. They worried about the risk of not being able to use the Law as leverage to exert their power as judge and jury over the people.
They denied the voice of the Holy Spirit by failing to trust those prophesies; but ordinary people like Anna and Simeon heard and believed.
Simeon, though, didn’t just hear about the Messiah being incarnate in the child – he also knew that the child’s destiny would involve pain and suffering in order to fulfil His mission. And Mary knew too. The consolation of Israel – of the world – would cost her the life of her child. And that gives additional meaning to the song in Luke’s Gospel we know as the Magnificat and Mary’s acceptance of her role. ‘Let it be to me according to Thy Word’
Previous Posts
Praying Together 8th March 2026
And in turn, we are challenged to become messengers ourselves, however unsuitable or ill-equipped we might feel.
Praying Together 22nd February 2026
If we are to appreciate the gentleness of a lamb, we need to know its opposite. If we are to understand what safety is, we need also to experience the possibility of danger.
Praying Together 15th February 2026
Perhaps, when we pray, we need to remember it is the Jesus on the Mountain to whom we address our prayers, the one whose face shines like the sun and transfigures our faces as we radiate in His light.
Praying Together February 8th 2026
Is Jesus suggesting, not to eat and drink? And is he saying we should not wear clothes but go naked?
How unrealistic is this, and how depressing – we need to eat and drink, and we need clothing.
Praying Together February 1st 2026
Christ’s words are given to all His people in the face of the difficulties we ourselves face in life. We claim them and are assured of Blessing. And that is all we need.
Praying Together January 25th 2026
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Praying Together 18th January 2026
In prayer, we ask: Who is God calling to come and use their specific individual gifts to continue to build His Kingdom in the future?
His reply is clear.
“You”, He says.
Praying Together 11 January 2026
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Praying Together 21st December 2025
Joseph’s example is one of love, human reaction, vocation and ultimate obedience to his Creator. So we rightly celebrate both Mary and Joseph as the chosen parents of the Christ-child. But we must also remember that they were ordinary people with human emotions who lived extraordinary lives.
Praying Together December 7th 2025
By your grace we have the gift of the Scriptures. With the help your grace, may we listen deeply to what you want to say to each one of us. May we know your gifts of endurance, encouragement and hope, so that not only our lips but also our lives may be a song in praise of your mercy.
Praying Together November 30th November 2025
The significance of the Themes and Candles we light during the Advent Season.
Praying Together 23rd November 2025
We celebrate the beginning of the story in Advent – but before we do, it is equally important to celebrate the final act of Coronation. The Gospel proclaims that Jesus is King.