Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: Hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Matthew 11: 16-19, 28-30
16 ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
17 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.”
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’*
28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
Reflection
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” Matthew 11:17
But whose music should we dance to?
“The trouble with Jesus and his followers”, complain the religious establishment “is that they don’t do what we tell them. They are supposed to obey the rules and regulations we insist upon, but they don’t. Those laws are set down for their own good. If they fail to abide by them, our peaceful society itself will be at risk”. They believe that their status gives them the right to dictate those rules and regulations for their own benefit. They seek to justify and legitimise their preferences by terming them to be ‘traditional’ values.
It’s not that rules and regulations are wrong in themselves – on the contrary, they are essential for guidance and mutual societal growth. The difficulty arises when instead or promoting and supporting justice and equity, they are modified to suit the wishes of those in leadership roles – religious or political. They need people to do what they say without question; but as we have seen (and are seeing) often, that way leads to corruption. They make laws to suit themselves – and their pockets. They play the flute (badly), and expect everybody to dance to their music. When people refuse, they don’t like it and call them subversive, traitors and often charge them with criminality.
They can’t cope with people like Jesus and John the Baptiser who dance to a different drum and are rocking the boat. The religious authorities are increasingly uncomfortable and challenged. John’s asceticism is calling for people to repentance and renewal; Jesus’ humanity and unconditional love is inviting ordinary people to Himself irrespective of who they are or their position in a hierarchical society. This kind of behaviour is not going to keep people sedated, unquestioning and obedient. Quite the opposite.
Essentially, said the philosopher Henry David Thoreau, unquestioning obedience results in slavery. Instead, Jesus offers freedom.
Our Lord challenges us to love as He loves us – but with a difference. The dance He leads gives us a choice. We obey His command, but not as slaves – instead, he invites us to be willing servants, alongside the freedom to always ask and reason together with Him as we choose our actions. Therein lies the path to Wisdom, and in God’s Wisdom lies gentleness, humility and rest for our souls.
We can dance to man-made Law. Or Servant Love.
Choose Love.
Previous Posts
Praying Together 21st June 2026
‘You are of more value than many sparrows.’
Yes perhaps we are – but that doesn’t mean that sparrows have no value at all.
Praying Together 31st May 2026
Throughout the world, greeting one another with a kiss is a standard way of greeting – once, twice or more (four times in some regions of of France.) In our less demonstrative culture, we perhaps tend to ‘Share the peace’ by means of a nod, wave, handshake a hug or sometimes even a kiss itself in order to respect what we understand as the boundaries of a person’s ‘personal space’.
Praying Together 17th May 2026
‘Somethin’s comin’, don’t know what it is, but it is gonna be great’
Praying Together 10th May 2026
This week I offer a report of our Archbishop John’s Introductory address to this week’s General Synod. It speaks for itself. I wish certain political leaders would read it too.
Praying Together 26th April 2026
Fortunately, God’s love is not restricted to those who do good. He sent His only Son to save sinners – whoever they may be, whatever they may have done wrong.
Praying Together April 19th 2026
Judgement is not restricted to either believers or non-believers – but All people
Praying Together 12th April 2026
Let’s talk about Peter, the ‘Rock’ on which Christ’s Church is built.
Seriously, would you have chosen him? Surely, one of the other Disciples would be the most highly qualified.
Praying Together Easter Sunday 2026
A Reflection provided by the Revd. Barbara Irrgang-Buckley for the First Sunday of Easter
Praying Together – A Thought for Good Friday 2026
Through our tears as we stand at the foot of the Cross and witness His Crucifixion on this Good Friday, we have the privilege of looking beyond the day unto a day of joy as we are assured of His life – then, today and tomorrow. We leave our past behind as we walk away from Golgotha, the place of the skull.
Praying Together March 29th 2026
These things are worth meditation and thought, as we enter this Holy Week – but the even more important question that we can only answer for ourselves, is embodied in twelve straightforward words written by Charles Wesley.
How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Praying Together 22 March 2026
“Lazarus, come out.” He calls Lazarus by name. Even death cannot triumph, and so it is with sin. There is no depth or distance to which human being can go that can prevent them from hearing that call. It is up to them to choose to accept or deny it.
Praying Together 15th March 2026
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.