| |
Columba Comments...
Short reflections written by members of our
congregation
7 June 2009
Back to
index
Scripture: Isaiah 52.7-10
Exploration
Isaiah is writing
about a time after the destruction of Jerusalem. They see the Lord
restoring ‘Zion’, a hill in Jerusalem, therefore God is restoring
Israel before their very eyes. The messenger proclaims the good news
from the mountain top, and subsequently the watchman who guards over
the ruined walls proclaims the good news. God is comforting and
saving Jerusalem.
This thanksgiving hymn echoes in other places in the Old Testament,
in Zephaniah 3.13-18, and Joel 2.21, and also in the New Testament
in Luke 1.26-33.
We celebrate St Columba this Sunday, a missionary who risked his
life to bring the Good News of Jesus to the people of Scotland. As
we embrace Jesus, his life and teachings, into our own lives, so we
are transformed by God’s Spirit. Yet we still struggle. Paul in most
of his letters (including Romans which we have on Sunday) concludes
with words that are intended to encourage Christians to live the
Christian life. This is the main way we can be missionaries in our
own community, by our own life and example.
Matthew picks up a similar theme in chapter 18 where the sayings of
Jesus recognise that it is difficult to be a follower of Jesus.
Questions for Reflection
- Think of a time you shared good news with someone. What was
the good news? How did the hearers respond?
- What is the Good News of Jesus? See if you can express it in
a few simple words.
- Do you know someone who is good at proclaiming the gospel
message? If so, how do they get the message across?
- St Columba did some pretty awful things. How do you respond to
the idea that God uses flawed people as bearers of God’s Good
News?
- How do you think St Columba’s is going in its work of mission?
Back to
index
|
