Readings
Deuteronomy10:12-21
This week I chose the readings suggested for the Sunday nearest to Waitangi Day and so we read from Deuteronomy.
Maurice Andrew draws our attention to verse twelve and thirteen
‘So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord’
It is a theme that is repeated in a number of books throughout the Hebrew Bible.
He also tells the story of Tūhoe prophet Rua Kēnana who, according to historian Judith Binney, travelled with a big box strapped to a packhorse that contained a large English Language Bible. That was his equivalent of the Ark of the covenant which contained the tablets of the law[1]
Matthew 6:19-24
This is a classic contrast between what appears to be of value in the ‘economy’ and what might be true ‘heavenly values.’ Bishop Mariann Budde tried to explain the difference to Donald Trump recently, but he didn’t seem to understand. The basic claim of this gospel is that ‘You cannot serve God and wealth’. In terms of the Treaty covenant there always seems to be a pressure to pursue wealth above justice.
Sermon
My cousin Helen has adapted to retirement far better than I have. She has planted out her sloping section, keeps chooks, and has an automatic lawn mower that sends her a text when it gets stuck. She involved herself in a number of arts a crafts. She even made me a small arty pot with a picture of my mum as a girl glazed on it.