Revd Sara's Reflections - w/c 10th August 2025

Bible Reading: Luke 12:32-40

In Luke 12, Jesus speaks words of reassurance and challenge: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” He then invites his listeners to live with a radical sense of trust and readiness: “Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus does not simply offer pious advice, he is inviting us into a new way of seeing the world. A way of living that trusts God’s generosity enough to loosen our grip on what we think will keep us safe. A way of life where our security comes not from possessions or status, but from the deep, sustaining love of God. For many of us, especially in modern Western cultures, this teaching can feel unsettling. We are surrounded by messages telling us that our value is tied to what we own, what we produce, what we can store away for later.

Jesus flips this thinking on its head: true treasure is not about accumulation, but generosity. It is about investing in what lasts: relationships, justice, compassion, community, grace.Then Jesus goes further: he tells his followers to be like servants waiting for their master’s return, “dressed for action and with lamps lit.” He calls us to live awake, attentive to God’s presence, ready to act with love and courage. This is not a fearful vigilance, but a hopeful, engaged readiness to meet each moment with compassion and purpose.

For liberal, open-minded Christians, this passage is an invitation to hold our commitments lightly enough that we are free to respond to the needs of others, yet deeply enough that we never lose sight of what matters most. It is a call to cultivate hearts that stay open and hands that stay ready: ready to share, to heal, to build a world that looks more like the kingdom God delights to give. So today, let this passage challenge and inspire you: - Where is fear keeping you from living generously, freely, or joyfully? - What are you treasuring most right now—and is it leading your heart toward love and justice? - How can you stay “awake” to God’s presence and purposes in the everyday moments of your life? Jesus’ words remind us that we do not need to cling anxiously to what we have. God is already offering us a kingdom of love, hope, and belonging. Our call is to live like we trust that promise, freely, generously, and awake to the grace unfolding all around us. May we find our true treasure in love, and may our hearts stay ready to answer God’s call.

Hymn / song: All my hope on God is founded

love and prayers Revd Sara

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