One advantage of visiting the Holy Land is that for the rest of your life scripture passages come alive in a special sense as you recall the geography. Today’s first reading is such a passage for me. In May 2005 I took part in an ecumenical pilgrimage to Jordan, Lebanon and Syria which has placed those troubled lands much on my heart. The Jordan leg of our pilgrimage led us to Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land as recorded in today’s reading from Deuteronomy 34. He is presumed to have died near to this visit and indeed ‘no one knows his burial place to this day’. If they did Jews, Christians and Muslims would flock to it.
Today people talk of Moses’s Promised Land as the ‘over-promised land’ of which you become very aware from Mount Nebo as you look down from Jordan across to Jericho in the State of Israel. At night the lights of Jerusalem are visible. As pilgrims, Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican within the True Life in God network we concelebrated Mass in the excavated basilica on Mount Nebo, an extraordinary privilege allowed on the retreat. I recall being in the midst of scores of priests looking down from the altar across something like a five hundred strong assembly of God’s people towards the west door and the Promised Land beyond. My thoughts and prayers were of how the Lord was to lead us forward from that place as individuals, Christian communities and denominations aspiring for the promised land of heaven.
As we reflect on our scripture for today we are reminded that we are God’s people in succession to those Israelites and we are more fully so as we look to what God has on the horizon for us as churches and individuals. We attain that in company with one another, looking to the faith of the church through the ages and to one another right across Christian traditions. As we heard in the Gospel from Matthew 18:19-20 ‘Truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them’.
We are gathered this morning as if on Mount Nebo sensing God’s leading in our lives and in our Christian community, straining forwards to the promise of glory anticipated through the eucharist. ‘O Christ whom now beneath a veil we see may what we thirst for soon our portion be to gaze on thee unveiled and see your face, the vision of your glory and your grace’ (Thomas Aquinas)
Father we are your people, called by you and destined to inherit your promises. As you kept faith with Moses keep faith with us as trust you for the best future as individuals and as a Christian community. Lord hear us
We pray for Martin our bishop, [the one destined to be our parish priest/Michael our priest] and all Christian leaders especially Justin our Archbishop, Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew and the leaders of the Evangelical Churches that together they may steer your people towards the best provisions on our pilgrim way. Lord hear us
We pray for the Christian communities in [Cuckfield/Haywards Heath] that leaders and members will connect up more so that our joint mission of service and witness to Jesus our Saviour may be the more effective. Lord hear us
Remember, Lord, all those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity, especially those who have asked our prayers. Lord hear us.
Joining with Our Lady, [St Wilfrid], St Clare and all the saints we commend to you those who have died and all whose anniversaries fall at this time. Lord hear us.
Merciful Father accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
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