Vicars Letter - 1 March 2024

Rev. Andrew Spence

Kia ora All Saints,

As we sat down for Parish Council this week, the Wednesday reading was Matthew 20:17-28. Here a mother comes and asks whether her sons can sit at the right hand and the left hand of Jesus when he enters his kingdom. In the end Jesus talks to his disciples and says famously: 

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:25-28

It was a great reminder that we all often strive for authority and want glory. It is a common desire and seems part of the human condition. Jesus says and later shows the true intent of the Kingdom of God - to serve one another.

What I found interesting in the middle of this passage is that Jesus says:
“You don’t know what you are asking,” - Matthew 20:22
In the end when Jesus was enthroned (on the cross) the people that sat on his left and his right were infact criminals and died a painful and shameful death. Is this what the mother wanted for her children?

In Lent we prepare for the story of the cross, it is meant to represent the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert being tempted. So often people fast (or give up things) in order to remind themselves, as Jesus did in the desert that sin is just around the corner. One of the big temptations in the desert was authority and glory:
"All this I will give you,” he [Satan] said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”      - Matthew 4:9

​So I am reminded this week to remember the Kingdom of God way to be a servant. To think of others above myself and to put the authority in Jesus' hands.
I am blessed to be with you on the same journey as we all learn this, and re-learn this.

This week at Parish Council we also:

• Decided to build new stairs in between the big ones down the end of the hall, to stop falls and create a welcoming entrance while the fence is here.
• Give a trial to a new office layout so that kids can have more space. This will likely happen after Easter.
• Hire a Children's Worker at 6 hours a week, while we wait for the further funding to get us 100% of the way towards the desired 8 hours. Read more about this in the newsletter.

See you Sunday
​Andrew Spence