St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh

Midweek Devotion 27th July 2023

Led by Rev Douglas A O Nicol

‘I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so I shall be saved from my enemies’ (Psalm 18: 1-3)

Let us worship God.

Scripture Reading

Our reading today comes from the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 13, verses 1 to 9:

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into the boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’

Reflection

Jesus often taught in parables – ‘earthly stories with heavenly meanings’ – and in our Gospel reading we have a very familiar one. The types of soil represent different personalities and human situations –

-        the path … on which the seeds just lay until they were eaten by birds,

-        the rocky ground … where there was little soil, giving the seeds no chance of putting down strong roots,

-        the thorny ground … where the growing seeds were choked,

-        the good soil … where the seeds produced grain in abundance.

Later in his teaching Jesus invites His listeners gathered on the seashore to consider what kind of soil they each represent, and the hope is that we all aim to be the good soil in which the seed of God’s Word will take root and bear fruit. 

The words of hymnwriter, Charles Wesley, can point us in the right direction:

Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go,

my daily labour to pursue,

thee, only thee, resolved to know

in all I think, or speak, or do.

The task thy wisdom hath assigned

oh, let me cheerfully fulfil,

in all my works thy presence find,

and prove thy good and perfect will.

Thee may I set at my right hand,

whose eyes my utmost substance see,

and labour on at thy command,

and offer all my works to thee.

Give me to bear thy easy yoke,

and every moment watch and pray,

and still to things eternal look,

and hasten to thy glorious day;

For thee delightfully employ

whate’er thy bounteous grace has given,

and run my course with even joy,

and closely walk with thee to heaven.

Prayer

Let us pray:

To you, merciful God,

we commend ourselves

and all who need your help.

Where there is hatred, give love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is sadness, joy;

where there is darkness, light.

Grant that we may not seek so much

to be consoled as to console.

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love,

For in giving we receive,

in pardoning we are pardoned,

in dying we are born to eternal life.

We pray today for the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine:

-        for all now suffering with hunger worldwide while grain is destroyed in Ukraine  

-        for all seeking bravely to defend their homeland

-        for the injured and bereaved

-        for all seeking to bring aid to the country

-        for those who commit the violence, especially young soldiers drawn into a conflict that they do not fully understand.

We ask all our prayers in Jesus’ Name.

Now we pray for those for whom we have a special concern,

whose names and places are in our hearts and minds,

may they know your peace and love,

and spend their years in fulfilment and hope,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever,

Amen.

Benediction

The guarding of the God of life be on you,

the guarding of the loving Christ be on you,

the guarding of the Holy Spirit be on you

to aid you and enfold you

each day and night of your lives.

Amen.

Organ Music

Dieterich Buxtehude Vater unser im Himmelreich