ICF - Professions of Faith

Sunday 20th July 2025 - 6th Sunday after Pentecost

Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42
(Alternatives: Genesis 18:1-10a;Psalm 15)

Today's New Testament readings offer some contrasting perspectives on the world of work. We might easily consider the story of Mary and Martha, and extract from it a quite negative attitude towards manual labour. Mary's preference for devotion seems to be more strongly commended. But it might be noted that Martha is not condemned for working, but challenged for seeking to impose her priorities on her sister. Jesus does not instruct her to stop working, and his concern is for her state of mind rather than physical activity. Another way of considering this is to recognise that each sister was expressing devotion to Jesus in a different way, and that our contemporary working lives can similarly be no less an expression of worship and devotion than what might often be more readily described as spiritual activities. This is reinforced by the reading from Colossians which is a reminder that every aspect of creation and human experience is under the reign of Christ. The worlds of business, commerce and manufacturing are not excluded from that, nor is our participation in them.

In one of today's Old Testament readings, the prophet Amos is clearly foretelling a significant time of calamity and ruin for the nation. The images of people scrambling for food and shelter are sadly as relevant today as they were at the time of writing. Along with praying for the victims of war, invasion and famine, thought might be given to the role of aid workers and humanitarian relief teams, in the work that they do to alleviate the impact of such crises. There are also echoes of abuse of power and exploitation which are reiterated in Psalm 52. This offers the opportunity to reflect on those who have power, and the contexts in which congregational members might have power over others, to recognise the anguish of those who are victims of its abuse, and to consider how our faith identity should inform our actions in such contexts. The Psalm is a reminder that God is not indifferent in such circumstances, and reflects an understanding of worship that makes space for lament to be voiced. Consideration might be given to how contemporary worship can equally allow such expression.

The story of Abram's visitors might provide opportunity, in appropriate contexts, to reflect on the experience of infertility and those whose research and work enables families to overcome this. There are also some general references in Psalm 15 that might offer a basis to recognise issues around business ethics and their application.