The Sabbath
Sisters and Brothers
Today, on this Second Sunday in Lent (Day 12), I share with you a reflection from Glenn E. Porter Sr., titled “Relevancy”:
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, “Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?” But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. Then he said to them, “if one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?” And they could not reply to this (Luke 14: 1-6)
When you pray for rain, you’ve got to deal with the mud, too. - Caribbean saying
The religious leaders in Jesus’ day said that it was unlawful to heal on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was supposed to be a day when all work ceased. The day that was set aside for rest, but the spirit of honouring God became lost in a labyrinth of laws. The rigorous rules and regulations were so exhaustive that, as the Tyndale Bible Dictionary points out, “the main purpose of the Sabbath became lost beneath a mass of legalistic details.” As Jesus said in Mark 2:27, “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath.”
There is a line from the old movie Green Pastures in which Noah says to God, “People around here don’t do much church-going. They mostly use Sunday to get over what they did all night on Saturday.” It is probably safe to say that recovering from a hangover (or other natural consequences from Saturday night of excess) is not what God intended in establishing the Sabbath as a day of rest and recreation!
The local church faces many challenges in this age. One of the most prominent challenges for the modern church is to remain relevant.
This is often a Herculean task for older, established historic congregations. In Unfinished Evangelism, author Tim Wright argues that tradition can turn into traditionalism. This is when “tradition becomes an anchor holding the church to the post rather than a rudder guiding it into the future.” The church must break some chains and tear down some idols in order to stay true to the spirit and authentic intent of the gospel.
Patrick +
Faith and Politics: Rev. Peter Espeut to Lead St. Luke’s Annual Lecture on the Church’s Role in Society
Laetare Sunday pauses Lent to rejoice in hope and light. It reminds us of Christ’s coming resurrection and calls the Church to nurture faith with compassion.
God provides living water through Jesus Christ. Those who come to Jesus and believe in Him will have their spiritual thirst satisfied and receive eternal life.
God’s love, shown in Jesus, offers eternal life and calls us to love God and one another as we journey through the Lenten season.
Lent is a 40-day season of preparation, repentance, and renewal, rooted in early Church practice, calling Christians to self-reflection, baptismal readiness, and almsgiving.
Looking to God, not the mountains, we find help. In silence and solitude, we feel God’s love and are shaped to live love over power.
Discover how Jesus’ call to be salt and light shapes discipleship beyond Sunday worship, uniting faith, service, and witness at St. Luke’s Church.
Jesus’ Beatitudes provides us a manifesto for Christian living, revealing God’s favor, our calling in Christ, and attitudes shaped by grace.
Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year, and the Day of Epiphany is one of the Church’s great festivals.
It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the New Year, 2026, after the western part of our island experienced the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane Melissa.
Christmas embodies hope, peace, joy and love, reminding us God works through humility, sustains us in hardship, and offers hope and peace to all.
Faith and Politics: Rev. Peter Espeut to Lead St. Luke’s Annual Lecture on the Church’s Role in Society
Laetare Sunday pauses Lent to rejoice in hope and light. It reminds us of Christ’s coming resurrection and calls the Church to nurture faith with compassion.
God provides living water through Jesus Christ. Those who come to Jesus and believe in Him will have their spiritual thirst satisfied and receive eternal life.
God’s love, shown in Jesus, offers eternal life and calls us to love God and one another as we journey through the Lenten season.
Lent is a 40-day season of preparation, repentance, and renewal, rooted in early Church practice, calling Christians to self-reflection, baptismal readiness, and almsgiving.
Looking to God, not the mountains, we find help. In silence and solitude, we feel God’s love and are shaped to live love over power.
Discover how Jesus’ call to be salt and light shapes discipleship beyond Sunday worship, uniting faith, service, and witness at St. Luke’s Church.
Jesus’ Beatitudes provides us a manifesto for Christian living, revealing God’s favor, our calling in Christ, and attitudes shaped by grace.
Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year, and the Day of Epiphany is one of the Church’s great festivals.
It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the New Year, 2026, after the western part of our island experienced the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane Melissa.
Christmas embodies hope, peace, joy and love, reminding us God works through humility, sustains us in hardship, and offers hope and peace to all.
Advent calls us to Emmanuel—God with us—bringing hope after Hurricane Melissa as we share Christ’s love through compassion and service.
On this Third Sunday of Advent, let us focus on Joy rooted in Emmanuel - God with us - who brings hope, healing, and light beyond suffering.
Second Sunday of Advent: a message of Peace, Hope, and Christ’s presence as we rebuild after Hurricane Melissa and renew our mission as God’s people.
A reflection on the First Sunday of Advent—celebrating hope, Christ’s coming, and faith that sustains us through challenges like Hurricane Melissa.
In a year of loss after Hurricane Melissa, we give thanks for life, courage, and resilience, trusting Christ the King who reigns and restores amid our trials.
Amid the hurricane devastation, we cling to God’s steadfast love, support affected communities, give relief, pray, and trust that His goodness will rebuild and renew Jamaica.
Though Hurricane Melissa brought devastation, we stand united in faith, hope, and love - trusting God to restore, rebuild, and renew us.
On All Saints’ Day, amid Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, we find hope that faith endures, love rebuilds, and that God and the Saints strengthen us to rise again.
Aging isn’t decline - it is growth. Like Paul, keep learning, stay courageous, and live with purpose, faith, and a renewed spirit at every age.
Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit renews, empowers, and unites us to boldly live and share God’s love in the world.
Faith and Politics: Rev. Peter Espeut to Lead St. Luke’s Annual Lecture on the Church’s Role in Society
Laetare Sunday pauses Lent to rejoice in hope and light. It reminds us of Christ’s coming resurrection and calls the Church to nurture faith with compassion.
God provides living water through Jesus Christ. Those who come to Jesus and believe in Him will have their spiritual thirst satisfied and receive eternal life.
God’s love, shown in Jesus, offers eternal life and calls us to love God and one another as we journey through the Lenten season.
Lent is a 40-day season of preparation, repentance, and renewal, rooted in early Church practice, calling Christians to self-reflection, baptismal readiness, and almsgiving.
Looking to God, not the mountains, we find help. In silence and solitude, we feel God’s love and are shaped to live love over power.
Discover how Jesus’ call to be salt and light shapes discipleship beyond Sunday worship, uniting faith, service, and witness at St. Luke’s Church.
Jesus’ Beatitudes provides us a manifesto for Christian living, revealing God’s favor, our calling in Christ, and attitudes shaped by grace.
Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year, and the Day of Epiphany is one of the Church’s great festivals.
It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the New Year, 2026, after the western part of our island experienced the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane Melissa.
Christmas embodies hope, peace, joy and love, reminding us God works through humility, sustains us in hardship, and offers hope and peace to all.
Advent calls us to Emmanuel—God with us—bringing hope after Hurricane Melissa as we share Christ’s love through compassion and service.
On this Third Sunday of Advent, let us focus on Joy rooted in Emmanuel - God with us - who brings hope, healing, and light beyond suffering.
Second Sunday of Advent: a message of Peace, Hope, and Christ’s presence as we rebuild after Hurricane Melissa and renew our mission as God’s people.
A reflection on the First Sunday of Advent—celebrating hope, Christ’s coming, and faith that sustains us through challenges like Hurricane Melissa.
In a year of loss after Hurricane Melissa, we give thanks for life, courage, and resilience, trusting Christ the King who reigns and restores amid our trials.
Amid the hurricane devastation, we cling to God’s steadfast love, support affected communities, give relief, pray, and trust that His goodness will rebuild and renew Jamaica.
Though Hurricane Melissa brought devastation, we stand united in faith, hope, and love - trusting God to restore, rebuild, and renew us.
On All Saints’ Day, amid Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, we find hope that faith endures, love rebuilds, and that God and the Saints strengthen us to rise again.
Aging isn’t decline - it is growth. Like Paul, keep learning, stay courageous, and live with purpose, faith, and a renewed spirit at every age.
Pentecost reminds us that the Holy Spirit renews, empowers, and unites us to boldly live and share God’s love in the world.
Faith and Politics: Rev. Peter Espeut to Lead St. Luke’s Annual Lecture on the Church’s Role in Society
Laetare Sunday pauses Lent to rejoice in hope and light. It reminds us of Christ’s coming resurrection and calls the Church to nurture faith with compassion.
God provides living water through Jesus Christ. Those who come to Jesus and believe in Him will have their spiritual thirst satisfied and receive eternal life.
God’s love, shown in Jesus, offers eternal life and calls us to love God and one another as we journey through the Lenten season.
Lent is a 40-day season of preparation, repentance, and renewal, rooted in early Church practice, calling Christians to self-reflection, baptismal readiness, and almsgiving.
Looking to God, not the mountains, we find help. In silence and solitude, we feel God’s love and are shaped to live love over power.
Discover how Jesus’ call to be salt and light shapes discipleship beyond Sunday worship, uniting faith, service, and witness at St. Luke’s Church.
Jesus’ Beatitudes provides us a manifesto for Christian living, revealing God’s favor, our calling in Christ, and attitudes shaped by grace.
Next to Easter, Epiphany is the oldest season of the Church year, and the Day of Epiphany is one of the Church’s great festivals.
It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the New Year, 2026, after the western part of our island experienced the devastation of the Category 5 hurricane Melissa.
Christmas embodies hope, peace, joy and love, reminding us God works through humility, sustains us in hardship, and offers hope and peace to all.
