The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time | Sunday 4 September 2022

Today is Sunday 4th September, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.


Molly Parden and Jonathan Ogden with The Porter’s Gate sing, ‘The Promise’. As you listen, does a particular lyric or musical phrase stay with you? Notice what arises…

This gift you gave from the beginning
Warm light, dry land, blue water brimming
And more, from the earth there came a growing
From seed to bloom, all the while you were sowing
It was love, love given in the water
And peace, God's peace written in the letters
Of the earth, God's earth, given with a promise
Can we keep it
Can we keep it
And stars in the night to gaze on them kindly
Great light, cool moon, all aligned in the sky, see
From water came life and so from the land
To feed, not to fight, to stand hand in hand
It was love, love given in the water
And peace, God's peace, given in the sunshine
And the earth, God's earth, given with a promise
Can we keep it
Out from the silence I hear a voice, I follow it onwards
You whisper to me, I am reminded of every gift you gave
So, spirit lead me unto the waters, unto the earth you made
Teach me the secret to ever care for, to look after it
It was love, love given in the water
And peace, God's peace written in the letters
Of the earth, God's earth, given with a promise
Can we keep it
Can we keep it

Today’s reading is from the book of Wisdom.

Wisdom 9:13-18

For who can learn the counsel of God?
Or who can discern what the Lord wills?
For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,
and our designs are likely to fail;
for a perishable body weighs down the soul,
and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.
We can hardly guess at what is on earth,
and what is at hand we find with labour;
but who has traced out what is in the heavens?
Who has learned your counsel,
unless you have given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,
and people were taught what pleases you,
and were saved by wisdom.’

Our reading today presents a series of questions which point us towards honouring the place of God's wisdom on our lives.


There are two distinct halves in our reading. Listen now, to some of the phrases from the first half, which describe our experience without wisdom.

Designs are likely to fail
A perishable body weighs down the soul.
Earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.
What is at hand we find with labour


How do these phrases sit with you?

Do any of them remind you of a situation in your life at the moment?

Now listen to these phrases from the second half:

Traced out what is in the heavens
Learned your counsel
Given wisdom
Sent your holy spirit from on high
Paths on earth were set right
People were taught what pleases you.
Saved by wisdom

How do these phrases sit with you?

As you listen to the reading again, notice where the change occurs as the writer turns their gaze from early struggles up to the heavens, towards the wisdom of God.

Which of these can you relate to as a gift or gifts from God that have helped you on your journey?

As you come to the end of this prayer time, you might like to turn your gaze upward, towards the heavens, and spend a few moments in gratitude to God for these gifts.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time | Sunday 4 September 2022

Today is Sunday 4th September, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.


Molly Parden and Jonathan Ogden with The Porter’s Gate sing, ‘The Promise’. As you listen, does a particular lyric or musical phrase stay with you? Notice what arises…

This gift you gave from the beginning
Warm light, dry land, blue water brimming
And more, from the earth there came a growing
From seed to bloom, all the while you were sowing
It was love, love given in the water
And peace, God's peace written in the letters
Of the earth, God's earth, given with a promise
Can we keep it
Can we keep it
And stars in the night to gaze on them kindly
Great light, cool moon, all aligned in the sky, see
From water came life and so from the land
To feed, not to fight, to stand hand in hand
It was love, love given in the water
And peace, God's peace, given in the sunshine
And the earth, God's earth, given with a promise
Can we keep it
Out from the silence I hear a voice, I follow it onwards
You whisper to me, I am reminded of every gift you gave
So, spirit lead me unto the waters, unto the earth you made
Teach me the secret to ever care for, to look after it
It was love, love given in the water
And peace, God's peace written in the letters
Of the earth, God's earth, given with a promise
Can we keep it
Can we keep it

Today’s reading is from the book of Wisdom.

Wisdom 9:13-18

For who can learn the counsel of God?
Or who can discern what the Lord wills?
For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,
and our designs are likely to fail;
for a perishable body weighs down the soul,
and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.
We can hardly guess at what is on earth,
and what is at hand we find with labour;
but who has traced out what is in the heavens?
Who has learned your counsel,
unless you have given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,
and people were taught what pleases you,
and were saved by wisdom.’

Our reading today presents a series of questions which point us towards honouring the place of God's wisdom on our lives.


There are two distinct halves in our reading. Listen now, to some of the phrases from the first half, which describe our experience without wisdom.

Designs are likely to fail
A perishable body weighs down the soul.
Earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.
What is at hand we find with labour


How do these phrases sit with you?

Do any of them remind you of a situation in your life at the moment?

Now listen to these phrases from the second half:

Traced out what is in the heavens
Learned your counsel
Given wisdom
Sent your holy spirit from on high
Paths on earth were set right
People were taught what pleases you.
Saved by wisdom

How do these phrases sit with you?

As you listen to the reading again, notice where the change occurs as the writer turns their gaze from early struggles up to the heavens, towards the wisdom of God.

Which of these can you relate to as a gift or gifts from God that have helped you on your journey?

As you come to the end of this prayer time, you might like to turn your gaze upward, towards the heavens, and spend a few moments in gratitude to God for these gifts.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.