Some of you will know that I have spent the last five days on Retreat in a Jesuit monastery surrounded by vineyards in the Clare Valley of South Australia. There were eleven people on Retreat some clergy and some lay people; with two Spiritual Directors. Most of the time was spent in silence, apart from Morning Prayer, said together, and the Eucharist, which we celebrated every day. Once a day, each person would meet with a Spiritual Director to talk, but the rest of the time was spent in prayer, reading and thought. We could have taken walks from the monastery, except that it rained for most of the time. It was a real privilege and delight to be there.

There are many reasons for going on retreat - to step aside from the busyness of life, to rest, to reflect on a relationship with God, to pray and to look for God's guidance for the future among other reasons. It is a good thing to do and has been a custom among religious people since people began to worship God. Our Sunday worship together is like a Retreat which we make at the beginning of our week, a time to pause and reflect, a time to remember that we belong to God and that God loves us and is with us throughout the week; with us whatever we are doing and wherever we are - you don't have to go to the Clare Valley to pause and reflect in the presence of God - I went there because it is a special place of peaceful memory for me.

Retreats are also a time to think about our life of obedience to God - what it is that God wants us to do, what God wants us to make of our life and how we should respond to God's love for us.

The Bible sometimes calls such times "testing". For example, Jesus was "tested" in the wilderness after his baptism in the river Jordan. In his struggles with the devil, Jesus declared his full understanding of his obedience to God. In the story we heard today, Abraham's obedience was tested when he was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac. St Paul writes to the Romans and gives them a test - are they going to live as salves obedient to sinfulness, or are they going to live as slaves of the righteousness in obedience to Christ. In the same way the Eucharist presents us with a choice - our wrongdoings are forgiven and we greet each other with the greeting of peace - we share the body and blood of Christ at the altar and we are sent out in the power of the Holy Spirit. The test for us is whether we can live in Christ and the power of his Spirit for the rest of our lives. Jesus tells us in the gospel that even the way we greet people in the street is important - to welcome someone is to welcome Christ and to welcome Christ is to live in love with God - even the gift of a cup of cold water can bring the blessing of God upon those who give and those who receive.

I say this because there is a theme running through our readings today - faithfulness and obedience to God brings blessing. Abraham, who was prepared to slaughter his only son, was rewarded by God because through him and through Isaac, the whole world received blessing. St Paul says plainly that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. A right response to God is always life enhancing - Jesus promises us abundant life, life like an overflowing fountain - and this is how we can be sure that our actions are true to God. If what we do is life-giving, if what we do bestows a blessing on others, if what we do builds people up and encourages them and gives them strength and hope and love - then we can be sure that we will be doing the will of God - we will be obedient to God.

In our life together as the worshipping community of St Luke's Church there will be many opportunities for us to pause and reflect. When we greet each other before church and when we share refreshments afterwards. The way we work together in the community through the Op Shop and the Friendship Group, and in the prayer groups and study groups - these are all times to pause and reflect - to ask ourselves if what we are doing is life giving and encouraging. We will be able to tell because our own lives will be more joyful and fulfilling.