Monday 18th May | Prof. Allan Ashworth
Readings
Reflection
Psalm 67 begins with these familiar words, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us.” A great many people are fearful, anxious and unsure of the way ahead and have no real hope for the future, either in this world or the world to come. We do indeed long in these times, for our God to bless us and our land again.
In Luke’s Gospel, the focus shifts away from us, towards blessing those in our world who are our enemies; those who hate us, who curse us or mistreat us. To those also who are fearful. The whole focus of the Christian faith is for us to do good to all people irrespective of whether they are on our side or not. It is very easy to bless those who love us, but the message of the Gospel is to turn the other cheek when someone offends us. This is not always easy to do. In practice it is difficult even with practise.
We must, if we are believers, model ourselves on the life of Jesus Christ. This we cannot do unless Jesus already lives in our hearts and is the Lord of our life. We read in Psalm 65 that when we ourselves were overwhelmed by our own sins and wrong doing, our God forgives us. That too must be the model for us in dealing with other people. Psalm 67 ends with these words, “God will bless us.” We know from our own experiences of life just how true this is. Our God wants the very best for us every day. He wants to shine his face on us – if only we will let him.
Prayers
Almighty God, we give you grateful thanks for hearing our prayers, for feeding us with your Word and for pouring out your many and bountiful blessings upon us. Take us and use us in love to serve you and all people in the power of your Holy Spirit and the name of your son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
May our Lord bless us and keep us. May our Lord make his face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. May our Lord turn his face towards us and give us his peace, now and always. Amen.
The love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself; the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in His service; the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our hearts; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen.
Collect
God our redeemer,
You have delivered us from the power of darkness
And brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
Grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
So by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;
Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
Who is alive and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever.
Amen.
