Wednesday 8th April | Alicia Barwick
Readings
Reflection
In Psalm 102 the psalmist is in deep distress. What strikes me is the way the Psalmist is lamenting but concludes with the truth that God is compassionate and faithful. This time can feel as though we are the people who know Jesus is still King and God will do something great among us, and of course it’s a good thing to remember God’s promises to us and his love for us, we should never forget that, but I see the psalmist here showing us a permission to lament. Teaching us that lamenting while also choosing the truth of God’s word goes together. While we do not partner with fear and anxiety, we can feel the sadness and difficulty we are all facing. While we are eager to see more of God’s goodness, to look to him and to be joyful, we can also mourn with those in suffering, and cry out to God in this painful time.
It’s easy to turn to fear during this crisis. Nobody is able to predict what may happen day to day and we can get caught up in what the media is throwing at us. In Luke 22 we see the moment that Peter denies Jesus. In verses 54-55 it says ‘then siezing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together. Peter sat down with them.’ Peter was joining with the unbelievers because he was fearful. It has struck me that what we spend time doing and what we expose ourselves to while being self-isolated has a great impact on the way we follow Jesus. After Peter joins with the unbelievers he denies who Jesus is. This is a vital time for us to be reading scripture, following God’s commands and remembering his promises to us. If we choose to spend our time growing closer to Jesus we have more hope, peace and certainty than we would if we filled our time with the news and social media. We need to be remembering each day who Jesus is.
Prayers
Lord God, thank you for giving us the gift of wisdom. Thank you that your word says ‘whoever listens to me will live in safety, and be at ease, without fear and harm.’
Would we turn to you in this time of uncertainty and fear, and trust that you are with us.
Thank you that you keep us safe from harm and fear. We pray during this pandemic that you would help us to hold onto this as truth.
Lord we pray for wisdom for those who are making decisions for our country in this time. We thank you for our NHS and pray for all of the staff, that you would be with them and sustaining them throughout the chaos.
We also pray for our prime minister Boris Johnson. We pray he and his fellow workers would be wise in the decisions they make for our country, that you would be with them as they try to fight this pandemic.
We also pray for the church. We pray more and more people would be hearing the good news of Jesus Christ. We pray for wisdom for the churches in the UK as they adjust to this time.
Finally, we pray for ourselves, that we would choose to grow closer to you in this season.
Would you reveal again to us your love and peace and help us to not partner with fear.
Thank you that in all circumstances you are Emmanuel, God with us.
Amen.
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God,
Who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
To take upon him our flesh
And to suffer death upon the cross:
Grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,
And also be made partakers of his resurrection;
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.
