Create a peaceful space to pause, and allow yourself to feel God’s presence alongside you, as near to you as your own breath. In following the reflection below, as a church we will draw closer to God and to one another as we grow in faith and deepen our sense of belonging to God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 ‘A Crowd of Witnesses’
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Sport has returned but it is different. I watched a snooker match where the player made a total clearance on his first visit to the table and won the frame. He then walked in silence to his chair. Footballers play to silent cardboard cut–outs filling the stands. There are no cheers, no groans, no gasps of admiration. Even winning seems flat with no spectators to enjoy the triumph.
But as we run the race of life we are not alone. We are being cheered on by those earlier Christians who have journeyed the path of life before us. They have coped with persecution, with suffering, with loneliness, even with pandemics like the Black Death and the Plague. As the writer of Ecclesiastes says – “there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes: 1:9). They have overcome and they are an inspiration and encouragement for us. Not just as we read their stories but also in their prayers which we can share even today.
One such is John Scotus Erigena (c. 810-877 AD) who wrote:
“Grant, O God, that we may be united to you and to our neighbour with an undivided love; serve you and your children with an undivided heart and reverence you and your creation with an undivided will: through Christ our Lord. Amen”
He calls us to worship God, to love and care for all God’s children – all of whom are our neighbours and to protect God’s creation. These final words being a timely reminder that when the pandemic is under control and a vaccine found for Covid 19, climate change will still be with us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, we thank you
that we can look with reassurance at how you have supported
and led your children in the past,
knowing that you are unchanging and so will guide and support us today.
As we look to Jesus, your Son, our Saviour, we know you love us
and want us to persevere on the path you have set out for us.
Through you Holy Spirit may we know your presence with us each moment of our lives.
In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Reflection & Prayer © 2020 Gillian Wood.
Images freely available online.
A printable version of this Daily Devotional can be downloaded from here
All material within this order of worship is reproduced by permission under CCL 1226356