Reflection: Sunday 29th August and for the week ahead:

From the Collect for the 13th Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God... help us to proclaim the good news of your love, so that all who hear it may be drawn to you.

Reflection:

‘<span style="font-size: 1rem;">Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary.’</span>

A nice, pithy saying, widely attributed to St Francis, though in fact he never actually said it!

How is the ‘good news’ of God’s love proclaimed in such a way that people are drawn to Him? Not, in most cases, by bombarding them with quotes from Scripture and doctrinal statements, but by them seeing for themselves the evidence of lives that reflect God’s love.

But living a Christian life is not, in itself, the same as proclaiming the Gospel. We must also be prepared, when asked, to explain what we believe and why.

Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your faith... but do it in a gentle and respectful way. (1 Peter 3.15)

Yes!

Revd Rosemary