The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Day 7—Wednesday 24th January 2024

Jesus said: “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour?” (Luke 10: 36)

Lord, show us how to respond to our neighbour.

Additional scripture passages

Philippians 2: 1-5 Psalm 10: 17-18

Reflection

At the end of the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer who was the neighbour to the man who was robbed. The lawyer replied that it was the one who showed mercy. He does not say “the Samaritan” and we might imagine that the hostility between Samaritans and Jews made that hard to admit.

We often discover our neighbours in the most unexpected people. In today’s world, where polarised politics often set those of different religious identities against one another, Jesus challenges us to see the importance of our vocation to transgress borders and walls of separation.

Like the lawyer, we are challenged to reflect upon how we live our lives, not merely in terms of whether we do good or not, but whether, like the priest and the Levite, we are neglecting to “do mercy.”

We pray for

St Joseph’s R C Church.

Our local interfaith groups.

Those working for peace and reconciliation.

We pray together

Holy God, your Son Jesus Christ came among us to show the way of compassion. Help us by your Spirit to follow his example, to serve the needs of all your children, and so witness together as Christians to your ways of love and mercy.

Amen

Question

How can you “do mercy” today?

Go and do

Think about the ways that Christians, churches and people of other faiths have been merciful to those who have least expected it.