The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Day 5—Monday 22nd January 2024 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. (Luke 10: 34) Lord, help us see the wounds and find hope. Additional scripture passages Joel 2: 23-27 Psalm 104: 14-15, 27-30 Reflection The Good Samaritan did what he could out of his own resources: he poured oil and wine and bandaged the man’s wounds and put him on his own animal. He went further still by promising to pay for the man’s care. When we see the world through the eyes of the Samaritan, every situation can be an opportunity to help those in need. His example motivates us to ask ourselves how to respond to our neighbour. What can we give, so that we can be part of God’s work of healing a broken world? This brokenness shows itself in our world through insecurity, fear, distrust and division. Shamefully, these divisions also exist between Christians. Though we celebrate sacraments of healing, reconciliation and consolation, we persist in behaviours that cause division. The healing of our own divisions would perhaps promote the healing of the nations. We pray for Dundee Lane URC. St Andrew’s Church, Ramsbottom. Our pastoral care groups. Those who are ill or grieving. We pray together Gracious God, You who are the source of all love and goodness; enable us to recognise the needs of our neighbour. Help us to be honest about our need for healing. Change us, so that we can love all, that we might build a world of peace. Thank you for leading us to a future which is full of hope. Amen Question What can we give, so that we can be part of God’s work of healing a broken world? Go and do What groups already exist in your area that are actively involved in healing in some way? Explore meaningful ways of engaging with them.
#WatchAndPray Lent reflections - Week 5: Thursday Healing society Week 5: Thursday Reading Mark 5.1-13 They came to the other side of the lake, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.’ For he had said to him, ‘Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He replied, ‘My name is Legion; for we are many.’ He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us into the swine; let us enter them.’ So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned in the lake. Reflection This healing miracle cannot be understood in full without paying attention to the clues in Mark’s text. The name of the man’s demons – “Legion” – is the name for the largest military unit of the Roman army. There was a Roman colonial outpost near Gerasa (or Gadara as Matthew refers to it). The shackling with iron was a particular Roman military method. When we peel back the layers of the text we see Jesus encountering a community under occupation – from oppressive earthly and spiritual forces. Mark leaves us to discover that the society in which both the man and the community reside needs healing. The ‘demon’ here is systemic, hidden and deeply rooted. Systemic evils such as racism, homophobia, misogyny and xenophobia often lie deep and hidden. Jesus offers the kind of healing that operates at the deepest level. Watch Reflect on military conflicts across our world. ...and pray for the cultures and histories of violence to cease. Copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2024.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Day 4—Sunday 21st January 2024 When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (Luke 10: 31) May we never turn away from those in need. Additional scripture passages Isaiah 58: 4-8a Psalm 34: 15-22 Reflection The priest and the Levite who walked by on the other side may have had religious reasons for not helping. They would have felt justified in what they had done. Yet, on many occasions, Jesus is critical of religious leaders for placing rules ahead of the obligation to do good. The prophet Isaiah gives us the same encouragement, we should do good rather than look good. As Christians, how far are we prepared to go beyond convention? This parable not only challenges us to do good, but also to widen our vision. The Good Samaritan is often the one we do not expect. Light and love are embodied in our enemy too. We pray for St Mary’s Church, Hawkshaw. Holcombe Brook Methodists. Our clergy, ministers and church leaders. World leaders that they show faith and integrity. We pray together Lord Jesus Christ, may our eyes not look away, but be wide open to the world around us. As we travel through life, may we stop and reach out, bind up the wounded and in so doing experience your presence in them. Amen Question Who are the Good Samaritans in your community? Go and do Reflect on your own circle of relationships and their geography. Choose today to walk through another part of town. What do you see and who do you notice?
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Day 3—Saturday 20th January 2024 “Who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10: 29) Lord, open our hearts to those we do not see. Additional scripture passages Romans 13: 8-10 Psalm 119: 57-63 Reflection The teacher of the law wanted to justify himself, hoping that the neighbour he is called to love is one of his own faith and people. This is a natural human instinct. We prefer places of familiarity. This can also be true of our church communities. But Jesus takes the lawyer, and his wider audience, deeper into their own tradition by reminding them of the obligation to welcome and love all, regardless of religion, culture or social status. The Gospel teaches that loving those who are like ourselves is nothing special. Jesus steers us towards a much more radical version of what it means to be human. The parable illustrates in a very visible way what Christ expects from us – to open wide our hearts and walk in his way, loving others as he loves us. In fact, Jesus answers the lawyer with another question: it is not “who is my neighbour?”, but “who was a neighbour to the man in need?” We pray for Greenmount URC. St Paul’s Church, Ramsbottom. Our outreach to the elderly and our local care homes. Those who find it difficult to integrate into society. We pray together God of love, who writes love in our hearts, Instil in us the courage to look beyond ourselves and to be the unexpected neighbour. Amen Question Who are the people who are excluded within your community and why? Go and do Think of a person you have never really thought of as your neighbour? How can you be a neighbour to them in a practical way?
