Lent 2023 – Day Eighteen – Luke 12 v 35-59

Welcome to our Daily reflections for Lent.

We have provided a number of ways of using these reflections.

• You can listen to it in podcast style by clicking on the first audio file. (approx 18 minutes);
• You can listen to the reflection and the prayers with a shortened length for personal prayer (approx 6 minutes);
• You can read your own version of the Bible and then listen to the reflection, play the hymn in the embedded YouTube clip and then listen to the prayer section;
• You can choose to just read through it and ignore the audio files; or
• any combination of the above.

However you choose to use them we hope you will find them helpful and thought provoking.

Full Audio of today’s reflection including Bible reading (approx. 16 minutes) .

Audio of Reflection and shortened prayers (approx 6 mins).

“Why don’t you judge for yourself what is right?”

Today’s passage spoke to me of a call for reconciliation. It is a hard passage to read, as Jesus states that his coming will bring not peace but division.

Perhaps as we look around our own country and the word we can see the reality of these divisions. Elections split 51% to 49% which are taken as a mandate to follow one sides policies regardless of the other 49% of the country. Families split along party political lines based on one or two policies. The rise of single issue politics – be that Brexit, immigration, abortion or any number of other topics. Where terrible policies that stand against what people believe are ignored as long as that one policy is implemented.

Thus the poor can be oppressed, the wealthy retain their vast profits, the climate crisis be ignored.

Jesus is, in this passage, stating the obvious. That there will be divisions when we choose to follow his way. Of course we hope and pray this will not be the case but it can and does happen.

I am encouraged by the fact that Jesus does not leave us with this inevitability of division but he goes on to encourage us to be reconciled, as we judge for ourselves what is right. So we are called to strive to be the peacemaker and to bring reconciliation.

However, in everything we do we must retain that essential focus on persevering with what God has called us to do.

I suppose in summary I would say – there needs to be a different way and that way is the way of Jesus.

Hymn: Singing the Faith –  627 “Everyone needs compassion”

Contemplation Words

“ Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?”

Let us pray together.

Contemplative Prayer

Think of the words in order to understand context and meaning, Feel the meaning of the words with and in your heart, Pray, using the words, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers. Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers. Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.

Twitter Prayer

Lord, help us to bring your love and compassion into everything we do. Amen

Full Prayer

Lord, we look around ourselves and see that things in this world are not as you would have them be. Conflict, oppression, violence and self interest are so overwhelming in our world today. Lord, you show us that love and compassion are the parts of all of our lives that need to be nurtured and demonstrated. Help us to bring that love and compassion into everything we do and through our small efforts with others and in the power of the Holy Spirit begin to change the world.

Lord, you have given us hearts full of kindness and mercy, enable us to pour out those gifts to those who are around us. Help us to always speak against oppression and cry out against violence and injustice, whatever form it takes and wherever we find it. Lord we ask these things in your all powerful name. Amen.

Copyright Notices

Reflections and Prayers

By Chris Hancock

Hymns

Hymn words where displayed are in the Public Domain. Hymn organ recordings where used are from Small Church Music. Copyright notice: Rev. Clyde McLennan, performer in this collection, has assigned his performer rights in this collection to Hymnary.org. Non-commercial use of these recordings is permitted. Other hymns are from YouTube and covered by YouTube copyright processes.

Bible Readings

Bible readings are from the New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Images

Images where used are from pixabay.com and free for commercial use no attribution required.

Background Music

The background music in today’s recordings is: Music from Pixabay Relaxing Music Vol.12 – Relaxing Time slightly edited by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.