Lent 2023 – Day 27 – Luke 17 v 1-19
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.
Full Audio of today’s reflection.
Read Luke Chapter 17 verses 1-19. In your own preferred version. The audio uses the NIV.Audio of reflection
“Increase our faith!”.
Today’s passage draws out the themes of humility and gratitude.
In the first section Jesus calls us to forgive and immeasurable number of times. Not a grudging forgiveness worn thinner by the frequency it is required but a free and generously given one. The disciples respond as we all probably do Lord help us – increase our faith. The need is to be humble enough ourselves to give the person the generous forgiveness that God gives to each of us. This is contrasted in the second section with the humility of doing a good job. I don’t know how you feel but although most times I am happy to work away in the background just doing my job sometimes it is nice to have a validation that you are doing a good job. Sometimes it is really annoying that our efforts are not acknowledged even though we are only doing our job, whether that be paid or a voluntary one. We need to, no matter how difficult or annoying it may feel, remember that we are only doing what we are required to do.
The final section of the reading speaks to thankfulness. I wonder how many times you have done something for someone and they have not said thank you. How did you feel? There is a section on the Radio 4 Saturday live show where someone can say thank you to a person who helped them in the past but due to whatever reason they did not adequately express their thanks at the time. Generally it has been the excitement/confusion/relief which has prevented the thanks being given. Possibly this is the case with the other nine lepers. Excited that they can return to their families, stunned that their incurable illness has been cured these feelings may have overwhelmed them. Perhaps like those on the radio there is a thankfulness which was lost in the moment and which was expressed after the event. We will never know but I hope it was so.
There are lessons in all of these sections for us today. We also need to be humble and forgiving. Forgiving others as God has forgiven us. Dedicated to our work for the kingdom knowing that we are already rewarded fully by God’s generous gift of grace and thankful for all of the good things God has and continues to give us.
There is an old hymn Count your blessings which came into my head as I was writing today’s reflection. In it the first verse goes:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Perhaps today as part of your prayers you can count your blessings and give thanks and praise to God for them. I hope we won’t be surprised by the number of them!
Hymn: “When upon life’s billows”
1 When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]
3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]
4 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. [Refrain]
Contemplation Words
“Increase our faith!”
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 me this day to count all of my blessings and give thanks to you for them. AmenFacebook Prayer
add Prayer. AmenFull Prayer
Copyright Notices
Reflections and Prayers
By Chris HancockHymns
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.
