Lent 2023 – Day 37 – Luke 22 v 31-71

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.

Read Luke Chapter 22 verses 31-71. In your own preferred version. The audio uses the NIV.

Link to the Bible Gateway NIV version (Opens in a new tab)

Audio of reflection

“I don’t know him.”

Though we may never directly disown Jesus, we are prone to remain quiet and not speak of him when we feel it will be awkward or even dangerous. We in the UK may not fear for our lives, although there are plenty of places in the world where speaking of Jesus is likely to bring persecution and even death, we do fear hostility, derision or apathy.

It is all too easy to look back and feel anguish that in the moments we knew we should speak we remained silent.

For all of those times this passage is a blessed reminder that Jesus uses us despite of these moments of silence and hesitation.

Peter, one of the closest of Jesus’ disciples, even after these three very public denials is still to be used as the foundation on which Jesus will build his church.

So too with us, in our over confidence or complete lack of any confidence. In our stumbling speaking or our fearful silence. Jesus asks us to join with every disciple through the ages, in building his church. Not the bricks and mortar but the people from our families, friends, colleagues who all need to hear the good news of Jesus.

Hymn: Singing the Faith –  594 “Lord, Jesus Christ you have come to us”

Contemplation Words

“I don’t know him.”

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, we thank you that even when we deny you, you are always ready to forgive us and set us once more into your service. Amen

Full Prayer

Lord, you called Peter to follow you. Even though he denied you three times, as you knew he would, you would fully restore him so that he would glorify you in his service and death.

 

We too, more often by our lack of words or actions, deny the importance of our relationship with you. The fact that we are your followers our knowledge of the importance of your redemptive work in the world.

 

Help us to stand firm in our faith, confident that when we fall short you are there to pick us up, dust us off and set us back into your pathway. Keep us following the example of Peter as we offer our lives to you. Use us to continue to build your church. We ask these prayers 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.

Sound Effect from Pixabay Andrew kn – At the edge of space II – Re-mixed and tinkered with by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.