Lent 2023 – Day Eleven – Luke 9 verses 1 – 17

“He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.”

A few years ago, as part of our Lenten liturgy, each week we added relevant items to a Lenten “boat”. As we were thinking about Peter’s story the item added was a welcome mat.

I was reminded of the boat as we retold the story of Jonah as our Create and Celebrate theme in February. The boat made a special guest appearance! It is always a source of amazement to me how God speaks into the ideas and topics of the day so I was perhaps not surprised to find in our passage today the words written at the top of this reflection of how Jesus welcomed the crowd.

It is also a wonder how we can look at an item or hear words and interpret those words and images in so many different ways. At the time someone did not like the fact that the welcome mat was brand new and had no signs of use. He would have preferred a mat which had seen much use and demonstrated the hospitality of the house outside which it served its purpose.

Personally, I can see that point and like it as an interpretation but also like the fact that it was brand new. In its shiny newness, it was very sparkly, it spoke to me of how our welcome should be a fresh and new adventure with every friend or stranger who comes to us.

Secondly the passage returns to the subject I have written about over the past few days so I will not repeat myself but it does remind us of the challenge to speak of the gospel.

Thirdly I was spoken to by the healing that Jesus performed. We are not all called to carry out physical healing but we are called to be healers in people’s lives. In their worries and distress, in their seeking the truth of God in their lives, in their joys and sorrows. In all of these places and many many more we can be part of the bringing of wholeness into people’s daily lives.

Finally, although we often have stories to tell of God working in our lives, we are called to be aware that we also have a vital part to play in the stories that others will tell of their experience of God.

Hymn: Singing the Faith –  655 “We cannot measure how you heal”

Daily Sketch

Lord we praise you, for you call each one of us to come to you and as we come, you make us welcome. Not as Christians or congregations not as crowds but as individuals, known in our uniqueness and loved for it.

In so many ways you also speak to us of the Kingdom of God as you did to the crowd so long ago.

Help us to be as welcoming to everyone, as you were. Help us to be aware of the places you want us to be, so that we can extend that welcome to those who want and need it.

In our welcoming help us to be sensitive to others needs but also courageous to speak of you and your healing power in peoples lives.  May our welcome mats be well used and though well trodden on, may they be kept fresh and sparkly for all who come.  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.1 – Relaxing Time slightly edited by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.