Faith Daily | 1 July 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - PENTECOST APBA p552

O God,

who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son

to suffer death upon a cross,

and by his glorious resurrection

delivered us from the power of the enemy:

grant us so to die daily to sin

that we may evermore live with him

in the joy of his resurrection;

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: John 12: 35-47

35Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. 36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. 37Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38This was to fulfil the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ 39And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said, 40 ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’ 41Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him. 42Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.

44 Then Jesus cried aloud: ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. 47I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by: Rev'd Graham

When Jesus talks about light as opposed to darkness, a number of thoughts come to my mind which help me to live at peace – with myself, with people, and with the world around me. First, as Jesus says very practically, it is much easier to walk when there is light than when it is dark. And in our life’s journey as part of various communities, to have “light” in our personal lives carries as much truth as it does in a physical sense.

Another aspect of Jesus’ statements and living that I draw from this passage is the need for openness in two directions. One is how others see us in the light of what we say and do. Likewise, it applies to the openness we see others in the context of the love Jesus showed to those around him – both close friends and strangers –, and to each of us, no matter who. And, whether we think here in reality or metaphorically, this impacts on us in our call to outreach. It helps us to have actual light around us, but probably more significantly reaching out in the “light” which comes from an acceptance of, and acting in, the light of Christ.

Today’s people of the Torres Strait are celebrating 150 years of The Coming of the Light, and know that the people of the Torres Strait communities at that time must have been influenced strongly in the way that the light of Christ was presented to them, and were able to show to the strangers the “light” of their lives. I can still recall as a teacher a number of years ago the wonderful experiences I gained with numbers of Torres Strait students. Many of them certainly showed me the light of Christ in their lives.

From my own life experience, I realise that there is one thing that Jesus wants all people to experience, and that is peace of mind. Can we say that people will have peace as we come with Christ’s light to them, as did the Torres Strait Islanders? And will we have God’s peace within ourselves as we then continue on our various ways?

FINAL PRAYER: Collect of the Day

Almighty God,

you have given to the people of the Islands of the Torres Strait

the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ:

mercifully grant that we may always walk

in the light of his love,

and give us the strength and unifying power

of your Holy Spirit to spread that light

and enlarge your kingdom in the hearts of all people.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen