Faith Daily | 11 October 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - PENTECOST APBA p591

Almighty God,

in your wisdom you have so ordered our earthly life

that we must walk by faith and not by sight:

give such trust in your fatherly care

that in the face of all perplexities

we may give proof of our faith by the courage of our lives;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen..

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 11: 29-32

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by: Ian McCarthy

Throughout our daily Christian routines some people may be seeking to see or experience God’s hand working within their immediate lives, ie, a “sign” or “symbol” that may possibly confirm and validate the individual’s belief.

This particular reading from Luke 11:29-32 prompts me personally to reflect on God’s presence in this current Covid19 pandemic. In short, I would ask: ”Where is God within this beautiful but challenging world pandemic environment?”

I sincerely believe that God often calls the most unlikely people to act in various situations and circumstances to achieve a desired outcome. However, He always equips us with the necessary strength and courage to achieve the required task.

Within this particular account by Luke we note that the Ninevites were moved to eventual repentance by the Minor Prophet Jonah and it was ultimately through the “sign” or presence of Jonah and his message that the Ninevites recognised the authentic word of God.

Furthermore ,this notion of “symbols” and “signs” within the Synoptic Gospels and indeed within Luke’s account may suggest to some people that a “symbol” does not hold the same validity as a ’sign”.

In summary, my understanding of Luke’s Gospel account is that the narrative speaks essentially of repentance and forgiveness of sins and for Luke this represents the Good News of Jesus Christ.

FINAL PRAYER: Verse from’Strength for Today”taken from The Bible Society in Australia Matthew 7:7-11.”Ask,Seek,Knock”

Jesus said:

Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. For what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

Amen.