Faith Daily | 12 May 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p 510

O God,

whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people:

help us when we hear his voice

to know him who calls us each by name,

and to follow where he leads;

who with you and the Holy Spirit

lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

GOSPEL for the Day: John 13: 16-20

16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” 19I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he.20Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Neville Eckersley

Our passage today follows directly on that of Jesus’ washing the feet of his disciples, so what he is saying has just been exemplified for them in that act.\

What he is saying here is that his followers are to serve their fellow believers and place the needs of this group ahead of their own. This leads to a cohesive group with all the strengths of a good family, and opposes the strong self-interest that so often dominates and distorts human interaction.

As Jesus was to tell Pilate later,( John 18:36), his kingdom is not “from this world”, and so not like those of the Caesars of this world, where dominance, hierarchy, power and threat are the organising principles.

Do we today still need to be reminded of this?

Indeed we do, as this is an ever- present threat in any human society. It is a necessary counter to the self- aggrandisement, self-serving and abuse of power people are prone to when they have the chance. Such actions are disasters at any level. We can see this in the grandiose claims of political leaders such as Vladimir Putin today resulting in the terrible conflict in Ukraine.

But such problematic behaviour can lead to catastrophes in churches as well, with divisions and conflict led by strong leaders. This so easily distorts real faith based on following Christ’s example in the service of others.

Let us all follow him, and negate our own self-oriented agendas.

FINAL PRAYER

Dear Lord,

May we see, hear and understand well what you want us to do and how you want us to be as your people. Keep showing us the way we are to serve those we meet in life and so meet you in the face of the needy, the sad, the poor you send us. May we be as ready to serve as you are to give to us and lead us in our life before you.

In the name of Christ we pray.

Amen.