Faith Daily | 15 September 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - PENTECOST APBA p581

O God,

without you we are not able to please you:

mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit

may in all things direct and rule our hearts;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 7: 31-35

31 ‘To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the market-place and calling to one another,

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

we wailed, and you did not weep.”

33For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, “He has a demon”; 34the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” 35Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.’

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by: Hilary Bell

“the people of this generation, what are they like?”

In our Wednesday group’s discussion of Bible passages we frequently conclude that fundamental human nature seems largely unchanged from Old testament times, or from the Gospels’ portrayal of contemporaries of Jesus in his earthly life, to the present day.

It seems to me that in today’s verses Jesus could just as much be describing “our generation” with our propensity to judge, to polarize, to want others to conform to our views of expected behaviour and appearance, to express opinions based on scant knowledge. Like children we petulantly want others “to dance to our tune”. We complain and accuse if they don’t. Too often we are followers or repeaters of opinion.

In Jesus’ lifetime some came to belief. His disciples came to understood that He really was the Son of God, and that the unique role of John the Baptist was to prepare the way for him.

Perhaps we are being called to appreciate each person for their unique qualities.

Are we being called to a deeper understanding, to wisdom and discernment which grow through prayer and spending time with God away from the clamour of worldly voices?

FINAL PRAYER: – (Adapted from David Adam)

God of love and forgiveness

Save me by your tenderness

From each careless thought

From each hurtful word

From each hasty judgement

From each harmful speech.

Save me by your tenderness

God of love and forgiveness.

Amen.