Faith Daily | 24 November 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - COLLECT PRAYER FOR THE WEEK BEFORE ADVENT

Stir up, we pray you, O Lord,

the wills of your faithful people,

that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works,

may by you be plenteously rewarded;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 21: 12-19

12“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated by all because of my name. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your souls.

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by: Ian McCarthy

Friends, many times throughout my varied working life I have encountered the word “endurance” and I have even been told repeatedly by superiors that I possess this special human quality.

However, on reflection and looking back over the past years this quality of endurance was indeed evident within my daily routine and achievements.

I sincerely believe that God was actively working in my life to address daily problems and circumstances that may occur.

In reality, I had to often face difficult and challenging situations which initially appeared to be insurmountable, but with God’s guidance and Grace I endured and succeeded.

My personal belief is that God “meets us where we are” and without doubt He certainly knows all our strengths and weaknesses.

This particular aspect of “endurance” is reflected in the first book of the Old Testament book namely, Genesis. Wherein Jacob wrestled with God for some time and he discovered hidden resources that he wasn’t aware of.

In short,I believe that Jacob displayed “endurance”.

This particular reading from Luke 21:12-19 speaks specifically to me in that Christians identifying with Jesus’ teaching and commandments were most certainly not going to live an easy, uneventful life at all.

On the contrary, anyone associated with the Christian tradition may be subjected to occasional ridicule, criticism and rejection even from close family and friends.

In summary, professing to be a Christian was definitely not going to be a “bed of roses”.

Finally, considering the ever changing social and political upheaval that was evident at this particular time in history, it appears to me within this particular context that Luke was perhaps writing for a church that would have to live for an indefinite time within the Roman Empire, and the people needed to come to terms with it.

FINAL PRAYER: “Sunday" Taken from Brisbane Poems And Other Recollections by Mal Andersen.

The chill still hangs

Within these walls

And early morning

Barely wakes

The colours

In the leaded saints.

I watch the server

Move along the candles

And I contemplate

The faces and the backs of heads.

I find I’m mouthing words

While others sing

In settings quite unsuited

To my range

Then in the mumble of the Mass

Once again

I choose to live this moment

Against the background of eternity.

Amen.