Faith Daily | 26 November 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p605

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: 34-36

34 ‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Rev’d Sandra

In the Gospel reading for today Jesus is offering his disciples, then and now, some pertinent advice. And it seems to me that there are 3 key phrases:

1. Watch yourselves [Do not get bogged down and distracted by the pleasures or worries which form a part of life];

2. Stay awake [This does not mean “do not sleep”, it is about being aware of everything that is going on around us in the events of our daily relationships with others]; and

3. Pray constantly. [Nurture our relationship with God and remember that prayer is not only a pouring out of words, it also involves listening for God’s voice, in the midst of chaos or pleasure].

In these few short verses, we are reminded by Jesus that there are a myriad of temptations and distractions that can lead us down the wrong path and turn us away from God’s plan for us. So, he gives us advice to pray faithfully every day, and to keep our focus on him. He tells us that he will aid us in avoiding being led astray as his Spirit leads us forward in faith. We are assured that it is through prayer that God enables us, through God’s Spirit, to live fully, regardless of life’s circumstances. And we are instructed by Jesus to do this until the Son of Man, should either call us, or Come again!

FINAL PRAYER Come, Lord Jesus!

It is good Lord, to be reminded when we pray this simple prayer,

we are joining the chorus of your followers,

even from the earliest days of the church.

We echo their desire for you to come!

We reaffirm their conviction and ours

that you are our God.

Help us to have confidence in this truth, Lord.

Show us, we pray, how we can live each day,

in every situation of our lives, knowing that you,

Lord Jesus, are indeed with us,

God in the flesh, God with us, Emmanuel.

Amen