Faith Daily | 8 November 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p

Blessed God,

you have caused all holy Scriptures to be written

for our learning:

grant that we may so hear them,

read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them,

that, by patience and the comfort of your holy word,

we may embrace and ever hold fast

the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 17: 7-10

7 ‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? 8Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? 9Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!” ’

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Carol Streatfield

One of those tricky passages: is Jesus saying don’t congratulate yourselves for doing what is expected of you? Is he saying, if you are to be seen as my disciple, then something more, or different from, the ordinary is expected? Also, if what Jesus was teaching was how to live mature human lives, as God intended, then the life of Jesus’ disciple should be the norm for everyone, not something unusual, and not the ordinary lives lived at that time, or at this time. Jesus wasn’t endorsing the status quo. And, he wasn’t endorsing it, because it was not a good life, not as good, or as full, as God had wanted.

A life in relationship with God is a full life: body, mind, soul and spirit. Was Jesus asking his disciples, and us, to live an ordinary life but to do a good, or better than average, job of it? Or, was he trying to demonstrate to people that such a life was a life on the surface, on the periphery of what is possible? He constantly emphasised the necessity for humility, and that when we are weak, in fact, we are strong: by overcoming our need to be in charge, allowing us to consent to God’s guidance and wisdom, and participation in our lives. And, to actually believe that this God of relationship does actually relate to us, not just in our hopes, dreams, imagination, fingers-crossed theory, but in physical reality. God speaks, in the depths of our being, in the middle of our need, in the sharing of our moments, in the joy of that which moves us, in the appreciation of the ridiculous; God heals, our frustration and anger and fear. And, through all of this life, God helps us to grow into our fullness of being. If… we…believe…it; if… we…will…allow…him…to.

FINAL PRAYER Michael Leunig

God help us

To rise up from our struggle.

Like a tree rises up from the soil.

Our roots reaching down to our trouble,

Our rich, dark dirt of existence.

Finding nourishment deeply

And holding us firmly.

Always connected.

Growing upwards and into the sun.

Amen.