UNUSUAL KINDNESS - UNITY OCTAVE DAY 5

Wednesday - January 22, 2020

CALL: KEEP YOUR STRENGTH UP

The WORD says...

Acts 27: 33-36.

“Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, ‘Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.’ After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves.”

Let us PRAY...

Loving God, 
Your Son Jesus Christ broke bread 
and shared the cup with His friends. 

May we grow in closer communion 
when we share our pain and suffering.

Encouraged by St Paul and the early Christians 
give us strength to build bridges of compassion, solidarity and harmony. 

In the power of the Holy Spirit, 
we ask this in the name of Your Son, 
who gives His life that we might live. Amen.

Let us REFLECT...

    ·     Have you had experiences of promises of Scripture haven’t delivered as you’d expected?

·      When have you most felt the pain over disunity in the body of Christ?

·      How might sharing the body of Christ be a source of healing and unity between Christians?

What to DO...

Global: 
Work for the day when good healthcare is available for all.

Local: 
Try holding a ‘bring and share’ meal together with the churches in your area where you have a conversation about what Eucharist/Communion/Lord’s Supper means to each church.  

Personal: 
Visit, send a card or call someone who is currently unwell that you know.

[courtesy: www.ctbi.org.uk/weekofprayer]

A mere pebble will do!

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 2nd week in Ordinary time 

January 22, 2020: 1 Samuel 17:32-33,37,40-51;  Mark 3:1-6

A mere pebble was enough for the young David to bring down the mighty Goliath. Notwithstanding the fact that the philistines were of giant stature, and that Goliath was the most valourous  of them all, and above all, that David was from an ignoble family and the least and the weakest of the brothers in there - he was destined to bring down the might of the giants!

The whole sanhedrin and the entire ruling class plotted against Jesus but no one could do anything till the appointed time, though Jesus had no spear or javelin, or an army to defend himself. He was a homeless vagabond and those who were with him were mere emotional commoners, in the eyes of the world. But none could lay their hands on Jesus!

No one can stop us from the good we do if that good is ordained according to the holy will of God. If it were for my own gain or glory, I cannot blame God if it brings strife and suffering alone. What matters therefore is, however small, the nature of my motivation, that subtle thought in my mind, that objective with which I decide on doing something or avoiding something!

It is like a castle constructed with cards... a small reason is enough to topple the entire edifice very carefully raised. What is most important is not what I have in hand, but in whose hand I am! When I have my selfish mileage to make and manipulate persons and situations placing my trust in my might then I should realise I am far far away from the Lord. Instead, when all that I have in mind is that God's will be done  - just a mere pebble will do, I can bring giants down!