Sunday, 11 August 2013

LOVE THE STRANGER

PRAYER MOMENT


Monday 12 August 2013

LOVE THE STRANGER


Pause. Be still and enter into your own centre.


Reading. “It is the Lord who sees justice done to the orphan and the widow. who loves the stranger and gives him food and clothing.”  (Deut10:12-22)


Reflection. God is teaching his people in the desert through the mouth of Moses. Here he is developing the core teaching of love for God and love for others. The true Israelite is to open his/her heart to the other person who may enter my life unexpectedly (the stranger). The teaching challenges the comfort we like to have when with “our own” people. Mrs Thatcher was said to have asked of new people “is he one of us?” “New” people can be of a different group or tribe, or social status – the poor person at out gate – or they may be disabled in body or intellect. The come and disturb our comfort. The Lord invites us to welcome them and we, like Abraham who welcomed the strangers at the Oak of Mamre, will be blessed.   



Prayer. Lord Jesus, teach me to welcome the unexpected, the disturbance, the unforeseen alteration to my plans. Help me to let go of myself so as to welcome your coming. Amen

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