GO AND BE RECONCILED

PRAYER MOMENT

Friday 14 March 2014.

GO AND BE RECONCILED

Pause. Be still in the presence of God.

Reading: “Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way …” (Matt 5:20-26. See also Ezek 18:21-28)

Reflection. Ian Paisley is an old man now who is at peace with himself and jokes with his visitors. But in the 1970s he dipped his words in vitriol and aroused the hidden passions of people in Northern Ireland to spill over into hatred and violence. Now the province is at peace – almost - and people are awed by the progress made in calming a 300 year old bitter feud. Conversion, a change of mind, is possible and we see it in Paul of Tarsus, in Augustine of Hippo and Francis of Assisi. We see it too in Teresa of Avila and in Pope Francis. When a person allows the life blood of Jesus to flow in their veins change is possible. This is the message celebrated in today’s readings. We can almost hear Ezekial’s hearers say, “you can’t be serious” But he was. Change is possible and we have only to think of the joy of the prodigal son when he discovered it.         

Prayer. Lord, it is beautiful to see how people can change. Help us today to pray and support on another on the way to conversion. Amen.