Friday, 18 May 2018

ON ACCOUNT OF THE HOPE


PRAYER PAUSE


Saturday 19 May 2018


ON ACCOUNT OF THE HOPE


Enter into the stillness of God within.


Reading:  “ … for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear this chain.” (Acts 28:16…32)



Reflection. The Acts of the Apostles ends with Paul a prisoner in Rome.  But he is full of hope for the future. It is hard for us to look beyond our present troubles to “the joy that lies in the future,” and Karl Marx would criticise us for doing so.  But there is nothing unhealthy in beng sustained by our hope in the midst of our “chains.”  It does not mean we are avoiding engaging in the issues of our time.  It simply means we have a vision that our present troubles are the seedbed of victory over sin, human intransigence and death.  In a week where a leader takes a step away from peace in Israel and Palestine, Paul’s long term vision gives us a dose of hope for eventual peace there and in our own journey and indeed in the whole world.    


Prayer. Lord, help us to be sustained by the “joy that lies in the future” as we face our daily struggles.  Help us to let our joy shine forth and so perhaps encourage others. Amen 




































No comments:

Post a Comment