For Everybody
Readings - Isaiah 56, 1-3, 6-8, Psalm 67 and John 5:33-36
“Do what is right” Isaiah 56:1
Reflection
Inclusiveness. We don't want to see anyone excluded from our communities and our churches—do we? The reading from Isaiah is a strong proclamation of a desire for inclusiveness and not exclusion. For God’s house is a “house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:7). This would be a really hard thing for the Jews to accept as they had come to the realisation that they were the only ones to receive God’s favour. But now they were being required to expand their ideas, their vision and their understanding of what was required of them.
Do our church decisions, policies and procedures exclude others within and outside of our church? Some Christians and churches see themselves as the only ones who will be saved - they exclude others. Is this what the “gospel”, which is translated as “good news” actually means? Whilst we continue to have division in our churches, locally,nationally and world wide how can we be “partners of the gospel?” (Philippians 1)
As we approach a time when shepherds and kings, religious and non-religious witnessed the birth of Jesus—may we openly welcome and beckon others to draw near. Then we will know what a true house of prayer can achieve.
Prayer
Welcoming God
I come as stranger yet as friend to you.
There is much I seek to know about you, yet the more I know the more I fail to understand.
May I willingly extend my hand in friendship to others, those similar and those different to me. May I share with them a journey of life and faith.
Amen
Additional Prayer Ideas
We remember those seeking a place of acceptance in out town, churches and streets.
We pray for all who feel judged and ignored by others. We pray for our churches and our call to spread the gospel to all people.
No comments:
Post a Comment