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| On this page you can read Brother Luke's Daily Reflections. A new one will be added every day and at the end of each month they will be moved to their own page. If you'd like to be added to Br Luke's Daily Reflection e-mail list please click here to send him a request. Please respect Br Luke's work, and ask for permission before copying these mediations. Revised Common Lectionary : Liturgical Year "B"
Sunday 1st Scripture: Mark 1:9-15 Reflection: Have you noticed the sequence of events. Jesus was baptised, then tempted, then returned to minster. How often our lives follow the same pattern. We are baptised, or converted, then after the initial joy filled experience we seem to fall. We seem to be plagued by doubts and fears, perhaps even isolation from family and friends. If we can weather this period, then we become confident, continuing our lives of discipleship. Are you currently in that “middle” period? Be strong, have faith – you can come through it.
Monday 2nd Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46 Reflection: It’s all about action. If we follow Christ, we must do. Matthew reminds us that we cannot simply sit in splendid isolation, being pious and thinking holy thoughts, or going to church on Sundays and doing nothing for the rest of the week. We must actively live out our faith. We must help the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the naked, the isolated, the marginalised, the imprisoned. So, today, what could you have done for someone who was hungry, thirsty, sick, naked, isolated, marginalised, or imprisoned? What will you do tomorrow?
Tuesday 3rd Scripture: Matthew 6:7-15 Reflection: We know this passage of scripture as The Lord’s Prayer. There are many versions of it, all slightly different, but all encompassing the same idea of petition, praise and thanksgiving. I wonder though, how many of us only pray the prayer in liturgical or church services. I wonder how many of us pray it at other times? Is this prayer the basis of your prayer life, do you pray it each time you pray, or do you just say it occasionally?
Wednesday 4th Scripture: Luke 11:29-32 Reflection: The people were so busy looking, wanting or waiting for proof, that they missed the confirmation they were seeking. We sometimes do this. We wait for God to tell us, or show us, what to do. We are so certain of how the message will come, that we miss it when it does. To live a gospel centred life, does not need proof – it needs action and courage.
Thursday 5th Scripture: Matthew 7:7-12 Reflection: Have a look at verse 12. Stop for a moment. Think of the last time someone told you something unkind about someone else. How did you feel at the telling of the story? If you applied this instruction to that situation, what would you have done differently? What will you do the next time?
Friday 6th Scripture: Matthew 5:20-26 Reflection: Look at verses 23 & 24. Notice that the passage says “has something against you” and not that you have something against them? We are to make the effort to seek reconciliation – to make peace. To do that we have to approach someone who is angry, upset or annoyed with us. We have to acknowledge that we were the cause of angst for the other person, and take steps to repair the damaged relationship. Now just how many of us are prepare to do that?
Saturday 7th Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48 Reflection: I think Verse 44, can be seen as an instruction, a challenge, and a result. When we pray for those who persecute us, we are taken beyond ourselves. We think of the other, and in that thinking we open ourselves to a vast range of possibilities. But as is the case with so many of these, we must be courageous. The last time someone was “unkind” to you, was your reaction to pray for them?
Sunday 8th Scripture: Mark 8:31-38 Reflection: There have probably been times in all our faith journeys that we either did, or wanted to, walk away from the Christian faith. There are a myriad of reasons why this may have happened. Can you recall an event? In that walking, or wanting to walk, were you ever ashamed of Christ or his words?
Monday 9th Scripture: Luke 6:36-38 Reflection: Verse 37. So easy to say we agree, but it so difficult to do in practice. In many ways, some obvious, some so subtle, we miss them completely, we judge, we condemn and we withhold forgiveness. Why? Perhaps because we find it easier to do as everyone else seems to do? Perhaps because we lack the trust to let those things go? Perhaps because we are human? What do you think stops you from living verse 37 to the full?
Tuesday 10th Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12 Reflection: "The greatest among you will be your servant." To be a servant requires at least 2 things: someone to serve and a willingness to serve others - to be the servant. Have a look around you, how many servants do you know? Can you see how, and who, they are serving? Are you serving with them?
Wednesday 11th Scripture: Matthew 20:17-28 Reflection: The others were angry when they heard that the sons of Zebedee wanted to be first. To have the most important places next to Jesus. What was Jesus' response to their anger? "whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave". Notice that to be "great" requires you to be servant, but to be "first" requires you to be a slave! Perhaps we can look at it like this: while a servant may not be "owned", nor a slave, a slave is always "owned" and a servant. Anyone still want to emulate the sons of Zebedee request and be "first"?
Thursday 12th Scripture: Luke 16:19-31 Reflection: "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." Sometimes no matter what we say and do, people will still not want to listen or indeed to hear. Like the rich man, some people will not want to cease their self centred, selfish and potentially destructive lives. While this can be incredibly frustrating and distressing, simply hand them over to God and allow the Spirit to do the work.
Friday 13th Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46 Reflection: There are probably times in our lives when we are like the “wicked tenants”, And other times when we are the vineyard owner’s servants. What moves us from one group to another? The people we are with, some event that causes us to doubt/believe, an experience of grace, a loss, a miracle? The list is probably endless. Look back on your journey, see if you can find the times when you were a “wicked tenant”, and the “owner’s servants”. Do you know why you were one or the other? Which are you today?
Saturday 14th Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Reflection: What depths the youngest son had fallen to? Finally he realised his predicament and returned to his father. He took his pride, arrogance and foolishness, subjugated them and went back. The parable tells us that no matter how far we wander, no matter what we do, God’s love will never be refused to us, or anyone else. Have you wandered far from God? Is it time to go back, and experience God’s love and forgiveness?
Sunday 15th Scripture: John 2:13-22 Reflection: Jesus took a whip and cleared the temple of traders, returning the sacred place to its rightful purpose. We may like to think of Jesus as meek and mild, but here he is angry and destructive. Not quite the idea we may like to have of him. Do you have an idea of Jesus? Do events like this one, alter that idea?
Monday 16th Scripture: Luke 4:24-30 Reflection: A Prophet asks us to face, and look at, that which we do not want to see, or hear. A prophet whose words challenge the political/religious power structures will make us uncomfortable, perhaps even angry. But these are our reactions to the prophet – not the prophet’s reaction to us. Have you heard a prophet lately? Were you roused, perhaps even to anger, at hearing their words?
Tuesday 17th Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35 Reflection: “Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times” (verse 22). I suspect many of us will have difficulty forgiving someone once, perhaps twice, let alone seven times. We may even consider seventy seven times an impossibility. It is then that we need God’s help. When we put aside our self interest and seek the grace to forgive, we realise that it has already been given. And what joy comes with that realisation.
Wednesday 18th Scripture: Matthew 5:17-19 Reflection: "whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven". Notice the doing is before the teaching. We need to live (or practice) our beliefs if we are to teach them honestly. It is our actions, the deeds we do, that reveal to those watching, and learning, just how much we really believe the words we speak. Let us not forget that hollow words will echo painfully in a fractured world.
Thursday 19th Scripture: Luke 11:14-23 Reflection: “whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (part of verse 23) Notice there are two parts to this statement? We have to be with Jesus. Working alongside, in the work of the kingdom. If we are not with him, then we are not simply being idle, we are working to the opposite purpose. We sometimes think that it is OK if I don’t do such and such. Or that doing nothing is not doing any harm. Jesus says the opposite, there is no room for complacency in the work of the kingdom.
Friday 20th Scripture: Mark 12:28-34 Reflection: “The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” (part of verse 31). It is probable that we can all identify who our neighbours are. We can also probably say, with the knowledge we have of the gospels, how we should treat them. Yet we often fall very sort of this commandment. Is this because we are focused on ourselves? Have we, in our hedonistic western culture centric view, forgotten how to love ourselves, (without being narcissistic or ego-centric) and so our neighbour has no hope? Or is that we now simply don’t care?
Saturday 21st Scripture: Luke 18:9-14 Reflection: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (part of verse 13). The tax collector knew himself. He knew his failures, he was honest with himself and then he was honest before his God. No vain glory, no prideful attempt to gloss over his faults by listing his piousness, there was just an open and honest admission. Perhaps we would struggle to find a clearer illustration of the difference between humility and arrogance? When was the last time you went humbly to God like the tax collector?
Sunday 22nd Scripture: John 3:14-21 Reflection: Part of verse 16 reads: For God so loved the world.” Today we seem to be so afraid of God’s love. We try anything and everything to distance ourselves from any possibility, even the slightest hint that God loves us. Why? Perhaps it is because we have lost our way. Perhaps we have become afraid of love in any form, that we struggle to comprehend how, and why God should love us. Perhaps it’s time to just let go of the fear and simply believe that God does love us. Can you do this?
Monday 23rd Scripture: John 4:43-54 Reflection: The Royal Official’s whole household believed as a result of the healing. I wonder if our “whole household” would also respond to a healing in this fashion? I suspect not. There would, I’m sure, be some who would attempt to explain the miracle away. What would you do?
Tuesday 24th Scripture: John 5:1-16 Reflection: The man had been at the pool of Beth-zatha for 38 years, because he had no-one to help him into the pool. How he must have been frustrated and felt hopelessness, especially at the times he was pushed aside by others. In all of the 38 years, there must have been people around who could have helped him - but none did. Imagine how you would feel, if like him, someone pushed you aside and took your healing. Would you give up? Or would you like this man, keep on trying? Was it desperation or hope and his faith that kept him there? What would keep you there?
Wednesday 25th Scripture: John 5:17-30 Reflection: Look at the first 5 words of verse 22. Now read the whole verse again. If the Father does not judge, and has passed this “function” to Christ - Why do we insist on the opposite?
Thursday 26th Scripture: John 5:31-47 Reflection: The words we find in scripture can enlighten, teach, guide and strengthen us. They can open for us, help us understand, that which was for centuries, hidden. However, for some they do a lot more. For some they show us, invite us to enter into, the essence of faith, of belief - the experience of the Divine. But for Scripture to do this, we must be open to them. We must be willing to take the chance that they will change – forever – our lives. What do the scriptures mean to you?
Friday 27th Scripture: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 Reflection: The lack of action by the authorities to silence Jesus, caused confusion and questions in the people. Jesus tried to help them, but they were unable to hear him? Have you ever been deaf to those trying to help you? Why?
Saturday 28th Scripture: John 7:40-52 Reflection: The miracles and teachings were not enough, they needed proof that fitted with their expectations, their knowledge of the “law” or their painstaking studies. When they did not find what they expected to see, they judged and ultimately condemned him. When one sticks rigidly to ones expectations, one will often miss what is all around. The people knew, but the people were treated with contempt. What about you? Do you stick rigidly to your expectations, or can you see beyond – into the mystery that is God?
Sunday 29th Scripture: John 12:20-33 Reflection: "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also". Notice that the server follows. Service can take many forms. But I suspect we find one form that we are comfortable with, that we can easily relate to and then set it as the only form of service we consider. How many of us think a weekly attendance at church is our demonstration of Christian service? If we think like this, then what do we do for the rest of the week?
Monday 30th Scripture: John 8:1-11 Reflection: Did you notice that Jesus did not answer their question? His response to their test was to confront them about their sins. Their leaving spoke more about their behaviour than hers. It is often easy to condemn and judge when one feels justified. But Jesus asks us to stop and consider our behaviour, our actions, before we judge another. Can you do as Jesus asks?
Tuesday 31st Scripture: John 8:21-30 Reflection: “So Jesus said, ‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he” (part of verse 28). I suspect that today there would be many people of the faith who are uncomfortable with this statement (and others like it). Why? Perhaps because Jesus’ statement is confronting, it is challenging, it asks us to look at ourselves and what we believe. It takes us to places within ourselves, that many people try to avoid. But avoiding the statement, doesn’t change it. Are you willing to look at the heart of your beliefs? |
