Hello Everyone
Thursday the 15 October, was the feast day of St Teresa of Avila.
“Pray as you Go” a short daily offering of worship can be followed online and it offers an introduction, Bible reading, Thought for the Day followed by a conclusion and prayer.
So, on the 15th Christine and I heard the Community of Taizé singing in Spanish, ‘Nada te Turbe’. The words are taken from one of St Teresa of Avila’s most famous sayings: “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience wins all things. They lack nothing who possess God. God alone is enough.”
This saying of St Teresa is worth keeping in mind as we pray today. It is worthy of holding before us as we go about our daily lives.
A reading from the Letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians 1:3-10
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
This is beautiful prose and an astounding message. We know God loves every person and even ‘all things.”
God loves everything in the Universe. God loves every star, every planet, every rock, every tree, every animal, every person. God loves you. You are utterly loved by God. You are so loved that God wants to spend eternity with you . . .
This can seem too good to be true and therefore difficult to take in.
Let this God look at you now with love
Consider how God loves all of Creation and wants to “gather up all things in Christ” …
Note how in the Letter to the Ephesians, Paul speaks of God’s Plan for those He loves, and wants to share Eternity with.
REFLECTION
In the quiet read through the sheet again and try to appreciate what is being claimed here.
What do you want to say to this God who loves all things and who loves you?
Let the Holy Spirit lead you into your conversation with God the Father.
Give thanks for all His Love and all His Spiritual Blessings that He pours out on us.
“Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience wins all things. They lack nothing who possess God. God alone is enough.”
A PRAYER PLEADING FOR HELP AS THE COVID VIRUS AFFECTS MORE AND MORE LIVES AS WE TRY TO GAIN CONTROL
Show us that you are here Lord, that you have not abandoned us to our fate.
Show us you are not blind to our needs or deaf to our entreaties.
Show us that, though everything seems to suggest otherwise, you are with us in this crisis we are facing- that we are not alone.
Show us, above all, that we matter to you; that you care about what so many are going through; that you are hurting with us, weeping with us and reaching out to us, seeking to help, to hold and to heal. Amen
Let us Pray for our community and all the good will in supporting one another.
Also let us Pray for those involved with the Food Bank, and pray for those known to us who need our prayers.
KEEP SAFE – KEEP PRAYING
Peter
