Monday 23 September 2024

Today is Monday the 23rd of September, the feast of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. Jessica Fox, with the Porter’s Gate, sings, ‘All of Your Ways Are Peace’. All of your ways are peace All of your ways are peace Though we are pressed on every side We trust that you are peace All of your words are true All of your words are true Though we have heard so many lies We trust your words are true All of your ways are just All of your ways are just Though we may say it through our tears We trust that you are just All of your ways are peace Today’s reading is from the Book of Proverbs. Proverbs 3:27-34 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,  when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Go, and come again;  tomorrow I will give it’—when you have it with you. Do not plan harm against your neighbour  who lives trustingly beside you. Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,  when no harm has been done to you. Do not envy the violent  and do not choose any of their ways; for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,  but the upright are in his confidence. The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,  but he blesses the abode of the righteous. Towards the scorners he is scornful,  but to the humble he shows favour In this passage, we can reflect on the actions and attitudes we have towards our neighbours…perhaps those who live with us or nearby; those who work or worship with us, those we pass in the street. ‘Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it’, the writer of Proverbs instructs us. What good might be within your power to do today? Ask the Lord to show you a person or situation, where you can offer help or give comfort perhaps. Perhaps there something that prevents you from offering help today… Try to identify if there is anything that stands in your way. Take a moment to be in conversation with the Lord about this, asking for what you need, such as courage or humility, or perhaps it’s something practical. As you listen to the reading again, listen out for all the instructions beginning with the words, ‘do not.’ Notice which one of these most stands out for you. The writer ends, ‘To the humble, the Lord shows favour,’ There are times when we need to choose to humble ourselves in order to love and serve one another. You might like to end this time of prayer today by simply inviting the Lord to search your heart…listen out for God’s voice today. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.