As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Mark 10 : 17
Readings this week : Amos 5 : 6 – 7, 10 - 15; Hebrews 4 : 12 - end; Mark 10 : 17 - 31
Thought for this week
Everyone in our house has been de-cluttering. We seem to be making weekly visits to the Charity Shops. And apparently soon you have to book to go to the tip! We can no longer have those spontaneous moments when we decide something has to go there and then! De-cluttering can be hard work, but ultimately helpful in our lives,
Yet in our Gospel reading Jesus is speaking about far more than de – cluttering. For the man who comes to Jesus, wanting to enter the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus sees that his life’s focus is possessions. He has lost his way, becoming trapped by things that have got in the way of his relationship with the Lord and what is most precious.
Jesus calls each of us into freedom and new life. That can mean for each of us laying aside all that encumbers, distorts, spoils our relationship with Jesus and with others.
Yet the Gospel writer tells us, “Jesus looking at him, loved him”. In His love for us Jesus sets us free of all that hinders us when we give it to Him and let go. Jesus calls us to trust in Him for everything, even letting go of the things that are most dear or a big part of our lives. When we put Jesus first, everything else will follow.
Rev Paul
Prayer for this week (inspired by Amos 5)
Holy One, the world is a discouraging place.
The cries of injustice almost drown out Your voice.
The cries of pain almost smother the voice of hope found in You.
The cries of oppression and marginalization, starvation and death, are almost too much to bear— so much so, that we have become numb.
Ease the pain, the cries, the noise of the world, so that we can hear Your voice and find hope and encouragement to act justly in this world and to do Your work, on earth as it is in heaven.
In the name of Christ, whose voice calls to us above the noise and cries, a voice that calls us to new life, we pray. Amen.
~ written by Rev. Mindi and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/
People to pray for
Those in poverty or debt
Those who are wealthy