28th. July. 2021.Daily Devotion.
21st July 2021 A Candle in the Window Peter Millar
Words to encourage us in these times. ionacottage@hotmail.com
May you give to us all, dear Lord, a vision of our connected world as your love would make it. A world where the weak are protected and in which none of us may sleep in peace until the hungry share in the world’s riches. A world where those in the shadows can experience the sun, and where those with everything can understand the meaning of injustice and do something about it. A world where different races, nations and cultures can value and live by the words “mutual respect.” And as our beautiful planet burns and floods, awake us from our slumber to these endless cries of our wounded earth before it is too late. (Based on an old prayer from the campaign group War on Want – Peter)
O God of many names, lover of all nations, we pray for peace and wisdom in our hearts, in our homes, in our communities, in our nations in our world. The peace and wisdom of your will, and the peace and wisdom of our need.
Adapted from a prayer written many years ago by the great George Appleton whose heart was open to the world and its faiths and cultures. – Peter
But you, Lord, have made us responsible for each other; for the neighbour, the stranger. This is the glory of your kingdom, you have put us in relationships; you have made us responsible with you. Help us, Lord, never to disown that responsibility. Help us never to forget that you are in all things and all things in you. This day if you put anyone in front of me help me to see you in them and to take responsibility.
This prayer was written by the late Canon Subir Biswas (1934-1977) who for some years worked in St Paul’s Cathedral in central Calcutta. During his ministry there, the Cathedral, as it still does today, reached out in many different ways to those in need living in that vast city. With others, Subir founded the Cathedral Relief Service, and although we only met a couple of times, and he tragically died from cancer shortly after I arrived in India, he remains for me, and many others around the world, an inspirational figure.
In the immense cathedral which is the Universe of God, each one of us is called to take all that is human and to turn it into an offering and a hymn of glory. This is part of what is known as ‘an Orthodox aspiration’ from The Orthodox Church. Let us reflect on the Universe as an immense cathedral.
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
37 ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?”
40 ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:34-40
Respecting one another and appreciating what we have in common with others
God our Father, you call each of us by name, and you treasure each of us individually as though no-one else exists. Inspire us to respect and value each person who comes into our lives this day. Amen.
Lord, we ask you to open our eyes that we may value and appreciate all people, recognising what we have in common rather than focusing on what our differences might be. Inspire us to distinguish between what is important and what is not and open our minds and hearts that we may always be people of good will who bring life and joy to others. Amen.
