Tag Archives: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

So Much Need

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So many people,
so much need.

So much pain,
hurt,
injustice,
brokenness.

So many people
in need of help,
hope,
healing,
love,
peace,
God’s presence
in their darkness.

So much wandering,
so many lost,
in need of care,
tending,
guiding,
seeing a way through.

So many hungry
for sustenance,
a new way,
a new day,
food that lasts,
someone to notice their needs
and help them.

So many needing Jesus
and all he brings.

So many Lord,
including me.

by John L Bell/Iona Community

TAKE THIS MOMENT, sign and space;
Take my friends around;
Here among us make the place
Where your love is found.

Take the time to call my name
Take the time to mend
Who I am and what I’ve been,
All I’ve failed to tend.

Take the tiredness of my days,
Take my past regret,
Letting your forgiveness touch
All I can’t forget.

Take the little child in me,
Scared of growing old;
Help him here to find his worth
Made in Christ’s own mould.

Take my talents, take my skills,
Take what’s yet to be;
Let my life be yours, and yet,
Let it still be me.

Copyright © 1989 Iona Community

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 (CEV)

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

30 After the apostles returned to Jesus, they told him everything they had done and taught. 31 But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.” 32 They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. 33 But many people saw them leave and figured out where they were going. So people from every town ran on ahead and got there first.

34 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.

Jesus Heals Sick People in Gennesaret

53 Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and brought the boat to shore near the town of Gennesaret. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. 55 So they ran all over that part of the country to bring their sick people to him on mats. They brought them each time they heard where he was. 56 In every village or farm or marketplace where Jesus went, the people brought their sick to him. They begged him to let them just touch his clothes, and everyone who did was healed.

A Model of Care

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If, in response to yesterdays reading, we want a model of care – both of ourselves and others.  We are given a perfect example in this best known of Psalms.

God’s way to care is to stay with us wherever we go.

To allow us to rest, perhaps encourage us to – a worn out sheep will not complete the journey.  Do I take time to rest in peace and quiet?  To take time and rest with God? Or am I so busy rushing around, even for him, that I never time time to rest and allow him to restore my soul?

Lord, may I rest in you, let you feed me, heal me, restore me and equip me for the journey.

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God will lead me in the right paths.  However wrong or scary they feel to me, however much I doubt his wisdom, however much I would prefer life to be going in a different direction; somehow, can I hold tight to his hand and walk with him?  Can I trust him and allow him to lead me?  Or will I insist that I know better, try and take him my way or run off to follow my own path?

Lord, may I be brave enough to walk with you, trust enough to follow you, allow you to lead me and follow your way.

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There are valleys, deep and dark.  They hurt, they terrify me, I’d really rather not go that way.

Lord, help me to remember, that however dark the way, you walk with me, Holding tightly to me, knowing my fear, sharing it, in it with me, never leaving me alone.

Lord, may I cling to the safety of you, and allow you to guide me through.

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Thank you Lord for the good times.  The times of blessing, of joy, abundance, when my cup overflows.

May I not forget you in those times, but rejoice with you and thank you.  Thank you that I am a guest at your feast

Thank you Lord, that your kindness and love are with me every day – good, bad or indifferent; that you walk with me every step of my journey, however good and pleasant or difficult and arduous.  Thank you that I can trust in you – always.  Thank you

The Lord’s My Shepherd

Psalm 23  (CEV)

(A psalm by David.)

The Good Shepherd

23 You, Lord, are my shepherd.
    I will never be in need.
2     You let me rest in fields
    of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
3     and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,
    and you lead me
    along the right paths.
4 I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
    but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
    and your shepherd’s rod
    makes me feel safe.

5 You treat me to a feast,
    while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
    and you fill my cup
    until it overflows.
6 Your kindness and love
will always be with me
    each day of my life,
    and I will live forever
    in your house, Lord.

Mattering not Scattering

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You asked me to care for the sheep
and I haven’t.
My chasing around,
flapping about,
rather than protecting
has chased them away.

I was meant
to be looking after them
for you,
yet I have chased them away from you.

Thank God,
that despite my failings
in love and care,
his love and protection go on.

He can see those that I have scattered,
hurt,
pained,
squeezed out
and chased away,
and he gathers them
back to himself,
into the safety of his fold.

Forgive me Lord,
the times when I have
driven others from you,
made it impossible
to get near you,
or stay close,
bitten and snapped
until they have got the message
that they are not welcome.

When I have not helped them,
encouraged them,
shared the food
and shelter,
allowed them to grow,
but been selfish
with what you have given.

May there be a way back to you
for me too.

I pray
for justice,
wisdom
and safety.
For those who can lead us there
in our communities.

We pray for governments
and leadership
who want to gather
not scatter,
to care
not scare,
strengthen their people
not send them away needing,
to love and protect
not hurt and harm.

Lord,
may we model ourselves on you
the Good Shepherd,
who carries the broken
the lost
and weary,
and to whom each and every person matters

Jeremiah 23:1-6 (CEV)

A Message of Hope

The Lord said:

23 You leaders of my people are like shepherds that kill and scatter the sheep. 2 You were supposed to take care of my people, but instead you chased them away. So now I’ll really take care of you, and believe me, you will pay for your crimes!

3 I will bring the rest of my people home from the lands where I have scattered them, and they will grow into a mighty nation. 4 I promise to choose leaders who will care for them like real shepherds. All of my people will be there, and they will never again be frightened.

5 Someday I will appoint
an honest king
    from the family of David,
a king who will be wise
    and rule with justice.
6 As long as he is king,
Israel will have peace,
    and Judah will be safe.
The name of this king will be
    “The Lord Gives Justice.”