Tuesday 19 May

Today is Tuesday the 19 May, in the 6th week of Easter.

Diana Stanbridge sings, ‘With You’.  How are you feeling today? Perhaps you are living in a difficult situation or alone… Listen to the words of this song today as you draw close to the God of love, who never leaves us…

Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 16:25-34

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

One of many dramatic moments in Paul’s life of narrow escapes for himself or those around him.  Living through an earthquake can’t be easy, but Paul is able to turn everything to the good.  He can see the potential to share God’s saving power even when the earth is shaking beneath him.  How do I react when things don’t turn out as I expect? 

For many of us right now, the ground beneath our feet doesn’t feel that solid.  How does this affect my relationship with God?  Can I still trust that all will be well, and that I am held fast in God’s love and care?

Listen again to the reading.  The jailer thinks he’s failed and wants to kill himself.  Paul has other ideas.  An apparent disaster holds within it possibilities for new life.  The jailer sees freedom through the bars.  As a response he learns to turn outwards and bathe the wounds of others.

Is there a sense for me today of beginnings as well as endings, of new life emerging from the old?  What do I want to say to God about this?

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.