Monday 28 September 2020

Today is Monday the 28 September, in the Twenty Sixth week of Ordinary time.  

You are the centre, Lord, of my life.  The centre of my life.  Amid all my preoccupations, all the worries and hassles and concerns in my mind right now, can I focus for a moment on the centre of my life?  Can I open my heart to God, my guide, my healer, my teacher? Can I stop for a moment and listen to God’s voice?  

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.  

Luke 9:46-50

An argument arose among the disciples as to which one of them was the greatest.  But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest."  John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us."  But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you."

Luke tells us that, as his disciples start bickering here, Jesus knows what thoughts are going through their minds.  We don’t know the thoughts in their minds, but we can perhaps imagine.  What might be the false ideas of theirs that Jesus wants to change?  

“Whoever is not against you is for you.”  Jesus’s emphasis is on welcoming the goodness that is present in the most unlikely people and the most improbable places.  Can I think of times when being preoccupied with my own status has made me less aware of the good in other people?  

As I hear the reading again, can I think of the day to come, and ask myself where I might have the opportunity to be welcoming in a way that recognises and responds to God’s presence?  

As this prayer time comes to a close, I might want to ask God for the freedom to be welcoming of the divine presence, not only in opportunities I foresee, but in all the circumstances of the coming day.

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.