Monday 12 October 2020

Today is Monday the 12 October, in the 28th week of Ordinary Time.

The choir of Portsmouth Cathedral sing Psalm 85 – Lord thou art become gracious unto Thy Land, thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 11:29-32

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

Jonah’s message to Nineveh was the need to repent, to turn from injustice and back to God.  Jesus’ message is the same.  He’s putting it very strongly in this passage. Spend a moment talking with Jesus about how you understand this message about judgement… what does it have to say to you now?

Our world is courting ecological disaster by its lack of care for Creation. What do you imagine Jesus is saying to humanity about this?

As you listen again to the reading, try to pick up on what Jesus wants for his generation. 

What do you and Jesus want for your generation? Talk it through with him now as one friend speaks to another.

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.