Monday 26 October

Today is Monday the 26 October in the 30th week of Ordinary Time.  

The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing: This is the time, most Holy Spirit, when you, One with the Father and the Son, come to shed your light in the hearts of your faithful. Pause for a moment, and become aware of the Holy Spirit, present here, come to give life and light. Pause for a moment, and welcome that light into your life.  

Today’s reading is from the letter to the Ephesians.  

Ephesians 4:32-5:8

…and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be associated with them. For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light...

“Be imitators of God”.  What would it take for you to imitate God?  How might people around you be affected if you showed them kindness and forgiveness?

 The passage describes the forgiveness of God. When have you experienced - perhaps when you least deserved it - real compassion or genuine kindness from someone else?  Have you ever felt forgiven?  Pause for a moment to recall what that felt like.     

As you listen to the passage again, allow the forgiving, tender-hearted God to throw his light on any area of darkness in your life.  Picture yourself bathed in that light.

As you bring this time of reflection to a close, speak to God openly about what is on your heart.   

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.