Friday 25 February 2022

Today is Friday the 25th of February, in the seventh week of Ordinary time.

Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. The most important thing for me to do now, as I enter into prayer, is to let go for a moment, to let go of my own concerns, my own worries and fears and reluctance, and let myself be led by God, trusting that God, who loves me, will lead me into life.
Today's reading is from the letter of James.
James 5:9-12
Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your 'Yes' be yes and your 'No' be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

How easy is it to grumble against one another! Can you bring to mind the last time you grumbled against someone? Perhaps it was today… or even just before starting this time of prayer! Take a moment to recall it now…
…'let your 'Yes' be yes and your 'No' be no'. How do you get on with this instruction? Is this something you find difficult? Take a moment to talk to the Lord about this…

As you hear the passage repeated, hear particularly of the Lord's compassion and mercy…
'We call blessed those who showed endurance.' As this time of prayer draws to a close, you might like to ask God for this endurance today…


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.