Tuesday 10 May 2022

Today is Tuesday the 10th of May in the fourth week of Easter.

Bifrost Arts sing, ‘How Long?’ Do any of these lyrics resonate with you as you listen? Are you waiting on the Lord for something today and find yourself asking, “how long, Lord?” Enter into prayer now, letting the music guide you…
How long? Will You turn Your face away?
How long? Do You hear us when we pray?
On and on, still we walk this pilgrim way - How long?


How long 'til Your children find their rest?
How long 'til You draw them to Your breast?
We go on holding to Your promises - How long?


'Til You wipe away the tears from ev'ry eye
'Til we see our home descending from the sky
Do we wait in vain?
Jesus, give us hope again!


How long 'til Your word will still the storm?
How long 'til You bare Your mighty arm?
How we groan 'til You snatch us from the thorns - How long?


How long? Sweet the dawn that ends the race.
How long? Weak our hearts but strong our legs.
Looking on - great that cloud of witnesses! How long?


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 10:22-30
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.’

‘How long will you keep us in suspense?’ Have you ever found yourself asking this of the Lord? Recall this moment now, or a time or season of waiting you have been through in your life…notice what you are drawn to particularly about this time…
Those gathered around Jesus in this scene, implore that he “tell [them] plainly” if he is the Messiah. Has there been a moment in your prayer life when you have desired Jesus to communicate plainly with you? Perhaps you were hoping to “cut corners” in a particular season or situation…for God to get to the end of the story and just tell you the answer… what was this like for you? Did you hear eventually…if so, how did he speak?

As you listen again, notice particularly the promises Jesus makes concerning his sheep and their safety…
“No one will snatch them out of my hand.” As we draw this prayer time to a close, can you spend a moment meditating on these words? What do they mean for you? Talk to Jesus about it…

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.