Monday 18 July 2022

Today is Monday the 18th July, in the 16th week of Ordinary Time.

The Choir of Portsmouth Cathedral sings Psalm 85. As you use this music to enter into prayer, become aware of how you are feeling…become aware too of the still, small voice of God, that longs to speak to you today.

LORD, thou art become gracious unto thy land: thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people: and covered all their sins.
Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure: and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.
Turn us then, O God our Saviour: and let thine anger cease from us.
Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever: and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?
Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Shew us thy mercy, O Lord: and grant us thy salvation.
I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me: for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again.
For his salvation is nigh them that fear him: that glory may dwell in our land.
Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth shall flourish out of the earth: and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kindness: and our land shall give her increase.
Righteousness shall go before him: and he shall direct his going in the way.

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Micah.

Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

Hear what the LORD says:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD,
and you enduring foundations of the earth;
for the LORD has a controversy with his people,
and he will contend with Israel.
‘O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and redeemed you from the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
‘With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

In today’s scripture passage, it seems that God is asking the questions, and has plenty to ask about. How do you hear what is in God’s heart?

Perhaps it is human nature to set standards for ourselves and then to add markers so we know how near we are to the target. Is that what God does? What does your experience of God suggest?

‘What is good?’ As you listen to the passage again, acknowledge what God does not ask of you and consider what is ‘required’.

As you continue in a time of prayer, ask the Lord that your heart, your attitudes and desires may be shaped to become as God desires.

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.