Thursday 3 November 2022

Today is Thursday, the 3rd of November, in the 31st week of Ordinary time.


Paul Zach sings, ‘The Lord Is My Shepherd’. How do you imagine God’s love for you as you begin to pray today?


The Lord is my shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want
He leads my soul by the still waters
In the green pastures I am restored
Though I may walk through the dark valley
Of the shadow of death
I will not fear for your rod and staff comfort me
Goodness and mercy they will follow me
All of the days all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever and ever

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 15:1-10

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’

Start today’s prayer by looking at the kind of people that Jesus mixes with. Who are the equivalents of the “tax-collectors and sinners” where you live?

How do you habitually think of yourself? Are you closer to being a “sinner who repents”, or a “righteous person who needs no repentance”? Be honest!

It’s the righteous people Jesus is primarily addressing in these parables. How would you expect them to react when they hear them?

As the passage is read again, note especially the tone of rejoicing. Perhaps this isn’t always the way that those who are trying to reform their lives are greeted.

Finally, speak to God about any area of your own life where you might be wanting to draw closer to God.

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.