Monday 7 November 2022

Today is Monday the 7th of November, in the 32nd week of Ordinary time.


Eliza King sings, ‘All Things New’. What is God making new in your life? Perhaps at this very moment…

You break like the light of the sun
Bringing colour to shadows
Christ, it was you all along
You’re the words of an ancient song, we’ve been singing
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
You rise, as the bright morning star
We were blind but we see you now
The light of the world here with us
You’re a fire making holy ground, by your spirit
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
You’re the treasure of the ages
Sought for generations
How the prophets longed to see what we have seen
You’re the final word incarnate
Leaping from the pages
You’re the burning heart behind the mystery
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, “I repent”, you must forgive.’

The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.

Today the reading speaks of stumbling, offending, repenting and forgiving. These are all part of the reality of life as a disciple. What do those words stir in you as you hear them?

Jesus tells us we must forgive. The word ‘must’ is a difficult one to hear and might well feel impossible in some circumstances. Be honest with Jesus about your response to his words.

As you hear again Jesus talking of faith the size of a mustard seed, notice that the smallest amount of faith matters to Jesus. How might that console you?

Speak with the Lord about increasing your faith and what that might practically mean for you at the moment.

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.