Friday 3 February 2023

Today is Friday the 3rd of February, in the fourth week of Ordinary time.



Liz Vice, with the Porter’s Gate, sings, ‘We Labor Unto Glory’.


My God, my God, where e'er I go
Glo-o-ory
Where I reap and where I sow
Glo-o-ory
And my hand it grips the thorn
Glo-o-ory
In the still and in the storm
Glo-o-ory, glo-o-ory
Oh, we labor unto glory
Till heaven and earth are one
Oh, we labor unto glory
Until God's kingdom comes
The sun it shines and then goes down
Glo-o-ory
Rain, it pours and beats the ground
Glo-o-ory
Dust, it blows and ends my days
Glo-o-ory
Hearts they burn beneath Your gaze
Glo-o-ory, glo-o-ory
Oh, we labor unto glory
Till heaven and earth are one
Oh, we labor unto glory
Until God's kingdom comes
My heart, my hands, they're kingdom bound
Glo-o-ory
Where thorns no longer curse the ground
Glo-o-ory
Trim the wick, ignate the flame
Glo-o-ory
My work, it will not be in vain
Glo-o-ory, glo-o-ory
Oh, we labor unto glory
Till heaven and earth are one
Oh, we labor unto glory
Until God's kingdom comes
Oh, we labor unto glory
Till heaven and earth are one
Oh, we labor unto glory
Until God's kingdom comes
Until God's kingdom comes
Until God's kingdom comes

Today’s reading is from the letter to the Hebrews.


Hebrews 13:1-8

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence,
‘The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?’

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

How would you describe the words in today’s passage? Rules for life perhaps?

Do they fit with how you live your life?

The words could go some way to describe aspects of God, could they not? Faithful, friend of the stranger, supporter of the weak, visitor of the ignored, generous giver. Are you content with what you have? You could ask for the gift of contentment.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, forever. What do those words mean to you in our ever-changing world? Consider this as you listen to the passage again…

Speak with the Lord, as one friend to another, about how you live your life, and what grounds you.


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.