Friday 24 February 2023

Today is Friday the 24th of February, in the season of Lent.


Bifrost Arts sing, ‘O God Will You Restore Us?’

O God, will You restore us
And grant us Your salvation?
O God, will You restore us
And grant us Your salvation?
I will hear what God proclaims
The Lord our God proclaims peace
Kindness and truth shall meet
Justice and peace shall kiss
O God, will You restore us
And grant us Your salvation?
Here is the fast that I choose
To loosen the bonds of the oppressed and break their chains
Let righteousness and justice go out before you
Then You will call out and I will hear
O God, will You restore us
And grant us Your salvation?
Near indeed is His salvation to those who call on Him
He will incline His ear and hear their prayers
Truth shall spring out of the earth
And justice will rain down from heaven
O God, will You restore us
And grant us Your salvation?
The Lord will guide you on a righteous path
His vindication will shine down forth as the dawn
Your people will be called repairers of broken walls
Making straight the path to proclaim His reign
O God, will You restore us
And grant us Your salvation?
O God, will You restore us?
Please grant us Your salvation

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.


Isaiah 58:6-9a

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.


We are now on our Lenten journey. During this time many people think about fasting.


God is speaking here of “the fast that I choose”. What is the fast that God chooses? Does that make a difference to your approach?

Who are the people singled out for special attention here? Does that tell you anything about how you might focus your attention this Lent?

Now listen as the passage is read to you once more. Is there anything here that really strikes you?

Finally, sift through all the thoughts and feelings that have come to you during this time of prayer. Can you turn them into a prayer to God?

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours.
Do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
Amen.