The 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time | Sunday 24 September 2023

Today is Sunday 24 September, beginning the 25th week of Ordinary time.

‘Seek the Lord while he may be found.’ We will hear this in our scripture reading today.

As you begin your time of prayer today, listen to the choir of Portsmouth Cathedral singing a setting of Psalm 42: ‘Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks, so my soul longeth after Thee O God.’ Take a moment to turn your thoughts and your heart toward the Lord, really seeking him in earnest.

Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks: so longeth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
My tears have been my meat day and night: while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy God?
Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself: for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of God;
In the voice of praise and thanksgiving: among such as keep holy-day.
Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul: and why art thou so disquieted within me?
Put thy trust in God: for I will yet give him thanks for the help of his countenance.
My God, my soul is vexed within me: therefore will I remember thee concerning the land of Jordan, and the little hill of Hermon.
One deep calleth another, because of the noise of the water-pipes: all thy waves and storms are gone over me.
The Lord hath granted his loving-kindness in the day-time: and in the night-season did I sing of him, and made my prayer unto the God of my life.
I will say unto the God of my strength, Why hast thou forgotten me: why go I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?
My bones are smitten asunder as with a sword: while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth;
Namely, while they say daily unto me: Where is now thy God?
Why art thou so vexed, O my soul: and why art thou so disquieted within me?
O put thy trust in God: for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.




Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah.


Isaiah 55:6-9

Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.


‘Seek the Lord while he may be found.’ Perhaps you are aware of something that prevents you from turning towards the Lord, or a feeling of being distant from God.

‘Call upon him while he is near.’
Knowing that the Lord is near, is there anything you wish to say to him?

Isaiah writes, ‘Let them return to the Lord, so that he may have mercy on them.’

In which ways do you need the mercy of the Lord today?

Can you imagine receiving His mercy right now?

What does this mean to you?

As you listen to the reading again, imagine that Isaiah is saying these words to you in person.

‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.’

Imagine now that you are lying beneath an enormous star-filled sky, which displays the glory of the heavens.

Take a moment to take in the vastness of God… aware that even in all his grandeur…he longs to draws very near to 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.