Friday 20 October 2023

Today is Friday the 20th of October, in the 28th week of Ordinary time.

The Kyiv Chamber Choir sing the Creed: “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” As I start this prayer today, can I join in with this strong, almost exuberant expression of faith? Can I begin by declaring my faith in my God, my creator, my heavenly Father?

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Today’s reading is from St Paul’s letter to the Romans.


Romans 4:1-8

What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness irrespective of works:


‘Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.’

What would your ‘school of life’ report look like? “Tries hard” is always a good one. What if you didn’t have to try at all? Abraham believed God and, in spite of a life of obedience to God, his belief was enough. Trying hard doesn’t seem to come into it.


How do you read these words of the apostle Paul? Could you accept them for the gift that they spell out?


Accepting God’s love and grace is something St Ignatius of Loyola homes in on. How good am I at accepting God’s love and grace?

Listen to the passage again. Take it slowly; you might need to pause the reading at times. Notice what stirs in you.

“Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” was the honest, desperate request of one who encountered the Lord. As this prayer time draws to a close you might want to ask God for help in accepting His gift of grace and love. For help to believe.

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.