Sunday 15 September 2024

Today is Sunday the 15th of September, beginning the 24th week of Ordinary Time.

Jon and Valerie Guerra with the Porter’s Gate sing, ‘Do With It What You Will’.

You have given all to me
To you O Lord I return it
Everything I have is yours
Do with it what you will
You will gather all of me
Every gift, every burden
Every day and every hour
Do with it what you will
I lift it up; I lay it down at your table.
Multiply my sacrifice; for you are able.
I will take my daily cross
Every step of the journey
I will bear it for your sake
Do with it what you will
Take my laughter and my loss
Make them tools of your mercy
Anything my hands can make
Do with it what you will


Today’s reading is from the Letter of James.

James 2:14-18

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

Today’s reading may present a challenge, as James writes that, faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. In what practical ways is your faith lived out with those around you?

Imagine now, that you invite Jesus into your everyday space, your journey to work…your office… or the street where you live for example. Take an imaginary walk with Jesus around this area…. Talk with him about someone you are concerned about.

Now let Jesus speak to you about the people around you. Perhaps there is someone he would like you to help, by offering love in a practical way. What might this be?

Listen to the reading again, continuing to be with Jesus in this space. What, or who, comes to mind as you listen?

Finally, end this prayer time in gratitude for God’s abiding love and presence in your daily life. You might like to open your hands as a sign of your faith and your openness to the Lord’s unexpected ways of working through you today.

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.