Faced with all the evil in the world, and all that is going wrong, do we just feel powerless? What can we do about Syria, Iraq, Iran – and conflicts here and now in the western hemisphere? But we can – in our own lives – strive to live in a different way. We can because we are the body of Christ and through Christ can strive towards all that builds peace.
Described as a chief, rich, tax collector, he was as a result an outcast to his own people – seen to be in cahoots with the Roman occupiers. Looked down upon and shunned by all, literally by virtue of his height: but have we ever felt we ourselves don’t measure up and are not enough?
“I am the light of the world” said Jesus – referring to our lives here on earth, and our lives after – in eternity. Jesus light shines powerfully in our lives; and often when we’re at our darkest, focusing on Jesus sees illumination all the brighter.
The story of the ten lepers who were healed: but only one came back to say thanks. Do we desire something from Jesus rather than Jesus himself? Will we settle for a moment relief – or will we look below the surface to see more than new skin?
Have you ever read a book and really loved it? Have you then dreaded the news that a film is being made of that book – can it live up to how you imagained the characters would be in your head when presented on the big screen? As Jesus came home and read in the synagogue from Isaiah, how would those who knew him from childhood react – as the character they’d read so often from their scriptures was not the king they likely imagined!
Blind from birth; never to see a sunrise, a smile. He was a life waiting to be born: today, he became a new creation – a living testimony to Jesus healing work. Yet those around were unable to see him – as if they did, they would have to confront their own blindness.
It’s a strange, even bizarre idea that Jesus shares: that by his leaving his followers will actually be to their advantage. What advantage can there be in loneliness and sadness? But would we recognise the promise that what is to come is greater: the spirit? But more importantly – are we open to what accepting the Spirit means to our lives?
World mental health day occurred on October 10th and is an opportunity for us to recognise the importance of our own mental health and the mental wellbeing of others too. Rachel talks to us about how our talking about our mental health matters – as it’s only through sharing with each other and with Christ can we receive relief and value for ourselves.
Some 795 million people – one in nine of all people on the planet – do not have enough food to live a healthy life: but of the haves vs have nots, one percent of the worlds population account for over half the worldy wealth. There’s a huge divide between human beings in a world God intended to be equal: do we choose not to notice the boundary of rich and poor?
God’s gifts to us and the flourishing of God’s creation are clear. The world is God’s perfect gift to us; all we have is God’s gift to us and is the foundation of our worship. But; we are threatening the balance of our world through exceeding balances through our greed and overuse – and through our actions, we are making many of God’s creatures extinct.
