Mothers’ Union Devotion Wednesday 18th August 2021

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 36. 26

 

The news over the past few weeks has been filled with stories of horrific and shocking deaths of innocent victims of violence. Many of these have been perpetrated by people who not only knew the victims but who were charged with their care and wellbeing. When such clusters of cases occur, it feels like the world is really becoming a more and more disturbing place. Add to these domestic atrocities the situation in Afghanistan and the earthquake in Haiti, then our minds really do begin to question exactly what is going on.

Well, none of us can give a clear answer as to why but I wonder if the thing we can hold on to is the fact that we are outraged, shocked and disturbed by the violence that is present in our world. What would suggest that the world is broken completely is if we begin to treat such events as the normal way of the world. The world is not like that for most of us, thanks to the fact that we are created in the image of God and therefore we do not have hearts of stone but hearts of flesh. Hearts that hurt when we witness or hear of violent, neglectful or tragic treatment of our fellow human beings. Hearts that long for peace and an end to suffering. Hearts that are searching for ways in which we can help alleviate the suffering of our sisters and brothers throughout the earth.

As an organisation we are called to use our hearts of flesh to find people and places which needs our loving help, our compassionate minds and our physical presence to help alleviate the fear and pain caused by the damage done by those with hearts of stone.

The call and response that is mirrored in the word of the hymn by John Michael Talbot:

I will break their hearts of stone,

Give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak my Word to them.

Whom shall I send?

 

Here I am Lord, it is I Lord.

I have heard You calling in the night.

I will go Lord, if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

With all my love and prayers

Rev Sandra