Week Four – What are we doing?

Jesus unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’  Luke 4 17b-19

It seems at the moment that there is just too much need in our world:

A need for peacemakers

A need for healers

A need for resources

A need for companionship

A need for friendship

The need is overwhelming and we have all experienced those moments when we become paralysed when faced with the reality of too much. Be it too much choice, too much hurt or too much need. Spending time asking Jesus to open our eyes to where we can help meet the needs in our local communities can help us focus. Targeted prayer and listening can help us avoid the inertia that comes in the face of too much need. It can help us find just where Jesus is calling us to act as individuals using our particular talents, resources and compassion. We can then discover it does not take much to make a real difference. When we listen attentively for Jesus’ voice, we discover people and situations where we can, in the words of St David, do the little things with joy and faith.

Often in prayer when we think we are just being distracted we remember someone who would benefit from a phone call, a letter, a visit. We may find ourselves reminded of an event we had thought of attending where our very presence will benefit others, be it financial or personal. Places where our companionship and listening ear might change someone’s day in ways we could not have imagined. God moments, which could have been missed if we had just stayed in the comfort of our homes.

So, this week try listening attentively for those opportunities and situations where Jesus is calling you to meet a need and pray for the faith and support to follow through with action.

Prayer: Wise teacher, please show me how to bring the joy of your good news into the lives of those around me. Those whom I know well and those who only come to me through the words and pictures of the news. Inspire my prayer, inform my daily action, give me a gentle heart for justice. Amen