{"id":8674,"date":"2024-01-25T00:00:44","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T00:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/?p=8674"},"modified":"2024-01-18T21:44:24","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T21:44:24","slug":"wpcu-2024-day8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/?p=8674","title":{"rendered":"Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Day 8"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jesus said to him, \u201cGo and do likewise\u201d. (Luke 10:37)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord, may our mercy be a sign of your Kingdom<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Additional scripture passages<\/span><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Romans 12: 9-13<\/li>\n
  • Psalm 41: 1-2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Commentary<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Through these words \u2013 \u201cGo and do likewise\u201d \u2013 Jesus sends each of us, and our churches, to live out His commandment to love. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we are sent out to be \u201cother Christs\u201d, reaching out to a suffering humanity in compassion and mercy. Like the Good Samaritan towards the injured man, we can choose not to reject those who are different, rather cultivating a culture of proximity and goodwill – actively seeking out and moving towards opportunities to be hospitable, to welcome and to share – in our common task to bring to fruition the dream of God.<\/p>\n

    In considering how Jesus\u2019 invitation to \u201cGo and do likewise\u201d speaks to our own lives, we must not lose sight of the need for compassion and mercy in places we may not be willing to go, or have no direct connection with, such as areas like the Sahel region affected by inter-communal conflict. To truly be neighbours, our horizons must expand beyond that which does not cost us anything, encompassing the whole world, as we intentionally strive for justice and unity, learning how Christ\u2019s love can visit us through the welcoming of others.<\/p>\n

    Striving together for merciful unity helps rebuild relationships, so that violence can give way to solidarity and peace. As mutual trust and confidence increase, we become more willing to reveal our wounds, including ecclesial wounds, in the hope that Christ\u2019s love may visit and heal us through each other\u2019s love and care.<\/p>\n

    Reflection<\/span><\/h3>\n

    After the cacophony was over,
    \nthere was painful stillness.
    \nMoments of lucidness punctuated with nothing.
    \nBreathless
    \nin the dirt
    \nI pray.<\/p>\n

    Selah<\/p>\n

    A hand upon my body
    \ndifferent from before.
    \nThe intention of the touch – mindful of the pain still present –
    \nis to tend,
    \nnot to harm.<\/p>\n

    Selah<\/p>\n

    The smell of wine poured to soothe
    \nbittersweet tannin in my mouth.
    \nThe feeling of oil running down my skin
    \nthe wounds of the body the meeting place for pain and peace
    \na balm for mind, body and soul.<\/p>\n

    Selah<\/p>\n

    Blurred figures linger as I move
    \nweightless in unknown surroundings
    \nyet the familiar touch of compassion.
    \nFaint murmurs in unfamiliar tongues
    \npromise care.
    \nThis time, as I open my eyes,
    \nhaving never seen you before
    \nI recognise your mercy.<\/p>\n

    Prayer<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Mothering God,
    \nwho holds the world in loving embrace,
    \nmay we care for each other as you do, each and every soul.<\/p>\n

    Holy Spirit,
    \ngiver of life, open us to each other
    \nand strengthen our bonds of communion and grow us in mutual affection.<\/p>\n

    Prince of Peace,
    \ngive us the resolve to live out the Gospel faithfully
    \nthat we may be radical welcomers and reconcilers.<\/p>\n

    Questions<\/span><\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Personal:<\/strong> What does this call of Christ imply for your relationships with members of other churches?<\/li>\n
    • Local:<\/strong> What is it that people recognise in the flavour of what we do (together) as the Church that is meaningful?<\/li>\n
    • Global:<\/strong> What does\/might merciful unity look like on a global scale?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Go and Do<\/span><\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Personal:<\/strong> Reflect on how you have experienced \u2018other Christ\u2019s\u2019 and been Christ to others, then share some stories about this with others, and pray for more opportunities.<\/li>\n
      • Local:<\/strong> Where is God already at work in your community? Map out where you live highlighting the places where you notice something happening that may be God\u2019s dream for your communities. Explore how you might join in and go and do likewise.<\/li>\n
      • Global:<\/strong> \u2018Go and do likewise\u2019 does not mean we have to go to places such as the Sahel region to have an impact. Explore ways of connecting with churches and partner organisations in Burkina Faso and other places that seem far away and actively seek deeper connection and understanding of situations\/context.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Jesus said to him, \u201cGo and do likewise\u201d. (Luke 10:37) Lord, may our mercy be a sign of your Kingdom Additional scripture passages Romans 12: 9-13 Psalm 41: 1-2 Commentary Through these words \u2013 \u201cGo and do likewise\u201d \u2013 Jesus sends each of us, and our churches, to live out His commandment to love. Inspired […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8648,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8674"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8674"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8674\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8677,"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8674\/revisions\/8677"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/burnheadchurch.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}