Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:35 (KJV)
‘For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.’
Reflection on the Gospel
In this verse, Jesus speaks about welcoming the stranger. Jesus teaches us that caring for those in need, including refugees, is an expression of our love for God. This passage calls us to open our hearts and homes to those who are seeking refuge and safety, reflecting God’s compassion and mercy.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I lift up to you all the refugees around the world who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, persecution, and disaster. Please provide them with safety, shelter, and the comfort of your presence. Help them to find communities that welcome and support them. Fill my heart with compassion and move me to act in ways that can make a difference in their lives. Guide me in extending your love and care to those in need. Thank you for your endless mercy and grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Personal Reflection
I think about the hardships that refugees face and the courage it takes to leave everything behind in search of safety. How can I help to provide support and welcome to refugees in my community? Reflecting on this, I am reminded that my actions can make a difference, and I am called to show compassion and hospitality to those in need.
Meditation on the Prayer and Gospel
Welcoming refugees is an act of love and compassion that reflects the heart of Jesus’ teachings. Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35 remind us of our duty to care for those who are strangers and in need. This call to action invites us to extend our hospitality and support to refugees, offering regugees a sense of belonging and hope.
As I meditate on this prayer, I recall the story of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan went out of his way to help a stranger in need, showing mercy and compassion. This story inspires me to reach out and support refugees, recognizing their humanity and dignity.
I think about the refugees in my community and around the world. I visualize their faces and hold them in my thoughts. I imagine Jesus standing with me, encouraging me to extend compassion and assistance. I feel a sense of responsibility and empathy as I commit to being a source of support for those seeking refuge.
Supporting refugees involves both direct action and advocacy. It means offering practical help, such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as advocating for policies that protect their rights and dignity. As I practise these principles, I become a vessel of God’s grace, reflecting Jesus’ love to those in need.
Additional Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for your example of compassion and hospitality. Help me to follow your teachings and show love to refugees. Grant me the courage to stand up for their rights and the compassion to offer practical support. Fill my heart with empathy and understanding, and let your love be evident in all that I do. Amen.
Closing Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)
‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’
Our Blessing
May the compassion of God fill my heart and guide my actions. May God’s grace empower me to show love and kindness to refugees. May I go forth in God’s love, extending mercy and compassion to all I meet. Amen.
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There is an extraordinary contrast between yesterday’s celebration of the birth of Jesus, and today’s of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, stoned to death because he had to the courage to believe in Jesus, and would not be cowed into silence by the repressive actions of the Jewish authorities [ … ]
The second reading for today’s Office of Readings is taken from Apologia ad Autolycum (Apology to Autolycus), the only surviving work of Saint Theophilus of Antioch, a second-century Christian apologist and bishop. This work is a defence of Christianity addressed to a pagan named Autolycus, who was sceptical of Christian beliefs. In this passage, Theophilus argues that the ability to perceive God is not dependent on physical sight but on the inner purity of the soul. He draws a comparison between bodily vision and spiritual insight, explaining that just as blindness prevents one from seeing the light of the sun, so too does sin obscure one’s ability to recognize God [ … ]
