I have just started to prepare the programme for our upcoming Celtic retreat on Camano Island August 9th. This is one of my favourite events of the year. I particularly enjoy getting ready for it as it makes it possible for me to reflect on my own life and is often also a time for learning from God and enriching my faith. I thought that you might enjoy this prayer that I wrote last year for the Eucharistic service that we ended with.
(Adapted from Psalm 72:1-10, & Amos 5:24)
God let your justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry
Please help those of us who are rich to be honest and fair just like you, our God.
May we who have such abundance be honest and fair with all your people, especially the poor.
Let peace and justice rule every mountain and fairness flow as a river that never runs dry.
God let your justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry
May we your people defend the poor, rescue the homeless, and crush everyone who hurts them.
May we be as helpful as rain that refreshes the ground, to those who are treated unjustly.
Let the wholeness and fairness of your kingdom live forever like the sun and the moon.
God let your justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry
Because you our God rescue the homeless and have pity on those who hurt
May we who are rich stand up for the poor and let peace abound until the moon fades to nothing.
Let God’s kingdom of justice and fairness reach from sea to sea, across all the earth.
God let your justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry
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Preaching the Truth
Paul the Apostle stood in the city of Athens, and he was so disturbed to see such a place that had given themselves over to the worshipping of so called gods.
The Bible calls this idolatry, now Paul remembered the Words of God, and he knew where it was written in Exodus 23v13, “And make no mention of the names of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth,”
and he was also very conscious of the Word of God where it is written, “Enquire not after their gods, saying how did these nations serve their gods?” {Deuteronomy 12 v 30}.
Yes, he would preach Jesus and the resurrection from the dead to them only, he was wise enough through his knowledge of the scriptures not to be drawn into detailed idolatrous gossip.
He said to them for I was walking through your city and I happened to see you worshipping, and I saw a place where there was “an inscription to the unknown god, whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him I declare unto you,” Now what wisdom Paul showed he did not get into great detail with them.
What a privilege to know the truth, that there is only one God and one Saviour our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ. May we continue to proclaim the truth of the gospel as the saints did before us and being very conscious of God’s Word like Paul was and not to be drawn into the worlds idolatrous conversations as we seek to witness for Christ. God bless you always.
Readings taken from Acts 17.
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