Daily readings and thoughts

  Tuesday 1 st   December Isa 11:1-16; Ps 72; Lk 10-21-24   The first part of the Isaiah reading is heard in carol services and its hopeful message is well placed. But today we read on and find that the peace between Judah and Ephraim results in a war against hostile nations. This is somewhat harder for us to process and interpret. It does at least remind us that there is no easy way to genuine peace and there might be some rocky road along the way.

  readings for Monday 30th November Isa 2:1-5; Ps 122; Matt 8:5-11 Swords being beaten into ploughshares is an inspirational image for peacemakers. But valuable as human peacemaking is, in Isaiah’s vision peace breaks out and nations stop training for war not because of human efforts but because individuals and nations listen more carefully to God.

  Saturday 28 th   November Rev 22:1-7;  Psalm 95; Lk 21:34-36   The Bible’s narrative starts in a garden and ends in a city. But it is not any earthly city whether of our current age or any previous one. It is green and light and full of life. The author is given of a glimpse of it not just for their own benefit, but to take a message of hope to all people, “Look, I am coming soon.” This seems an appropriate thought on the day before advent.

  Friday 27 th   November Rev 20:1-4, 11 - 21:2;  Psalm 84, Lk 21:29-33   Christians have not had a uniform view on how to understand the ‘millenium’ in Revelation. The thousand years are not the end itself but are a stage on the way. Our ultimate destination is glimpsed in ch 21 with the new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem.

  Thursday 26 th   November Rev 18: 1-2, 21-23;  Psalm 100; Lk 21:20-28   The memory of the siege of Jerusalem by the forces of the Babylonian empire is long and powerful in the scriptures. Babylon serves a type of all oppressive empires since. What signs of empire grip the vulnerable of the world today?

  Wednesday 25 th   November Rev 15:1-4;  Psalm 98; Lk 21:12-19   And the outcome of God’s actions not just at the last times but at all times will be that the nations will see that God’s deeds are great and marvellous and come and worship.

  Tuesday 24 th   November Rev 14:14-20;  Psalm 96; Lk 21:5-11   Both our old testament and our gospel reading use dramatic language to depict tumultuous events. It would seem that in both cases they had connection with immanent events at the time and also hold meaning as pointers to the bringing of all creation to a conclusion in God’s time. 

  Monday 23 rd   November Rev 14:1-13;  Psalm 24; Lk 21:1-4   We are not involved in the same struggle with the oppression of the Roman empire as the first readers found themselves in. Nonetheless we have a significant trial to endure at present. Lord help us to develop patient endurance. 

  Saturday 21 nd   November Rev 11:1-12 , Psalm 144:1-9, Lk 27-40   In revelation ch 11 we have the language of struggle, even of a battle. The witnesses, those giving testimony are attacked and their bodies are mocked in public. Speaking God’s truth and standing up to the power of the Roman Empire did not necessarily bring instant acclaim or success. But God proves faithful to honest witness.

  Friday 20 th   November Rev 10 , Psalm 119:65-72, Lk 19:45-48   We have jumped a few chapters of Revelation. If you have time you might like to read them. The author is commissioned to prophesy, which in the Bible is not so much about forecasting the future as about speaking God’s perspective on the present. This is a hard task – turning the stomach sour. Who are God’s prophets today?

  Thursday 19 th   November Rev 5 , Psalm 149, Lk 19:28-44   Interpreters are divided about how to read the book of Revelation. I am sure that the first readers were enduring times of genuine persecution and needed encouragement. They found that in their time of difficulties they could indeed worship Jesus, the lamb who was slain. In all eras since persecuted Christians have found comfort from the book.

  Wednesday 18 th   November Rev 4 , Psalm 150, Lk 19:11-28   Modern readers are able to glean something from the “letters to the churches” in the first three chapters. But from chapter 4 onwards we seem to be entering an unfamiliar country. The author has clearly had a close encounter with God and we can join in his outpourings of praise.” Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty” who is indeed worthy to receive our glory and honour.

  Tuesday 17th November Rev 3:1-6 and 14-22, Psalm 15, Lk 19:1-10 I suspect that there is something of the shortcomings of these two churches in all of us. We too are often luke-warm in our discipleship and need a summons to “wake up”.

Monday 16th Novembe Rev 1:1-8 & 2:1-5 , Psalm 1, Lk 18:35-43   Today we begin a series of readings from the book of Revelation. It is sometimes a difficult read and often a source of division between Christians. As we use it in our personal daily devotion, I wonder what God might be saying to the angel of the Church in Cumbria in 2020. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying.

  Saturday 14 th   November 3 John, Psalm 112,  Lk 18:1-14   The pharisee recites a long prayer in an act that tries to draw attention without any self-awareness. The publican both aware of God’s presence and his inner turmoil sighs “God have mercy on me a sinner”.  A few verses later Bartimeus calls out “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” A cornerstone of Orthodox spirituality is “The Jesus prayer” which draws on both of these incidents. The prayer goes “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God; have mercy on me, a sinner.” Or even more briefly, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” In moments of distress where there are no other words, these are enough.

  Friday 13 th   November 2 John , Psalm 119:1-8, Lk 17:26-37   We may not share the author’s strict fencing of their hospitality, but certainly we too long to visit and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

  Thursday 12th November Philemon, Psalm 146, Lk 17:11-19 I love the letter of Paul to his friend Philemon. It seems a model of how to be thankful for a friendship as a gift from God. It is the counterstory to the acceptance of slavery as normal. It might also gives a hint about how to talk about a difference of opinion, that might become a source of conflict, with gentleness and grace.

  Wednesday 11 th   November Titus 3,  Psalm 23 , Lk 17:11-19   At 11.00 today we will stop and keep silence, remembering particularly those who have walked through the darkest valley of death in times of war. And we pray for a time when all may live in God’s peace with the opportunity to walk and rest in safety.

  Tuesday 10 th   November Titus 2 , Psalm 37:1-9, Lk 17:7-10   Self-control is a theme of the second chapter of the letter to Titus. Older and younger, men and women are urged to be self- controlled. We can and should hear the advice, but we can only go so far with our own will here, ultimately self- control is a gift of the Spirit to be sought from God.

Monday 9 th  November Titus 1, Psalm 24 , Lk 17:1-6   “The earth is the Lord’s – and everything in it” seems a good place to start – whether that is our prayers, or a new day or a new venture.  Today we start the letter to Titus who has been asked to establish the church in Crete. The writer seems a little harsh on the Cretans who get labelled as liars and lazy gluttons. But before we get too judgemental, of the Cretans or the writer, we should remember we are all in need of God’s transformation.