Thoughts for the Day

Then Jesus went to all the cities and villages, teaching in the synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples. 'The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, from the New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Are you an inward or an outward christian, that's the question for today? Christianity has always emphasised two things, firstly we should put our time into prayer and contemplation of God. Men and women have become anchorites in cells to spend all their time in prayer. Men like St Cuthbert (635-687 AD) who lived on a rock and then moved to the inner Farne islands to be more remote for ten years. Others have lived on top of poles, like St Simeon Stylites (390-459 AD). This Syrian lived on top of a pillar for 30 years to be alone with God. We might consider these Inward Christians.

Secondly there are those we might call Outward Christians who spent their lives working to help others. I think of William Wilberforce (1759-1833) who sought to abolish slavery and to promote education; or Mother Teresa (1910-1997) who cared for the poor; or Abbe Pierre (1912-2007) who worked to improve conditions for the homeless and refugees.

Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer, but as we see from our reading today he had great compassion for the people. He was moved to pity for those who were suffering; his heart was touched by the lonely and the lost;
and he wept for those whose loved ones had died. He spent the three years before his death feeding, healing and teaching these people.

So are you an Inward or an Outward Christian - and what can you do about either?

Tuesday 24th November, follow up thoughts

Heavenly Father,
help us to grow
closer and closer to You,
even as we care more and more
for those who need our care,
or our support.
Amen.