Thoughts for the Day

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In 2021 a young man jumped into the river Thames in London to save a woman who had fallen into the water. She was shouting "Help, I'm going to die!" Jimi simply took of his trousers gave his phone to his friend who couldn't swim and jumped in. Although the woman was saved, Jimi Olubunmi-Adewole died that night. He has since been awarded a bravery medal for his actions.

A week ago we learnt that Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw, both died in Ukraine while carrying out humanitarian work to evacuate citizens from the city of Soledar, a city on the front line that has been virtually destroyed by Russian troops.

These three men gave up their lives willingly - it was the ultimate gift of love for others! We are not usually called to do this, but we are called to take the first steps along the road of love, for St Paul says unless our actions are done in love, they are pointless. He also says we are to be kind and patient with one another, and we are not to be irritable, or rude with those around us. When we fail to be loving to others may we confess our sin and start again the next day, with the memory of Jimi, Chris and Andrew, in mind!

God of Love,
You sent Your beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ
to be our Saviour.
Through His death and resurrection
He made it possible for us
to be reunited with You.
May we learn through His example
to walk the path of love,
taking Your love to all with
whom we come in contact this day.
Amen.