Luke 9: 1-17 "Generosity and Hospitality"
A prayer, in the form of a collect, based on a bible reading from today's lectionary
A collect based on Luke 9: 1-17 (Click here to read the passage)
Christ who feeds us in our times of need,
You told your disciples to expect generosity and hospitality, trusting that all they needed was already present amongst those they encountered.
Help us to live with this vulnerability; relying on the love of the stranger and discovering you in the words and actions of our neighbour.
Because then we will experience the miracle that your presence connects us; a holy communion that transforms our little into overflowing abundance.
Amen
I hope you find this prayer a useful way into this passage. I have not really referred to the middle section which is delightfully called “Herod’s perplexity” in the NRSV bible. I was hoping to weave ‘perplexed’ into the prayer somehow but in the end I let it go!
This is the 30th Collect I’ve written as part of this new venture on Substack. Thank you so much for reading and being part of the journey with me. About 80/90 people are reading the prayer each day which is wonderful. It started off with family and a few friends and now it has grown to the stage where there are people I don’t know reading which is also wonderful but interesting to reflect on. For me, I find that distance, that sense of unknowing makes the process easier; letting the words go, freed to become each person’s own prayer without guidance or expectation. So, thank you again.
I had said to myself that I’d review the writing after a month and I’ve decided to continue for another month at least. So, I hope you will stick around too.
With peace and best wishes, Steve
As always, do please subscribe if you don’t already and share with a friend or via social media.