with alarm and concern we bring before you
the military intervention in Ukraine.
In a world you made for peace and flourishing,
we lament the use of armed force.
We mourn every casualty of this conflict,
every precious life extinguished by war.
We pray comfort for those who grieve
and those who are fearful.
Hear our longing that leaders and nations
will honour the worth of all people
by having the courage
to resolve conflict through dialogue.
May all our human failings be transformed
by your wonderful grace and goodness.
We ask this in the name of Christ,
the author of peace and sustainer of Creation.
Amen.
Today’s Invitation
Peter and the other disciples have returned to fishing. In the morning, as the sun rises, they see a figure on the beach, cooking over a charcoal fire. He graciously invites Peter to breakfast. It is none other than the Lord who presides over this meal. And then the Lord looks into this betrayer’s face and commissions him to “feed my sheep.” The story isn’t over until God says it’s over.
God is like that.
What a wonderful and gentle image we find after the horrors of Crucufixion, “Jesus *said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord.” John 21:12
There is something about the simplicity of a heart felt personal invitation to share a meal. Come and have breakfast’ How simply and sensitively Jesus deals with us! He knows our needs and our hunger. He knows too that we can only manage the revelations of the divine in small portions. I could do well before my daily breakfast to listen to the Lord speaking my name and saying ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Imagine him serving us, if not with bread and fish, perhaps with a muffin and coffee! We begin to notice that through the day he continues to serve us what I need.
Consider how Peter may have felt in this scene? Somewhere in the back of his mind he sensed where that catch of fish had come from. Surely now his heart breaks open in repentant love when he is treated so kindly by the person he had betrayed? Peter is lost, floundering. He feels that he is a failure at what he usually does well.
Do we identify with him sometimes? Notice that Peter is open to another voice which he dimly recognises, but not quite. He does what is suggested to him, and wonderful results follow.We may well question “Am I open to God’s kindly care which picks me gently up when I have fallen?” Amen
Jesus, you meet me at the water’s edge of my ordinary life. You accept me lovingly, you encourage me, you invite me to abundance. Nourished by the food of your word, warmed by the fire of your unfailing love, may I in turn nourish, heal and love those I meet today. Amen
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