47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
Yesterday after a day of meetings with church leaders in Coventry I went into the city to catch up with family. As I visited the city, and walked the same cobbled streets around the cathedral that my Grandmother walked nearly 100 years ago, I was struck by its mix of old and new building. Coventry was heavily bombed in WW2, when many of its historic buildings were damaged and its Cathedral near destroyed. Today, we see the ruins of the medieval cathedral adjacent to the new. Interestingly, the decision to rebuild the Cathedral was taken the morning after the bombing and rather than rebuilding a replica it was decided to retain the ruins to remind us of the realities and waste of war. The building of a new cathedral would bring balance to the community, they would grieve but also show faith, trust and hope for the future of the world.
This week we have reflected on the importance of maintaining a balanced spiritual life. The early church knew they were to love God and love others practicing an upward devotion to God, an inward devotion within their community and an outward devotion as they reached out a broken world. Like the early believers and the people of Coventry we must act with faith and be living signs and witnesses to our communities of how trusting and putting our hope in Jesus and the future he promises transforms lives.
Lent Prayer
Father God, we acknowledge the realities of life which is characterised by both suffering and pain as well as love, hope and joy. We thank-You that You can strengthen our faith, trust and hope today to help us face the realities of life with courage and grace as well as being witnesses to Jesus' transforming power in our community. Help others to receive Jesus' love and grace each and every day, that we will see in our community and nation people being added to the family of God each and every day. Amen.