Over the years I have been blessed to be a member of a few different communities. Two of which are Ecumenical which simply means a community comprising of Christians of different denominations. Both Ecumenical ones are exceptionally loving, welcoming and striving always as a community for Holiness. But one which truly stands out, though they are not in a sense true blue Ecumenical, still live their faith like the disciples of old, like those in today’s first reading which St Paul rejoices over. By their love they show towards all the saints, their faith in Christ spread like wildfire! The latter community I am speaking about of which I belonged to for a spell is from Bethel School of Faith. They readily exercise their faith by rebuking fevers, sickness and evil spirits. They pray for deliverance and the infilling of the Holy Spirit as they minister to all that come their way. All for love of bringing the Good news that Jesus truly is alive, as they build His Kingdom and all for His glory.
I pray that one day soon all of You reading this reflection will realise that You are the chosen ones! Yes, because you are a child of God so loved by Him, you too have been empowered. That is to live in that identity, ministering to all sent your way. Opening Heaven to them and uniting them fully with Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Amen
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First reading
Colossians 1:1-8 ·
The message of the truth has reached you and is spreading all over the world
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy to the saints in Colossae, our faithful brothers in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
We have never failed to remember you in our prayers and to give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you show towards all the saints because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven. It is only recently that you heard of this, when it was announced in the message of the truth. The Good News which has reached you is spreading all over the world and producing the same results as it has among you ever since the day when you heard about God’s grace and understood what this really is. Epaphras, who taught you, is one of our closest fellow workers and a faithful deputy for us as Christ’s servant, and it was he who told us all about your love in the Spirit.
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Gospel
Luke 4:38-44
He would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Christ
Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Leaning over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to wait on them.
At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.
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