17th Sunday after Pentecost
Today’s readings
Proverbs 1:20-33;
Psalm 19
James 2:18-26;
Mark 8:27-38.
Sentence:
Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for the sake of the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35
Collect prayer:
God have mercy,
help us to forgive as you have forgiven us, to trust you, even when hope is failing, and to take up our cross daily and follow you in your redeeming work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A thought to ponder upon:
Suffering is a part of life-suffering comes to us as it did to Jesus. For us, the devastating heartache of grief can come from a variety of circumstances such as a death (especially if it is unexpected), a divorce, loss of employment, or the failure to achieve future plans. Such losses can cause unrelenting disappointment.
There is also the deep suffering which comes from the indifference of friends-those who do not care. There is the betrayal of friends, which is one of the most difficult forms of suffering. There is the suffering which comes from separation. The inability to make contact with one another when you really care. There is suffering when the one you thought would understand fails to understand. There is suffering which comes from the hostility of people. Anyone who really cares involuntarily takes on helping people notes this kind of suffering. There is the pain of anxiety when sudden illness strikes and uncertainty hangs over the future.
In times of suffering do you cry out to God in faith, knowing that he will hear?
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