South Cardiff Ministry Area

Just Lent | March 4

‘Love your enemies and pray for those who hate you.’

(see Matthew 5:43-48)

Perhaps we find it easier to pray for those whom we love or like. Filling our prayers with those we find difficult or even those we hate or who may have hurt or harmed us in some way is not something that sits comfortably with many of us. So perhaps Jesus’ command to love our enemies and pray for those who hate you is indeed challenging. And yet, as he hung upon the cross, accompanied by two convicted thieves, he speaks words of forgiveness , “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’

Scarlett Lewis’ son, Jesse, was killed in a 2012 School shooting un the US. At first, she said, she felt like her anger sapped all her strength and energy. She naturally harboured deep anger at the shooter and his mother for unwittingly arming him. Eventually she made a choice to forgive. “Forgiveness felt like I was given a big pair of scissors to cut the tie and regain my personal power. It started with a choice and then became a process.” At Jesse’s funeral, she urged mourners to change their angry thoughts into loving ones, so that they might change the world.

For her, the act of forgiving was transformative. Whilst forgiveness is difficult, particularly in such extreme circumstances, it can challenge injustice in a way that is unique and long lasting. It is liberating and life-giving.

PRAY FOR those who have hurt or harmed you, or who are antagonistic or impatient with you, and for all who find it difficult to forgive.

Our daily reflections for Lent focus on the many injustices which exist in our world, as we seek to connect our life of prayer to social justice the Justice of God which Christ proclaimed. More resources are available at www.southcardiffministryarea.co.uk/just-lent

Just Lent | March 3

‘Leave your offering there at the altar, and be reconciled with your brother.’

(see Matthew 5:20-26)

Those who negotiate for peace carry a heavy burden indeed, and politicians, leaders and governments have to tread carefully upon fragile ground. There are always difficult decisions to make, particularly when dealing with a strong aggressor who seems intent on war or when negotiations no longer seem possible.

When we think of some of the situations in the world today and the association that certain past and present leaders have with war, the words of Henri Nouwen are challenging but profound. “As a community of peacemakers it is our task first of all to recognize and affirm the great human gifts the warmakers carry within themselves. As much as we have to confess our own dark forces to each other, so much do we have to reveal the gifts of peace in those who lives and works we hope to change. We have to see them as caring, loving, concerned human beings, who, just as we, desire peace and freedom, even though they are for fighting their way to it.”

How can we apply this wisdom to our own lives? Part of the process of reconciliation is accepting our own fears and shortcomings, and trying to find shared ground upon which we can walk in peace, appealing to the peaceful and loving qualities of the person with whom we seek peace. The ground is fragile indeed. May God’s Love enable us to tread carefully.

PRAY FOR those who negotiate for peace, and those who make war that they may recognise their ability to create peace without aggression or force.

Just Lent | March 2

‘As for me, give me courage. Put persuasive words into my mouth when I face the lion.’

(see Esther 4:17)

Fighting injustice and speaking out can lead us to a precarious place. Many individuals throughout history and in our time have faced danger and even death for standing up and standing out. The likes of Martin Luther King come to mind whose stance against racism in the US led to his death. In our own day, there are people such as Malala Yusafzai who spoke out about education for girls under a Taliban regime which led to her being shot in the head. Thankfully she survived and has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, as she continue with her campaign from the UK.

Whilst we may not live in such an extreme situation as experienced by Malala, we do witness injustice closer to home. Do we prefer to remain silent? ‘All that is needed for evil to triumph in the world is for good men to do nothing,’ is a quote attributed to the Irish statesman Edmund Burke in the 18th century.

We pray that, when faced by injustice we will have the courage to speak up and to make a difference, to proclaim God’s Kingdom of Love and Peace, to be a prophetic voice in the world, and to put our words into action.

PRAY FOR those girls and women in countries that do not allow them an education, and for the courage to speak up against injustice.

Just Lent | March 1

‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign’

(see Luke 11:29-32)

We can sometimes look back on previous generations with a certain sense of alarm and smugness, blessed with hindsight, and think of ourselves as far more civilised and enlightened than they were! Similarly, we even look at the cultures and practices of other countries, of which we have little insight or understanding, and denounce them as strange or unacceptable to us.

However, in recent times, the UK has began to look at itself differently. Following the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter Movement fed the desire to re-evaluate the way in which those involved in the Transatlantic slave trade were continued to be honoured in the public space through statues, buildings and place names, which also means re-evaluating the part that Britain played. Now, in many places statues and other physical reminders in the public sphere, have been removed or reconsidered, and a new narrative is being written which allows people of colour to have their voice, share their heritage, and their experience of the world.

No generation can or should have a feeling of self satisfaction that all is well. We need to be open to scrutiny, so that a truthful perspective can emerge. The Church, too, has made mistakes, and sometimes not stood up for the justice it proclaims. How can we be part of a changing landscape, and allow a new, inclusive story be told?

PRAY FOR those charged with re-evaluating and reconsidering the narrative being told, and for a generous response to the experience of others.

Just Lent | February 28

‘Forgive us our debts as we forgive those who are against us.’

(see Matthew 6:7-15)

The prayer we know as ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ and learned by heart as a child, forms part of the staple diet of prayer for all Christians. It is prayed at times of joy and sadness, celebration and misery, and provides a momentum to our life—but it also packs a punch and, whilst we pray the words, the intentions of the prayer may at times be far from our heart, or difficult to believe for ourselves! The prayer is a profound challenge to the injustice of the world, and the part we play.

If you’re poor, you’ll often end up paying more for things. Living week by week or day by day, there may not be the luxury to buy in bulk or get those three for the price of two offers. Those whose financial circumstances demand they have a prepay metre for their gas or electricity will usually be on a higher tariff. And if you are scratching around to make ends meet, it is easy to fall into debt, to allow credit and loans to get out of control, to miss bills and then become susceptible to high interest loans.

Likewise, it’s reported that lower income countries spend five times more on debt than coping with the impact of climate change and reducing carbon emissions. Figures from Jubilee Debt Campaign showed that 34 of the world’s poorest countries are spending £21.4bn on debt payments a year compared with £3.9bn on measures to reduce the impact of the climate emergency.

PRAY FOR those who are struggling financially, and for poorer countries burdened with debt, and for those who are able to reach out and make a difference.

Just Lent | February 27

‘When did we see you hungry and feed you?’

(see Matthew 25:31-46)

We spend much time and money on the worship of the Church, and maintaining the building and preparing the liturgical space because we want to offer our best to God, and to discover his presence in the beauty of worship. However, we know that God is not and can never be confined within the walls of our building. The Sacrament of the Eucharist is a beautiful gift to be honoured, treasured and valued, it is transformative, but we also discover Christ in so many different ways.

St John Chrysostom said, ‘Do you wish to honour the Body of Christ? Then do not disdain him when you see him in rags. After having honoured him in church with silken vestments do not leave him to die of cold outside for lack of clothing. For it is the same Jesus who says, “This is my Body” and who says “You saw me in the hungry and did not give me to eat…The Body of Christ in the Eucharist demands pure souls, not costly garments. But in the poor he demands all our care…Give him then the honour which he himself has asked for, by giving your money to the poor. Once again, what God wants is not golden chalices but golden souls.’

The sacrament of the Eucharist should raise our hearts and minds to the presence of Jesus everywhere, and make us more attentive to his presence in the poor and those in need, strengthening and inspiring us to encounter him in both the riches and the rags.

PRAY FOR those in whom we are called to encounter Jesus today, and for those who lead lives of dedication and service to those in need.

Just Lent | February 25

‘‘If you do away with the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness.’

(see Isaiah 58:9-14)

There is a growing number of Foodbanks in the UK. We hear so much about those who struggle with food poverty or of parents who go without food so that their children can eat. Many have to make the decision to ‘heat or eat.’ Responding to this need, churches and so many others of different backgrounds and religions give freely of their time, resources and energy to respond to the needs of those in crisis, to those who are experiencing dark and difficult times.

Food is a basic necessity of life but sometimes, for so many different reasons, there are people in our country who go hungry, and there are as many different stories to tell as there are people who access Foodbanks. Many may feel a sense of embarrassment at visiting a Foodbank but, in truth, their experience could so easily be our experience. Or perhaps you, at some point, may have received from the generosity of others as you experienced the need for help.

From the time of Isaiah to the time of Jesus and in every generation since then, we are called to feed the hungry and do away with the wicked words. We are called to offer support and encouragement to all who struggle, with no judgement. When we so this, our light will rise in the darkness.

PRAY FOR those who volunteer in Foodbanks throughout the UK and those who visit them with whatever needs they present

Just Lent | February 24

‘They ask me for laws that are just, they long for God to draw near’

(see Isaiah 58:1-9)

Laws are, of course, important for the safety and security of all and enable citizens to live responsibly. There are, though, still some rather outdated and maybe outlandish laws in the UK. For example, under an 1839 law it is illegal to knock on someone’s door and walk away which puts a dampener on many childhood memories of those who indulged in such a game! And if you’re ever visiting Parliament, don’t wear a suit of armour. That’s also illegal—as is beating your rug or carpet in a London street.

The laws of our country are not static and unchangeable and, over the years, many have been challenged and been changed in order to create a more fair and just community, reflecting our changing perceptions and lived experiences. Whilst some of us may still be uncomfortable with certain laws, there are many extreme and unjust laws in countries throughout the world (not just our own) that prevent many people from flourishing.

Some may think that the Christian Faith is simply full of things that you can and cannot do. However, at the heart of God’s Kingdom is the Law of Love. This is the rule, the law, we are called to live by. It is the Law given to us by Christ. He has drawn near to us in love, and given us a way to live—justly.

PRAY FOR all leaders and governments, law-makers and law-enforcers that they may make just decisions to help all people flourish and grow.

Our daily reflections for Lent focus on the many injustices which exist in our world, as we seek connect our life of prayer to social justice the Justice of God which Christ proclaimed. More resources are available at www.southcardiffministryarea.co.uk/just-lent

Just Lent | February 23

‘I set before you, life and prosperity, death and disaster.’

(see Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

Decisions, decisions! We make them every day. In fact, research suggests we make 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. And, of course, as our level of responsibility increases, so does the myriad of choices we have to make.

We may not think that most of the decisions we take in life have very significant consequences but, if we stop and think about it, some of them will indeed have effects for good or for ill. Whether it’s where we shop, how we spend our money, or how we treat someone – these all have consequences for us and for others. These days, many of us are aware of the need to cut costs when shopping but can all of us always justify cost over welfare, or pennies over unfair working conditions? Should someone be employed and treated badly or paid poorly so that we can have cheaper goods?

As God in the time of Moses offered his people a choice, so many of those 35,000 decisions we make each day may indeed be making a choice between life and prosperity or death and disaster. Agricultural workers throughout the world, for example, often have very few options for a sustainable livelihood. They may lack formal contracts or basic health and safety assurances or adequate wages, among so other challenges. Can we be more informed about the decisions we make? Can a sense of justice fuel our financial decisions?

PRAY FOR all workers to be treated with dignity and fairness,. May we make just decisions which bring life and prosperity.

Just Lent | February 22

Welcome to the first of our daily reflections for Lent, focussing on the many injustices which exist in our world, as we seek the Justice of God which Christ proclaimed, and for which he died and rose again. More resources are available at www.southcardiffministryarea.co.uk/just-lent

Ash Wednesday

‘Now, now—it is the Lord who speaks—come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning.’

(see Joel 2:12-18)

What makes you angry? What makes you sad? Whilst anger is often thought of as a negative emotion, it can also stir us into action—if we are angry for the right reasons—so that we can bring change, and fight injustice and inequality.

Jesus himself was stirred with anger in the Temple when he overturned the tables of the money-changers and drove them out of the Temple. Perhaps, in that moment, he may have had in mind the time he was driven out of the synagogue in Nazareth as his angry listeners led him to the cliff top with the intention of throwing him off, so incensed were they about the prophecy he said was being fulfilled in himself. Love is led to the cliff top.

During each of these forty days of Lent we’ll be exploring issues of social-justice. There is, we know, much injustice in the world, and many of these instances of injustice will make us angry and sad. We all have a part to play in creating a world where every human being is treated with dignity. Each of us, in some way, has failed to live up to God’s designs for us and the world. Today, on Ash Wednesday, we engage in a corporate act of sadness and mourning for the ways in which we have spoiled God’s world and strayed away from his designs. In turning back to God, we turn back to Love himself who experienced that cliff top moment of anger and death. We turn to him who, in Christ, has turned to us.

PRAY FOR a just and holy Lent filled with care and compassion for the poor and vulnerable, conscious of our own wrongdoing but delighting in the dignity of every human being and all that God has created.