Author: Abe

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   CONTAGION SETTING: photos or names of people, places, situations that have influenced you for good. Prayer: It’s getting hard, Lord, living in a bubble. I want to burst through it, to touch and to hold and to live in the closeness I’m used to instead of this closed-in existence. But I know the danger, the ease with which I can contract Coronavirus and pass it on. Strengthen me to do what is right: to stay at home, to keep my distance, to respect this most contagious invader and to pray and work for its defeat. Amen.   CONTAGION – it’s from the Latin, contagion, meaning contact or touching. While the world awaits an antidote to Coronavirus, Covid-19, we’re advised the best approach is frequent washing of hands, keeping two metres apart from others when speaking, walking or shopping, and avoiding physical contact with people, objects, animals or anything outside of our personal “bubble”.

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   TENDERNESS SETTING: drape the Cross with a white cloth; flowers/greenery with candle Prayer: God, tender and merciful, my life is often ragged and disorganised and my temper frays so easily. This time of isolation, of living so unnaturally, confined to home most of the time, is not helping, and puts more strain on nerves and relationships. I need your tenderness to flood my life and your mercy to guide me, that I might be better able to see the good in myself and be calm and loving towards all others.   In April 2017, Pope Francis spoke on the TED Talk programme on “The Revolution of Tenderness”. It is easy to find on Google and very worthwhile listening to as part of your prayer.

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   LAUGHTER: THE BEST MEDICINE SETTING: Celebration colours; photos or other mementos that recall happy times, fun and laughter. Prayer: O God, creator of all. I see you at the birth of time excited and joyful, thrilled by the splendour and beauty of what was about to be. Even before that moment you could not contain your delight, knowing the gifts you had in store for the world you already greatly loved. I think you laughed us into being, your excitement bubbling over in your eagerness to give and to give, to love and be loved. As parents rejoice in their children, you think the world of us. We are in your continuing care; keep our hearts filled with joy.   Wisdom speaks as creator: I was by his side, a master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world, delighting to be with the children of men. [Proverbs 8:30-31] The delight of God is evident in the Genesis story of creation and there is humour in the way the story (two accounts of creation; chapters 1 & 2) unfolds. The variety of life, the abundance of gifts – and, of course, God’s realisation that “the man” would need a partner. It’s hard to have a joke on your own or to achieve anything well! This time of self-isolation is show us how important, indeed vital, is companionship and community.

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   ONE WORLD, OUR WORLD SETTING: with the Cross and candle, a globe or world map; perhaps a photo image of the universe highlighting earth. Beginning prayer: Creative God, constantly forming and shaping, your loving kindness surrounds our planet, enfolding us with compassion and filling creation with your life.             Reform us, reshape us, renew us. Compassionate God, constantly forming and shaping, your tender-hearted mercy is poured upon us, despite our ruthless exploitation and greed. We repent of our apathy and inaction as we see the pain of our planet.             Reform us, reshape us, renew us. Merciful God, constantly forming and shaping, your forgiveness is offered to all who repent. Inspire us to direct our energies towards peace and harmonious living.             Reform us, reshape us, renew us. Forgiving God, constantly forming and shaping, by your Spirit, give us respect and integrity in the way we care for our earth, your creation, help us to follow our Lord and Saviour in living justly.             Reform us, reshape us and renew us, so that the earth             and all creation may sing your praise and glory. Amen. [Baptist Union of Great Britain]   As our lockdown continues, it is timely to reflect on what this imposed isolation is teaching: about myself, my relations with others – from whom, at this time, I am mostly separated – and about the planet Earth of which I am a part. Myself, Others, Earth – all are intimately connected. May this time of isolation help everyone to appreciate the value and importance of this interconnection.

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   BREAKING THE FALL SETTING: with the Cross, a memento or symbol of a time when you were encouraged or helped out of, saved from a difficult situation. Prayer to begin: Today, enter this time of prayer with your own words. Speak to God from the feelings in your heart at this moment. Then, clear your mind and listen. Believe strongly that, with this prayer, you are beginning a conversation. Do your best to ensure it is a two-way conversation. If you are unfamiliar with this type of praying, or find it difficult, take up an earlier prayer from this series of reflections, one that appealed to you, one that perhaps you have already returned to. Use this prayer to draw you into today’s time with God.   The Lord supports all who fall and raises all who are bowed down. [Psalm 145:14] Those words from Psalm 144 are wonderfully consoling to people of faith – on two levels. First, there’s an acceptance on our part that we “fall”, make wrong choices, mess things up. Second, we get “bowed down” – stuff happens to us that we can’t control; we get hurt, sick, or feel helpless when those we love suffer. On both levels, God is with us, “supporting” and “raising up”. At the time you may not realise this and feel that God has left you to it! But if you can step out of your anger or frustration for a while, you will see a sign that tells you you’re not alone.

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   NEW LIFE, NEW HOPE SETTING: Prayer of praise: Alleluia! A word that has been, like us, in lockdown! It’s out again as Lent retreats and bursting with life. We give you thanks and praise, O God. Alleluia! He is risen! Death, though it separates us from those we love, cannot destroy love or separate us forever. The resurrection of Jesus is our victory and our hope. We give you thanks and praise, O God. Alleluia!   Jesus’ closest companions, the ones he’d handpicked for ministry, did not believe Mary Magdalene when she ran to them with the news that Jesus was alive. Coming to the tomb in the early morning she found the stone rolled away and no sign of the body. She confronted a person she thought to be the gardener, enquiring, Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him. The “Gardener” spoke her name and she immediately knew it was Jesus.

Each weekday, Father James Lyons (Wellington) will be helping us reflect on God’s Word while we are in lockdown. What is God saying to us as we globally unite to defeat Covid-19?   IT IS A TIME NOW… SETTING: in your prayer space, place a photo, drawing or craft model of a boat. Prayer for a new beginning: God, ever faithful. You know the aching in our hearts as we live through this worrying time. It’s like the stuffing has been knocked out of the whole world. Isolated from one another we crave for a new day and another chance to honour your gift of community. In your faithfulness heal our brokenness. Bring us back together, for we now know, as you have always known: It is not good that the man should be alone. [Genesis 2:18]   In a special liturgy on Friday 27 March, from a very empty St Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Francis spoke of the “deafening silence” and “distressing void” that had engulfed the world from the impact of Covid-19. He said we had all been caught off guard and were “fragile and disorientated”.