Take time to be quiet, perhaps light a candle.
Be still and know that I am God
Let us pray
Loving God, be with us as we join in fellowship in our own homes. Open our hearts to awesomeness of your love, made real for us through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. May we never lose the wonder of the cross. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Hymn verse
Yet here is help and comfort
For lives by comfort bound, When drums of dazzling progress Give strangely hollowed sound.
Words from the cross
“Woman, here is your son.”
“Here is your mother.”
(John 19: 26-27)
Reflection
Coronavirus has hit us hard. It can affect anybody; rich and poor, young and old, important and ordinary. Up until now, we have felt protected by the technology, safe in the comfort of our (relatively) wealthy lives. But this all has a strangely hollowed sound now as we find that all those things we have invested are not the things which protect and save us.
The single biggest fight against this virus is not the technology and science (although this will play a small part), but it is the human response; the task of keeping apart and preventing its spread. It is this corporate action which will be our salvation; it is our compassion and responsibility to others which will strengthen our communities.
Rather than seeing our isolation (social distancing) as a bad and negative thing, let’s joyfully take on this sacrifice, knowing that we are following Christ’s example of care and compassion for others; putting his love for the world into action.
On the cross, Jesus gave a message of the importance of interdependence (that is, being on the giving and receiving end of care from each other). His mother and his disciple, John, were symbols of those whom Jesus loved—and he presented them to each other—“here is your son; here is your mother”, encouraging them to look after one another. They were symbols—we are also the ones who Jesus loves. His message from the cross is that we should show the same care as a mother would to her son and vice versa.
Brother, sister, let me serve you; let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
Action
Encourage someone who is struggling with the isolation from social distancing—remind them of the Christ-like service they are offering to their community.
Think of a family member or friend; get in touch with them and let them know how much you value them in your life.
Let us pray
Picture yourself at church, or in any meeting when you are in fellowship with others (it might even be at the supermarket or hairdressers!) In your mind’s eye, go round the group, picture each of their faces. Pray for them and thank God for the fellowship you have with them.
All-providing God, We thank you for all those people who mean so much to us in our lives; those who walk with us on our life’s journey and provide us with such comfort and support.
Help us to always look for ways that we can show our care for others and to follow the example of your Son in being there for one another.
We offer these prayers through Christ our Lord.
Amen.