{"id":22972,"date":"2024-12-30T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-30-december-2024"},"modified":"2024-12-30T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T06:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-30-december-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-30-december-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion 30 December 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
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inspiration in your inbox<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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30 December 2024<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n
We return to where we broke off the story before Christmas.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
St Luke 7: 1 – 10<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, \u2018He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.\u2019 And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, \u2018Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, \u201cGo\u201d, and he goes, and to another, \u201cCome\u201d, and he comes, and to my slave, \u201cDo this\u201d, and the slave does it.\u2019 When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, \u2018I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.\u2019 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.<\/span><\/p>\n
Reflection<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
The ancient city of Capernaum, nestled along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, once served as a Roman army garrison town. Despite the military presence, some soldiers sought to build friendships with the local community. The Centurion in today’s story was one such philanthropic individual.<\/span><\/p>\n
We often assume marginalised people are at the bottom of the social or economic ladder. But this Centurion shows us the complexity of Jesus’ ministry to the marginalised, as he, too, was embraced by Jesus’ compassionate attention.<\/span><\/p>\n
Even though he held a position of power within the mighty Roman Empire, the Jewish community typically viewed him with disdain. The Centurion might have felt this tension, as seen in his humble and perhaps even embarrassed request for help for his sick servant. Yet, his philanthropy earned him the respect of the synagogue elders. This led him to ask Jesus to heal his servant from afar, a remarkable display of faith that amazed Jesus, who rarely encountered such belief even among the more devout.<\/span><\/p>\n
What about us? Many of us might find ourselves in “middle-ranking” positions, whether in the middle class, middle management, or balancing various responsibilities and obligations. We might carry what we define as shameful experiences or traits of our own. But we can find comfort in this story. Like the Centurion, we, too, are seen with love by Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n
This story highlights two essential truths: First, even when we feel undeserving of Jesus’ presence, he takes joy in being with us. Second, deep expressions of faith can come from the most unexpected places.<\/span><\/p>\n
Prayer<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
Dear Jesus, <\/span> thank you for your healing love<\/span> and for seeing beyond societal labels<\/span> to the hidden wounds in all of us. <\/span> May your grace reach <\/span> even the most unexpected places in our lives. <\/span> Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
The Revd Daniel Harris, Community Minister, Rochdale Bury & North Manchester Missional Partnership<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright \u00a9 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
inspiration in your inbox 30 December 2024 We return to where we broke off the story before Christmas. St Luke 7: 1 – 10 After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and … <\/p>\n
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