Matt 8:11 Not Us and Them

Matt 8:11 Not Us and Them
Many will eat from the east and the west, and will eat with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

Reflection
Inclusiveness with God

The heart of God is big, and the table of God is wide. All are included in the love of God: there are neither insiders nor outsiders. Some religion likes to narrow down who is included and who is excluded. There are people who feel their only place is in the back corner of the church, and feel excluded from the front seats, maybe because of lifestyle, sin or just feeling ashamed of who they are. Religion can encourage an ‘us and them’ mentality. Jesus offers an open door to his house and a chair a t the top of his table to everyone – and an honoured chair to men and women others may look down on. That encourages us to offer and open our hearts to all.

Prayer
Christ of the welcomes, have mercy on us.
Christ, open to all in love, have compassion for us.
Christ of the compassionate heart, make our hearts like yours.

A prayer today for refuges and asylum seekers.


Source: Praying in Advent by Donal Neary SJ

Advent begins this year on Sunday 3rd December (my next turn is on Monday 25th Dec )
This book my family will be reading for Advent contains a prayer a day.

Extract from Introduction
It is a way of ensuring that the mystery of Christmas doesn’t get lost in the bustle of Christmas preparations, and freshens our way of thinking of Christmas for another year. It ensures also that we don’t cease to be amazed anew at the great event, now and then, in Bethlehem and in our own village, of the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ.