Liz Vice and Dee Wilson with Good Shepherd Collective sing, ‘All Shall Be Well’.

Thank you for the sun

Thank you for the moon

Thank you for the stars above

And the darkness too

Bless you for your peace

Bless you for your grace

Bless you for your perfect love

And your perfect ways

And all shall be well

All shall be well

All manner of things shall be well

Oh, use me as you will

Remove my selfish pride

Create in me a servant heart

To bless your holy bride

And when my work is done

And the seeds are sown

Please receive my spirit, Lord

Welcome me home

And all shall be well

All shall be well

All manner of things shall be well

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 11:29-32

When the crowds were increasing, [Jesus] began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

How do you hear these words of Jesus today? You might have questions. The passage might prompt you to find out more about the references to the characters and places.

But what pictures are painted in your imagination? Perhaps an imposing old master’s work that sweeps across history yet is full of intricate detail.

Stand in front of the painting and let your eyes roam, and then home in on the detail. Take in the crowds, look carefully amongst the people, find the characters named in the passage. Notice what each is doing, their facial expressions. Feel the connection across the generations to the present day. The whole of humanity.

‘Something greater … is here’: Jesus. Listen to the passage again and place yourself in the scene. Who are you? Recognise yourself. And then find that ‘something greater’. How do you recognise Him?

Luke 11:29-32

When the crowds were increasing, [Jesus] began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgement with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!

Allow yourself to speak with this ‘something greater’. Take your time. You might want to return to the scene at different points throughout the day, as you mingle with the whole of humanity, noticing how you are part of it, and remembering that ‘something greater … is here’.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen