The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing: ‘God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.’

As I enter into prayer now, can I put aside any pride I may have in my own wisdom and my own strength?

Today’s reading is from the Book of Wisdom.

Wisdom 3:1-9

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,

and no torment will ever touch them.

In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,

and their departure was thought to be a disaster,

and their going from us to be their destruction;

but they are at peace.

For though in the sight of others they were punished,

their hope is full of immortality.

Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,

because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;

like gold in the furnace he tried them,

and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.

In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,

and will run like sparks through the stubble.

They will govern nations and rule over peoples,

and the Lord will reign over them for ever.

Those who trust in him will understand truth,

and the faithful will abide with him in love,

because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,

and he watches over his elect.

“Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love.” The passage for today is filled with images both sombre and hopeful.

What feelings arise in you from these words?

Today is the feast day of St Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who became a servant of Christ. It is said that Martin, seeing a beggar clad only in rags, cut his own cloak in two, so as to cover the man. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half of the cloak he had given away. Imagine the warmth of the cloak as a sign of being held in God’s hand. What might this mean to you?

“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them…”

The passage also speaks about suffering. Wisdom tells us that the righteous are in the hand of God. Martin lived as though his soul was safe in God’s care, even when misunderstood or ridiculed.

What feelings or experiences might you wish to place in God’s hands?

As you listen to the passage again, consider how you might “shine like sparks through stubble,” bringing warmth and light to others?

Wisdom 3:1-9

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,

and no torment will ever touch them.

In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,

and their departure was thought to be a disaster,

and their going from us to be their destruction;

but they are at peace.

For though in the sight of others they were punished,

their hope is full of immortality.

Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,

because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;

like gold in the furnace he tried them,

and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them.

In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,

and will run like sparks through the stubble.

They will govern nations and rule over peoples,

and the Lord will reign over them for ever.

Those who trust in him will understand truth,

and the faithful will abide with him in love,

because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,

and he watches over his elect.

“The faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones.”

In this time of prayer, take time to rest in the presence of the God who offers love, grace and mercy.

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