The Brilliance sing, ‘Brother’. Today we will hear St Paul’s instruction, ‘Bless those who persecute you’. How easy do you find this? Allow this song to take you into a place of preparation for prayer...

When I look into the face of my enemy

I see my brother, I see my brother

When I look into the face of my enemy

I see my brother, I see my brother

Forgiveness is the garment of our courage

The power to make the peace we long to know

Open up our eyes

To see the wounds that bind all of humankind

May our shutter hearts

Greet the dawn of life with charity and love

Today’s reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans. Today, we will practise ‘Lectio Divina’ together, a way of praying with Scripture where you hear the passage slowly and stay with whatever phrase is speaking to you.

You might like to imagine you are receiving it as those in the early Church, or even as a monk in the Middle Ages, simply listening... Listen to the whole reading. What draws you?

Romans 12:5-16

So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.

Is there a word or phrase that catches you? If yes, repeat it a few times as you breathe. Where does the phrase take you? Share this with God...

On this second read through, notice what moves you. We’ll leave a little more space this time...

Romans 12:5-16

So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.

Recall again the phrase you picked out earlier. What’s God’s invitation here? How would you like to respond?

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