91热爆

A reflection and prayer to start the day with Beverley Humphreys.

Good Morning. Today is Budget Day. The Chancellor鈥檚 speech will discuss taxes journalists will compute the likely effects on prices. One thing that won鈥檛 be discussed is the cost of love and what happens when you haven鈥檛 received any.

A few years ago I was sitting in a draughty hall with a young man who鈥檇 just arrived at the Night Shelter. David was homeless, he鈥檇 been in and out of care for years and alcohol was his only escape from depression and the chaos of his life. On a faded poster on the wall were the words 鈥淕od is love鈥�. He said 鈥淗uh !!- what鈥檚 that all about!鈥�!? No-one鈥檚 loved me since I was five鈥�. Instinctively I put my hand over his and found myself saying 鈥淒avid, you and I sitting here, over a cup of tea, your hand in mine - that鈥檚 a kind of love鈥�. He managed a rueful smile and falteringly began to share some of his feelings.

I don鈥檛 know whether David remembers that 鈥� all these years later 鈥揵ut I do. It reminds me that love comes in all shapes and sizes.
Jesus told us that love is the most important thing in life and he asked us to love one another- just as he loves us. It sounds simple but it鈥檚 a challenge. The love that Jesus talks about is strong and it鈥檚 contagious - it crosses borders - it crosses religions and cultures and can occur between people who will never see each other again and yet still bring hope, even in the darkest moments.

All-embracing Lord . When we feel unloved and yearn to belong, show us that in the circle of your love we are infinitely precious; that you know our name, share our secrets and still call us to be yours - and most of all- loved. Amen