John Foulds

Jesus said: ‘I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you’.

It seems that Jesus is requiring a lot of us when we hear these words from the Gospel in our reading today. 

The responses he suggests we have to these negative people and situations are not likely to be our natural human responses.  So we need to review them with the eyes of faith.

Today is a really good day for reflecting on our faith.  It’s the fourth Sunday of Lent which means we are over half way through this season of preparation for Easter.  It is also Mothering Sunday.  Traditionally, in this country, Mothering Sunday has been an important part of many people’s faith journey.

If we take a quick look at the history of Mothering Sunday we find that on most Sundays in the year churchgoers in England would have worshipped at their nearest parish or 'daughter church'.

Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or 'mother' church once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their 'mother' church - the main church or Cathedral of the area.

Inevitably the return to the 'mother' church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home. (It was quite common in those days for children to leave home for work once they were ten years old.)
And most historians think that it was the return to the 'Mother' church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family.

As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift.

So, this was a day for coming together for a cheerful celebration of faith, which is also what we are here for this afternoon.

Faith does help us to look at situations in a different way. It is really enlightening. We do have to give time to our faith, but when we do we are able to see the day to day realities of our lives from a different perspective. We are reminded that God is with us in all that we face.

So, when Jesus says, ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you’, we know that he is our inspiration to overcoming our more basic reactions to tough and unpleasant situations.

When we do what Jesus suggests we set a good example to others who are behaving badly to us. More importantly, we are actively living out our faith. We also cease to feel like powerless victims.

Prayer is the key. It is in prayer that we connect with God and are given the ability to see situations from a spiritual perspective.  Incidentally, it will also be through prayer that you will be given the strength to get away from particularly abusive people from whom God wishes to protect you, for you are his beloved child.
 
It is because we are loved by God that we are called to live our lives in relationship with God.  When we choose to spend time with God in prayer we enjoy each other’s company.  Yes, God enjoys your company!

Just as a suggestion; a really good way of enjoying God’s company is to go on a prayer walk.  All you have to do is to find an area where you are safe to walk...and off you go!  You will enjoy what God has to show you and share with you.

In today’s Gospel reading we hear Jesus saying, ‘love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.'

Kindness and mercy flow from God. How blessed we are! We receive so much from God. Let’s get in the flow of God’s loving-kindness and enjoy sharing it with other people.

Let’s also remember that it is through prayer that we are best able to connect the words of scripture we have heard today with all that this week will bring.
 
So, enjoy God’s company this week ...and all the love God has for us all!

Amen.