O Christ, you lived as an ordinary man
not in style but simply,
yet still you caused uproar, and questions everywhere;
you drew the expectations of hungry crowds,
and brought buried conflicts to the light.
May we, who are sometimes swayed by the crowd’s approval,
and who often avoid conflict
for fear of its cost to us,
hold fast to the gospel of peace and justice
and follow faithfully in your way of compassion and solidarity
with those who are poor and excluded,
wherever it may lead us.
Amen.
Reflection (from Christian Aid)
We recall Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist and consider how we too, through baptism, have been welcomed into a new way of being that centres on community. This sense of community lies at the heart of Christian Aid’s work, and our prayers ask the Holy Spirit to bless and preserve our communities and families.
As Luke recalls the prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 61, we are reminded that Jesus stood up and said: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.’
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.
Luke 4:18-19
Christian Aid provides worship resources on their website (language used is not always inclusive).
