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PRAY NOW: TODAY'S PRAYER
Relationships of Power - John the Baptist and Herod
And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could
not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and
he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked
to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a
banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of men of Galilee.
Prayer
I often feel powerless, Lord. We all do. We say so all the time.
It feels like our usual condition in the world. Corks on a tide ...
Often it is our excuse, and seldom does it convince us.
But still we feel powerless. Really
powerless ...
Yet even powerlessness can choose whom it empowers.
There is always a choice
of masters.
John chose, and in imprisoned powerlessness
He spoke the painful, powerful truth.
Or we can be Herods, mesmerised by truth, even painful
truth,
Longing for courage to vote it to power.
'The truth shall set you free ...' - but liberation is a terrifying thing.
So John in chains was free, and Herod, enthroned, a captive.
Like Herod, we listen, and do not commit.
We empower, not truth, but our own captivity,
Our very disempowerment!
Fascination, blurred boundaries, compromise,
And we, too, are bound fast by blurted, hasty words.
Somehow - we missed the moment - our pledge has been extracted.
Show us the freedom we have, even in life's limitations,
To embrace the truth;
The power we have, even in our powerlessness,
To refuse to yield to power.
Show us the choice we have, when other choices have run out,
To choose the empowered powerlessness of the prophet
Over the finite power of the power-brokers.
Readings
Daniel 3:1-28
Daniel 6
Amos 7:10-17
Luke 18:1-8
John 19:1-16
Prayer activity
Review the situations in your life in which you or someone else experience
powerlessness. Which of them does Herod's situation cast most light on? Which
John's?
Prayer for the Church
Those involved with Christian counselling and healing
especially the Christian Fellowship
of Healing and local groups in your area.
Blessing
May we be blessed with a gentle, humble courage of truth
Courage enough to choose,
Courage enough to speak,
Courage enough to live
The truth as you show it to us.
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