God's Healing Hands

This past week we celebrated St. Luke’s Day. Luke was a doctor and an author, contributing two books to the New Testament, which tell the story of God's power to heal.

Here he describes how Jesus gives his first public account of his mission. He has been invited to read from the prophet Isaiah:

'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.' And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, 'Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'

Luke 4:18-21

Isaiah's words had been written hundreds of years earlier, to describe the work of God's servant as reaching out to those on the margins - the poor, the disabled, the exploited and those in prison.

In Moldova the poverty, ill health and crime traps them in a vicious circle. And it’s not just individuals – the entire society suffers injustice, leaving them struggling with the burden of their nation's debt.

Christians across the centuries have been inspired by the scripture that Jesus quotes. They have fought against the slave trade, and the exploitation of women and children. They campaign now to make poverty history. They share the vision of one world, God's world, where those on the margins are placed at the centre of our concerns so that all may share in the Lord's favour, the great Jubilee.

And many of you are realising that together you help change a child’s life by merely becoming involved.

Jesus Christ, Redeemer, Friend and Brother, we pray for all countries and continents, families and communities who face the challenges of this present time. Help us to work together to bring peace and justice to all. Amen

Who Are We Forgetting?