Scripture

• Acts 27: 18-19, 21, They began to throw the cargo overboard.
• Psalm 85, You, Lord, sowed favor to your land.
• Luke 18: 9-14, All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Meditation

As Christians from different Churches and Traditions, we have unfortunately, over the centuries, accumulated plenty of baggage consisting of mutual distrust, bitterness and suspicion. We thank the Lord for the birth and the growth of the ecumenical movement over the past century. Our encounter with Christians from other traditions and our common prayer for Christian Unity encourage us to seek mutual forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance. We must not allow the baggage of our past to hinder us from drawing closer to one another. It is the Lord’s will that we let go, in order to let God!

Prayer

Forgiving God, set us free from the painful memories of the past, that wound our shared Christian life. Lead us to reconciliation so that, through the Holy Spirit we may overcome hatred with love, anger with gentleness, and suspicion with trust. We ask this in the name of your beloved Son, our brother Jesus. Amen.

Scripture

• Acts 27:20, All hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.
• Psalm 119:105-110, Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
• Mark 4:35-41, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Meditation

Christ is our light and our guide. Without the light and guidance of Christ, we become disorientated. When Christians lose sight of Christ, they grow fearful and divided from one another. Moreover many people of good will outside the Church are unable to see the light of Christ because in our Christian division we reflect Christ’s light less clearly or, at times, block it out completely. As we seek the light of Christ, we are drawn closer to one another, and so mirror this light more clearly, becoming truly a sign of Christ, the light of the world.

Prayer

God, your word is a light to our steps and without you we are lost and disorientated. Enlighten us so that, through your word, we may walk your path. May our churches crave your guiding, consoling and transforming presence. Give us the honesty we need to recognize when we make it difficult for others to see your light, and the grace we need to share your light with others. We ask this in the name of your Son, who calls us, his followers, to be light to the world. Amen.

Scripture

• Acts 27.22, 34, I urge you now to keep up your courage.
• Psalm 27, The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear.
• Mathew 11:28-30, My yoke is easy and my burden light.

Meditation

As Christians belonging to churches and traditions that are not fully reconciled to one another, we are often discouraged by the lack of progress towards visible unity. Indeed, some have given up all hope and see this unity as an unattainable ideal. Others don’t even see unity as a necessary part of their Christian faith. As we pray for this gift of visible unity, let us do so with steadfast faith, enduring patience and expectant hope, trusting in God’s loving providence. Unity is the Lord’s prayer for the Church and he is accompanying us on this journey. We will not be lost.

Prayer

God of mercy, lost and disheartened, we turn to you. Instil in us your gift of hope. May our churches hope and strive for the unity for which your Son prayed on the eve of his passion. We ask this through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture

• Acts 27:23-26, Keep up your courage.
• Psalm 56, Be merciful to me, my God.
• Luke 12.22-34, Do not be afraid, little flock.

Meditation

In the midst of the tempest Paul’s encouragement and hope contradicted the fear and despair of his fellow travellers. Our common call to be disciples of Jesus Christ entails being a sign of contradiction. In a world riven with anxieties, we are called to stand as witnesses to hope by placing our trust in God’s loving providence. Christian experience shows us that God writes straight on crooked lines, and we know, against all odds, we will not drown or be lost. Because God’s steadfast love endures for ever.

Prayer

Almighty God, our personal suffering leads us to cry out in pain and we shrink in fear when we experience sickness, anxiety or the death of loved ones. Teach us to trust you. May the churches we belong to be signs of your providential care. Make us true disciples of your Son who taught us to listen to your word and to serve one another. In confidence we ask this in the name of your Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Scripture

• Acts 27:33-36, All of them were encouraged and took food for themselves.
• Psalm 77, I cried out to God for help.
• Matthew 6:34, Do not worry about tomorrow.

Meditation

Paul’s invitation to eat is an exhortation to those in the boat to strengthen themselves for what lies ahead. This taking of bread marks a change of attitude, as those in the boat move from despair to courage. In a similar way the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper provides us with food for the journey and re-orientates us to life in God. We are made strong. The breaking of the bread – at the core of Christian community life and worship – builds us up as we commit ourselves to Christian service. We long for the day when all Christians will be able to share at the same table of the Lord’s Supper and draw strength from one bread and one cup.

Prayer

Loving God, your Son Jesus Christ broke bread and shared the cup with his friends on the eve of his passion. May we grow together in closer communion. Following the example of Paul and the early Christians, give us strength to build bridges of compassion, solidarity and harmony. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we ask this in the name of your Son, who gives his life that we might live. Amen.

Scripture

• Acts 28:1-2, 7, The natives showed us unusual kindness.
• Psalm 46, God is our refuge and strength.
• Luke 14:12-24, When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.

Meditation

After the traumas and conflicts of the storm at sea, the practical care offered by the islanders is experienced as an unusual kindness by those washed up on the shores. Such kindness demonstrates our common humanity. The Gospel teaches us that when we care for those in distress we are showing love to Christ himself (cf. Matthew 25:40). Furthermore, when we show loving kindness to the weak and dispossessed we are attuning our hearts to the heart of God in which the poor have a special place. Welcoming outsiders, whether they be people of other cultures or beliefs, immigrants or refugees, is both to love Christ himself, and to love as God loves. As Christians, we are called to step out in faith and reach out with God’s all-embracing love, even to those we find difficult to love.

Prayer

God of the orphan, the widow and the stranger, instil in our hearts a deep sense of hospitality. Open our eyes and hearts when you ask us to feed you, to clothe you and to visit you. May our churches participate in the ending of hunger, thirst and isolation and in overcoming barriers that prevent the welcome of all people. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus, who is present in the least of our sisters and brothers. Amen.

Scripture

• Acts 28:3-6, They changed their minds.
• Psalm 119: 137-144,You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right.
• Matthew 18: 1-6, Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Meditation

The locals realized that their judgment of Paul as a murderer was wrong, so they changed their minds. The extraordinary event with the viper enables the islanders to see things in a new way, a way which might prepare them to hear the message of Christ through Paul. In our search for Christian unity and reconciliation we are often challenged to rethink how we perceive other traditions and cultures. This demands an ongoing conversion to Christ in which the churches learn to overcome their perception of the other as a threat. As a result, our pejorative views of others will be cast away, and we will be drawn closer to unity.

Prayer

Almighty God, we turn to you with repentant hearts. In our sincere quest for your truth, purify us from our unjust opinions of others and lead the churches to grow in communion. Help us let go of our fears, and so better understand each other and the stranger in our midst. We ask this in the name of the Just One, your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Scripture

• Acts 28: 8-10, They bestowed many honors on us.
• Psalm 103: 1-5, Praise the Lord, my soul.
• Matthew 10: 7-8, Freely you have received. Freely give.

Meditation

This story is full of giving and receiving: Paul received unusual kindness from the islanders; Paul gives healing to the father of Publius and others; having lost everything in the storm, the 276 receive abundant provisions as they set sail. As Christians we are called to unusual kindness. But in order to give we must first learn to receive – from Christ and from others. More often than we realize, we are recipients of acts of kindness from people who are different from us. These acts also point towards the generosity and healing of our Lord. We who have been healed by the Lord are responsible for passing on that which we have received.

Prayer

God, giver of life, we thank you for the gift of your compassionate love which soothes and strengthens us. We pray that our churches may be always open to receive your gifts from one another. Grant us a spirit of generosity to all as we journey together in the path of Christian unity. We ask this in the name of your Son who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.