Daily Worship

Iona’s Saints

Albert Bogle August 28, 2014 0 0

Hebrews 11: 32-40

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah,about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Lord,
I met a saint today
in a festival play.
This saint had feet of clay but a heart of faith.
I realised sainthood is not about, 
stain glass windows and fine marble statues,
or even popes and miracles.
Its about ‘five by eight” christians
plumbers
joiners
stone masons
platers
plasters 
these are the saints alongside 
priests  pastors who teach  us how to pray.
Saints  who want to gamble with their life.
Saints  who throw the dice and look for God’s  double six.
The dice throwing faithful - who call themselves sinners

Lord,
Give me the courage
To risk all for your Kingdom
To step out beyond myself
To believe the impossible 
To build,
to restore,the ruins in my community.
Help me learn from the parable of Iona,
an ‘Island between heaven and earth’
Come Holy Spirit 
Turn me side on
that I might become a ‘thin person’
living in a ‘thin place”
expecting miracles