October 17, 2025

Being faithful in a troubled world

We are now into the third week of a government shut down, and the ripples of hardship are beginning to reach more and more people . Sadly, the response is blame, as it often is.  Blame never really helps anyone or anything. It just makes us more distressed and distraught.

So we must ask ourselves, as followers of Jesus, what should our response be?  The most important response I think is to be faithful, faithful to his teaching to us to be known by our love for one another. It takes courage to be faithful, because it requires us to step out of our comfort zones and to feel the pain of others. We must not become numb to the suffering of others, but embrace it and find strength in solidarity with those who are suffering.

As the prophet Micah states so eloquently, “and what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.“ Micah 6:8

Faithfully,

Cynthia

A PRAYER FOR THE COURAGE TO SEE

God of the exiled and unpaid,

Of the overlooked and underfed –

You did not stay distant from the world‘s pain, You stepped into it. So must we.

When propaganda clouds our eyes – clear them.

When apathy dulls, our hearts – stir them.

When despair knocks at our doors – remind us:

We are not powerless.

We are not alone. We are your hands and feet in this aching world.

Give us the courage to see.

And the faith to resist.

Amen

(The Rev Cameron Trimble)