This blog provides a meditation on the Episcopal daily readings along wioth a headline from world news:

In Guagdong China the community stands up for justice against land appropriation

Zechariah8

1. The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 2Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. 4Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. 5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? 7Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; 8and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.

children will play in its streets

The Lord promises to comeback to the people who would not listen to his prophets, The sign nof his presence will be that elderly people and children will be at ease in its streets. That’s a profound and abiding recognition about cities. Cities that exclude the God of compassion and justice also exclude peace from their city streets. Whether we are thinking of the streets of Kinshasa or of London or of  Delhi we recognise that vulnerable people would bhest stay away from their streets. Because of carelessness, violence, traffic and crime the streets of many cities are not welcoming. Middle class people retreat into suburbs and gated communities, leaving the streets unused except by vehicles. It seems impossible to us that it should ever be otherwise, but Zechariah reminds us that for God nothing is impossible.

                   Matthew 25:14-30

14 ‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he gave five talents,* to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” 21His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” 22And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” 23His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” 24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” 26But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

putting faith to work: Christian Aid Well

God’s great gifts, especially the gift of faith, are to be used rather than merely preserved. Churches that think of God as harsh develop a kind of religion which majors in unchangeableness: liturgy or buildings or scriptures or hierarchy must be preserved as they were “given.” Jesus suggests that God keeps a place in the outer darkness for these. Of course there are right and wrong ways of using such gifts, but they must be risked in use rather preserved as in a museum.