This week we begin to prepare for Lent - we reflect on how we can be better humans in our relationships with God, others and our planet. We remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity.

1 Corinthians 3:16-23

Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple.

With Cyclone Gabrielle, there has been no distinction in who has been affected. All are equal. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who have lost so much, and we remain in these early stages powerless. We must keep our trust in God and the goodness of others as they work together.

In our society, advertisers lead us to believe it can be easy to think we would be better if we were more affluent, had better jobs, and had different skills. We can become distracted by what others have. Yet God has created us. He has given us gifts. Our focus needs to be on developing our gifts to be better people. As Christians, we are called to trust in God and what he has already given us. We are called to love our neighbour.

A Prayer for Social Action

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end war;

For we know You made the world in a way

That we must find our own path of peace

Within ourselves and with our neighbor.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to root out prejudice:

For You have already given us eyes

With which to see the good in all people

If we would only use them rightly.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end starvation:

For You have already given us the resources

With which to feed the entire world

If we would only use them wisely.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end despair:

For You have already given us the power

To clear away slums and to give hope

If we would only use our power justly.

We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to end disease:

For You have already given us great minds

With which to search out cures and healing

If we would only use them constructively.

Therefore we pray to You, instead O God,

For strength, determination, and willpower,

To do instead of just to pray

To become instead of merely to wish;

That our world may be safe,

And our lives may be blessed.

- Jack Reimer