Patrick Comerford
The Calendar of the Church of England in Common Worship today (19 October) recalls Henry Martyn, Translator of the Scriptures, Missionary in India and Persia, 1812, with a Lesser Festival.
Later today, I have a meeting in the offices of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) in London. But, before today gets busy, I am taking some time this morning for reading, prayer and reflection.
This year, the Week of Prayer for World Peace is from 16 to 23 October. In my prayer diary from last Sunday until next Sunday, I am reflecting in these ways:
1, One of the readings for the morning;
2, A reflection from the programme for the Week of Prayer for World Peace (16 to 23 October);
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary, ‘Pray with the World Church.’
Henry Martyn (1781-1812) was born in Truro and studied at Saint John’s College, Cambridge, from the age of 16. He became an avowed evangelical and his friendship with Charles Simeon led to his interest in missionary work. In 1805, he left for Calcutta as a chaplain to the East India Company. The expectation was that he would minister to the British expatriate community, not to the indigenous peoples; in fact, there was a constant fear of insurrection and even the recitation of Magnificat at Evensong was forbidden, lest ‘putting down the mighty from their seat’ should incite the natives. Henry Martyn set about learning the local languages and then supervised the translation of the New Testament first into Hindustani and then into Persian and Arabic, as well as preaching and teaching in mission schools. He went to Persia to continue the work but, suffering from tuberculosis, he died in Armenia on this day in 1812.
Luke 12: 1-9 (NRSVA):
[Jesus said:] 39 ‘But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’
41 Peter said, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?’ 42 And the Lord said, ‘Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, “My master is delayed in coming”, and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.’
Week of Prayer for World Peace 2022, Day 4:
The week of Prayer for World Peace takes place from the second to third Sunday in October each year, which this year is from Sunday last (Sunday 16 October 2022) to next Sunday (23 October 2022).
The Week of Prayer for World Peace is supported by a wide range of organisations, many of which I have engaged with over the years, including the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, Christian CND, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Pax Christi, and Quaker Peace and Social Witness.
Day 4: Poverty:
We remember all those who live in poverty partly because of the resources spent on war.
‘To humble beings, immersed in suffering without respite,
all harried by terrible and endless karma,
unbearable disease, fighting, starvation and all manner of dangers: let an ocean of happiness and peace arise.’ – Dalai Lama
‘Here is a gaping sore, Lord:
half the world diets, the other half hungers;
half the world is housed, the other half homeless;
half the world pursues profit, the other half senses loss.
Redeem our souls, redeem our peoples,
redeem our times,
and free those trapped under the rubble of their fallen dreams.
Breath of God, let there be abundant life.
Inspire us with the vision of poverty over,
and give us the faith, courage and will to make it happen.’ – John Bell of the Iona Community
‘O Allah, I seek refuge in You from poverty, lack and humiliation. And I seek refuge in You lest I cause or suffer wrong.’ – Islam
‘The bird that has eaten cannot fly with the bird that is hungry.’ – North American – Omaha
‘There is enough in the world for every man’s need but not enough for every man’s greed.’ – MK Gandhi
Today’s Prayer (Wednesday 19 October 2022):
The Collect:
Almighty God,
who by your Holy Spirit gave Henry Martyn
a longing to tell the good news of Christ
and skill to translate the Scriptures:
by the same Spirit give us grace to offer you our gifts,
wherever you may lead, at whatever the cost;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The Post Communion Prayer:
Holy Father,
who gathered us here around the table of your Son
to share this meal with the whole household of God:
in that new world where you reveal
the fullness of your peace,
gather people of every race and language
to share with Henry Martyn and all your saints
in the eternal banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord.
The theme in the USPG Prayer Diary this week is ‘World Food Day.’ This theme was introduced on Sunday.
The USPG Prayer Diary invites us to pray today in these words:
Let us pray for the Food and Nutrition programme run by the Anglican Council of Malawi. May the programme be successful in its aims to train farmers and provide them with much-needed equipment.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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