Fourth Sunday before Lent - Reflection by Canon Leslie

Today is known as the Fourth Sunday before Lent. While still in the season of Epiphany, the Church is exploring and celebrating various ways in which Jesus was revealed and made known to others. This Gospel reading is Luke’s account of how Simon (also called Peter), James and John came to leave their trade as fishermen to be followers of Jesus.  Just as they were to catch many people for the Kingdom, so Jesus enabled them to land a large catch of fish. 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of fish. In today’s picture from his book, Teddy Horsley meets Jesus’ Disciples, Teddy Horsley is helping with the great catch of fish.   
 
Lord Jesus Christ, 
you rewarded your disciples 
for putting their trust in you. 
Help us so to trust your promises, 
that we too may receive the reward 
you have prepared for us; 
for your name’s sake. 
Amen. 
 
Next Sunday, the Third Sunday before Lent, the Gospel reading is from Luke’s collection of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Plain. This includes three beatitudes. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is happy faces. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.  ​