Yesterday my Daughter fractured her leg, and has plaster from ankle to thigh. This wasn’t good news for either of us, except that I was able to help her hubby to look after her and their two young children, and that they have such wonderful family and friends around to help out too.
Not sure if this is relevant in the context of the verse, but we where/whenever possible, donate time and money to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

I give a fiar amount of time and money to charity to fight poverty, but I know that I could do so much more. I believe that I should be shopping more ethically.
Other forms of poverty are so diverse. Where to start? Isaial 61 provided a good checklist. I must keep going back to it to check that I am making efforts in the right direction. Actions to recylce or cut consumption and wastee would be a good starting point. I must find ways to use the car less. I must witness more so that people can learn about the good news and not be so spiritually hungry.

Whilst walking near St.Albans Lakes before work I saw a man sleeping rough in St.Michaels Church doorway. We chatted. His name is Jym and he is a decent chap who has fallen on hard times. He is friendly and approachable and not a heavy drinker. I was glad to give Jym some money for breakfast. We both looked upon the signs of spring within the churchyard. I felt guided to help this poor man in line with todays verse but I hadn’t read it when I found him. If anybody wants to help him I think he’s there often rising about 8am.I hope to help him further somehow.  God Bless all.

I recall the words of Mother Teresa:

“The biggest problem in the western world is spiritual poverty, and this is much more difficult to deal with than physical poverty.”

I pray that the Holy Spirit will give us the strength and wisdom we need to take on this task.

Seen today & have only just called to mind the symbolism of the Lamb of God - the annointed one. Good news indeed to the poor in spirit.

Ive been thinking about this all day. After praying i might have an opportunity to ‘do it’ i was confronted with a situation where it was clear to me that although i knew in my heart what the good news is - Jesus - sometimes its hard to articulate this in a sceptical society. so im really hoping, and praying, that this lent will be a spring board for me to grow in knowledge to help me be a good disciple and spread that good news to all

I opened the book a few minutes ago, at random, and the page opened at Isaiah 61. I have been trying to discern a vocation, and now feel quite unsettled! What a strange coincidence. Or is it.
Journey On, I think.

Jesus was the richest person ever to walk on earth. He was always in the presence of God in everything he did. 
He had,seemingly, no home and no belongings.  At his crucifixion the soldiers drew lots for his clothes - they were all that he had. He never regarded himself as poor, his Father provided him with all of his needs. The poor are those in need of ‘the good news’ and this includes those on the ‘rich list’  The challenge is ‘how do we reach them?’ The answer ‘We need the anointing of the holy spirit’ Let us all pray earnestly and watch what God can do.  This challenge is so exciting.

Today a young man knocked on my door - who I don’t know very well and who isn’t a Christian. I invited him in and he began to cry - a number of things in his life were all too much and he wasn’t coping - we shared and found some positive things he could do. I asked if I could pray for him - he was happy for this and said he felt really “funny” as we prayed - as if he was being lifted up out of his stress. So good that God met him in his poverty - acknowledging, perhaps for the first time, that it was all too much. So good he felt he could come where he knew I would probably talk about God.

A word of encouragement to all who are following Challenge 2010 especially those at St Giles’ Church Codicote. May the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord be also upon you this Lent and encourage you and strengthen you in Jesus.

If the ‘good news’ is Love - and it is - then on day one, I haven’t done terribly well so far. Since we are all comparatively ‘poor’ in heart, then kindness and love and patience in any direction is bringing ‘good news’.  Never mind. There is still some of the day left. And. hopefully. tomorrow!

Good to be with you all. A great encouragement to keep up the effort during Lent. Thanks for your help. B.M.

While the reality may be somewhat different, I sometimes wonder if there is the perception that church is really for well-off people, especially when there is a focus on money in order to meet ever-increasing commitments.
In order to bring good news to the poor how do we smash this perception, while still ensuring that the church survives so that it can keep preaching the good news?

If the Master himself needed the Spirit to anoint him for his work, how much more do we, his followers need the Lord to pour out his Spirit on us to empower us follow in his footsteps.  One of our prayer today therefore, must be “Pour out your Spirit on us Lord and anoint us to follow your example”

Like several of you I’ve been thinking about how we define ‘the poor’ Here at work in Stevenage we are celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight and so I am mindful of how the fair trade movement tries to give a fair deal for all, and can help folk out of poverty. It also means that despite Lent, I can’t possibly give up fairtrade chocolate….

I think the message behind this is verse is that Jesus came to bring good news to everybody - and He is the Good News.

As has been said elsewhere, poor can mean many things. It is often used to describe lack of wealth, but we also use the word poor to describe a sad person, or someone who has been unfortunate, for example “That poor man has just lost his…”.

Currently my colleagues are facing redundancy and many are feeling downtrodden, lacking in morale, confidence and spirit. Kind words making them aware that others are thinking of them can give a glimmer of happiness to them and make the situation more bareable.

Climate Change and the end of cheap fossil fuel together indicate strongly a need to live with less energy. The poor are affected more than others by climate change in their part of the world, and poor everywhere suffer disproportionately from lack of fuel. The Transition Movement seeks, in each location, to find local solutions in energy reduction. So I shall continue my work in Transition Town Letchworth, knowing that it brings good news to the poor.

This is where it all starts, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” It always begins with God, no less for Jesus as for us. We do all things in his power. St Benedict counsels to begin every good work by invoking Gods blessing. How wonderful to begin this season of Lent anointed by God, to make a difference.

I read further in my AV to investigate the meaning of ‘poor’, as raised in an earlier post. The second half of the verse gives us all clear guidance of how we might live God’s Word. I hope others are similarly encouraged to read before and after the day’s verse!

For me the point of read,pray, do is to do something about poverty today. What I can do is insignificant when compared to the need, but I may make a difference to one life today and together we may bring joy or even life to many.

Lead me Lord to a person or situation in need today. Help me to be better at going out to meet the needs of individuals as Jesus did. Help me to share my needs with others as Jesus did too.

Going to try to read and learn a verse a day.  quite a challenge in my busy life.  Good to connect to other Christians

I’ve given up chocolate (just started a diet) and bejewelled blitz ( I spend too much time on it) so I can spend that time in prayer and meditation, reading, learning, praying and doing all the things I should to focus more on what Christ has done for me.

The Spirit of the Lord was clearly upon Jesus? Is it on us?
What is ‘Good News’ for our parish?
Would it make any difference if our particular church wasn’t there?
A real challenging verse to start with!

How we interpet ‘the poor’ is significant I feel. By what criteria are people poor? In our ‘western’ societies materialism and consumerism are rampant. Other societies can be happier and more caring. We all need to see ourselves as God sees us. Poverty of spirit needs to be addressed.

What a challenging verse to start with. For if for Jesus so for us united in his work through our baptisms. Its good to be reminded that as disciples of Jesus we too are blessed by the Spirit, but also charged with bringing the good news to the poor; an awsome responsibility, a huge privialge.

Am going to set more time for myself and reflection.  These verses everyday give me time to reflex in my busy life.

Interesting that we start a season on “words of Jesus” not with the words of Jesus, but with the words of Isaiah, put into Jesus’ mouth by his reading of the scroll in the temple.  In using these words I feel that Jesus is saying more about the fact that he is the fulfilment of the words of the Prophet, rather than anything specific about his own message to the poor.  If we wish to understand the message of good news to the poor, we must look to Isaiah 61.

I was on a hilltop earlier, and for once God seemed real and present. In every breath of wind and present in every blade of grass and clearly in every living thing. Look no further than the world around you and you will see. Every living thing uttered into being by love from God.
Good Lent, All.

Good luck all with the Lent Challenge - a great idea.  It’s got me thinking about Lent and how I respond to it more than I have probably done in previous years.  Will still be giving up alcohol for Lent as I do every year.  Much prayer required!