Trust and reliance on Jesus and Justice and Peace for the people of Gaza.

Seeing the horrific images from Gaza of emaciated children and desperate mothers and parents is very confronting. This is the Holy Land.

It forces me to reflect again on what is essential and what do we really need in life? A roof over our head, food on the table, a sense of purpose and meaning in the work we do, family and friends that love us and that we love in return and the ability to provide for and care for those we are responsible for. And to live in peace enabling us to get on with it. There is so much to be grateful for and not to take for granted.

People in war torn countries are being deprived of those gifts, those simple and basic human needs.

Those who abuse their power forget that their lives are short lived and a day of reckoning will come. As Scripture reminds us, God is always on the side of the poor. The authors of the psalms don’t mince their words either. "He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor." -- Psalm 72:4

Given my Christian perspective and sensibility, I find it difficult to comprehend how certain world leaders believe their world view and understanding of other cultures and justify their actions when it seems obvious that what is happening is so wrong, so inhumane. As in so many cases throughout history, people who are a threat, who are different, or in the way, are dehumanized.

I know even in our own country there are people experiencing difficulties when it comes to the basics. We are called to share the resources we have with those who are in need and not just to accumulate more and more for ourselves. Our Christian faith invites us to look out for one another. The Jesus we follow identifies himself with the stranger, the naked, the hungry, the sick and the prisoner.

The man in our Gospel story taken from Luke 12:13-21, wanted more room to store his crops so he could sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labour by taking things easy, drink and have a good time. In a sense to snuggle into a thick security blanket without a care in the world.

However, Jesus encourages his listeners to be mindful that nothing is that secure. We need to have our priorities sorted. Our relationship with God and his purposes are our priority not the things we possess and perhaps covet more and more that never ultimately satisfy. God is the one in control not us.

It is sobering to hear the words, "Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?"

When we are healthy, and I own this myself, we can think death is a long way off but none of us really know when God will call us. In the scheme of things life is extremely short and Christ is encouraging us to put him first, his teachings and his way of life. He is our ultimate treasure, our way, our truth and our life, not the things of this world, although some are needed and necessary. They can become our focus, distract and preoccupy us. Perhaps today in our prayer, we can renew our trust and reliance on Jesus, while being thankful and generous with the material goods we have received.

Let's continue to pray for the innocent victims of war, especially those in Gaza and that peace and basic human rites may be restored to them.

You might like to listen to 'There is no distance' from the album of the same name