This is the tenth in a series of daily Lenten devotionals put together by Mother Leslie for this season of Lent, 2025. We hope this proves to be uplifting to you through your Lenten journey.
If you would like to see previous devotionals, Look under "Home Worship Materials" on the Site map, or click here.
Day 10: Friday after the 1st Sunday in Lent
Poem: Refugees —(read each line from top to bottom then bottom to top)
They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or I
Should life have dealt a different hand
We need to see them for who they really are
Chancers and scroungers
Layabouts and loungers
With bombs up their sleeves
Cut-throats and thieves
They are not
Welcome here
We should make them
Go back to where they came from
They cannot
Share our food
Share our homes
Share our countries
Instead let us
Build a wall to keep them out
------------- Brian Bilston (Phil Millicheap) (1970- ) British poet and businessman who started on Twitter and obscures his identity a la Banksy
Proverb
“You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
--------------Deuteronomy 10:19, from today’s Daily Office
Painting: Hoping to Survive, Razieh Gholami, 2019, Afghan refugee in Europe
Prayer: For Refugees and Those in Distress
Let us open up our hearts to You,
O Divine Love,
that they may teach us your ways of justice and peace.
From the shadow of your wings may the weary take refuge, O Holy One;
let us gather strength from your loving embrace.
Shield the homeless and the refugee
from the whirlwind of violence and want, O God:
let us welcome the traveler into our midst.
May we help bring peace
to hearts torn asunder by war, cruelty, and indifference,
and may their cry come to You, O God of Justice.
Merciful God, place your hand of healing
over all who are ill or in distress:
guide and strengthen the hands of doctors, nurses, and caregivers.
Together, O Lord, we lift before you these beloved children
whose hope is in You---
and in us.
Amen.
-------------Leslie Barnes Scoopmire, 2015