A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah ‘s home, where she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. Then in a loud voice she said to Mary: “God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise”.
Luke 1: 39-45
Reflect on the word CARING for a few moments.
In times of joy, in times of uncertainty, in times of trouble we need someone to turn to. Mary and Elizabeth turned to each other. They gave and received care from each other.
Giving and receiving is more than gifts placed under the Christmas tree. It is more than careful budgeting and clever “sales” shopping, or hospitality to family and friends during the holiday season.
Giving and receiving touches the center of our response to discipleship in Christ. It celebrates the gift of caring. It requires honesty and truth about our love for others and for self, the acceptance of others and of self, without being judgmental. It requires sensitivity to what is happening to others and to self in the present moment
Caring is a living process that is based on mutual giving and receiving.
God cared and God gave.
How do we receive from God, and how do we give back to God?
Caring God, make me aware of caring as a living process as I continue to care for others and myself.
© Ranjini Wickramaratne-Rebera
For a number of years, our dear friend Ranjini Rebera wrote Biblical reflections for the use of Gungahlin Uniting Church and others, usually for Advent and Lent. We were privileged to receive these, as Ranjini had a working history of writing and teaching on a global stage. Each time she completed the considerable work on one of these studies for us she would announce firmly, ‘That’s it. That is the last one I’m writing. No more. End of story!’ But as Advent or Lent came around again she would start hinting that she’d had an idea for a reflection – and she would write another one.
When she completed a Reflection for Lent 2021, we were not to know that this really was the last one. Ranjini died on 13 October 2021. We miss her intellect, her leadership, her vivid personality, her artistic gifts, her deep faith and her pastoral heart. We have lost some colour from our world.
The Gungahlin Uniting Church Worship Team, where Ranjini served for several years, offers Ranjini’s study material, first produced in 2015, as we give thanks for her life shared among us.