From today’s Old Testament reading, from Isaiah: ‘For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it’.

One is reminded here of the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was supremely to go forth from God, and return to Him having fully accomplished His purpose. As St John relates: ‘Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel … and the footwashing followed.

As we endeavour, by His grace, to follow our Lord in everything, may we this day undertake one simple act of kindness to another; and may God bless you in so doing.