Sunday 9 August 2026

Psalm 85

Background
This week’s readings begin with Jesus feeling a strong call that the time has come for him to move on from the daily life he has been living. He is listening to God calling him to undertake the purpose he was born for.

We read of how he intends to spend time considering what this would mean. When he left the boat he had been travelling in, he finds crowds, who had heard about the miracles he had been doing and were waiting for him. So when the disciples come to ask what they are to do, his instructions are for them to feed the crowd. He left them having blessed the food they had acquired and went away up a mountain where he could have the quiet time he needed for his contemplation. He spent time in conversation with God in prayer and the disciples left him and returned to the boat, no doubt disappointed that he was no longer with them.

But then, the journey which we will follow in the next few days begins. His friends – no doubt feeling sad that he seemed to have left them suddenly – looked up as they struggled with a stormy journey and saw that Jesus had returned. But there was something unexpected as he was actually walking on the water. As they would see as their life with him progressed, his work had begun.

To Ponder:

• Can we understand the feelings that the friends must have had when Jesus seemed to have left them and is no longer guiding their day-to-day lives? Are there times in our lives when we feel isolated from Jesus, the saviour we know, and do we despair at our loss of faith?
• Do we sometimes need to go away to a separate space and just wait to hear the call of the Holy Spirit guiding us back on to the way we are called to follow?
• Are there times when our daily lives take over and we close our ears to what we are being called to do?

Prayer
We ask that we might make time in our lives for prayer as we discern the road we are called to follow through our faith in Jesus. Guide and direct our lives – not just while we are in church – but daily as we seek to follow Jesus. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Pat Billsborrow
Pat came into ministry 39 years ago and has been a supernumerary for 20 years. She is happy to continue serving wherever she is needed.