The following Bible passage, reflection, prayer and action are taken from Surefish's Daily Readings, which can be found here

Arise! Shine!

Selfish worship

Something to read

Shout out, do not hold back!
Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Announce to my people their rebellion,
to the house of Jacob their sins.Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. 'Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?'
Isaiah 58:1-3a (NRSV)

Something to think about

What would happen if we all stopped singing hymns, then all stopped going to church, then all stopped praying altogether? Would the world be any different? Would we notice a difference to our own lives? Would God notice?

The people who originally listened to Isaiah’s words had not quite reached that point, but they were muttering something similar. They were fasting religiously, they were praying humbly, they were worshipping faithfully - but God did not seem to be doing anything in response to it all. Was God aware that they were seeking him, but deliberately turning a deaf ear? Or was it wrong to assume that worship would confer some practical reward for those who bothered to do it?

Isaiah attempts to view the issue from the Lord’s point of view. God sees his people ignoring the needs of the poor and allowing injustice to go unchallenged. And his attitude is, what is the point of all their prayer and humble behaviour if they haven’t yet addressed the basic need of human existence?

In a world in which we are all compromised by growing inequality it shouldn’t be the times when we feel God is not listening that take us by surprise. Rather it is on those occasions when we are intensely aware of God answering our prayers that his generosity and grace should astonish us.

Something to do

Pray inwardly, even if you do not enjoy it. It does good, though you feel nothing, see nothing, yes, even though you think you are doing nothing. For when you are dry, empty, sick or weak, at such time is your prayer most pleasing, though you find little enough to enjoy in it. This is true of all believing prayer.

These are the words of Julian of Norwich, a nun who lived a solitary and contemplative life in the 14th century. Try doing what she suggests.

Something to pray

Look back on times when you have been aware of God answering prayer, or coming close, or inspiring hope, and thank God for such an undeserved blessing.

Today in history

Today in 1531 The Blessed Virgin appeared to Juan Diego, a Mexican native, requesting a chapel. When the bishop refused, Mary poured Castillian roses into Juan’s blanket, and finally had to appear in the bishop’s blanket. The event is celebrated in Mexico's greatest religious festival, the Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

King Richard the Lion Heart left England on the Third Crusade today in 1189. It was the greatest coalition of powers the West had ever managed, but when his colleague Emperor Frederick Barabrosa only made it to Jerusalem pickled in vinegar, it all fell a bit flat.

Image of the day

Peinda in Senegal has taken literacy lessons with Christian Aid partner FEGPAB and has learnt how to read and write and other practical things such as vaccinating her children, sterilising water and using the telephone. Photo: Christian Aid / Louise Orton

Advent Calendar:
December 12

Today is the last posting day for Airmail to Western Europe. Instead of buying and sending cards this year, you could reduce your stress levels and your carbon footprint by planting a tree. Send round an ecard to let people know what you have done.

Advent tip of the day:
Deck the halls

Make your own Christmas decorations using Mother Nature as inspiration. Collect fallen branches, berries, holly, mistletoe, fir tree sprigs and pine cones, hang or place around the home (on hooks, in vases, bottles and dishes) and add a dash of Christmas sparkle with some paint.

Try white for a snowy look and silver or gold for some shimmer. Fill glass containers with cranberries or holly berries for a splash of Christmas red. And for that Christmas aroma, brake up cinnamon twigs or cloves, press them into an orange and place around the home.

Present Aid gift idea – nutritious meals for 80 children for £10

Present Aid – gifts that count. Christmas dinner is the central point of Christmas Day for many people. Giving nutritious meals for 80 children in Bangladesh supports the 45% of under fives that are malnourished. If you want to hand over a gift on Christmas Day, add in a Christian Aid Calendar (or get one free if you spend over £40). Use the link to go to the Present Aid site and then search for the gift you want to give.

Amazon gift idea –BBC TV Shakespeare Collection

Despairing of the TV schedule over Christmas? Create your own with the BBC TV Shakespeare Collection – 37 plays and 99 hours of watching. Use the link to buy the gift and raise money for Christian Aid as well.

Eco gift idea – Round Recycled Circuit Board Cufflinks

For that computer geek in your life – what better than a pair of Round Recycled Circuit Board Cufflinks. Use the link to buy the gift and raise money for Christian Aid as well.