Today is the first day of Prisons Week. For nearly 50 years, Prisons Week have been encouraging us as churches to pray for all those involved with prisons in any way, and it is really special to be able to share in that prayer and reflection with you.

This Sunday, our Gospel reading helps us to focus on Thanks –  which may not be what immediately springs to mind when someone says ‘Prison!’ – its definitely not usually the first words that are spoken to me by those who reside in my care.

What are you thankful for?  For me, as I was preparing this, I prayed in thanks for the stability of my home, the joys, laughter and security my family afford me. I also gave thanks for the jumpers that keep me warm and  the food that will keep me satisfied.

When it comes to saying thank you- its not always easy, sometimes we manage it through clenched teeth.

I am sure that many of you, either as children, or as the adult charged with overseeing their niece, nephew, child, grandchild, faced that dreaded battle over thank-you letters — the thing which had to be done, the price we must pay for Christmas and birthdays!!

Even worse if the present was dull, disliked, or even broken by Boxing Day, and we were still expected to write to say thank you in January!

This kind of misses the point though, true gratitude, is not about a sense of guilt, it’s not that we should thank great Aunty Epilburger who we have never seen and who thinks we like books of obscure Italian art – aged 3!

True gratitude is about inspiring us to improve our relationship with the giver of the gift – which in Aunty Epilburgers case might also be a good idea – but is particularly true when we think about gifts from those who we are close to.

Todays Gospel reading sees those who are ill, who are in most need, receive a gift.

We see something very important in the Gospel story, we get an insight into something that I believe to be true…

Gifts are sacramental.

A sacrament is a visible sign of an invisible reality, and the thoughts that go into the giving of a gift represents our relationship with someone.

Gifts are often reciprocated in some way between two people, a mismatch in gifts can inspire that awful feeling at Christmas — I’ve just given them a little box of chocolates because it was easy….. and they have really thought about me and taken the time to make me something they know I will love.

In our Gospel we see a real mis-match, For the ten lepers, the gift of healing they received meant a return to society and normality. They in turn had nothing to give – or so it might seem.

They were all pleased (we assume) but it was the Samaritan who realised the value of the gift, which pointed to the importance of the giver.

This Samaritan, a foreigner – an outsider – had just one thing to give in return and that was his gratitude.

He gladly ran back to Jesus to give that.

This might be in part because he was a leper and a Samaritan, he knew what it was like to be excluded because of his illness and because of his Race.

God’s generosity in healing him was very obvious so he came straight back.

As a person most in need, an outsider, one looked down on by others this Samaritan may have been able to understand something of how those who find themselves in Prison might experience life.

Prisons week is not only about Prisoners but also their families, the staff, the chaplains, the victims of crime all those whose lives are touched in some way by Prison.

These 10 lepers may also have had family, their healing would have affected not only themselves but the wider communities.

So it is with Prisons. They affect us all – or at least I believe they should.

In prisons week this Gospel story allows us to reflect on a different theme each day…

Hostility: As there was between Samaritans and Galileans.

Suffering: experienced by the 10 lepers.

Compassion: which Jesus showed.

Healing: which Jesus gave.

Gratitude: Shown by only one of ten.

Sent: The one who was healed and gave thanks is sent out into the world as we are each week.

Hope: Which Jesus links with Faith, for it is Faith he says has made the man well, and it is Faith that brings Hope.

I wonder how often we are thankful for what we have received by God’s Grace.

I mean truly thankful not slightly frustrated we have to say thank you!

On day 5 this week the theme of prayer is gratitude and includes a prayer written by a Prison Chaplain – it says this:

Forgive me Lord, for all that I am and all that I’m not. Praise you Lord, for all that I am and all that I’m not.

Those are powerful words. A prayer of forgiveness and praise, a reminder that both are important and that God’s Grace is at work in every place.

Our reading from Timothy reminded us that Paul, of course, the great follower of Jesus was held in prison, he was a prisoner, as was Peter. The New Testament tells us of Prisoners, and those who worked in the prisons, who came to know the love and grace of God.

There is a challenge for us to not only pray for those in prison but to think about those coming out, to make our churches welcoming places.

The Welcome Directory that this Church has signed up to is a way of us as a community providing hope and sharing our faith with those whose faith has been nurtured in prison. Providing for them a new Church family in which they can be thankful.

We [all] have much to be thankful for this week, as we recognise that, let’s give thanks to God and let’s remember those with less to be thankful for than ourselves.

Let’s pray for those who are in prison, let’s ask for that Grace to be at work in them and in us.

I want to finish with the prayer for Prisons Week…

Lord, you offer freedom to all people.

We pray for those in prison.

Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist.

Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends, prison staff and all who care.

Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime.

Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in his strength and in his Spirit, now and every day.

Amen.

Service: Reverend Helen Dearnley 9th October 2022. (St John The Baptist Church Peterborough UK)

Referenced Scriptures: 2 Kings 5:1-3 & 7-15b, Psalm 111, 2 Timothy 2: 8-15, Luke 17:11-19