Over the washing up yesterday I had an interesting conversation with my Muslim daughter-in-law, sharing what we knew about the prophets. We both learned new things about familiar stories which are treated in different ways in the Bible and the Quran – Abraham and Issac, Jonah and the whale, Jesus himself and his mother Mary. I hadn’t realised how many overlaps there are. My daughter-in-law said she has good memories of her grandmother telling her the stories at bedtime, and she would like to do the same for her daughter.
Lord of all, I pray for growing understanding and peace between faiths, for a greater acknowledgment of common ground and a willingness to accept different perspectives.
Amen.
For the Lord God is both sun and shield;
he will give grace and glory;
no good thing shall the Lord withhold
from those who walk with integrity.
O Lord God of hosts,
blessed are those who put their trust in you.
Psalm 84: 11-12