Scene: Jesus on a bus
Laura Digan
August 30, 2025
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1 John 4: 7-12 (NIVUK)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Jesus standing on a crowded bus arms stretched reaching out to hold two of the straps to keep him upright
“I had first clocked the guy when he gave up his seat for the old fella with all the shopping bags. He was lean and wiry with kind eyes and a gentle smile.
The bus was full and noisy. A group of young lads were shouting. My ears tuned in as I realised that their shouts were directed towards a teenage girl a few seats in front of them. Mean, horrible, misogynistic taunts. The bus grew quieter as people realised what was going on. But no one said anything, even though the girl was visibly shaking and upset.
Then the guy who had given up his seat for the old fella went up to them and told them to stop, to be respectful. He didn’t shout, just calmly told them to stop. I was expecting them to shoot back a mouthful of abuse, but none came. They were quiet, stilled, ashamed. There was something about this guy’s demeanour that commanded attention.
After the guy’s intervention a few women comforted the girl and walked with her when it was her stop. As more people got off the bus the guy sat down next to the young lads and began talking to them. The woman next to me was talking loudly on her phone so I couldn’t make out what the guy was saying but his eyes were kind and his smile gentle.”
Prayer:
Lord God
Forgive us when we look away from another’s pain
Strip us of our apathy
Dissolve our hearts of stone
Cleanse our jaded spirits
Take away our fear
Fill us with your love
Give us hearts that seek your justice
Voices that challenge
Hands that act to care
And spirits that are alive in you
Amen
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