welcome to canterbury cathedral early on this monday morning as the work of the world would normally begin but we are in very different circumstances though many people are working very hard particularly here in this country in the national health service but right across the world in terms of healing and health and encouragement to one another so some prayers to begin our day blessed are you lord god of our salvation to you be praise and glory forever as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief your only son was lifted up that he might draw the whole world to himself may we walk this day in the way of the cross and always be ready to share its weight declaring your love for all the world blessed be god father son and holy spirit blessed be god forever we use this morning psalm 19 which speaks of the whole world telling of the glory of god as we live our lives within it the heavens are telling the glory of god and the firmament proclaims his handiwork one day pours out its song to another and one night unfolds knowledge to another they have neither speech nor language and their voices are not heard yet their sound has gone out into all lands and their words to the ends of the world in them has he set a tabernacle for the sun that comes forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber and rejoices as a champion to run his course it goes forth from the end of the heavens and runs to the very end again and there is nothing hidden from its heat the law of the lord is perfect reviving the soul the testimony of the lord is sure and gives wisdom to the simple the statutes of the lord are right and rejoice the heart the commandment of the lord is pure and gives light to the eyes the fear of the lord is clean and endures forever the judgments of the lord are true and righteous altogether more to be desired are they than gold more than much fine gold sweeter also than honey dripping from the honeycomb by them also is your servant taught and in keeping them there is great reward using a lesson from the gospel of saint luke jesus on his way to jerusalem on the way to jerusalem jesus was going through the region between samaria and galilee thus he entered a village ten lepers approached him keeping their distance they called out saying jesus master have mercy on us and when he saw them he said to them go and show yourselves to the priests and as they went they were made clean then one of them when he saw that he was healed turned back praising god with a loud voice he prostrated himself at jesus's feet and thanked him and he was a samaritan and jesus asked we're not ten made clean but the other nine where are they was none of them found to return and give praise to god except this foreigner then he said to him get up and go on your way your faith has made you well traditionally we think of saint luke who wrote this gospel as a physician a healer a doctor and i think the sense of someone who has been helped by his skills saying to him thank you would have made this story particularly moving to him we're very conscious as this working week begins of all those who are helping their neighbors and giving beyond their energy to help to heal people encourage them and make them feel safe and needed but at the same time all those helpers sometimes at the end of that tether in terms of strength and emotional ability to continue need thanks sometimes that thanks is given in a gift sometimes that thanks is given simply by a cheerful thank you as in the story it's good to know that even jesus himself needed to feel just a little encouragement of someone saying thank you and then he turns the gift back to the man himself and says it's your faith that's made you well these things give hope at this time as we consider our world in every nation dealing with the same dangers and so we make our prayer this morning for those at work in that way but for all of us that we may play our part god of all love in whom we are all united and from whom we can never be separated strengthen all those far from loved ones this day help us to know your presence with us and with them strengthen our hearts in gratitude for all that we are given by others that they and we may know the consolation of our fellowship in you and may hope in due time for the joy of reunion through jesus christ our lord amen so we say together the prayer our savior taught us in whatever language and whatever way we like to use our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever amen just a moment of silence as we make our own prayers this morning so i feel the message given to me is take part take care and always give thanks to each other unto god and may almighty god the father the son and the holy spirit bless and protect you this day and always amen