St James’s Time To Pray: Recent Episodes
Derek Neil Winterburn
Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem were saying 'Isn't this the man they are seeking to kill?' and 'Look he speaks out publicly and they say nothing to him. Can it possibly be that the authorities have actually realised that this man is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from. But when the Christ comes, no-one will know where he comes from.'
Then Jesus cried out in the temple courts, teaching: 'You know me, and where I come from. I have not come on my own authority but it is true about the one who sent me, whom you do not know. I know him, because I am from him; that one sent me.
So they sought to arrest him, and yet no-one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. In fact many of the crowd believed in him and they said 'When the Christ comes, he won't do more signs than this man has done, will he?'
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.
George Herbert
The crowd replied 'You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill you?'
Jesus replied : ' I did one thing, and you all are amazed because of it.
Moses gave you circumcision - not that it came from Moses, but the Patriarchs
- and you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath.
If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a whole man healthy on the Sabbath?
Do not judge by first impressions, but judge with right judgement.'
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
When the festival was already halfway through, Jesus went up to the Temple courts and he began to teach. Then the Jewish crowds were wondering and said 'How does this man have so much learning, not having been trained?'
Jesus answered them 'My teaching does not come from me but from the one who sent me. If anyone chooses to do his will, they will know about my teaching whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority.
The one speaking on their own authority seeks their own glory.
The one seeking the glory of the one who sent them - that one is truthful and injustice is not in them.
Did not Moses give you the Law? Yet none of you keeps the Law. Why do you seek to kill me?'
O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.
Gertrude the Great
For the next six months Jesus was walking about in Galilee. For he chose not to walk about in Judea, because the Jewish leaders were looking for a chance to kill him.
The Jewish Festival of Sukkot was near. So his brothers said to him 'You should leave here, and go to Judea, so that your disciples will see the works you do. For nobody does anything in secret and yet seeks to be well known. If you do these things, show yourself to the world. (For not even his brothers believed in him.)
Jesus said to them 'My time has not yet arrived.But your time is always 'now'. The world cannot hate you, it hates me because I bear witness that its works are evil. You go up to the festival, I am not going up to this Festival because my time has not yet come.
After he said these things he stayed in Galilee.
When however his brothers went up to the festival, then he also went up; not openly but in secret.
So the Jewish leaders sought him in the festival and said 'Where is that man?' And there was murmuring about him among the crowds. Some said 'He is a good man', but others said 'No he deceives the crowd.' However nobody spoke openly about him for fear of the Jewish leaders.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
From this moment many of his disciples went back and walked with him no longer.
So Jesus said to the twelve 'Surely you do not want to go away too, do you?'
Simon Peter replied 'Lord, to whom would we go to? You have the words that lead to resurrection life and we have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God. '
Jesus answered him 'Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And one of you is the devil. '
He said this about Judas son of Simon Iscariot. For he was about to betray him, though one of the Twelve.
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art -
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Then many of his disciples hearing this said 'This saying is hard to take. Who can understand this?'
Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling because of this, said to them:
'Does this cause you to stumble?
So what if you see the Son of Man going up to where he was before?
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh achieves nothing.
The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
But among you are some who do not believe.
(For in fact Jesus knew from the beginning some were unbelievers and as well as who would betray him.)
And he went on to say 'This is why I have said "Nobody can come to me unless the Father has granted it to them."'
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.
George Herbert
Then the Jews there quarrelled with each other saying 'How can this fellow give us his flesh to eat?'
So Jesus said to them :
'Truly, truly I say to you if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood then you do not have life in yourselves.
The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has resurrection life, I will raise them on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood stays in me and I in them.
Just as the living Father sent me and I live through the Father so the one who eats me will live through me.
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, not like the bread your ancestors ate and died.
The one who eats this bread will live into the resurrection age.
He said these things as he taught in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
So the Jewish [who were gathered there] began to grumble about him, that he said 'I am the bread that came down from heaven.' And they said 'Is this fellow not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose mother and father we know? How can now he say "I have come down from heaven?"'
Jesus replied to them 'Do not keep on grumbling among yourselves.
'No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them on the last day. It has been written in the prophets "And everyone will be taught by God." And everyone who hears and learns from the Father, comes to me. (Not that any one has seen the Father, except the one who is from God - that one has seen the Father.)
'Truly truly I say to you, the one who believes has resurrection life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness and yet died. This one is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that anyone may eat it and not die.
'I am the living bread who came down from heaven. If someone eats this bread they will live for ever, and the bread which I will give for the world is my flesh.'
Lord God,,
you feed us with the living bread from heaven;
you renew our faith,
increase our hope,
and strengthen our love.
Teach us to hunger
for Christ who is the true and living bread,
and to live by every word
that comes from your mouth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Hebs 12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to fathom you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Benedict
Hebs 6
13When God was making his promise to Abraham, you see, he had nobody else greater than himself by whom he could swear, and so he swore by himself, 14with the words, ‘I will most surely bless you, and multiply you very greatly.’ 15And so in this way Abraham, after much patience, obtained the promise. 16People regularly swear by someone greater than themselves, and in all their disputes the oath confirms the matter and brings it to closure. 17So when God wanted to show all the more clearly to the heirs of the promise just how unchangeable his will was, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should tell a lie, those of us who have come for refuge should have solid encouragement to take hold of the hope which lies before us. 19We have this hope like an anchor, secure, solid, and penetrating into the inner place behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has gone in ahead of us and on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
St Anselm
Hebs 4
14Well, then, since we have a great high priest who has gone right through the heavens, Jesus, God’s son, let us hold on firmly to our confession of faith. 15For we don’t have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us at the moment when we need it.
7During the time of Jesus’ earthly life, he offered up prayers and supplications, with loud shouts and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death. He was heard because of his devotion. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9When he had been made complete and perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10since he has been designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
Hebs 4
4So we are bound to worry that some of you might seem to have missed out on God’s promise of entering his rest, the promise which is still open before us. 2For we certainly had the good news announced to us, just as they did; but the word which they heard didn’t do them any good, because they were not united in faith with those who heard it.
9Thus we conclude: there is still a future sabbath ‘rest’ for God’s people. 10Anyone who enters that ‘rest’ will take a rest from their works, as God did from his. 11So, then, let’s make every effort to enter that ‘rest’, so that nobody should trip and fall through the same pattern of unbelief.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
O Lord God
When you give to your servants to endeavour any great matter
grant us to know that it is not the beginning,
but the continuing of it,
until it be thoroughly finished,
which yields the true glory,
through him
who for the finishing of your work
laid down his life,
our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Francis Drake
Hebs 1
1In many ways and by many means God spoke in ancient times to our ancestors in the prophets; 2but at the end of these days he spoke to us in a son. He appointed this son to be heir of all things; through him, in addition, he created the worlds. 3He is the shining reflection of God’s own glory, the precise expression of his own very being; he sustains all things through his powerful word. He accomplished the cleansing needed for sins, and sat down at the right of the Majesty Supreme. 4See how much greater he is than the angels: the name he was granted is finer than theirs.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.
Gertrude the Great
Eph 6
10What else is there to say? Just this: be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his power. 11Put on God’s complete armour. Then you’ll be able to stand firm against the devil’s trickery. 12The warfare we’re engaged in, you see, isn’t against flesh and blood. It’s against the leaders, against the authorities, against the powers that rule the world in this dark age, against the wicked spiritual elements in the heavenly places. 13For this reason, you must take up God’s complete armour. Then, when wickedness grabs its moment, you’ll be able to withstand, to do what needs to be done, and still to be on your feet when it’s all over.
14So stand firm! Put the belt of truth round your waist; put on justice as your breastplate; 15for shoes on your feet, ready for battle, take the good news of peace. 16With it all, take the shield of faith; if you’ve got that, you’ll be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is God’s word. Prayer and peace
18Pray on every occasion in the spirit, with every type of prayer and intercession. You’ll need to keep awake and alert for this, with all perseverance and intercession for all God’s holy ones – 19and also for me! Please pray that God will give me his words to speak when I open my mouth, so that I can make known, loud and clear, the secret truth of the gospel.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
Eph 5
11So don’t get involved in the works of darkness, which all come to nothing. Instead, expose them! 12The things they do in secret, you see, are shameful even to talk about. 13But everything becomes visible when it’s exposed to the light, 14since everything that is visible is light. That’s why it says: Wake up, you sleeper! Rise up from the dead! The Messiah will shine on you! 15So take special care how you conduct yourselves. Don’t be unwise, but be wise. 16Make use of any opportunity you have, because these are wicked times we live in. 17So don’t be foolish; rather, understand what the Lord’s will is. 18And don’t get drunk with wine; that way lies dissipation. Rather, be filled with the spirit! 19Speak to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Gracious and holy Father,
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.
George Herbert
Eph 4 /5
17So this is what I want to say; I am bearing witness to it in the Lord. You must no longer behave like the Gentiles, foolish-minded as they are.25Put away lies, then. ‘Each of you, speak the truth with your neighbour,’ because we are members of one another. 26‘Be angry, but don’t sin’; don’t let the sun go down on you while you’re angry, 27and don’t leave any loophole for the devil. 28The thief shouldn’t steal any longer, but should rather get on with some honest manual work, so as to be able to share with people in need. 29Don’t let any unwholesome words escape your lips. Instead, say whatever is good and will be useful in building people up, so that you will give grace to those who listen.
30And don’t disappoint God’s holy spirit – the spirit who put God’s mark on you to identify you on the day of freedom. 31All bitterness and rage, all anger and yelling, and all blasphemy – put it all away from you, with all wickedness. 32Instead, be kind to one another, cherish tender feelings for each other, forgive one another, just as God forgave you in the king. 5So you should be imitators of God, like dear children. 2Conduct yourselves in love, just as the Messiah loved us, and gave himself for us, as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to fathom you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Benedict
Ephesians 3:14-21
14Because of this, I am kneeling down before the father, 15the one who gives the name of ‘family’ to every family that there is, in heaven and on earth. 16My prayer is this: that he will lay out all the riches of his glory to give you strength and power, through his spirit, in your inner being; 17that the king may make his home in your hearts, through faith; that love may be your root, your firm foundation; 18and that you may be strong enough (with all God’s holy ones) to grasp the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the king’s love – though actually it’s so deep that nobody can really know it! So may God fill you with all his fullness. 20So: to the one who is capable of doing far, far more than we can ask or imagine, granted the power which is working in us – 21to him be glory, in the church, and in King Jesus, to all generations, and to the ages of ages! Amen!
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.
Gertrude the Great
Ephesians 1
3Let us bless God, the father of our Lord Jesus, the king! He has blessed us in the king with every spirit-inspired blessing in the heavenly realm. The choice and the plan 4He chose us in him before the world was made, so as to be holy and irreproachable before him in love. 5He foreordained us for himself, to be adopted as sons and daughters through Jesus the king. That’s how he wanted it, and that’s what gave him delight, 6so that the glory of his grace, the grace he poured on us in his beloved one, might receive its due praise. 7In the king, and through his blood, we have deliverance – that is, our sins have been forgiven – through the wealth of his grace 8which he lavished on us. Yes, with all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the secret of his purpose, just as he wanted it to be and set it forward in him 10as a blueprint for when the time was ripe. His plan was to sum up the whole
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Open my eyes to your presence
Open my ears to your call
Open my heart to you love
May I open my arms to others
May I open my heart to strangers
May I open my door to callers
That I may be open you you Lord
Open this day and for evermore
Gal 5
16Let me say this to you: live by the spirit, and you won’t do what the flesh wants you to. 17For the flesh wants to go against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you can’t do what you want. 18But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are such things as fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, bursts of rage, selfish ambition, factiousness, divisions, 21moods of envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I told you before, and I tell you again: people who do such things will not inherit God’s kingdom. Fruit of the spirit 22But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, great-heartedness, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. There is no law that opposes things like that! 24And those who belong to the Messiah, Jesus, crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the spirit, let’s line up with the spirit. 26We shouldn’t be conceited, vying with one another and jealous of each other.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
Gal 5
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Lord, make me and instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen
Galatians 3 /4
6 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is under age, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were under age, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba,[c] Father.’ 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535)
Galatians 3
3You witless Galatians! Who has bewitched you? King Jesus was portrayed on the cross before your very eyes! 2There’s just one thing I want to know from you. Did you receive the spirit by doing the works of Torah, or by hearing and believing? 3You are so witless: you began with the spirit, and now you’re ending with the flesh? 4Did you really suffer so much for nothing – if indeed it is going to be for nothing? 5The one who gives you the spirit and performs powerful deeds among you – does he do this through your performance of Torah, or through hearing and believing?
10Because, you see, those who belong to the ‘works-of-the-law’ camp are under a curse! Yes, that’s what the Bible says: ‘Cursed is everyone who doesn’t stick fast by everything written in the book of the law, to perform it.’ 11But, because nobody is justified before God in the law, it’s clear that ‘the righteous shall live by faith’. 12The law, however, is not by faith: rather, ‘the one who does them shall live in them’. 13The Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse on our behalf, as the Bible says: ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’ 14This was so that the blessing of Abraham could flow through to the nations in King Jesus – and so that we might receive the promise of the spirit, through faith.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God, blessed now and for ever.
St Anselm
Galatians 3
15We are Jews by birth, not ‘Gentile sinners’. 16But we know that a person is not declared ‘righteous’ by works of the Jewish law, but through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. That is why we too believed in the Messiah, Jesus: so that we might be declared ‘righteous’ on the basis of the Messiah’s faithfulness, and not on the basis of works of the Jewish law. On that basis, you see, no creature will be declared ‘righteous’. 17Well, then; if, in seeking to be declared ‘righteous’ in the Messiah, we ourselves are found to be ‘sinners’, does that make the Messiah an agent of ‘sin’? Certainly not! 18If I build up once more the things which I tore down, I demonstrate that I am a lawbreaker. 19Let me explain it like this. Through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with the Messiah. 20I am, however, alive – but it isn’t me any longer, it’s the Messiah who lives in me. And the life I do still live in the flesh, I live within the faithfulness of the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I don’t set aside God’s grace. If ‘righteousness’ comes through the law, then the Messiah died for nothing.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which you have given us,
for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer,
Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly,
day by day. Amen.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual[b] worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d]
NRSV
Lord, make me and instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen
Romans 8 :12-17
12So then, my dear family, we are in debt – but not to human flesh, to live our life in that way. 13If you live in accordance with the flesh, you will die; but if, by the spirit, you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14All who are led by the spirit of God, you see, are God’s children. 15You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery, did you, to go back again into a state of fear? But
you received the spirit of sonship, in whom we call out ‘Abba, father!’ 16When that happens, it is the spirit itself giving supporting witness to what our own spirit is saying, that we are God’s children. 17And if we’re children, we are also heirs: heirs of God, and fellow heirs with the Messiah, as long as we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to fathom you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Benedict
Romans 5:1-11
5The result is this: since we have been declared ‘in the right’ on the basis of faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus the Messiah. 2Through him we have been allowed to approach, by faith, into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate the hope of the glory of God. 3That’s not all. We also celebrate in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patience, 4patience produces a well-formed character, and a character like that produces hope. 5Hope, in its turn, does not make us ashamed, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the holy spirit who has been given to us. Jesus’ death reveals God’s love and guarantees final salvation
6This is all based on what the Messiah did: while we were still weak, at that very moment he died on behalf of the ungodly. 7It’s a rare thing to find someone who will die on behalf of an upright person – though I suppose someone might be brave enough to die for a good person. 8But this is how God demonstrates his own love for us: the Messiah died for us while we were still sinners.
9How much more, in that case – since we have been declared to be in the right by his blood – are we going to be saved by him from God’s coming anger! 10When we were enemies, you see, we were reconciled to God through the death of his son; if that’s so, how much more, having already been reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11And that’s not all. We even celebrate in God, through our Lord Jesus
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.
George Herbert
Romans 3:21-26
21But now, quite apart from the law (though the law and the prophets bore witness to it), God’s covenant justice has been displayed. 22God’s covenant justice comes into operation through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah, for the benefit of all who have faith. For there is no distinction: 23all sinned, and fell short of God’s glory – 24and by God’s grace they are freely declared to be in the right, to be members of the covenant, through the redemption which is found in the Messiah, Jesus
.25God put Jesus forth as the place of mercy, through faithfulness, by means of his blood. He did this to demonstrate his covenant justice, because of the passing over (in divine forbearance) of sins committed beforehand. 26This was to demonstrate his covenant justice in the present time: that is, that he himself is in the right, and that he declares to be in the right everyone who trusts in the faithfulness of Jesus.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.
Romans 2:1-11
So you have no excuse – anyone, whoever you are, who sits in judgment! When you judge someone else, you condemn yourself, because you, who are behaving as a judge, are doing the same things. 2God’s judgment falls, we know, in accordance with the truth, on those who do such things. 3But if you judge those who do them and yet do them yourself, do you really suppose that you will escape God’s judgment? 4Or do you despise the riches of God’s kindness, forbearance and patience? Don’t you know that God’s kindness is meant to bring you to repentance?
5But by your hard, unrepentant heart you are building up a store of anger for yourself on the day of anger, the day when God’s just judgment will be unveiled – 6the God who will ‘repay everyone according to their works’. 7When people patiently do what is good, and so pursue the quest for glory and honour and immortality, God will give them the life of the age to come. 8But when people act out of selfish desire, and do not obey the truth, but instead obey injustice, there will be anger and fury. 9There will be trouble and distress for every single person who does what is wicked, the Jew first and also, equally, the Greek – 10and there will be glory, honour and peace for everyone who does what is good, the Jew first and also, equally, the Greek. 11God, you see, shows no partiality.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Lord, because you have made me, I owe you the whole of my love;
because you have redeemed me, I owe you the whole of myself;
because you have promised so much, I owe you my whole being.
I pray you, Lord, make me taste by love what I taste by knowledge;
let me know by love what I know by understanding.
I owe you more than my whole self, but I have no more,
and by myself I cannot render the whole of it to you.
Draw me to you, Lord, in the fullness of your love.
I am wholly yours by creation;
make me all yours, too, in love.
Amen.
Anselm
Acts 15
Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’ 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles should hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.’
The LORD bless you and keep you, The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you,
The LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace.
Amen.
Acts 10
9 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 2
34 Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
Acts 10
9The next day, as they were on their journey and getting near the town, Peter went up onto the roof of the house to pray. It was around midday; 10he was hungry, and asked for something to eat. While they were preparing it, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened, and a vessel like a great sail coming down towards the earth, suspended by its four corners. 12In the sail there was every kind of four-footed creature, reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then he heard a voice: ‘Get up, Peter!’ said the voice. ‘Kill and eat!’ 14‘Certainly not, Master!’ said Peter. ‘I’ve never eaten anything common or unclean!’ 15‘What God has made clean,’ said the voice, coming now for a second time, ‘you must not regard as common.’ 16This all happened three times, and then suddenly the sail was whisked back up to heaven.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.
Gertrude the Great
Acts 9
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out threats and murder on the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and requested from him official letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he could find people who belonged to the Way, men and women alike, tie them up and bring them back to Jerusalem. 3While he was on the journey, and was getting near to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4He fell on the ground and heard a voice speaking to him. ‘Saul, Saul!’ said the voice. ‘Why are you persecuting me?’ 5‘Who are you, Lord?’ he asked. ‘I am Jesus,’ he said, ‘and you are persecuting me. 6But get up and go into the city, and it will be told you what you have to do.’
17So Ananias set off, went into the house, and laid his hands on him. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘the Lord has sent me – yes, Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – so that you may be able to see again, and receive the holy spirit.’ 18At once something like scales fell off his eyes, and he was able to see. He got up and was baptized. 19He had something to eat, and regained his strength.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
Acts 8:1-8
And Saul approved of their killing.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
Acts 4:35-36
32The company of those who believed had one heart and soul. Nobody said that they owned their property; instead, they had everything in common. 33The apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and great grace was upon all of them. 34For there was no needy person among them, since any who possessed lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sale, 35and placed it at the feet of the apostles, who then gave to each according to their need. 36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, to whom the apostles gave the surname ‘Barnabas’ (which means ‘son of encouragement’), 37sold some land which belonged to him, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
Acts 4:23 ff
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
St Anselm
Acts 4:8-13
8Peter was filled with the holy spirit. ‘Rulers of the people and elders,’ he said, 9‘if the question we’re being asked today is about a good deed done for a sick man, and whose power it was that rescued him, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man stands before you fit and well because of the name of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead. 11He is the stone which you builders rejected, but which has become the head cornerstone. 12Rescue won’t come from anybody else! There is no other name given under heaven and among humans by which we must be rescued.’ The clash of loyalties 13When they saw how boldly Peter and John were speaking, and realized that they were untrained, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they recognized them as people who had been with Jesus. 14And when they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15They ordered them to be put out of the assembly while they conferred among themselves.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Goldingay, John. The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535)
Acts 3:1-8a
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer – at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Lord, make me and instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen
Acts 2:42-47
New International Version - UK
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Open my eyes to your presence
Open my ears to your call
Open my heart to you love
May I open my arms to others
May I open my heart to strangers
May I open my door to callers
That I may be open you you Lord
Open this day and for evermore
Hebs 12:18-24
You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
St Anselm
Hebrews 9:23-28
23That’s why it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly objects to be purified in this way, while the heavenly things themselves require better sacrifices than these. 24For the Messiah did not enter into a sanctuary made by human hands, the copy and pattern of the heavenly one, but into the heavenly one itself, where he now appears in God’s presence on our behalf. 25Nor did he intend to offer himself over and over again, in the same way as the high priest goes into the sanctuary year after year with blood that isn’t his own. 26Had that been the case, he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. Instead, he has appeared once, at the close of the ages, to put away sin by the sacrifice of his own self. 27Furthermore, just as it is laid down that humans have to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28so the Messiah, having been offered once and for all to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time. This will no longer have anything to do with sin. It will be in order to save those who are eagerly awaiting him.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Hasten, O Lord,
the coming of the Messiah,
the shoot of your servant David.
Through your salvation
his kingdom will be restored
and peace will flourish.
O God of Heaven,
grant us your salvation.
Jewish Prayer from the Amidah
Hebrews 9:11-14
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, so obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.
George Herbert
1 John 5:9-13
We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
O Love,
O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.
Gertrude the Great
John 17:20-24
‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
stay beside me to defend me,
within me to guide me,
before me to lead me,
and above me to bless me,
that with you and in you,
I may live, and move and have my being,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Hebrews 10:1-25
19So then, my brothers and sisters, we have boldness to go into the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus. 20He has inaugurated a brand new, living path through the curtain (that is, his earthly body). 21We have a high priest who is over God’s house. 22Let us therefore come to worship, with a true heart, in complete assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold on tightly to our confession of hope, without being diverted; the one who announced the message to us is trustworthy! 24Let us, as well, stir up one another’s minds to energetic effort in love and good works. 25We mustn’t do what some people have got into the habit of doing, neglecting to meet together. Instead, we must encourage one another, and all the more as you can see the great day coming closer.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
.
Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to fathom you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Benedict
Luke 24:44-53New International Version
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension of Jesus
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
The LORD bless you and keep you, The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you,The LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace.
Amen.
Luke 24:44-53 New International Version
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension of Jesus 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
O Lord God
When you give to your servants to endeavour any great matter
grant us to know that it is not the beginning,
but the continuing of it,
until it be thoroughly finished,
which yields the true glory,
through him
who for the finishing of your work
laid down his life,
our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Francis Drake
John 15
26‘When the helper comes – the one I shall send you from the father, the spirit of truth who comes from the father – he will give evidence about me. 27And you will give evidence as well, because you have been with me from the start.’
John 16
12‘There are many things I still have to say to you,’ Jesus continued, ‘but you’re not yet strong enough to take them. 13When the spirit of truth comes, though, he will guide you in all the truth. He won’t speak on his own account, you see, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will announce to you what’s to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what belongs to me and will announce it to you.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
O Lord our God,
grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart;
that so desiring, we may seek and find you;
and so finding, may love you;
and so loving, may hate those sins from which
you have delivered us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Anselm
John 15:1-4
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Keep us, O Lord,
while we tarry on this earth,
in a serious seeking after you,
and in an affectionate walking with you,
every day of our lives;
that when you come,
we may be found not hiding our talent,
nor serving the flesh,
nor yet asleep with our lamp unfurnished,
but waiting and longing for our Lord,
our glorious God for ever. Amen.
John 14:5-11 New International Version - UK
Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’
Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’
Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’
Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to fathom you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Benedict
Matthew 28:16-20 16So the eleven disciples went off to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had instructed them to go. 17There they saw him, and worshipped him, though some hesitated. 18Jesus came towards them and addressed them. ‘All authority in heaven and on earth’, he said, ‘has been given to me! 19So you must go and make all the nations into disciples. Baptize them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit. 20Teach them to observe everything I have commanded you. And look: I am with you, every single day, to the very end of the age.’
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
O Lord God
When you give to your servants to endeavour any great matter
grant us to know that it is not the beginning,
but the continuing of it,
until it be thoroughly finished,
which yields the true glory,
through him
who for the finishing of your work
laid down his life,
our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
St Francis Drake
1 Peter 2:2-8 New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner’,
and
‘A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall.’
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
1 John 4:7-16
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.
John 14:1-4
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
Rev 7:9-17
9After this I looked, and lo and behold a huge gathering which nobody could possibly count, from every nation and tribe and people and language. They were standing in front of the throne, and in front of the lamb. They were dressed in white robes, holding palm branches in their hands. 10They were shouting out at the tops of their voices, ‘Salvation belongs to our God, to the one who sits on the throne, and to the lamb!’ 11All the angels who were standing around the throne and the elders and the four creatures fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God. 12‘Yes, Amen!’ they were saying.saying. ‘Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever! Amen!’ 13One of the elders spoke to me. ‘Who are these people dressed all in white?’ he asked. ‘Where have they come from?’ 14‘Sir,’ I replied, ‘you know!’ ‘These are the ones’, he said, ‘who have come out of the great suffering. They have washed their clothes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. 15That is why they are there in front of God’s throne, serving him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16They will never be hungry again, or thirsty again. The sun will not scorch them, nor will any fierce heat. 17The lamb, who is in the midst of the throne, will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of running water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Hasten, O Lord,
the coming of the Messiah,
the shoot of your servant David.
Through your salvation
his kingdom will be restored
and peace will flourish.
O God of Heaven,
grant us your salvation.
Jewish Prayer from the Amidah
Apologies for the various errors in the past few days. Hopefully I am back on track now!
I Peter 2
19It is to your credit, you see, if because of a godly conscience you put up with unjust and painful suffering. 20After all, what credit is it if you do something wrong, are beaten for it, and take it patiently? But if you do what is right, suffer for it, and bear it patiently, this is to your credit before God. 21This, after all, is what came with the terms of your call, because the Messiah, too, suffered on your behalf, leaving behind a pattern for you so that you should follow the way he walked. 22He committed no sin, nor was there any deceit in his mouth. 23When he was insulted, he didn’t insult in return, when he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but he gave himself up to the one who judges justly.24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might be free from sins and live for righteousness. It is by his wound that you are healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your true lives.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Open my eyes to your presence
Open my ears to your call
Open my heart to you love
May I open my arms to others
May I open my heart to strangers
May I open my door to callers
That I may be open you you Lord
Open this day and for evermore
I am sorry that I 'printed' this passage yesterday! I must have turned over two pages. If it makes any difference ... you can now subscribe to this podcast in the iTunes store.
John 10:24-30 New International Version
24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
John 10:24-30 New International Version
24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.
Now may the God of peace,
who through the blood of the eternal covenant
brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus
that great Shepherd of the sheep,
equip you with everything good for doing his will
and may he work in us
what is pleasing to him
through Jesus Christ
to whom be glory for ever and ever
Amen.
John 10:7-13 New International Version
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep
Now may the God of peace,
who through the blood of the eternal covenant
brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus
that great Shepherd of the sheep,
equip you with everything good for doing his will
and may he work in us
what is pleasing to him
through Jesus Christ
to whom be glory for ever and ever
Amen. .
John 21
15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. ‘Simon, son of John,’ he said, ‘do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Master,’ he said. ‘You know I’m your friend.’ ‘Well, then,’ he said, ‘feed my lambs.’ 16‘Simon, son of John,’ said Jesus again, for a second time, ‘do you love me?’ ‘Yes, Master,’ he said. ‘You know I’m your friend.’ ‘Well, then,’ he said, ‘look after my sheep.’ 17‘Simon, son of John,’ said Jesus a third time, ‘are you my friend?’ Peter was upset that on this third time Jesus asked, ‘Are you my friend?’ ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you know everything! You know I’m your friend!’ ‘Well, then,’ said Jesus, ‘feed my sheep. 18‘I’m telling you the solemn truth,’ he went on. ‘When you were young, you put on your own clothes and went about wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you’ll stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you up and take you where you don’t want to go.’ 19He said this to indicate the sort of death by which Peter would bring God glory. And when he had said this, he added, ‘Follow me!’
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535)
John 21:1-
21After this, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias. This was how he showed himself. 2Simon Peter, Thomas (known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples, were all together. 3Simon Peter spoke up.
‘I’m going fishing,’ he said. ‘We’ll go with you,’ they replied. So they went off and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing. 4As dawn was breaking, Jesus stood beside the seashore, but the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. 5‘Children,’ said Jesus to them, ‘haven’t you got anything to eat?’ ‘No!’ they replied. 6‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat,’ he said, ‘and you’ll find something.’ So they cast the net; and now they couldn’t draw it in because of the weight of the fish. 7So the disciple that Jesus loved spoke to Peter. ‘It’s the master!’ he said. When Simon Peter heard that it was the master, he wrapped his cloak around him (he had been naked for work), and threw himself into the sea. 8The other disciples brought the boat in to land, dragging the net full of fish. They weren’t far from shore, about a hundred yards away. Breakfast by the shore 9When they came to land, they saw a charcoal fire laid there, with fish and bread on it. 10Jesus spoke to them. ‘Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,’ he said. 11So Simon Peter went and pulled the net onto the shore. It was full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three in all. The net wasn’t torn, even though there were so many. 12‘Come and have breakfast,’ said Jesus to them. None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the master. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so also with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus had appeared to the disciples after he had been raised from the dead.
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Open my eyes to your presence
Open my ears to your call
Open my heart to you love
May I open my arms to others
May I open my heart to strangers
May I open my door to callers
That I may be open you you Lord
Open this day and for evermore
Luke 24:44-49 New International Version - UK
44He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’
45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, ‘This is what is written: the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
Luke 2:36-43
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535)
1 Cor 15: 1-7
Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God, blessed now and for ever.
Anselm
1 John 1:1-4
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have gazed at, and our hands have handled – concerning the Word of Life! 2That life was displayed, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and we announce to you the life of God’s coming age, which was with the father and was displayed to us. 3That which we have seen and heard, we announce to you too, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the father, and with his son Jesus the Messiah. 4We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
. The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition. Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to fathom you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Benedict
10The prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be given to you searched and enquired about this rescue. 11They asked what sort of time it would be, the time that the Messiah’s spirit within them was indicating when speaking of the Messiah’s sufferings and subsequent glory. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they were ministering these things – things which have now been announced to you by the holy spirit who was sent from heaven, through those who preached the good news to you. The angels long to gaze on these things! 13So fasten your belts – the belts of your minds! Keep yourselves under control. Set your hope completely on the grace that will be given you when Jesus the Messiah is revealed. 14As children of obedience, don’t be squashed into the shape of the passions you used to indulge when you were still in ignorance. 15Rather, just as the one who called you is holy, so be holy yourselves, in every aspect of behaviour. 16It is written, you see, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Open my eyes to your presence
Open my ears to your call
Open my heart to you love
May I open my arms to others
May I open my heart to strangers
May I open my door to callers
That I may be open you you Lord
Open this day and for evermore
1 Peter 1:3-6 New International Version - UK Praise to God for a living hope 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Thomas More (c.1478-1535)
Revelation 1:4-8 New International Version - UK Greetings and doxology 4 John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
7 ‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’[b]
and ‘every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him’;
and all peoples on earth ‘will mourn because of him.’[c]
So shall it be! Amen.
8 ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’
O Lord God
When you give to your servants to endeavour any great matter
grant us to know that it is not the beginning,
but the continuing of it,
until it be thoroughly finished,
which yields the true glory,
through him
who for the finishing of your work
laid down his life,
our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
St Francis Drake
John 20:24-29 New International Version - UK Jesus appears to Thomas 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’
But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ 27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’
28 Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
29 Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
Acts 10:34-43
New International Version - UK
34 Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached – 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 ‘We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’
Hasten, O Lord,
the coming of the Messiah,
the shoot of your servant David.
Through your salvation
his kingdom will be restored
and peace will flourish.
O God of Heaven,
grant us your salvation.
Jewish Prayer from the Amidah
1 Corinthians 15:19-26 New International Version - UK 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
St Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without
parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,
blessed now and for ever.
Luke 24:13-33 English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK) On the Road to Emmaus 13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is towards evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
Footnotes: 1. Luke 24:13 Greek sixty stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 metres
English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,[a] “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
The LORD bless you and keep you, The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, The LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace.
Amen.
Luke 24:9-12 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Collect for Easter
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Mark 15:25-39 New International Version (NIV) It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.
They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which you have given us,
for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer,
Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly,
day by day. Amen.
26As they led him away, they grabbed a man from Cyrene called Simon, who was coming in to the city from outside, and they forced him to carry the crossbeam behind Jesus.
27A great crowd of the people followed Jesus, including women who were mourning and wailing for him. 28Jesus turned and spoke to them. ‘Daughters of Jerusalem,’ he said, ‘don’t cry for me. Cry for yourselves instead! Cry for your children! 29Listen: the time is coming when you will say, “A blessing on the barren! A blessing on wombs that never bore children, and breasts that never nursed them!” 30At that time people will start to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”, and to the hills, “Cover us”! 31Yes: if this is what they do with the green tree, what will happen to the dry one?’
Tom Wright The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius
Luke 22:54-65 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant-girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with him.’
But he denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know him,’ he said.
A little later someone else saw him and said, ‘You also are one of them.’
‘Man, I am not!’ Peter replied.
About an hour later another asserted, ‘Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.’
Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ Just as he was speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.
The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, ‘Prophesy! Who hit you?’ And they said many other insulting things to him.
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Jesus is arrested
39So off they went. Jesus headed, as usual, for the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40When he came to the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you won’t come into the trial.’ 41He then withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down to pray. 42‘Father,’ he said, ‘if you wish it – please take this cup away from me! But it must be your will, not mine.’ 43An angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. 44By now he was in agony, and he prayed very fervently. And his sweat became like clots of blood, falling on the ground. 45Then he got up from praying, and came to the disciples and found them asleep because of sorrow. 46‘Why are you sleeping?’ he said to them. ‘Get up and pray, so that you won’t come into the trial.’
47While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. The man named Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came towards Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas! Are you going to betray the son of man with a kiss?’ 49Jesus’ followers saw what was about to happen. ‘Master!’ they said. ‘Shall we go in with the swords?’ 50And one of them struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. 51‘Enough of that!’ said Jesus, and healed the ear with a touch. 52Then Jesus spoke to the chief priests, the Temple guardsmen, and the elders who had come after him. ‘Anyone would think I was a brigand,’ he said, ‘for you to come out with swords and clubs! 53Every day I’ve been in the Temple with you and you never laid hands on me. But your moment has come at last, and so has the power of darkness.’
The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.n.
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will. Amen.
Luke 22:7-22 The Message (MSG) The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered. Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, “Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together.”
They said, “Where do you want us to do this?”
He said, “Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home. Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there.”
They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.
When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.”
Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I’ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.”
Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.”
He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.
“Do you realize that the hand of the one who is betraying me is at this moment on this table? It’s true that the Son of Man is going down a path already marked out—no surprises there. But for the one who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man, this is doomsday.”
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
St. Thomas More (c.1478-1535)
Philippians 3:7-11 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which you have given us,
for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
Amen.
Isa 43:14-21
14Yahweh has said this,
your restorer, Yisra’el’s sacred one:
‘For your sake I am sending to Babel,
and I shall take down all of them as fugitives,
the Kasdites into their boats with a shout.
15I am Yahweh, your sacred one,
Yisra’el’s creator, your King.’
16Yahweh has said this,
the one who made a way in the sea,
A path in vigorous water,
17who took out chariot and horse,
force and vigorous one, altogether.
(They lie down, they don’t get up;
they were extinguished, they went out like a wick):
18Don’t be mindful of the earlier events,
don’t consider previous events.
19Here am I, doing something new;
now it is to grow – you will acknowledge it, won’t you.
Yes, I shall make a way in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert.
20The animals of the wild will honour me,
jackals and ostriches,
Because I’m giving water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
To give drink to my people, my chosen,
21the people that I formed for myself;
they will recount my praise.
Goldingay, John. The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK.
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.
St Columba
Hebrews 5:5-10 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
‘You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.’
And he says in another place,
‘You are a priest for ever,
in the order of Melchizedek.’
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The LORD bless you and keep you, The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, The LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace. Amen.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me to and fro among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’
I said, ‘Sovereign Lord, you alone know.’
Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones and say to them, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”’
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”’ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army.
Then he said to me: ‘Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.” Therefore prophesy and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.”’
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
May the King shield you in the valleys,
May Christ aid you on the mountains,May the Spirit bathe you on the slopes,
In hollow, on hill, on plain,
Mountain, valley and plain,
May the Three in One bless you.
Hebridean Blessing
John 12:20-33
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.
‘Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’
Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,
blessed, now and for ever.
St. Anselm of Canterbury
Mark 8:34-38
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.