‘Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene’ (Mark 16: 9) … a statue of Saint Mary Magdalen above the gateway at Magdalen College, Oxford (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)
Patrick Comerford
We have come to the end of Easter Week, and tomorrow is the Second Sunday of Easter (Easter II).
Throughout this week, my morning reflections each day include the daily Gospel reading, the prayer in the USPG prayer diary, and the prayers in the Collects and Post-Communion Prayer of the day.
Before this day begins, I am taking some quiet time this morning to give thanks for reflection, prayer and reading in these ways:
1, today’s Gospel reading;
2, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary;
3, the Collects and Post-Communion prayer of the day.
‘Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene’ (Mark 16: 9) … an icon of Saint Mary Magdalen in the chapel in Magdalen College, Oxford (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2023)
Mark 16: 9-16 (NRSVA):
9 Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
12 After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
14 Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.’
‘He appeared first to Mary Magdalene … She went out and told those who had been with him’ Mark 16: 9-10) … the Church of Aghia Magdalini or Saint Mary Magdalene, in Nea Magnesia, near Rethymnon in Crete (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Today’s Prayers (Saturday 6 April 2024):
The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church,’ the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), has been ‘Easter Day Reflection.’ This theme was introduced last Sunday by the Revd Dr Carlton John Turner, USPG Trustee.
The USPG Prayer Diary today (6 April 2024) invites us to pray:
Lord, we pray for you to reveal yourself to us. May we be inspired to create change where it is needed and take action where there is your work to be done. Amen.
The Collect:
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.
Post Communion Prayer:
God of Life,
who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son
to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection
have delivered us from the power of our enemy:
grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Additional Collect:
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.
Collect on the Eve of Easter II:
Almighty Father,
you have given your only Son to die for our sins
and to rise again for our justification:
grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness
that we may always serve you
in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued Tomorrow
‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation’ (Mark 16: 15) … a sculpture beneath the Fortezza in Rethymnon (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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