Patrick Comerford
Easter is a 50-day season that continues until the Day of Pentecost next Sunday (19 May 2024). We are in an in-between time in the Season of Easter, between Ascension Day and the Day of Pentecost, and today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter (Easter VII), or the Sunday after Ascension Day. Easter was celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Church last Sunday (5 May), and today is known in the Orthodox Church as ‘Thomas Sunday.’
Throughout this Season of Easter, 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.
Later this morning, I hope to be singing with the choir at the Parish Eucharist in Saint Mary and Saint Giles Church, Stony Stratford. But, 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.
John 17: 6-19 (NRSVA):
[Jesus said:] 6 ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.’
Today’s Prayers (Sunday 12 May 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), is ‘Triangle of Hope.’ This theme is introduced today with a programme update:
The Triangle of Hope is a covenantal community across three continents: Africa, North America and Europe. It brings together Anglicans dedicated to transforming the legacy and ongoing presence of slavery and racism in God’s world through repentance, reconciliation and mission.
The Triangle refers specifically to a partnership between three dioceses: Kumasi (Ghana), Virginia (USA) and Liverpool (England). Each diocese was directly involved in the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans. Together we remember and acknowledge with sorrow that human beings, each created in the likeness of the Lord God, were captured into slavery for financial gain with no regard for their dignity, identity and humanity. We view this history and its legacy with great pain and penitence before God, the God who wills in Christ to bring freedom and justice for all.
One of the projects of the Triangle of Hope is Tsedaqah House in the precincts of Liverpool Cathedral. This is home to young adults from around the Triangle and other places where the legacy of slavery, racism and discrimination is also felt. Residents pray and worship together and serve in a variety of settings around the diocese, promoting understanding, awareness and the common good. They are supported by five trustees, a chaplain and four mentors.
Members of the community have written and chosen the prayers this week.
The USPG Prayer Diary today (12 May 2024, Easter VII, International Mothers’ Day) invites us to pray:
Circle us, O loving Father, with your hope that we may do justice;
Circle us, O Christ our Saviour, with your hope that we may love mercy;
Circle us, O Holy Spirit, with your hope that we may walk humbly with you. Amen.
The Collect:
O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion Prayer:
Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Additional Collect:
Risen, ascended Lord,
as we rejoice at your triumph,
fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,
that all who are estranged by sin
may find forgiveness and know your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow
Members of the community of Tsedaqah House at Liverpool Cathedral have written and chosen the prayers in the USPG prayer diary this week … the cathedral seen from the waterfront (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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