Morning Prayer
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences – Cuthbert of Northumbria (635-87)
Softly as the dew-fall of heaven, may the Holy Spirit come upon me to aid me and to raise me, to bind my prayer firmly at the throne of the King of life.
Morning reading
John 12:44-50 ESV:
Andrea Previtali (1519)
And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment — what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
Reflections:
faith and oneness
Faith is not just in Jesus but in the Father who sent him. Likewise, to see Jesus is to see the Father who sent him. Because faith in Jesus is faith in God the cowardice of the would-be believers in the previous section is heinous. This unity between Jesus and the Father who sent him grounds the whole Gospel.
light in darkness
Jesus has come into the world as the light. The world is dark precisely because it is alienated from God, who is light. Because Jesus has brought the light of God everyone who believes in him no longer remains in the darkness.
unbelief
+ as disobedience – Hearing without doing, ie they will not take the teaching into their life and live according to it. Jesus says he will not judge such a person since he came to save the world, not condemn it. However, his very presence as the light, revealing God, is an exposure and thus condemnation of the darkness. So in fact judgment does take place through him.
Although judgment takes place it is still of the utmost importance to understand that God’s intent is salvific, ie to save the world.
+ as rejection – To refuse to receive Jesus’ word is to reject Jesus himself, just as to refuse to receive the Father’s Word, Jesus, is to reject the Father himself. Jesus says, that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. Condemnation begins with the rejection and, if one persists in rejecting him, it will lead to condemnation at the last day.
eternal life
The teaching that unbelievers reject comes from the Father and offers eternal life – “his command is eternal life.” The command has to do with a relationship with God himself and a sharing in his life. It is not just a description of a pattern of life and a demand to conform to it. It is a life that expresses the pattern of God’s own character. Since Jesus’ teachings come from God and offer eternal life, a rejection of these teachings is itself condemnation, for it is a rejection of God and his offer of life.
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Canticle:
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.
Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.
On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.
Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
The Peanut Gallery 