Morning Prayer: 8 May – Psalm 119:165-168; Genesis 13:5-9; 1 Corinthians 12:3 ~ on common truth

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

May -To a Young Disciple

This month’s readings are a development of Colambanus‘ Letter to a Young Disciple.

Psalm 119:165-168 ESV

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments. My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

The Parting of Lot and Abraham mosaic (c.430) from Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome — The Parting of Lot and Abraham
mosaic (c.430) from Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

Genesis 13:5-9 ESV

And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Reflections

Disagree Where Necessary, But Be In Agreement About Truth

Jesus said, “He who is not against us is for us” There is no excuse for division and antagonism between believers or groups of believers. It is possible to disagree strongly or deeply and still affirm that we hold fundamental truths in common, and that we are still family. Barnabas and Paul could not agree as to the wisdom of taking John Mark on mission again. In consequence they worked separately, still extending the Kingdom but through different geographic areas. Who knows if this diminished or increased their overall effectiveness? Similarly, after the Council of Whitby in 664 Bishop Colman returned to Iona with all the Irish monks and about 30 native to Northumbria who chose to go to Scotland rather than remain and implement the council’s decision. Even Bede refers to Colman as “a man of innate prudence and good sense.” After a short stay on Iona, Colman and his brothers went to Ireland and he founded two monasteries there.

The first of these monasteries was at Inis-bo-finde off the west coast of Ireland. The Northumbrians settled well, but complained that each summer the Irish monks travelled the countryside, and were not around to bring in the harvest but were content not to travel during the winter! Colman then built a second monastery on the Irish mainland for these Northumbrians, which in time grew but later conformed more to Roman practice than Celtic. Bede does not tell us the nature of the journeyings of these Irish monks who had come from Lindisfarne.

The Finan Series of Daily Readings – Finan of Lindisfarne (C. 660)
__________

__________

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

_____________________________________

Peanut Gallery: 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.) Having completed reading through the Gospel of John, our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Finan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer). We will continue with the Finan readings until Pentecost Sunday, June 8th.

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.

Morning Prayer: 7 May – Psalm 119:71; Isaiah 50:4-5; Romans 5:3-5 ~ on ease and difficulty

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

May -To a Young Disciple

This month’s readings are a development of Colambanus‘ Letter to a Young Disciple.

Psalm 119:71 ESV

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Isaiah 50:4-5 ESV

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward.

Romans 5:3-5 ESV

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Reflections

Be Pleasant When Things Are Unpleasant, And Sorrowful When They Are Pleasant

A container that is full of sweet waters cannot spill bitterness no matter how sharply it is jostled. Unpleasant situations can drive us closer to God, and to each other, if we let Him into them. We learn so much in these times that some mature souls are sad to see a pressure-cooker situation come to an end. They have learnt that it is a mistake to be at ease with ease. It is important to be kind to someone when we know they are under pressure, and when things are difficult for us it is equally important that we do not become difficult for other people!

The Finan Series of Daily Readings – Finan of Lindisfarne (C. 660)
__________

__________

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.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

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.

Morning Prayer: 6 May – Psalm 139:12; Isaiah 30:20-21; Titus 1:15-16 ~ on citadels and marketplaces

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

May -To a Young Disciple

This month’s readings are a development of Colambanus‘ Letter to a Young Disciple.

Psalm 139:12 ESV

[E]ven the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Isaiah 30:20-21 ESV

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Titus 1:15-16 ESV

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Reflections

Keep Your Options Open When There Is No Problem, But Dig In When You Must Choose

Too often the Christians are hiding out in their mission citadels peering out, cautiously preparing to run out quickly and lasso some poor passer-by, claim them for God and haul them back into the safety of the citadel. This is called making a difference in the world…? What happened to the promise that “greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world?”

We are not asked to live a blinkered or protected existence in a safe, ivory-towered environment. We are sent to walk confidently with a pure heart into the world of people and culture and pain and pressure. It need not contaminate us, if only we live the life that has taken root deep inside of us. God wants to plant us in places where we can make a difference and be in His presence – not in any self-conscious way.

There may be times when we need to speak out, opt out, explain our beliefs are different than those around us – but we should not provoke confrontations or become defensive. These times, when they happen, may lead to miracles or to persecution – or both.

The Finan Series of Daily Readings – Finan of Lindisfarne (C. 660)
__________

__________

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.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

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.

Morning Prayer: 5 May – Psalm 132:1-5; Proverbs 17:17; 1 Peter 5:8 ~ on toughness and tenderness

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentences

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

May -To a Young Disciple

This month’s readings are a development of Colambanus‘ Letter to a Young Disciple.

Psalm 132:1-5 ESV

Remember, O Lord, in David’s favor, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, “I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Proverbs 17:17 ESV

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Reflections

Be Tough in Times of Ease, Tender in Hard Times

When things are hard, often we are more reliant on God, leaning on Him in our hardship. When things become easier we tend to be more self-assured, blasé and independent. It is important then to keep our promises, and not forget the lessons we have learnt – or soon we may find ourselves having to learn them a second time. When outward circumstances are not checking us it is important to find appropriate disciplines to stop us from becoming lazy or unfit. We never know how suddenly we may be called upon, or how we may regret wasted days of opportunity.

But when we are weary, heavy-laden, and circumstances press upon us, Jesus counsels us to allow Him to be yoked beside us, shouldering much of the weight. When times are hard it is the wrong time for recriminations – gently we should ease one another’s burdens.

The Finan Series of Daily Readings – Finan of Lindisfarne (C. 660)
__________

__________

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.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

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.

3rd Sunday of Easter: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; 1 Peter 1:17-21; Luke 24:13-35 ~ walk with me

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening sentence and prayer:

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; O sing to the glory of his name.
For the Lord is risen. He is risen, indeed!
_____

Holy Spirit – Open the eyes of our hearts that we might journey with Jesus today… and see Him in the breaking of the bread.
__________

__________

A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 2:14, 22-33 (NLT)

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.
_____

When the day of Pentecost came. Mark A Hewitt Pastel & pen. 26 May 2012. — When the day of Pentecost came.
Mark A Hewitt
Pastel & pen. 26 May 2012.

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. King David said this about him:

‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today….”

A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 (NLT)

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”
__________

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.
__________

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
__________

__________

A Reading from the Letters: 1 Peter 1:17-21 (NLT)

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 24:13-35 (NLT)

The Walk to Emmaus

That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

“What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Supper at Emmaus Caravaggio, 1601 The National Gallery, London — The Supper at Emmaus
Caravaggio, 1601
The National Gallery, London

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.

Intercessions:

Lord Jesus, stay with me awhile and hear my prayers –

+ For all who seek truth; and for all who guide truth-seekers… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For civil authorities; and for all who work toward the common good… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all travelers; and for those who bring them safely home… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all who try to walk in the way of the Lord; and for all who have strayed from the path… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all those effected by natural disasters; and for those who provide them aid… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all those effected by the ravages of war; and for the believers who labor among them… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For our military, government and relief workers serving our country throughout the world; and for loved ones who await their safe return… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all those who are seriously ill, hospitalized, or homebound; and for those who are abandoned, and neglected – both young and old… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For the recently deceased, both born and unborn; and for all who mourn their loss… Lord, hear my prayer.

Loving Father, you open our eyes to your Son. Hear the cries of my heart and grant those that will bring us closer to you. I ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
__________

Spiritual Song: Walk with me

__________

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: