Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord God, merciful Father, it is hard for us to accept pain, for we know that you have made us for joyous life to the full. When suffering cuts to the core of our being, help us to discover the depth of our inner freedom and love, and all the faith and loyalty of which we are capable, together with, and by the power of, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reading: John 16:23-28 (NLT)

“At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

“I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
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Reflection & Prayer:

Our Father: Thank you for the privilege of coming into your presence through faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Quiet our hearts before you as we abide in the beauty of your holiness.

Unite our hearts with yours; make our wills your will; give us the mind of Christ that we might truly love you with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves. Make us more concerned about what we can give to you, than about what we can receive from you.

Holy Spirit: help us in our weakness when we don’t know how to pray. Give expression to the yearnings of our hearts that the Father may grant our requests presented in harmony with his own will. Fill us with abundant joy and infuse our lives with the Father’s tender love for us that we may rest assured in him, come what may.

I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“In Jesus’ Name” – Third Day w/ Michael W. Smith, Natalie Grant & Michael Tait

The blind have sight | The deaf now hear | The lame will walk | The lost drawn near | And with new life | The dead are raised | All through the power | In Jesus name

The tired find rest | The sick are healed | The mysteries of our God revealed | And now the truth | Can be proclaimed | All through the power | In Jesus name

Name above all names | Savior and our Lord | Every knee will bow | And every tongue confess | No other name is given | By which we can be saved | Let us find our life and love | In Jesus name

The thirsty filled | The hungry fed | And those who mourn | Are comforted | The chains are broken | That have enslaved | We’re offered freedom | In Jesus name

There is power | There is hope | There is love like you’ve never known | There is forgiveness | And healing from your pain | All through the power | In Jesus name

Let us find our life and love | In Jesus name
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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 47:8-9 (NLT)

God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. The rulers of the world have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For all the kings of the earth belong to God. He is highly honored everywhere.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!