Tag: Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Friday of 7th Week of Easter, 02 June – John 21:15-19 ~ follow me

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, you have appointed shepherds in your Church to speak your word to us and to build community in your name. We pray today: May they be shepherds like your Son who look for those who have lost the way, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. May they all be ministers of your tender love and service, as Jesus was, your Son and our Lord.

Reading: John 21:15-19 (NLT)

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
__________

Reflection & Prayer:

Heavenly Father: you have called us by name and have set us apart to love and serve you as faithful witnesses to our risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

Merciful God: we confess that we have not loved you with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Forgive us, for the sake of your Son; and fill us with his same loving passion and obedience even unto death.

Sovereign Lord: unfold your plan for each one of us; you have positioned us in time and place to advance the purposes of your Kingdom. Reveal to us our individual responsibilities, great and small, and empower us with the gifts of your Spirit to fulfill them.

Loving God: abide in us that our practice of love may become second nature to us. Let your loving-kindness prevail and lead us, even where we are not inclined to go, that you may be glorified in all that we do and say through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
__________

“Follow Me” – Casting Crowns


__________

Concluding Prayer – Psalm 103:1-2 (NLT)

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
__________

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

Morning Prayer: 22 May – Acts 25:13-21; John 21:15-19 ~ led where you do not want to go

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

Opening sentence and prayer:

Lord, You are our help and our salvation.

+ Almighty Father, send Your Holy Spirit to turn my words into prayers and my seeking into finding.
+ Send Your Holy Spirit to turn my darkness into light and my falseness into truth.
+ Send Your Holy Spirit to bring order out of chaos and love out of hatred.
+ Send Your Holy Spirit to change contempt for the weak into reverence for all Your children.

Heavenly Father, grant that, as I welcome Your Spirit, my faith may grow ever stronger, my service ever more loyal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from Acts: Acts 25:13-21 (NLT)

A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus. Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner. When I went to Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked that he be condemned.

Apostle Paul On Trial Nikolai Bodarevsky, 1875 Transcarpathian Regional Art Museum, Uzhhorod, Ukraine
Apostle Paul On Trial
Nikolai Bodarevsky, 1875
Transcarpathian Regional Art Museum, Uzhhorod, Ukraine

“I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand over anyone before they have faced their accusers and have had an opportunity to defend themselves against the charges. When they came here with me, I did not delay the case, but convened the court the next day and ordered the man to be brought in. When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. But when Paul made his appeal to be held over for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
__________

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I told you. (John 14:26)
__________

A Reading from the Gospels: John 21:15-19 (NLT)

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Crucifixion of St Peter Luca Giordano, 1660? Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice
Crucifixion of St Peter
Luca Giordano, 1660?
Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
__________


__________

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 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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen