Tag: god

Morning Prayer: 8 August – Psalm 36:5-6; 1 Kings 18:43; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 – on looking and seeing

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.

Psalm 36:5-6

Bay at the Back of the Ocean Iona, Scotland
Bay at the Back of the Ocean
Iona, Scotland

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.

1 Kings 18:43

Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.”

The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.”

Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness — timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

Reflection

IONA

For most monastic centres the visible characteristics of landscape have altered in the course of only a few generations.

With Iona the case is very different. We may be sure that what we now see is very much what Columba saw. Its distinctive features depend upon the enduring sea… Nothing, therefore, can be more certain than that, when we look upon Iona, or when we range even the wide horizon which is visible from its shores, we are tracing the very outlines which Columba’s eye has often traced, we follow the same winding coasts and the same strormy headlands, and the same sheltered creeks, and the same archipelego of curious islands, and the same treeacheroius reefs – by which Columba has often sailed.
From Iona by the Duke of Argyll (1878)

__________


__________

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.) Our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Aidan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer) during the month of August. On Sundays, we’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, 20 Feb – John 8:48-59 ~ “I AM” has left the building

Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentences – Brendan the Navigator (c. 486-575)

Lord, I will trust You, help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown.

I will trust You in the darkness and know that my times are still in Your hand. I will believe You for my future, chapter by chapter, until all the story is written.

Morning readings

John 8:48-59 ESV:

I-AM

The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”

So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Reflections:

never see death

The idea of abiding or remaining in Jesus’ teaching is now complemented by the motif of keeping it. This refers to remaining watchful, attentive and focused so as not to disregard it but rather to continue to obey it. It takes work to keep in touch with Jesus’ teaching. The disciple must expend energy to remain true to his teaching.

The promise that the faithful disciple will not die does not mean the disciple will not physically die; it means that he or she will not enter that state of “selfish isolation which is the negation of life”. The very fact that the disciple remains in contact with Jesus, the source of life, suggests such communion, with its death to self and life to God.

straight talk

1. Jesus speaks plainly about the Father – he refuses to glorify himself but says his Father will do so.
2. Jesus speaks plainly about his opponents ignorance of God – they are “liars.”
3. Jesus speaks plainly aboout his relationship to God – “I . . . keep his word.”
4. Jesus speaks plainly about his own divine identity – “before Abraham was born, I am!”

re-formation

The main points of chapters 7 & 8 have been Jesus divine identity, his role as the bringer of God’s salvation as water and light and the opponents’ utter alienation from God. This alienation has been stated explicitly, depicted dramatically in their questions and behavior and is now expressed symbolically in Jesus’ leaving in hiddenness.

Jesus has claimed to be I AM, the divine presence. So when he leaves the temple it is nothing less than “the departure of the Divine Presence from the old `Holy Space’.” He will not return again to the temple; he will come only to its outer precincts. His formation of a community apart from the temple will now become more apparent.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

__________

I want to be close, close to Your side / So Heaven is real and death is a lie / I want to hear voices of angels above / Singing as one

Hallelujah, holy, holy / God Almighty, the great I AM / Who is worthy, none beside Thee / God Almighty, the great I AM

I want to be near, near to Your heart / Loving the world and hating the dark / I want to see dry bones living again / Singing as one

Hallelujah, holy, holy / God Almighty, the great I AM / Who is worthy, none beside Thee / God Almighty, the great I AM

The mountains shake before You the demons run and flee / At the mention of the name King of Majesty / There is no power in hell / Or any who can stand / Before the power and the presence of the great I AM

The great I AM / the great I AM / The great I AM / The great I AM / The great I AM

__________

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: 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.

Morning Prayer, 19 Feb – John 8:39-47 ~ who’s your daddy

Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentences – Brendan the Navigator (c. 486-575)

Lord, I will trust You, help me to journey beyond the familiar and into the unknown.

I choose to live beyond regret and let You recreate my life. I believe You will make a way for me and provide for me, if only I trust You and obey.

Morning readings

John 8:39-47 ESV:

"The Temptation and Fall of Eve" William Blake (1808) Illustrations to John Milton - Paradise Lost
“The Temptation and Fall of Eve”
William Blake (1808)
Illustrations to John Milton – Paradise Lost

[The Jews] answered him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.”

They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father — even God.”

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Reflections:

paternity

Jesus is one with God the Father, expressed here once again in terms of his origin and obedience. It follows that anyone who rejects him is rejecting God the Father who sent him and to whom he is obedient. Their inability to hear his word indicates that something is radically wrong with them – they have the wrong father — they are of their father, the devil.

opposites

John portrays the devil as exactly the opposite of Jesus – Jesus is life and gives life; the devil is a murderer… Jesus is truth and speaks truth; the devil is a liar and the father of lies, to his very core there is no truth in him, but rather lies. This contrast between Jesus’ dependence on the Father and the devil’s independence from the Father is the crucial distinction between them.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series

__________

Praise to the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ / Our God and our King, to Him we will sing / In His great mercy, He has given us life / Now we can be called the children of God

Great is the Love that the Father has given us / He has delivered us / He has delivered us

Children of God, sing your song and rejoice / For the love that He has given us all / Children of God, by the blood of His Son / We have been redeemed and we can be called / Children of God / Children of God

A mystery is revealed to the universe / The Father above has proven His love / Now we are free from the judgment that we deserve / And so we are called the children of God
We are the saints / We are the children / We’ve been redeemed / We’ve been forgiven / We are the sons and daughters of our God

__________

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: 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.

Morning Prayer: Psalm 113:3; 2 Kings 2:11-14; 2 Timothy 4:7-8 ~ reward

Morning Prayer: 

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

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

Psalm 113:3 ESV    From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

chariots of fire2 Kings 2:11-14 ESV    And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV    I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Prayer    Gracious God, look on your faithful servants, whom you created in your image, and claimed as your own through baptism. Comfort and strengthen them with the promise of life eternal, made sure in the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. May they finish well… all to your glory. Amen

Spiritual Song: “Chariots of Fire” – Main Theme – Vangelis

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 Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.

The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.

Morning Prayer: Psalm 48:1-3; Haggai 1:13-14; Hebrews 11:4-5 ~ pleasing God

Morning Prayer: 

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

Declaration of faith

To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Morning readings

Edmonton's River Valley Edmonton, ALBERTA
Edmonton’s River Valley
Edmonton, ALBERTA

Psalm 48:1-3 ESV    Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.

Haggai 1:13-14 ESV    Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God….

Hebrews 11:4-5 ESV    By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

Prayer/Reflection    (excerpts from Isaiah 30)

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the Lord. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade. But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.”

“Because you despise what I tell you and trust instead in oppression and lies, calamity will come upon you suddenly — like a bulging wall that bursts and falls. In an instant it will collapse and come crashing down.”

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”

So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.

Hymn: “There’s a Quiet Understanding” –Tedd Smith (1973)

There’s a quiet understanding when we’re gathered in the Spirit; it’s a promise that he gives us, when we gather in his name. There’s a love we feel in Jesus, there’s a manna that he feeds us; it’s a promise that he gives us, when we gather in his name.

And we know when we’re together, sharing love and understanding, that our brothers and our sisters feel the oneness that he brings. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jesus, for the way you love and feed us, for the many ways you lead us, thank you, thank you, Lord.

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 Morning Prayer readings are from the Daily Office of the Northumbrian Community as available online here… and in the book form, Celtic Daily Prayer available on Amazon.com.

The website and prayer book are rich in prayer resources and I commend them to you. For our purpose here, I will limit my selections to the Morning Prayer resources.