Morning Prayer: 27 Apr – Acts 11:1-18; John 10:1-10 ~ a rich and satisfying life… for all

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

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

Opening sentence and prayer:

Lord, enlighten my mind and heart.
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Lord God, when our world lay in ruins, You raised it up again on the foundation of Your Son’s Passion and Death. Give us grace to rejoice in the freedom from sin which He gained for us, and bring us to everlasting joy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

A Reading from Acts: Acts 11:1-18 (NLT)

Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said.

Peter's vision at Joppa bronze sculpture by C. Malcolm Powers — Peter’s vision at Joppa
bronze sculpture by C. Malcolm Powers

Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of tame and wild animals, reptiles, and birds. And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’

“‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.’

“But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.

“Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon entered the home of the man who had sent for us. He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!’

“As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”

When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”
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I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me. (John 10:14)
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 10:1-10 (NLT)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying 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 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

Morning Prayer: 09 Dec – Matthew 18:12-14 ~ he comes to save us

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

Opening prayer:

God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me.

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.

A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 18:12-14 (NLT)

The triptych of the Parable of the Lost Sheep was drawn by Lilias during her early years in North Africa. She captures, in three frames, a sequence which illuminates the story of the straying lamb from start to finish.

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.
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“Comfort Ye My People” – Lamb ~ Joel Chernoff & Rick Coghill

No more will you turn to another for help
Nor will you turn to yourself, to yourself
Nor will you say, “My God” to some other
For in Me you’ll find mercy, wo-o-o-o

I will heal your wrong ways
I will love you so freely
You will dwell beneath my shadow
I will be as the dew to my people
And they will blossom as the lilly, wo-o-o-o

Your beauty will be like the olive tree
Your fragrance as Lebanon, Lebanon
You will live as a well watered garden
And you will flourish like the vine, wo-o-o-o

I will heal your wrong ways
I will love you so freely
You will dwell beneath my shadow
I will be as the dew to my people
And they will blossom as the lilly, wo-o-o-o
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Canticle:

Teach me, dear Lord, to number my days; that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. Oh, satisfy me early with Thy mercy, that I may rejoice and be glad all of my days. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon me; and establish Thou the work of my hands.

Blessing:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

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

Christ the King Sunday: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; Ps 23; 1 Cor 1:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46 ~ the Shepherd King

Christ the King Sunday

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

Opening prayer:

At the end of time, Christ the King will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. He will ask how we treated the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the naked, those sick or in prison, promising a great reward to those who show love.
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Almighty God, You have conferred upon Christ Jesus sovereignty over every age and nation. Direct us, in the love of Christ, to care for the least of His brothers and sisters, that we may be subject to His dominion and receive the inheritance of Your kingdom. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to his feet your tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore his praises sing. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise the everlasting King!

Praise him for his grace and favor to his people in distress. Praise him, still the same as ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless. Alleluia, alleluia! Glorious in his faithfulness!

Fatherlike he tends and spares us; well our feeble frame he knows. In his hand he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia, alleluia! Widely yet his mercy flows!

Angels, help us to adore him; you behold him face to face. Sun and moon, bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace!
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A Reading from the Old testament: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 (NLT)

The Parable of the Good Shepherd Separating the Sheep from the Goats, Scenes from the Life of Christ. (Mosaic) Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy — The Parable of the Good Shepherd Separating the Sheep from the Goats, Scenes from the Life of Christ. (Mosaic)
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.
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“I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes — feed them justice!

“And as for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to his people: I will judge between one animal of the flock and another, separating the sheep from the goats.”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 23 (NLT)

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Corinthians 1:20-26, 28 (NLT)

So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.
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God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
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Intercessions:

Shepherd God, You care for all the flock. Hear our prayers –

+ For those in leadership roles in the Church – that they may show the kindness of the Good Shepherd…. Lord, hear us.
+ For leaders of governments – that they may work for justice and truth…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who visit us as strangers – that we may give them a warm welcome…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our brothers and sisters in prison – that we may support them and their families…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those suffering because of the Ebola Virus in West Africa – that they have the care they need…. Lord, hear us
+ For the people we love — particularly those in need of support at this time…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have recently died – that they may dwell in the Lord’s house for ever…. Lord, hear us.

Loving God, caring shepherd, You look after Your people at every moment of their lives: hear the prayers we offer, in trust and faith, through Christ our Lord. Amen
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Benediction:

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
(1 Th. 3:12-13)

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

Morning Prayer: 05 July – Psalm 121:4-7; Song of Songs 1:4, 8:14; Romans 13:9-10 ~ on following

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.

Pilgrimage

Psalm 121:4-7 NLT

Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.

Song of Songs 1:4; 8:14 NLT

Take me with you; come, let’s run! The king has brought me into his bedroom.

How happy we are for you, O king. We praise your love even more than wine.

How right they are to adore you.
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Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

Romans 13:9-10 NLT

For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These — and other such commandments — are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

Reflections

LITTLE GIDDING

The Church of Saint John the Evangelist, erected in 1714 to replace an earlier church at the site.

In 1620 Nicholas Ferrar, his mother, brother and brother-in-law with their families restored a derelict village church at Little Gidding. There they said the daily office of prayer. They were Church of England, and tried to combine the monastic values with normal family life.
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For many people the name ‘Little Gidding‘ is at first familiar because of the poem of the same name by T.S. Eliot published as one of his ‘Four Quartets.’ He seems in these verses to capture something of the nature of pilgrimage – the precise directions to somewhere awkward to find; and you’re not sure quite why you came or what it was you’re looking for. If you find it, or it finds you, words cannot easily convey what has happened but it becomes part of the journey that continues.
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Not waiting for You, climbing up the hill, I slip and stumble. Still, Your hand upon my shoulder is so strong; and every boulder sings a song of love while, high above, Your laughter draws me on and on; and ever since that morning there has been no right or wrong, but love. (From Hillclimbing for Beginners)
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Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back; My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack. His wisdom ever waketh, His sight is never dim, He knows the way He taketh, and I will walk with Him.

Aidan Readings – Aidan of Lindisfarne
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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: 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 July. 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: 04 July – Psalm 121:1-3; Habakkuk 3:16-19; John 10:14-26 ~ on treading upon the heights

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.

Pilgrimage

Psalm 121:1-3 NLT

Rocky Mountain Goats—B.C. Michael Coleman (1989) National Museum of Wildlife Art Collection — Rocky Mountain Goats—B.C.
Michael Coleman (1989)
National Museum of Wildlife Art Collection

I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there?

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Habakkuk 3:16-19 NLT

I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

John 10:14-26 NLT

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.”

Reflections

THE HIGH PLACES

The life of the praying person is a journey farther up and farther in, to places God Himself has spoken about to the attentive heart. On one such occasion the Shepherd said to Much-Afraid,

When you continue your journey there may be much mist and cloud. Perhaps it may even seem as though everything you have seen here of the high places was just a dream, or the work of your imagination… But you have seen reality, and the mist which seems to swallow it up is an illusion. Believe steadfastly in what you have seen. Even if the way up to the high places appears to be obscured and you are led to doubt whether you are following the right path, remember the promise, ‘Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.’ Always go forward along the path of obedience as far as you know it until I intervene, even if it seems to be leading you where you fear I could never mean you to go.

Hannah Hurnard, Hind’s Feet on High Places

Aidan Readings – Aidan of Lindisfarne
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