Tag: New Covenant

Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Fri, 21 July – Luke 21-22 ~ “I want to know Christ”

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

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

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

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.

Reading: Luke 21-22 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Philippians 3:10-11 (NLT) – I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Lord Jesus: All who put their faith and trust in you want to know you more, at least in theory. But in practice, it gets a lot harder – sharing in your suffering and death. We want to get through Good Friday as quickly as possible, so that we can live forever as Easter people; but that’s not quite the way it works, as you tell us in today’s reading.

Expect Opposition

Luke 21:12 (NLT) – “There will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers….”

Lord Jesus: You warned believers to expect opposition as we live out our faith – putting into practice what you preached; and so it has played out for 2000 years in every generation and every tribe and nation. For some it has meant prejudice, mockery and ridicule, but for others it has meant imprisonment, torture and death.

+ Lord, in your mercy, give us the courage of our convictions to face opposition in whatever form it takes
+ Lord, in your mercy, give us wisdom and the right words to speak the undeniable truth of your Word
+ Lord, in your mercy, give us perseverance to stand firm until our life’s end, even when family and friends turn against us
+ Lord, in your mercy, give us the strength to stay alert to danger and to be prepared for your imminent return

New Covenant

Luke 22:19-20 (NLT) – He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”

Lord Jesus: Thank you for instituting the sacrament of holy communion as a sign and seal of your covenant with us.

+ Thank you for your presence with us in this most holy sacrament
+ Help us to enter into this holy mystery with reverence and awe
+ Thank you for permitting your body to be broken that our bodies may be made whole
+ Thank you for pouring out your innocent blood, once and for all, for the forgiveness of our sins
+ Thank you for your assuring us in this holy mystery that we are heirs of your eternal kingdom

Watch and pray

Luke 22:45-46 (NLT) – At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

Lord Jesus: You alone understood the enormity of the sacrifice you were about to make. We cannot begin to understand your agony of spirit.

+ Forgive us our ignorance and sustain us in our prayer life
+ Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil
+ Fill us with your Spirit and lead us on the path of right living, and
+ Stay with us and watch over us, even when we fall asleep on you

I ask this for your name’s sake. Amen.
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“Beneath the Cross”


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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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

Advent Daily Prayer: 23 December – Exodus 24:3-8; Luke 22:19-20 ~ taste and see the beauty

The Season of Advent

Advent Daily Readings and Prayer

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

Opening sentence

“Do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19 NLT)
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Morning Reading: Exodus 24:3-8 NLT

Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord ’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”

image

Morning Reading: Luke 22:19-20 NLT

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people — an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
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Prayer:

Faithful God: Thank You for the New Covenant, signed and sealed with the Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. And, thank You for this season when all are, once again, welcomed to Your Table.

+ As we celebrate Christmas – may we rejoice in the wonder of the Son of God born to save us.
+ As we contemplate the Cross – may we reflect on the cost to the Son of Man who died to save us.

Loving and Gracious God: As people around the world gather at Your Table – may we drink the Cup of Joy and eat the Bread of Life… and enter into the beauty of Christmas. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, and will come again in glory, one God forever. Amen.
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“Christmas Communion Song”


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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

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people. (Revelation 22:20-21 NLT)

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

Fifth Sunday of Lent: Jer 31:31-34; Ps 51:3-4, 12-15; Heb 5:7-9; Jn 12:20-33 ~ his death, his glory

Fifth Sunday of Lent

As Easter approaches, remember all those who are preparing for Baptism; and may we be prepared to renew our Baptismal promises as well.

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

Opening prayer:

In our hearts, O God, You have written a covenant of grace, sealed by the obedience of Jesus Your Son. Raise us up with Christ, the grain fallen to earth that yields a harvest of everlasting life. Help us to glorify Your name by following faithfully where He has led. We ask this through Christ, our deliverance and hope, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever.
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A Reading from the Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:31-343 (NLT)

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.

written-on-our-hearts

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 51:3-4, 12-15 (NLT)

For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.
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Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.
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A Reading from the Letters: Hebrews 5:7-9 (NLT)

While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 12:20-33 (NLT)

Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

Crucifix Cimabue c 1268-71. Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence.
Crucifix
Cimabue c 1268-71.
Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence.

Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels — a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
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In this cross of Christ I glory, towering o’er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’ertake me, hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
never shall the cross forsake me. Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming light and love upon my way,
from the cross the radiance streaming adds more luster to the day.
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Intercessions:

Gracious God: You are the source of mercy and compassion. Hear our prayers.

+ For all who are preparing to celebrate baptism at Easter time…. Lord, hear us.
+ For obedience to the will of God among the followers of Christ…. Lord, hear us.
+ For Christians suffering persecution for their faith today…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the continuing faithfulness to God’s word of our Jewish brothers and sisters…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who hunger and thirst, in many nations, today…. Lord, hear us.
+ For the people in need in our communities, particularly our sick…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have gone before us in faith, and for those who mourn their loss…. Lord, hear us.

God of mercy and compassion, You give new heart to Your people: hear the prayers we offer in faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction:

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)

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

Morning Prayer: 23 Jan – Heb 8:6-13; Mk 3:13-19 ~ a far better covenant

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

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

Opening sentences:

Father, we praise You for your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; through the Holy Spirit He offered himself in sacrifice to You, that we might be delivered from death and selfishness, and be free to live in Your peace. We accept this new day as Your gift, Lord; grant that we may live in newness of life. Father, in Your will is our peace.

A Reading from Letters: Hebrews 8:6-13 (NLT)

But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. But when God found fault with the people, he said:

Yeshua-at-the-Wailing-Wall

“The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.
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God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
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A Reading from the Gospels: Mark 3:13-19 (NLT)

Christ’s Appearance on the Mountain Duccio Di Buoninsegna, 14th century
Christ’s Appearance on the Mountain
Duccio Di Buoninsegna, 14th century

Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons. These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
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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: Psalm 119:96-106; Jeremiah 31:33-34; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:3 ~ wholesome teaching

Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentence

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.

You will find the Lord your God, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Morning readings

Psalm 119:96-106 NLT:

Ultra Orthodox Jewish men holding a Torah scroll as they dance and celebrate Simhat Torah at the close of the Succot holiday in Mea Shearim in Jerusalem on 08 October 2012. Simchat Torah celebrates the ending of one cycle and the beginning of the new cycle of reading the Torah, the Jewish holdy scrolls used in every synagogue.
Ultra Orthodox Jewish men holding Torah scrolls as they dance and celebrate Simhat Torah at the close of the Succot holiday in Mea Shearim in Jerusalem on 08 October 2012. Simchat Torah celebrates the ending of one cycle and the beginning of the new cycle of reading the Torah, the Jewish holy scrolls used in every synagogue.

Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well.

How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 NLT:

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

2 Timothy 3:14-4:3 NLT:

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

Reflection/Prayer:

Simchat Torah, the Rejoicing of the Law, is not a biblically prescribed feast, but occurs immediately after Succot.

The Scrolls of the Law are taken out of the Holy Ark and carried in men’s arms. Father’s dance with their children, and women throw sweets on them. According to tradition, the synagogue must be encircled seven times or more. The festival is celebrated on the day on which the reading of the Torah is completed and begun again from Genesis. The Torah is read in an annual cycle, so the Jewish community created a festival of joy on a day that could have been only a day of tedious re-rolling of the community’s scrolls from the end to the beginning. We might also ask, is it not a great cause for rejoicing to complete a reading of the Scriptures by the community and to have the opportunity to begin reading again!

Daniel Juster in his study Jewish Roots asks whether the early Messianic Jews would have had an ark:

I believe they did. We historically know that they read the Torah (ie Genesis to Deuteronomy). In the first century Torahs were kept in an ark! Did they keep the New Testament Scriptures in the Ark? We do not know. However, we do know that ancient eastern churches that stem back to the Syrian church have ark-like structures in which they keep the Scriptures.

This song ‘Maoz Tzur’ is a traditional one sung after the candles are lit:

Rock of Ages, let our song
praise Thy saving power:
Thou, amidst the raging foes
wast our shelt’ring tower.
Furious they assailed us
but Thine arm availed us,
and Thy word broke their sword
when our own streength failed us.

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 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.