Thursday Morning Prayer, 09 Jul 2020

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

Opening:

Grant us, O Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who can do no good thing apart from you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

       Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]

Scripture Reading (CEV)

Psalm 122:3-9

Jerusalem, what a strong and beautiful city you are!  Every tribe of the Lord obeys him and comes to you to praise his name.  David’s royal throne is here where justice rules.

Jerusalem, we pray that you will have peace, and that all will go well for those who love you.  May there be peace inside your city walls and in your palaces.  Because of my friends and my relatives, I will pray for peace.  And because of the house of the Lord our God, I will work for your good.

2 Kings 4:4-5

Go home and shut the door behind you and your sons. Then begin filling the jars with oil and set each one aside as you fill it.” The woman left.

Later, when she and her sons were back inside their house, the two sons brought her the jars, and she began filling them.

Luke 1:46-53

Mary said:

With all my heart I praise the Lord, and I am glad because of God my Savior.  He cares for me, his humble servant.  From now on, all people will say God has blessed me. 

God All-Powerful has done great things for me, and his name is holy.  He always shows mercy to everyone who worships him.  The Lord has used his powerful arm to scatter those who are proud.  He drags strong rulers from their thrones and puts humble people in places of power.  God gives the hungry good things to eat, and sends the rich away with nothing.

Reflection:

Medjugorje

Since June 1981 six young people from the village of Medjugorje in the former Yugoslavia claim to have been having visions of Mary, the Lord’s mother. She urges them to prayer especially for peace, to love of Jesus and faithfulness to the gospel, and to Scripture.

David du Plessis, a well-known Pentecostal, was one of the many who have visited there: In my two days in that town I never heard an unkind word or criticism of anyone. The love, unity and fellowship I saw there are only possible in the power of the Holy Spirit. I am quite prepared for God to perform miracles in the twentieth century. And if one of these miracles involves messages delivered by the mother of Jesus, I believe God is capable of that. I saw young people reading the Bible. The priests told me that thousands of Yugoslavians, including atheists and Muslims, have accepted Jesus Christ. They told me that their church is crowded to capacity every single day, and on weekends there are so many people waiting outside that they sometimes have fifty priests hearing confessions. The Mother has encouraged the people to confess their sins and to accept Christ’s forgiveness. The whole place is charged with the love of God. You can feel it and you can see it. The village is in Croatia, and their priests have at times been imprisoned. Despite harassment by the police, there is great peace in the hearts of the villagers and young people. The only spectacular thing most visitors see is the lives of the people, which are really quite impressive. The pilgrims, like the villagers, are moved to repent, to convert their whole lives. Most return home dedicating themselves to prayer, fasting and spiritual growth.

Latest Medjugorje Message, June 25, 2020

“Dear children! I am listening to your cries and prayers, and am interceding for you before my Son Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Return, little children, to prayer and open your hearts in this time of grace and set out on the way of conversion. Your life is passing and, without God, does not have meaning. This is why I am with you to lead you towards holiness of life, so that each of you may discover the joy of living. I love you all, little children, and am blessing you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”

Prayer:

+ Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all people the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ O God, the Creator of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you in Jesus Christ; in whose Name we pray. Amen.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem – Joshua Aaron

Closing

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 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* Northumbria Community. Celtic Daily Prayer (Kindle Locations 12309-12312). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.