Tag: Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Saturday of 7th Week of Easter, 03 June – John 21:20-25 ~ accurately recorded

Saturday 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: let the Holy Spirit come down on us, as we wait in prayer, that we may become enthusiastic believers and faithful witnesses to the person and the good news of Jesus. May our way of living bear witness that Jesus is our light and life, now and for ever.

Reading: John 21:20-25 (NLT)

Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.

Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.
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Reflection & Prayer:

Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. – John 21:25

God’s loving-kindness is inexhaustible. Here is a checklist (from Psalm 103) of some of the things God does for those he loves. Which of these apply to you? Take a moment, remember the circumstances, and thank God for the goodness he has shown you.

+ He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.

+ He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

+ He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

+ He gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

+ He is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

+ He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.

+ He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

+ He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

+ He is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

+ His love remains forever with those who fear him.

+ His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!

+ He has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything.

Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.
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“Bless His holy name” – Times Square Church Choir


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Concluding Prayer – 103:1 (NLT)

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
__________

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

Morning Prayer: 14 May – John 15:9-17 ~ “Love each other.”

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

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

Opening Sentence

I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.

Morning Reading: John 15:9-17 (NLT)

rsz_jesus_on_the_cross_john_3-16_1

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

“Love each other, one another” – Graham Kendrick

Prayer

Lord Jesus, may I be one with you in all that I say and do. Draw me close that I may glorify you and bear fruit for your kingdom. Inflame my heart with your love and remove from it anything that would make me ineffective or unfruitful in loving and serving you as my All. (Dan Schwager at dailyscripture.net)

Closing Sentence

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 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

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

Morning Prayer: 23 May – Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; John 21:20-25 ~ as for you, follow me

Saturday 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:

The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Alleluia.
_____

Heavenly Father: Send Your Holy Spirit into our minds and hearts – let us proclaim before all that You are King and Lord. Grant us a love that is genuine – give us respect and a real affection for one another. Renew the hearts of the faithful by Your life-giving grace – move them to respond gladly to the gifts of the Spirit. Grant us the power of Your Spirit to repair our damaged lives – may our decay be turned into growth. 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 28:16-20, 30-31 (NLT)

When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier.

St Paul Writing His Epistles Valentin de Boulogne, ca. 1619 Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
St Paul Writing His Epistles
Valentin de Boulogne, ca. 1619
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Three days after Paul’s arrival, he called together the local Jewish leaders. He said to them, “Brothers, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Roman government, even though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors. The Romans tried me and wanted to release me, because they found no cause for the death sentence. But when the Jewish leaders protested the decision, I felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no desire to press charges against my own people. I asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel — the Messiah — has already come.”
_____

For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.
__________

I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth. (John 16:7,13)
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 21:20-25 (NLT)

Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved — the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

St. John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist
St. John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist

Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.

Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.
__________


__________

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