Morning Prayer

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

Opening sentence – Oswald of Northumbria (605-42)

This day is Your gift to me; I take it, Lord, from Your hand and thank You for the wonder of it.

May I feel Your presence at the heart of my desire, and so know it for Your desire for me. Thus shall I prosper, thus see that my purpose is from You, thus have the power to do the good which endures.

Morning readings

John 4:46-54 ESV:

So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Reflections / Prayer:

A father’s faith

Faith is belief that God is who and what Jesus reveals him to be, the loving Father, and it is trust in this God. This official seems to have something of this faith.

This faith is confirmed and deepened when he learns of his son’s recovery. His faith in Jesus as one who is willing and able to heal the son of a Herodian official progressed to faith in Jesus’ bare word.

Now at the end of the story it is simply said that he believed, with no other qualifiers. Jesus is the giver of life.(The IVP New Testament Commentary Series)

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The signs of glory

Twice now Jesus has moved into Galilee, and both times he has performed signs that have pointed to God’s gratuitous generosity: the first one, at the wedding, and the second one involving healing.

These two signs in Galilee stand in contrast to the many signs he did in Jerusalem, for each of them are received in faith by someone, whereas the signs in Jerusalem were not.

Now Jesus will go to Jerusalem again, and this time he will perform a provocative, revelatory act that is grasped by the Jewish opponents… but received with hostility.(The IVP New Testament Commentary Series)

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St Francis de Sales (21 August 1567 – 28 December 1622) Roman Catholic Church

“The greatest defect we have in our prayers and in all that happens to us, particularly in that which concerns tribulations, is our lack of confidence … Faith is great or little according to the measure of our confidence.” ― St. Francis de Sales

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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: 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.