Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter and the Sunday after Ascension Day. Today’s Gospel reading continues the theme of the Ascension of Jesus, with a passage from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Here Jesus looks forward with confidence to returning to the Father. What John expresses in this farewell discourse, Luke symbolises through the Ascension which links the close of Luke’s Gospel with the opening of the Acts of the Apostles. The Ascension, or Jesus’ going to the Father, is seen as Jesus’ enthronement. The Ascension symbolises the reign of Christ.
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of royal thrones. Today’s picture is by Gary Bunt, Liverpool Cathedral Centenary Artist, from his series of paintings, Bert, His Dog, Our God. Risen and ascended Christ, we proclaim you to be our King. Rule over our lives, that we may work for the growth of your kingdom; for you are the King of glory, now and always. Amen. Next week is Whit Sunday, the Feast that celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. According to the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit came with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, The image to help us for next week’s theme is kites. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.
0 Comments
Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter when the Gospel reading is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Jesus is preparing them for their ongoing life in the world after he has been taken from them, he promises them that the Father will give another Paraclete to be with them for ever. This word Paraclete is peculiar to the Johannine literature. The usual translation ‘Advocate’ refers to someone who argues our case on our behalf. Literally the word means ‘someone called to our side’. In this passage Jesus promises that the Paraclete ‘will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you’. In some senses the Paraclete is our coach.
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of the coach. In today’s picture from their book, Special People, Aled and Sian are learning from their vicar, their coach in living Christian lives. Risen Lord Jesus, you promised the gift of peace to your people. Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may share your peace and lay aside all fear; for you are the Prince of Peace, today and for ever. Amen. Next week, the Seventh Sunday of Easter and the Sunday after Ascension Day, the Gospel reading from John is about Jesus returning to the Father. The image to help us for next week’s theme is royal thrones. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Today is the Fifth Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel reading is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. There Jesus gives them a new commandment. In the synoptic Gospels Jesus is portrayed as summing up the law of Moses in terms of the two great commandments, to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself. Here in John’s Gospel Jesus gives his followers a new commandment, that they love one another. This new commandment has been characterised as the essence of the Christian way of life.
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of hearts. In today’s picture from their book, Special People, Aled and Sian see a picture of a healthy heart smiling toward them. Risen Lord, you gave a new commandment to love one another. Fill our hearts with your love and empower us to share your love with others, that all may know us to be your disciples; for you are our God. Amen. Next week, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading again is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Here Jesus is preparing his disciples for receiving the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. The image to help us for next week’s theme is the coach. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel reading is part of John’s teaching about Jesus as the good shepherd whose sheep hear and know his voice. The image of the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep to model the relationship between God and the people of God was already well established in the Old Testament as exampled by Psalm 23. Throughout chapter 10 of his Gospel John develops this image to express who Jesus is. The theme reaches its climax in verse 11 with Jesus claiming ‘I am the good shepherd.’ This image has inspired many generations of Christians.
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of sheepdog. In today’s picture from his book, People Everywhere, Teddy Horsley meets the shepherd with her sheepdog as she walks through the meadow. Risen Lord, you are the good shepherd and we are your sheep. Teach us to know you, as well as you know us, that we may dwell safely in your fold; now and always. Amen. Next week, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading is taken from John’s account of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples when Jesus gives to them a new commandment that they love one another. The image to help us for next week’s theme is hearts. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. |
supporting you during these uncertain times AuthorLiverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter. Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God Archives
September 2022
|
Prayer for Liverpool
brought to you from Liverpool Cathedral St James Mount Liverpool L1 7AZ |
Liverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter.
Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk |