for Sunday May 17, 2015, Easter 7,Year B, Readings: Acts 1:15-17, Ps 1,
1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19
Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed, "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world...When I was with them, I protected them in your name...I ask you to protect them from the evil one...Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."
[John 17:6,12a,15b,17-18]
Then in the Gospel, we move slightly backwards in time. This reading is in the middle of what is known as the Farewell Discourse of Jesus that takes place just after the Last Supper. In this moment, Jesus is praying on our behalf, updating God on the progress of the mission so far even to say, While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. [John 17:12 ] The one lost, of course, refers to Judas. And in this prayer, for us, Jesus asks God to protect us not just for our own sake but for the sake of the whole world. In that way, God's love will live in us and be given out to the world through us through the work of Christ's mission we have been given to do. The disciples were, and we are, sent into the world sheltered in love, by love, and for the love of God through Jesus. As he looks up to heaven, Jesus asks God to make his own joy complete in us and to sanctify - or hallow - us in the truth of God's Word. What is your prayer to God? What part of Christ's mission will you take on today?
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ Holy Christ of Earth and Heaven, as the lot
fell on Matthias, so it falls to us, to actively take our place in Your
ministry and discipleship by accepting this gift with faithfulness and love.
O LORD,
Our Strength and Our Peace
RESPONSE: Sanctify our faith; empower our hearts
~
Holy Christ of Earth and Heaven, as believers in You, let us stand together to foster
justice, mercy, and freedom for all of God’s people; and give our witness to
those who govern on Earth, in this Nation, and in this City. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
O LORD, Our Strength and
Our Peace
Sanctify our faith; empower our hearts
~ Holy Christ of Earth and Heaven, lift up the
spirits of those who suffer through illness, depression, or life circumstance,
and fortify those who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for
those in need…
O LORD, Our Strength and
Our Peace
Sanctify our faith; empower our hearts
~
Holy Christ of Earth and Heaven, calm the tears of the grieving that they may
know our loved ones have now come to eternal life with You. We pray especially
for:
O LORD, Our Strength and
Our Peace
Sanctify our faith; empower our hearts
~
Holy Christ of Earth and Heaven, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud
or silently…
O LORD, Our Strength and
Our Peace
Sanctify our faith; empower our hearts
~
Holy Christ of Earth and Heaven, we offer gracious thanksgiving for all who make
You known to us through Your word and sacraments. Grant them the spiritual
tools to inspire us all to carry You into our everyday lives. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O LORD, Our Strength and
Our Peace
Sanctify our faith; empower our hearts
The Celebrant adds: God of Glory and
Righteousness who knows our hearts and minds, please guide us to find delight
in Your word, protection from evil, and the eternal happiness of walking in
Your ways. We ask through Your Son our Savior, Jesus Christ and the comfort of
the Holy Spirit, who together with You, reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.
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