Lectionary Reading Easter 7 24 May Part 2.
Collect. Almighty and eternal God, your Son our Saviour is with you in eternal glory. Give us faith to see that, true to his promise, he is among us still, and will be with us to the end of time, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen
Read. 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 It is hard to see a silvery lining to this virus out break but one thing it has done is remind us quite firmly that we are really not in control much at all. Who would have suspected that with all our knowledge and skills we would find the whole world in lockdown and now contemplating a whole new way of living life? To lose control so easily and completely has reminded us that there are many things we still have to learn. As a result of the virus many people are suffering significant pain. Many have lost loved ones, indeed tens of thousands have died, many businesses are struggling to survive, many people are in luxurious isolation but many thousands more are isolated in extreme poverty and once more the divide between rich and poor has been highlighted. In our reading today Peter writes about suffering, describing it as “fiery ordeals”. He also writes that we should not be surprised when these things happen. These ordeals serve to remind us that we live in a fallen world: This is the world Jesus came to restore and the end of that restoration is at hand. {1 Pet 4:7}. To this encouragement Peter adds in the later part of our reading that despite the struggles that surround us we do need to have confidence that God will bring us through to a successful conclusion. In times of suffering we are reminded to trust that God is still in control and though we need to be watchful and diligent, {v8}, we place our confidence in God to see us through to the end. We are further reminded that though we live in a fallen world, restoration is at hand through Jesus and he is at work planning to establish and strengthen us in this restored world. As always, through every ordeal of suffering God has devised a way through to victory.
Prayer. Praise and thanks belongs to you Lord God, heavenly Father, for you have won through in all our struggles and by the merits of Jesus Christ our future is secure. We thank you for the assurance that comes through knowing Jesus and trusting in him. By his grace we pray for those who in this present situation are suffering from loss. May people everywhere turn to you and find that needed comfort and support. We pray that you will hasten the day when once again we will be able to meet with family and friends. Above all we look for the coming of that day when every hurt will be healed and every tear will be dried through the restoration that Jesus has achieved. Amen
Read John 17:1-11. This passage is often called the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. In its setting John is bringing the ministry story of Jesus to its climax, a climax that will find its pinnacle in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The prayer in our reading falls into two parts. In the first part Jesus thanks God that the work is coming to its conclusion and the glory of the cross is fast approaching. The purpose of the cross is to give life, eternal life to the elect who know and believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus then prays for the ones who believe and follow him and have come to know the truth about his unity with God. Jesus does not pray for the world but directs his prayer to the believers that they may stay true to the calling he has placed on them. The believers have to live out their ministries in the world and that will call for them to face many trials; even as Jesus himself faced opposition, so will the believers. This prayer for faith-filled lives presents present day believers with a challenge, even as it did to the original apostles and disciples. Jesus came to restore God’s sovereignty in a world and society that was actively opposed to that rule: So the prayer now reminds all believers that there is a need to live in harmony with Jesus’ work and principles. Believers are to be at one with Jesus, working in this world to bring God’s desire that kindness, justice and mercy is realised for all people. This is a great challenge and a great calling but it is also a great comfort that this prayer still rings out through the whole creation and still holds the promise that none will be lost.
Prayer. Lord you have placed us in your world to live out the life that Jesus by his ministry has won for us. You have given us the faith to anchor our trust in you alone and we look to you for guidance in all things. So gracious Lord may we live always to honour your name and give to you the glory that is yours by right. You are the great creator and sustainer of all that is and to you we dedicate afresh our lives in your service, always giving thanks to you for Jesus Christ our Saviour in whose name we pray. Amen
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