MOTHER’S DAY€¦ · MOTHER’S DAY 10th May 2020 . First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 7.55-60 ut filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of

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Sentence & Prayer of the Day

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Sentence: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life,’ says the Lord. ‘No one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14.6

Prayer of the Day: Everliving God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life: give us grace to love one another, to follow in the way of his commandments, and to share his risen life; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

MOTHER’S DAY 10th May 2020

First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 7.55-60 But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ 57 But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ 60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.

(Pause for reflection) Hear the Word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD Prayer for Mother’s Day (based on Psalm 139, Contemporary English Version) You have looked deep into my heart, LORD, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. I can't understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me. You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt.

This Week’s Readings

Nothing about me is hidden from you! You watched as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do. Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking. Don't let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true. — based on verses from Psalm 139, Contemporary English Version (CEV) Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society A reading from 1 Peter 2.11-25 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge. For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honour everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honour the emperor. Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh. For it is to your credit if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

(Pause for reflection) Hear the Word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 14.1-14

GLORY TO YOU, LORD JESUS CHRIST

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Continued over page

Reflection

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

(Pause for reflection) Hear the Gospel of the Lord, PRAISE TO YOU LORD JESUS CHRIST Living Stones God invites us to be as living stones built together with Christ, to become and be God’s people. Throughout the ages, living into this reality can be fraught with peril, be it because of our own needs to trust, learn, and grow or from those who see us as an enemy. In all of this, God is faithfully loving and present. Acts 7: 55–60 Who is this Stephen? In Acts 6, we are told that he is one of seven chosen to oversee the just distribution of food amongst the growing number of disciples. Criteria for selection included being “of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” with Stephen noted as being “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit” who “full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” Stephen debated with such irresistible wisdom that others stirred up false testimony of blasphemy against him. His subsequent testimony in Acts 7:2–50 narrates God’s work through history beginning with Abraham, through the time into Egypt, the calling of Moses and deliverance of the Hebrew people from Egypt, the time in the wilderness, and later building of the temple by Solomon. A theme through Stephen’s sermon is summarized in verse 51: “You stiff-necked people…” At this point, Stephen’s fellow Jews who sit on council are enraged and scripture passage tells us of the end of Stephen’s life. His dying words echo those of Jesus (Luke 23:34, 46). And with Stephen’s death, we are introduced to Saul, later to be re-named Paul. Stephen’s prayer, “receive my spirit,” echoes the prayers for deliverance by the psalmist in Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16. The prayer for help interweaves with a proclamation of God’s faithfulness and steadfast love, even in the presence of enemies and when rocks are needed for refuge. There is a sense of intense focus on God, as with Stephen, that reflects God’s glorious gift of presence even in dire circumstances.

In 1 Peter 2:2–10, the readers are thought to have been Gentiles who became followers of the Jewish Messiah Jesus. They are scattered throughout the lands of the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas under the rule of the Roman empire and its culture. This letter aspires to guide and inspire them in their daily lives as they are grown into the ways of being God’s own people, recipients of God’s mercy and inclusion. The language/theme of rocks/stones continues through this passage with Christ being portrayed as both a precious cornerstone for those who trust in him and as a stumbling block to those who don’t. This theme connects in part to today’s gospel reading, John 14:1–14. Jesus, as part of his farewell discourse before betrayal and execution, speaks words of reassurance to his disciples. The Greek word πιστεύω (pistévo) is used six times by Jesus to describe the kind of relationship desired of the disciples with Jesus, with God. The NRSV translates this as “believe,” which for many living in the 21st century bears a primary emphasis on intellectual thought and assent. Other translations of the word – have faith, trust, have confidence, entrust may more fully convey the involvement of our whole beings and lives with God.

• • • • • Through these scriptures, we are challenged to dwell on living and dying as God’s people.

What causes you to stumble? What gives you life?

Connecting scripture and life As scary and paralyzing as violence in our world may be, together we can pray with the psalmist for God to save us. This may be whenever we need God’s guidance and refuge when risking our reputation or life testifying to God’s mercy and loving-kindness, when living our call to love our neighbours as ourselves brings us face-to-face with hate, when we “proclaim the mighty acts of God” (1 Peter 2:9).

Where and in what ways might we, individually and as the church, share the mercy that we have received from God with those in need?

Where and in what ways might we be stones of life?

A Prayer for Mothers

All-loving God, we give you thanks and praise for mothers

young and old.

We pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every need; May they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families and

themselves with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us; May they continue to guide us in strong and

gentle ways. We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict; May they feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes

every tear away. We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and

compassion.

We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great -grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live

forever in our memory and nourished us with their love. Amen.

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