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Our Father . . .
CONCLUSION
Lord, as the light bathes the earth with its beauty, may your light shine upon all whom I shall meet this day.
PRESENCE AND PEACE Daniel 2.20-21
Blessed be God’s name from age to age,
for to him belong wisdom and power.
He changes seasons and times;
he deposes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have discernment.
READING Hosea 6.1-3
Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us, but he will heal us,
he has wounded us, but he will bind up our wounds;
after two days he will revive us,
on the third day he will raise us
to live in his presence.
Let us strive to know the Lord,
whose coming is as sure as the sunrise.
He will come to us like the rain,
like spring rains that water the earth.
REFLECTION
It was the experience of the Chosen People that, in spite of their faults and failings, God took the initiative to redeem them. His love would never let them go. New life always rebuilt the citadel of their lives.
What is there in your own life that needs to be reshaped or renewed by God?
CONFESSION
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
PRAYER
Thank God for the new things you have learned this day and for new opportunities that seem to beckon.
Pray for those writers, actors and musicians whose work has brought you new insights.
Our Father . . .
CONCLUSION
May the Lord bless us,
may he keep us from all evil
and lead us to the glory of life everlasting. Amen.
PRESENCE AND PEACE
Lord, let your light pour into my heart,
that I may praise you with my whole being,
for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
PRAISE Psalm 27.1
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
READING Luke 1.39-45
Soon afterwards Mary set out and hurried away to a town in the uplands of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby stirred in her womb. Then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed in a loud voice, ‘God’s blessing is on you above all women, and his blessing is on the fruit of your womb. Who am I, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? I tell you, when your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby in my womb leapt for joy. Happy is she who has had faith that the Lord’s promise to her would be fulfilled!’
REFLECTION
Imagine that moment when Mary and Elizabeth met; two women from the same extended family, both expecting babies. You can see the joy in their eyes, the sheer wonder in the way they smile at each other and then embrace.
Just as Mary hastened to visit Elizabeth, so God hastens to us. And what is our response?
PRAYER
Pray for all who are expecting babies.
Pray for the fathers and mothers you know.
Our Father . . .
CONCLUSION
Creator God, we give you thanks for the unutterable joy and miracle of all new life.
. . . in the tender compassion of our God,
the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
to shine on those who live in darkness,
under the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1.78-79
PRESENCE AND PEACE Psalm 9.10
And those who know your name
will put their trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never failed those who seek you.
READING Genesis 21.1-3,6-7
The Lord showed favour to Sarah as he had promised, and made good what he had said about her. She conceived and at the time foretold by God she bore a son to Abraham in his old age. The son whom Sarah bore to him Abraham named Isaac . . . Sarah said, ‘God has given me good reason to laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.’ She added, ‘Whoever would have told Abraham that Sarah would suckle children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’
REFLECTION
In this episode in the life of Abraham and Sarah we are given a glimpse of that delight
