Loving Father, our eyes have not seen your Son Jesus Christ. We have not touched the scars of his wounds, yet we come together in his name. May the Holy Spirit breathe new life within us and among us. May the Holy Spirit lead us to look with new eyes at our world so that we bring the peace and love of Jesus to the world. Amen
(Claretian Communications)
Christ’s Church is commissioned to carry out the task of offering forgiveness and the retaining of sin (John 20:22-33). Yet, how much healing has not happened because we refuse to forgive? When we retain sins that God has forgiven, we misuse the commission God has given us. We have the great privilege to convey the message of God’s forgiveness to the world, and to be forgiven, we confront and name our sins and the claim and damage that sin has upon our personal and social lives.
I note that this forgiving and retaining of sins is not about us deciding who deserves forgiveness, or who goes to heaven or hell. Rather, it is about us taking the initiative in offering forgiveness with the hope of being reconciled. Reconciliation facilitates peace and harmony. Remember: “Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21).
Resurrection entails not only quantity but also a quality of life (1 Corinthians 15:19-26, 30-34, 56-58,49). Yet, we Christians have been indifferent to the structures of society that foster injustice. We have felt little sympathy for the plight of poor immigrants. On personal and social levels we have allowed prejudice to cloud our judgment and/or mistreatment of others. May we live life in such a manner to give the world a glimpse of the quality of resurrection-life.
May the resurrection of Jesus make a difference in the way we live our life, so that we have not the same hatreds, fears, and prejudices of those who know not God. May the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead empower us to we give others a glimpse of the inviting, forgiving and compassionate love of God.
Let us pray to our God of mercy who fills our lives with love and joy: God, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death, you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ. May we grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Book of Common Worship)
Let us pray that we follow Jesus on his road of service: God our Father, in Jesus your Son you have shown us that the road that leads to victory is the way of loving service and willingness to pay the price of sacrifice for faithful, unswerving love. Give us the mentality and attitude of Jesus, so that we learn to serve with him. May we thus become victorious with him who eternally dwells with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Amen
(Claretian Publications)
Paul the Apostle chose to share in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:4-12). “Sharing in the sufferings of Christ” is not remaining in an abusive relationship where one’s vulnerabilities and weaknesses are exploited and taken advantage of. Rather, “sharing the sufferings of Christ” is like this: “We suffer in likeness with Christ when we suffer ill at the hands of others because we desire and strive after the Good. As a matter of face, we can avoid suffering by ceasing to do the Good” (Soren Kierkegaard). How many times have we not suffered because we chose not to do the good and right thing?
We share in the sufferings of Christ when we extend mercy to those caught in sin; when we extend mercy to our enemies; when we speak up for the poor and dispossessed and do something about it; when we extend our friendship; when we help someone wrongly convicted; when we refuse to lash out in anger; when we refuse to cheat and lie to get ahead; when we refuse to operate from malicious motives. May we, within our abilities, share in the sufferings for Christ.
Let us ask our Father that we imitate his mercy: God of life, Jesus, your Son reveals to us that love is stronger than death, and you wish the sinner to live and to become new. May we no longer live in the past of sin but make us free for life and love. Give us hearts as merciful to one another as you have been lenient and loving to us. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
Let us pray to our God of mercy who fills our lives with love and joy: God, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death, you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ. May we grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Book of Common Worship)
Our sins may leave us in such a slumber that we are too groggy to rise up and take action. We may become so riled up about the sins and failures of others that we do not hear Jesus speaking to us directly: “Unless you repent, you too will perish.”
Nevertheless, God takes deliberate steps to enable us to repentance and fruitfulness, but there is a limit (Luke 13:1-9).
When we fail to take responsibility for our sins and failures, we bring misery to us and others, and once we have done something it cannot be undone. We cannot change the past, but we can make the present and future better! God nourishes us with opportunities for spiritual growth in love, kindness, and mercy. God has given us time in the hope that we will bear fruit. God works with us to wake us out of our slumber so that we rise up and take action that leads to repentance.
Let us pray that God give us the courage to repent and turn to him and to people in love: Patient God, we are reluctant and slow to make the change of heart we need. Give us the time to understand the extent of your mercy and your love which your Son Jesus showed us in its fullness in his suffering and death. Recognize your own Son in us and accept us in our poverty. Raise us up and change us so that we proclaim your persistent love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
