Third Sunday of Easter
April 23, 2023
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
I Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35
Our gracious, eternal God, like these two on the Emaus Road we frequently walk along our roads of life in despair and without hope. Like them we walk in sadness. Like them we are impatient with those who do not understand life and events as we do. Like them we reel and allow ourselves to be set back by disappointments. Like them we fail to see the Jesus who would walk along with us. Like them we too readily see evil triumph over good and think that is the last word. And like them we too quickly and too easily succumb to hopelessness.
Forgive us our foolishness and resurrect our spirits so that we may we see you in the breaking of bread, so that we may we see you in our neighbours, and so that we may we see you in the events of history and the events of each day.
Remove our blindness so that our eyes may be opened and our spirits renewed and our minds astounded. Send us scurrying to the Christian community to share our testimony, to tell of your power, to be renewed by the witness and confirmation of the stories of others. Then fill us all, O Jesus, with your words: “Peace be still,” and send us forth confidently to serve this world.
We pray also for our world. Where there is conflict bring peace. Where there is uncertainty and anxiousness bring inner quiet. Where there is hatred bring understanding and love. Where there is the terror of war hover over your earth and bring a change to people’s hearts. Where there is selfishness bring generosity and a change of heart. Where there is peril bring comfort and courage. Amen
April 23, 2023
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19
I Peter 1:17-23
Luke 24:13-35
Our gracious, eternal God, like these two on the Emaus Road we frequently walk along our roads of life in despair and without hope. Like them we walk in sadness. Like them we are impatient with those who do not understand life and events as we do. Like them we reel and allow ourselves to be set back by disappointments. Like them we fail to see the Jesus who would walk along with us. Like them we too readily see evil triumph over good and think that is the last word. And like them we too quickly and too easily succumb to hopelessness.
Forgive us our foolishness and resurrect our spirits so that we may we see you in the breaking of bread, so that we may we see you in our neighbours, and so that we may we see you in the events of history and the events of each day.
Remove our blindness so that our eyes may be opened and our spirits renewed and our minds astounded. Send us scurrying to the Christian community to share our testimony, to tell of your power, to be renewed by the witness and confirmation of the stories of others. Then fill us all, O Jesus, with your words: “Peace be still,” and send us forth confidently to serve this world.
We pray also for our world. Where there is conflict bring peace. Where there is uncertainty and anxiousness bring inner quiet. Where there is hatred bring understanding and love. Where there is the terror of war hover over your earth and bring a change to people’s hearts. Where there is selfishness bring generosity and a change of heart. Where there is peril bring comfort and courage. Amen