Faith Daily | 29 April 2021
PRAYER of the DAY - EASTER FOUR APBA p510
O God,
whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people:
help us when hear his voice
to know him who calls us each by name,
and to follow where he leads;
who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
GOSPEL for the Day: John 13: 16-20
16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfil the scripture, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.” 19I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. 20Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.’
GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Meredith Scott-McMahon
In his last days before crucifixion, Jesus spent a great deal of time preparing his disciples for what was to come, teaching them in ways they would remember afterwards as events unfolded.
In the washing of his disciples’ feet, Jesus demonstrates his humility and his love for them. To love is to seek to serve, to nourish, protect, to assist in any way. He teaches them that no act of caring is too demeaning.
But there’s another important lesson he wants to teach them. He knows they will go out into the world and carry out acts of conversion and healing, and they need to always be mindful of where that power comes from. Not from themselves alone, but from the One who sent them. He reassures them they will be blessed through their mission, but the warning is there – don’t forget your source of power.
In the world today, we see so many leaders forget the first lesson of being there to serve and becoming power-hungry and even despotic.
As we walk day to day with Jesus he’s also preparing us for events in our lives. I can think of vital teachings that have anchored me in times of great stress and difficulty, and it seems, looking back over my life, that Jesus constantly seeks to prepare us for what lies ahead. We just need to listen!
FINAL PRAYER: John O’Donohue “Benedictus: A book of Blessings”
May you have the grace and wisdom
To act kindly, learning
To distinguish between what is
Personal and what is not.
May you be hospitable to criticism.
May you never put yourself at the centre of things.
May you act not from arrogance but out of service.
May you work on yourself,
Building up and refining the ways of your mind.
May those who work for you know
You see and respect them.
May you learn to cultivate the art of presence
In order to engage with those who meet you.
When someone fails or disappoints you,
May the graciousness with which you engage
Be their stairway to renewal and refinement.
Amen