Sixth Sunday of Easter A

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

  • The gospel for the day
  • (a useful commentary on the reading here)
  • Some optional questions for reflection
  • Prayers of Intercession
  • Cluster Prayer
  • The gospel of the week ahead with questions

John 14: 15-21  I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate.


Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If you love me you will keep my commandments. I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever, that Spirit of truth whom the world can never receive since it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come back to you. In a short time the world will no longer see me; but you will see me, because I live and you will live.
On that day you will understand that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.
Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me;
and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him.’


This is the gospel of the Lord.

Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved.


Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week. Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts.
If you are interested  in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us.         cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

The Father has sent the Son; now comes the promise of the Spirit.

All three love us as the one God but mostly we find it easier to allocate "personalities" to each one.

Might we relate to God as Father and as Son and as Donor/Gift-giver?

  1. How do you pray to the Holy Spirit? How do you visualise this divine person?
  2.  The Spirit gives us inner wisdom and strength. When have you experienced this?*

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center

Prayers of Intercession


In today’s Gospel we hear Philip proclaims the Good News and even works many miracles to bring the Samaritans to faith and baptising them But it's the Apostles who confer the Holy Spirit.

 

We pray for the Church, Pope Francis, Bishops and Fr Alex and all religious that we and them may be guided by the Holy Spirit that the Church can continue to proclaim the good news of true peace for our world.

Lord Hear Us    Lord graciously hear us.

 

We pray for peace and justice in all nations and an end to all fighting in Syria and all war torn countries.

Lord Hear Us  Lord graciously hear us.

 

We pray for peace and friendship in our parish and the cluster especially remembering the parishioners of St John Vianney during this time of transition for them.

Lord Hear Us  Lord graciously hear us.

 

We pray that God may inspire students who are sitting their exams; may they be content with what they achieve.

Lord Hear Us  Lord graciously hear us.

 

We pray for our housebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals for the doctors, nurses and all staff who care for them.

Lord Hear Us  Lord graciously hear us.

 

We pray for those who have asked for our prayers.

We remember especially those who have died recently Mary Boyle, Patricia Calder, Amy Mitchell, Margaret Livingston, Darcio Fernandes, and Liam O’Malley.

And those whose anniversaries occur at this time. Remembering especially Pat Hogg on her 1st Anniversary.

Lord Hear Us  Lord graciously hear us.

 

We will now say the Missionary Prayer together.

Prayer to be Missionary Disciples

Picture of Jesus at door

Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN

Preparing for next week -  Seventh Sunday of Easter A

      John 17: 1 -11    Father, glorify your Son.


Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
‘Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you; and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him, let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him.
And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do.
Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me with that glory I had with you before ever the world was. I have made your name known to the men you took from the world to give me.
They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Now at last they know that all you have given me comes indeed from you;
for I have given them the teaching you gave to me, and they have truly accepted this, that I came from you, and have believed that it was you who sent me.
I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they belong to you: all I have is yours and all you have is mine, and in them I am glorified.
I am not in the world any longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.’


This is the gospel of the Lord.

Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see www.universalis.com.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved


Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

Jesus prays for his disciples because he is going and they are facing a hostile world.

There is that "between time" when Jesus has left the world and the Spirit is yet to descend.

In our "between time" let's pray as we seek the way forward on our Synodal journey.

  1. Recall a time when you felt you had to stand up and be counted. What happened? (Share)
  2. Who needs you to pray for them this week, as Jesus prayed for his disciples?*

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center