7th Sunday of Easter - Year C
The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.
- The gospel for the day
- Some optional questions for reflection
- Prayers of Intercession
- Cluster Prayer
- The gospel of the week ahead with commentary
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 gospel this week is set during the Last Supper and comes after Jesus has spent time instructing the apostles and preparing them for what is to come. He then changes from instruction to prayer and just as we pray for people he prays for us. He asks his father for what will help us. Jesus wants us to have the same close relationship with God the Father as, he does. That relationship gives him the peace and security that allows him to go to the cross rather than act in a manner which denies his love of God. Similarly, as we follow Jesus' actions, the closer we will become to God.
He prays that we who believe are as one, that we are united and see each other's humanity. Jesus knows that those who believe in him will in the main be persecuted or ignored. He knows what his own fate will be, and he goes to it both fearfully and willingly. However, his love for us doesn't blind him to our frailty. Unity of purpose and belief will be essential to help his followers to resist both the cruelty and the temptation of the world.
- As a follower of Christ, how are you answering Jesus's prayer?
- What are some of the most important things to ask of God?*
* All second questions
© The Pastoral Center
Prayers of Intercession
For Pope Leo, may he blessed with health, strength and wisdom,
and be a beacon of hope, to a troubled world.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For the Church that it may be a vibrant and united community,
inspiring all to seek a deeper relationship with Christ.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For world leaders and all who work for peace and unity,
that they will earnestly seek ways to end the suffering caused by war and injustice and strive for peaceful solutions.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For World Environment Day on 5th June, we pray for the wise stewardship of God’s creation ensuring that the world's resources are used responsibly and sustainably.
Lord in your Mercy Hear our prayer
On this World Communication Day, let us pray for those involved in communication. May they always strive for clarity, truth and integrity for the good of all.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For the children who recently received the Sacrament of Confirmation - that the Holy Spirit opens their minds and hearts to the true message of Jesus,
and for our children receiving their First Holy Communion,
may they be granted the grace to be strong in Faith.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For all who are sick, suffering, housebound or infirm and all on the Prayer Foundation list and especially Fr. Alex.
May God's healing love strengthen and comfort them and lift their spirits.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
For all who have died and those whose anniversaries occur at this time.
We remember especially
Pope Francis, George Smith, Ella Stoddart, John Lovell, Patricia Cairney, Gina o Neill, Carmine De Feo, Eleanor Rowley, Linda Reid and Margaret Hadaway.
May the Lord raise them up and grant them everlasting joy and may those who mourn be comforted.
Lord in your mercy Hear our Prayer
We will now say together the prayer to be missionary disciples.
Cluster prayer
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
Gospel for the day - 7th Sunday of Easter
John 17:20-26 - ‘May they become perfectly one.’
At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, and praying said, ‘[Holy Father,] I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.’
This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings.