Evening Prayer Thursday, 21 January 2021
Good evening friends!
God is good?
We give thanks for Gods goodness and faithfulness in all the circumstances!
Prayer:
Loving God, we thank you for bringing us through this day and we pray that you will forgive us for the times when we wandered outside Your best will for us instead of trusting You implicitly. Thank You, that You are such a gracious Shepherd to us and that You come and rescue us even when we lose our way and stray from the path of righteousness. As we gather to pray b4 the day ends, surround us by your love and forgive our foolish ways – Amen.
John 1: 35-42: 35.
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God! When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want? They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying? Come,” he replied, “and you will see. So, they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” which, when translated, is Peter.
In this passage, Andrew brings his brother Simon to Jesus after telling Simon that he has found the Messiah. Jesus immediately receives them both and tells Simon that his name will now be changed to Cephas which is an Aramaic word that means Rock. We know it as Peter. The giving of a new name or tittle in life and especially in religion usually means someone has also been given a new mission and new vocation in life. For example, in the Christian tradition, we receive new names at Baptism or Confirmation. In giving Simon a new name, Jesus intends that Simon become the foundation of His future Church. And for this, he must become a new creature in Christ so that he may accomplish the mission for which he was called.
And so, it is with each one of us. We may not be called to be Cephas or the next Bishop of Buckinghamshire, but we are all summoned to be new creatures in Christ and commanded to fulfil our calling. This is not a once in a lifetime call; oh no! It’s a daily calling to righteousness through the power of Gods Spirit. Its beyond human imagination to think that the creator of the universe calls each of us daily to walk with him and help in accomplishing his mission: What an honour!!
I will let Catherine of Genoa have the final thought on that reflection through her prayer…
We bring to you, O Lord, our poverty of soul to be transformed by your beauty; the waywardness of our passion to be tamed by your love; the stubbornness of our will to be conformed to your commandments and our coldness of our heart to be enkindled by your grace. Amen.
Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen
Closing Prayer:
Lord, give me a good night sleep I pray, knowing that there is no condemnation because I am in Christ, and may I wake up in the morning refreshed and ready to do Your will in Jesus’ name – Amen.
Goodnight Children of Light! May the guiding Spirit watch and protect you and bring you to a joyful tomorrow where hope in the promises of our Faithful God abound.
Revd. George Mwaura
