This Sunday, in his reflection on the readings, Fr Ron talks about the 75th anniversary of VE Day 1945, the day we remember Victory in Europe over the forces of fascism.
Even though we are still in a strange time now, and not able to remember this occasion in our public worship, so, as we read the readings and listen to the reflection, let us pray that never again will the world experience the horror of war.
“When you go home, tell them of us and say: For your tomorrow, we gave our today”
Fr Ron’s Reflection on this Sunday’s Readings
A Prayer for VE Day
Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind, in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name. Guide us by your Spirit; give us wisdom; give us courage; give us hope; and keep us faithful now and always. Amen.
Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Epistle Reading – 1 Peter 2:2-10
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Gospel Reading – John 14:1-14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Suggested Intercessions for this Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Easter
Risen and reigning Lord, assure our troubled hearts that you have gone to prepare a place for us, so that where you are, we may be also. You alone are the way, the truth, and the life by whom the Father comes to us, so that through you, we have seen him and know him.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Risen and reigning Lord, how often are we like Thomas questioning your son Jesus whilst thinking that we’re on our to work things out. Help us to listen to your promises, to receive your assurances, to let you remove troubles from our hearts and may we always remember your constant presence with us. We pray for Fr. Marcus and the Chaplaincy Team and all who strive to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel especially in these difficult times when we cannot meet together in our church buildings.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Risen and reigning Lord, we pray for those people of the world featured in the news: the victims of the Pandemic, accident, war, disease, violence, greed and natural disasters. We pray for Hope and we pray for peace.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Risen and reigning Lord, we pray for family and colleagues, friends and lovers, for neighbours and strangers, For those with whom we break bread at home, for those we have missed at work, in the community, and in our church, giving thanks for Social Media and the Internet which allows us to keep in touch with those we love.
We give you thanks that at last there is the opportunity to venture out into your world as some of the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic are relaxed here in Spain.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Risen and reigning Lord, whose touch alone could heal the sick; hear our prayers for your servants who are ill as we ask for your help and mercy to restore them to health. Thank you for the continuing work of our Health Service risking their lives on a daily basis, coping with the pandemic: (add names of those requesting your prayers).
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Risen and reigning Lord, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them, for members of our families who have died and whose anniversary we recall. Help us to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit within us, and the fellowship of the church family around us until we are reunited once more in that family house which is your heavenly kingdom: (add names of the recently departed or on Anniversary list).
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Risen and reigning Lord, we thank you for showing us the Way, in human terms that we find easier to understand and which helps us to recognise all the wonderful things in your world for which we should be grateful
Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
Thanks to the Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy for sharing their prayers for this Sunday.