Pray As You Go - Daily Prayer Sunday 18 May 2025 - All things new
Sunday 18 May 2025
Today is Sunday the 18th of May, beginning the 5th week of Eastertide. The Corydon Singers, conducted by Matthew Best, sing Cantique de Jean Racine by Fauré: A hymn of praise to Christ, our light and our hope: ‘Word, one with the Most High, our one hope, eternal day of the earth and the heavens.’ As I listen, I entrust myself to that same Christ, I place all my hope in him, and invite the light of Christ into my life. Verbe égal au Très-Haut, notre unique espérance, Jour éternel de la terre et des cieux, De la paisible nuit nous rompons le silence: Divin Sauveur, jette sur nous les yeux. Répands sur nous le feu de Ta grâce puissante; Que tout l'enfer fuie au son de Ta voix; Dissipe le sommeil d'une âme languissante Qui la conduit à l'oubli de Tes lois! Ô Christ! sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle, Pour Te bénir maintenant rassemblé; Reçois les chants qu'il offre à Ta gloire immortelle, Et de Tes dons qu'il retourne comblé. Word of the Highest, our only hope, Eternal day of earth and the heavens, We break the silence of the peaceful night; Saviour Divine, cast your eyes upon us! Pour on us the fire of your powerful grace, That all hell may flee at the sound of your voice; Banish the slumber of a weary soul, That brings forgetfulness of your laws! O Christ, look with favour upon your faithful people Now gathered here to praise you; Receive their hymns offered to your immortal glory; May they go forth filled with your gifts. Today’s reading is from the Book of the Apocalypse. Apocalypse 21:1-5a Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Take a moment to let this beautiful scene unfold before your eyes… a new heaven and a new earth… the new Jerusalem coming down as an adorned bride… what does it all look like? “He will dwell with them; they will be His peoples, and God himself will be with them.” How do you imagine this dwelling? What do these words mean to you today? Crying, pain and death will be no more… tears wiped away… Sometimes, this can sound too good to be true, given the pain and suffering in our lives and the life of the world. But these words will become true... How can you rest in the hope of these words today? As we listen again to the passage, what feels precious to you? Let it speak to you… Apocalypse 21:1-5a Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’ And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ “See, I am making all things new”. Can you entrust your life to God afresh today, confident that God is making all things new? Speak with the Lord about this, or anything else arising for you from this time of prayer. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen