Suggestion for Daily Use

Follow the ‘Daily Prayer’ at the side+++Suivez le ‘Prière Quotidienne’. Read the bible passages and then the meditation. Pray, tell God how you felt about the reading and share the concerns of your life with him. Maybe you will continue the habit after Lent. Lisez les passages bible et après la méditation. Priez, dites à Dieu que vous avez ressenti à propos de la lecture et de partager les préoccupations de votre vie avec lui. Peut-être que vous allez continuer l'habitude après le Carême. Daily Prayer Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. Luke 4.1-2 Now is the healing time decreed For sins of heart, of word or deed, When we in humble fear record The wrong that we have done the Lord. (Latin, before 12th century) Read: Read the Bible passage. Read the meditation Pray: Talk to God about what you have just read. Tell him your concerns - for yourself, your family, our church family, our world. Praise him. Pray the collect for the week – see next pages. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Prière Quotidienne Jésus, rempli de l'Esprit Saint, revint du Jourdain et le Saint-Esprit le conduisit dans le désert où il fut tenté par le diable durant quarante jours. Luc 4.1-2 Maintenant le temps de la guérison est décrété Pour les péchés du cœur, de la parole et des actes, Lorsque nous nous souvenons avec humilité Le mal que nous avons fait au Seigneur. Lire : Lisez le passage de la Bible. Lisez la méditation. Prier : Parlez avec le Seigneur de ce que vous avez lu. Parlez-lui de vos préoccupations pour vous-même, votre famille, notre famille de l’église, notre monde. Louez-le. Priez la collecte pour la semaine. Voyez les pages suivantes Mon âme, bénis le Seigneur ! Que tout qui est en moi bénisse son saint nom. Mon âme, bénis le Seigneur, et n’oublie aucun de ses bienfaits !

21 April 2011

This is my body


Maundy Thursday 21st April

Exodus 11
Psalms 42, 43
Ephesians 2.11-18
Luke 23.1-25


Ephesians 2:11-18

In this passage Paul explains to us the means by which we, the Gentiles who are (physically) uncircumcised, can be separated to belong to the covenant of God. What makes this happen is simpler than you might think: only His body and blood.

Maundy Thursday is the remembrance day of the Last Supper. The supper where Jesus takes a piece of bread and says “this is my body”, as recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Notice that Jesus does not say “this bread represents my body”, or “seeing this bread you should think of my body”. He actually says “this is my body”. This is my flesh. That is powerful stuff; pause to think for a moment.

If we take his words seriously, we get a glimpse of the majesty behind this mystery: in Holy Communion, we partake in His body and in His death on the cross! Sounds scary? It may, but what does this do to us? Well, Paul explains that in His flesh, Jesus set aside the commands and regulations of the old order in order to create in himself a new humanity, one marked through peace and reconciliation. Again: not only through himself, not merely using himself, not just around himself. In himself.

Holy Communion is thus also a beautiful way to proclaim our unity in Him. But much more than that, being partakers in that body given for the forgiveness of sins, continues to reconcile us with God and keeps us in life everlasting.

Arttu Mäkipää

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