Rev Michael Cavanagh +353 (0)858 533 173
Praying Together 25th August 2024

Praying Together 25th August 2024

medieval warrior

Trinity 13

Collect 

Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: Help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Ephesians 6: 10-17

John 6: 56, 60 – 69

“Therefore take up the whole armour of God”

I looked on the Internet for an image relevant to Paul’s instructions on defending against the spiritual forces of evil. Ther are many of them. They invariably depict a warrior clad in medieval armor (sic), a modern-day Ivanhoe ready to fight a holy war. Dramatic. But completely missing the point.

Victory in battle may be temporarily won by military might. But in the longer term, force rarely (if ever) sustains. Napoleon Buonaparte was well aware of that. “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.”

Violence achieves nothing towards bringing in the Kingdom of God. All it does is engender more violence. God wins the War through sacrifice – the sacrifice of His Son.

Paul uses the metaphor of armour – but he isn’t talking about the weapons of violence. Instead, he calls for Truth. Righteousness. Peace. Faith. Salvation. The word of God. And through these, the War is won.

Funny kind of Victory

A short battle, it was;
no flags and no trumpets,
not a fair fight.
One naked man with outstretched arms
against chain mail and spears.
They gave Him thorns,
gave Him whips,
gave Him sour wine and their spittle,
gave Him nails… but gave Him no honour.
It’s over now.
He dies alone, and the quiet is hard to bear.
Even the banter of the soldiers is hushed;
only the sound of the wind and the aching world,
bound and fearful for so long,
waiting for its freedom.
Funny kind of battle, it was;
one man against legion.
Funny kind of victory
when the victor dies.
I wonder if the loser knew;
I wonder if the shaking of the earth
or the tearing of the curtain distracted him?
Or did he see, and despair to see,
the Christ-blood
washing the earth beneath the cross?
Funny when a victory’s won by seeming loss.

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Praying Together 18th August 2024

Praying Together 18th August 2024

female friends embracing in a warm greeting

Trinity 12

Collect 

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray and to give more than either we desire, or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask save through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Galatians 3: 24-29

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

*****

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2

John 6: 51

You will notice that Jesus tells the inquisitorial Jews that He doesn’t differentiate between anyone who confesses His name. ‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide I me, and I in them’. All those. Whoever.

Paul expands on the same theme in Galatians 3:28 ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’

No ifs or buts. We are all one. Whoever, wherever. One family in Christ, even those who are not of the sheepfold, and those who unknowingly offer food, drink, clothes to the needy in His name.

It is certainly true that showing apparent never-ending hospitality is difficult in an environment where there are increasing numbers of refugees, and people of goodwill are understandably concerned. However there are also those – even some who loudly claim that they profess a faith – who clearly seek to foster hate and broken relationships, usually for their own ends. Yet scripture makes it clear that there is no place in the Kingdom for any who would wish to exacerbate division.

Yes, immigration is an issue. But the issue should be about how to make it possible for people under threat to find safety. There is no getting away from the fact that we are clearly commanded to welcome the stranger, the outcast, and doing so will probably have an effect on our lifestyle. But I can find nowhere in Scripture that suggests that my own comfort should take priority over offering help and support to those in need.

It’s no good saying ‘There’s no room’. Even if true (which it actually isn’t), we’d make plenty of space if it were our children who had no place of safety. Or even, perish the thought, if it were we ourselves seeking shelter.

The challenge of Emma Lazarus’ sonnet ‘The New Colossus’ is not restricted to the plaque on the Statue of Liberty – it applies to all of us, and it is not too long ago when the Irish ourselves found it to be a promise of hope in its expression of welcome in the face of famine and injustice.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

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Praying Together 11th August 2024

Praying Together 11th August 2024

children holding up winner medals

Trinity 11 

Collect 

O God, you demonstrate your almighty power most clearly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, seeking to obey your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be allowed to share your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 4: 25-5:2

John 6: 35, 41-51

How to win Olympic Gold:

Eat. Be aware of your food, where it comes from, what it contains. Optimise your diet. Eat noting that doesn’t help your fitness.

Train. Realise the unique gifts you have been given and aim to develop them through understanding how to grow and refine those gifts.

Practice. Even though we often hear the phrase ‘Practice makes perfect, it doesn’t. Only perfect practice makes perfect. Have a schedule, have a purpose and a target. It may demand sacrifices, it will undoubtedly hurt. Rise above the barriers and focus on the finish line.

Act. Unless the above is applied in the critical moments when it matters, it will have been a waste of time. Be ready always for the sound of the starting pistol.

Recover. Sometimes you will win the race, many times you will not. When you fail, pick yourself up, dust yourself down, and start all over again.

How to win the Gold medal for being the special. unique person God created:

Eat. I am the bread of life, says Jesus. Unless you eat of this bread, you shall not have life within you. John 6:35

Train. Read your Bible and use commentaries to assist understanding. Listen to teachers and others who have gone before. Pray. 2 Timothy 3:16

Practice. Exercise a spiritual discipline, and try to identify God’s call and seek the Spirit’s guidance. Matthew 7:7

Act. Serve. Put your words into action. James 1:22-25

Recover. Take your failures and your sins to the foot of the Cross – and leave them there! Matthew 11:28-29

 

An athlete’s prayer
God, let me play well but fairly.
Help me to learn something that matters
once the game is over.
Let competition make me strong but never hostile.
Always let me help my opponent up.
Never catch me rejoicing in the adversity of others.
If I know victory, allow me to be happy; if I am denied, keep me from envy.
Remind me that sports are just games.
If through my behaviour I set an example,
let it be a good one.

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Praying Together 4th August 2024

Praying Together 4th August 2024

bread with a cross inside

Trinity 10

Collect

Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 4: 1-6, 10-16

John 6: 24-35

Recipe for the “Bread of Life” – thanks to Jessica Herrera
Ingredients:
• Wheat – Psalm 81:16, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 13:24-30, John 12:24
• Oil – Hebrews 1:9, James 5:14
• Honey – Psalm 81:16, Psalm 119:103, Proverbs 16:24
• Salt – Matthew 5:13, Colossians 4:6
• Yeast – Matthew 13:33, Galatians 5:9, 1 Corinthians 5:7-13

Directions:
1. Mix Ingredients
“Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the laying on of my hands.” 2 Timothy 1:6

2. Knead Until Dough is Well Formed and Mature
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be weary of His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11

3. Rest
“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon learn from Me. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

4. Bake (With Fire)
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold which perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7

5. Eat, Be Nourished and Feed Others
“O taste and see the Lord is good…” Psalm 34:8
“I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” John 6:51

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Praying Together 28th July 2024

Praying Together 28th July 2024

night sky with stars

Trinity 9

Collect

Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church:

Open our hearts to the riches of his grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 3: 14-21

John 6: 1-2

Sometimes we look to Scripture to enjoy stories, to learn, sometimes as a guide for prayer, perhaps as a source for acts of worship. All good. But none of these form the basis of Paul’s instructions at the end of his letter to the Ephesians (and others – the guidelines are intended to be shared widely among new believers). I’ll precis what his message means to me: ‘Forget your surroundings, put aside your worries, leave your questions and doubts at the door – rest in the glory of a cloudless night sky with its billions of stars and consider the awesome, boundless gift of His love for you. Words are not enough – so simply keep silence and consider God’s creation and His love for you.’

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established; what is man that you are mindful of him, mortals that you care for them?
Ps. 8:3, 4

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