Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem were saying 'Isn't this the man they are seeking to kill?' and 'Look he speaks out publicly and they say nothing to him. Can it possibly be that the authorities have actually realised that this man is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from. But when the Christ comes, no-one will know where he comes from.'

Then Jesus cried out in the temple courts, teaching: 'You know me, and where I come from. I have not come on my own authority but it is true about the one who sent me, whom you do not know. I know him, because I am from him; that one sent me.

So they sought to arrest him, and yet no-one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. In fact many of the crowd believed in him and they said 'When the Christ comes, he won't do more signs than this man has done, will he?'

Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.

George Herbert

The crowd replied 'You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill you?'

Jesus replied : ' I did one thing, and you all are amazed because of it.

Moses gave you circumcision - not that it came from Moses, but the Patriarchs
      - and you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath.
If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me because I made a whole man healthy on the Sabbath?

Do not judge by first impressions, but judge with right judgement.'

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.

St Columba

When the festival was already halfway through, Jesus went up to the Temple courts and he began to teach. Then the Jewish crowds were wondering and said 'How does this man have so much learning, not having been trained?'

Jesus answered them 'My teaching does not come from me but from the one who sent me. If anyone chooses to do his will, they will know about my teaching whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own authority.

The one speaking on their own authority seeks their own glory.
The one seeking the glory of the one who sent them - that one is truthful and injustice is not in them.

Did not Moses give you the Law? Yet none of you keeps the Law. Why do you seek to kill me?'

O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.

Gertrude the Great

For the next six months Jesus was walking about in Galilee. For he chose not to walk about in Judea, because the Jewish leaders were looking for a chance to kill him.

The Jewish Festival of Sukkot was near. So his brothers said to him 'You should leave here, and go to Judea, so that your disciples will see the works you do. For nobody does anything in secret and yet seeks to be well known. If you do these things, show yourself to the world. (For not even his brothers believed in him.)

Jesus said to them 'My time has not yet arrived.But your time is always 'now'. The world cannot hate you, it hates me because I bear witness that its works are evil. You go up to the festival, I am not going up to this Festival because my time has not yet come.

After he said these things he stayed in Galilee.

When however his brothers went up to the festival, then he also went up; not openly but in secret.

So the Jewish leaders sought him in the festival and said 'Where is that man?' And there was murmuring about him among the crowds. Some said 'He is a good man', but others said 'No he deceives the crowd.' However nobody spoke openly about him for fear of the Jewish leaders.

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

St Ignatius

From this moment many of his disciples went back and walked with him no longer.

So Jesus said to the twelve 'Surely you do not  want to go away too, do you?'

Simon Peter replied 'Lord, to whom would we go to? You have the words that lead to resurrection life and we have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God. '

Jesus answered him 'Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And one of you is the devil. '

He said this about Judas son of Simon Iscariot. For he was about to betray him, though one of the Twelve.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art -
Thou my best thought, by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Then many of his disciples hearing this said 'This saying is hard to take. Who can understand this?'

Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling because of this, said to them:
'Does this cause you to stumble?
So what if you see the Son of Man going up to where he was before?
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh achieves nothing.
The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
But among you are some who do not believe.

(For in fact Jesus knew from the beginning some were unbelievers and as well as who would betray him.)

And he went on to say 'This is why I have said "Nobody can come to me unless the Father has granted it to them."'

Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.

George Herbert

Then the Jews there quarrelled with each other saying 'How can this fellow give us his flesh to eat?'

So Jesus said to them :
'Truly, truly I say to you if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood then you do not have life in yourselves.
The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has resurrection  life, I will raise them on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood stays in me and I in them.
Just as the living Father sent me and I live through the Father so the one who eats me will live through me.
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, not like the bread your ancestors ate and died.
The one who eats this bread will live into the resurrection  age.

He said these things as he taught in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.

St Columba

So the Jewish [who were gathered there]  began to grumble about him, that he said 'I am the bread  that came down from heaven.' And they said 'Is this fellow not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose mother and father we know? How can now he say "I have come down from heaven?"'

Jesus replied to them 'Do not keep on grumbling among yourselves.

'No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them on the last day. It has been written in the prophets "And everyone will be taught by God." And everyone who hears and learns from the Father, comes to me. (Not that any one has seen the Father, except the one who is from God - that one has seen the Father.)

'Truly truly I say to you, the one who believes has resurrection life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness  and yet died. This one is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that anyone may eat it and not die.

'I am the living bread who came down from heaven. If someone eats this bread they will live for ever, and the bread which I will give for the world is my flesh.'

Lord God,,
you feed us with the living bread from heaven;
you renew our faith,
increase our hope,
and strengthen our love.

Teach us to hunger
for Christ who is the true and living bread,
and to live by every word
that comes from your mouth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Hebs 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to fathom you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Benedict

Hebs 6

13When God was making his promise to Abraham, you see, he had nobody else greater than himself by whom he could swear, and so he swore by himself, 14with the words, ‘I will most surely bless you, and multiply you very greatly.’ 15And so in this way Abraham, after much patience, obtained the promise. 16People regularly swear by someone greater than themselves, and in all their disputes the oath confirms the matter and brings it to closure. 17So when God wanted to show all the more clearly to the heirs of the promise just how unchangeable his will was, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God should tell a lie, those of us who have come for refuge should have solid encouragement to take hold of the hope which lies before us. 19We have this hope like an anchor, secure, solid, and penetrating into the inner place behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has gone in ahead of us and on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.

St Anselm

Hebs 4

14Well, then, since we have a great high priest who has gone right through the heavens, Jesus, God’s son, let us hold on firmly to our confession of faith. 15For we don’t have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us at the moment when we need it.

7During the time of Jesus’ earthly life, he offered up prayers and supplications, with loud shouts and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death. He was heard because of his devotion. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9When he had been made complete and perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10since he has been designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

St Ignatius

Hebs 4

4So we are bound to worry that some of you might seem to have missed out on God’s promise of entering his rest, the promise which is still open before us. 2For we certainly had the good news announced to us, just as they did; but the word which they heard didn’t do them any good, because they were not united in faith with those who heard it.

9Thus we conclude: there is still a future sabbath ‘rest’ for God’s people. 10Anyone who enters that ‘rest’ will take a rest from their works, as God did from his.  11So, then, let’s make every effort to enter that ‘rest’, so that nobody should trip and fall through the same pattern of unbelief.

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

O Lord God
When you give to your servants to endeavour any great matter
grant us to know that it is not the beginning,
but the continuing of it,
until it be thoroughly finished,
which yields the true glory,
through him
who for the finishing of your work
laid down his life,
our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Francis Drake

Hebs 1

1In many ways and by many means God spoke in ancient times to our ancestors in the prophets; 2but at the end of these days he spoke to us in a son. He appointed this son to be heir of all things; through him, in addition, he created the worlds. 3He is the shining reflection of God’s own glory, the precise expression of his own very being; he sustains all things through his powerful word. He accomplished the cleansing needed for sins, and sat down at the right of the Majesty Supreme. 4See how much greater he is than the angels: the name he was granted is finer than theirs.


The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.



O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God,  who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.

Gertrude the Great

Eph 6

10What else is there to say? Just this: be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his power. 11Put on God’s complete armour. Then you’ll be able to stand firm against the devil’s trickery. 12The warfare we’re engaged in, you see, isn’t against flesh and blood. It’s against the leaders, against the authorities, against the powers that rule the world in this dark age, against the wicked spiritual elements in the heavenly places. 13For this reason, you must take up God’s complete armour. Then, when wickedness grabs its moment, you’ll be able to withstand, to do what needs to be done, and still to be on your feet when it’s all over.

14So stand firm! Put the belt of truth round your waist; put on justice as your breastplate; 15for shoes on your feet, ready for battle, take the good news of peace. 16With it all, take the shield of faith; if you’ve got that, you’ll be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is God’s word. Prayer and peace

18Pray on every occasion in the spirit, with every type of prayer and intercession. You’ll need to keep awake and alert for this, with all perseverance and intercession for all God’s holy ones – 19and also for me! Please pray that God will give me his words to speak when I open my mouth, so that I can make known, loud and clear, the secret truth of the gospel.

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today - tonight -forever
Amen.

St Columba

Eph 5

11So don’t get involved in the works of darkness, which all come to nothing. Instead, expose them! 12The things they do in secret, you see, are shameful even to talk about. 13But everything becomes visible when it’s exposed to the light, 14since everything that is visible is light. That’s why it says: Wake up, you sleeper! Rise up from the dead! The Messiah will shine on you! 15So take special care how you conduct yourselves. Don’t be unwise, but be wise. 16Make use of any opportunity you have, because these are wicked times we live in. 17So don’t be foolish; rather, understand what the Lord’s will is. 18And don’t get drunk with wine; that way lies dissipation. Rather, be filled with the spirit! 19Speak to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.


The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

Gracious and holy Father,
Lord, you have given me so much,
I ask for one more thing -
a grateful heart.

George Herbert

Eph 4 /5

17So this is what I want to say; I am bearing witness to it in the Lord. You must no longer behave like the Gentiles, foolish-minded as they are.25Put away lies, then. ‘Each of you, speak the truth with your neighbour,’ because we are members of one another. 26‘Be angry, but don’t sin’; don’t let the sun go down on you while you’re angry, 27and don’t leave any loophole for the devil. 28The thief shouldn’t steal any longer, but should rather get on with some honest manual work, so as to be able to share with people in need. 29Don’t let any unwholesome words escape your lips. Instead, say whatever is good and will be useful in building people up, so that you will give grace to those who listen.

30And don’t disappoint God’s holy spirit – the spirit who put God’s mark on you to identify you on the day of freedom. 31All bitterness and rage, all anger and yelling, and all blasphemy – put it all away from you, with all wickedness. 32Instead, be kind to one another, cherish tender feelings for each other, forgive one another, just as God forgave you in the king. 5So you should be imitators of God, like dear children. 2Conduct yourselves in love, just as the Messiah loved us, and gave himself for us, as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

Gracious and holy Father,
give me wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to fathom you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Benedict

Ephesians 3:14-21

14Because of this, I am kneeling down before the father, 15the one who gives the name of ‘family’ to every family that there is, in heaven and on earth. 16My prayer is this: that he will lay out all the riches of his glory to give you strength and power, through his spirit, in your inner being; 17that the king may make his home in your hearts, through faith; that love may be your root, your firm foundation; 18and that you may be strong enough (with all God’s holy ones) to grasp the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the king’s love – though actually it’s so deep that nobody can really know it! So may God fill you with all his fullness. 20So: to the one who is capable of doing far, far more than we can ask or imagine, granted the power which is working in us – 21to him be glory, in the church, and in King Jesus, to all generations, and to the ages of ages! Amen!

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God,  who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.

Gertrude the Great

Ephesians 1

3Let us bless God, the father of our Lord Jesus, the king! He has blessed us in the king with every spirit-inspired blessing in the heavenly realm. The choice and the plan 4He chose us in him before the world was made, so as to be holy and irreproachable before him in love. 5He foreordained us for himself, to be adopted as sons and daughters through Jesus the king. That’s how he wanted it, and that’s what gave him delight, 6so that the glory of his grace, the grace he poured on us in his beloved one, might receive its due praise. 7In the king, and through his blood, we have deliverance – that is, our sins have been forgiven – through the wealth of his grace 8which he lavished on us. Yes, with all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the secret of his purpose, just as he wanted it to be and set it forward in him 10as a blueprint for when the time was ripe. His plan was to sum up the whole

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

Open my eyes to your presence
Open my ears to your call
Open my heart to you love
May I open my arms to others
May I open my heart to strangers
May I open my door to callers
That I may be open you you Lord
Open this day and for evermore

Gal 5

16Let me say this to you: live by the spirit, and you won’t do what the flesh wants you to. 17For the flesh wants to go against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you can’t do what you want. 18But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are such things as fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, bursts of rage, selfish ambition, factiousness, divisions, 21moods of envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I told you before, and I tell you again: people who do such things will not inherit God’s kingdom. Fruit of the spirit 22But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, great-heartedness, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. There is no law that opposes things like that! 24And those who belong to the Messiah, Jesus, crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the spirit, let’s line up with the spirit. 26We shouldn’t be conceited, vying with one another and jealous of each other.

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition.

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

St Ignatius

Gal 5

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Lord, make me and instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen