Third Sunday of Easter
Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
May your people exult for ever, O God,
in renewed youthfulness of spirit,
so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption,
we may look forward in confident hope
to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Psalms 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9; 1 John 2:1-5a; Luke 24:35-48Daily Meditation:
Lord, let your face shine on us.
God has thus brought to fulfillment ... that his Christ would suffer.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away. Acts 3Peter is still preaching to the people, and to us,
to help us believe that the suffering of Jesus is part of God's plan to save us.The Risen Jesus meets the two discouraged disciples on the road,
from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They felt their hopes were dashed.
Jesus opened the scriptures to them, to help them understand.
And, they recognized him in the breaking of bread,
for brokenness was no longer a scandal for them.
And, they remembered that
their hearts were burning within them
as they heard him put it together for them.Today, we can ask for that gift of understanding affection
for the relationship of new life
Jesus wants to offer us.Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us;
make our hearts burn while you speak to us.Intercessions:
Christ is the Lord of life, raised up by the Father; in his turn he will raise us up by his power. Let us pray to him, saying:
Christ our life, save us.
Lord Jesus, light shining in the darkness, you lead your people into life, and give our mortal nature the gift of holiness,
- may we spend this day in praise of your glory.Lord, you walked the way of suffering and crucifixion,
- may we suffer and die with you, and rise again to share your glory.Son of the Father, our master and our brother, you have made us a kingdom of priests for our God,
- may we offer you our joyful sacrifice of praise.King of glory, we look forward to the great day of your coming in splendor,
- that we may see you face to face, and be transformed in your likeness.
Closing Prayer:
Loving God,
We rejoice now in the glory of your resurrection,
celebrating your life with Easter joy.
We are filled with confident hope
and feel our spirits renewed within us.
Our hearts burn with a new depth of love
as we see your light shine in the darkness.
Lead us, Lord. We are your people.
May we spend this day praising your glory
and being filled with confident hope
as you hold out your wounded hands to us with joy.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, putting off our old self with all its ways,
we may live as Christ did,
for through the healing paschal remedies
you have conformed us to his nature.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 6:8-15; Psalms 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; John 6:22-29Daily Meditation:
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.Stephen, who became the first martyr/witness to his faith in the risen Jesus
is testifying about Jesus and is facing the harrassment of those who do not want to hear it.Jesus has just worked the sign of feeding a large crowd,
but some of them misunderstand the gift.
They/we too often want a miracle worker.
Jesus will open for us in the days ahead the full meaning of his gift.Today, we can reflect on asking for the grace
to work less for food (in so many forms) which doesn't last,
but rather to seek the bread he offers us for eternal life.One does not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.Intercessions:
The Father glorified Jesus and appointed him heir to all nations. Let us praise him, saying:
Save us, Lord, through your victory.Lord Christ, by your victory you broke the power of evil and destroyed sin and death,
- make us victorious over sin today.You laid death low, and brought us new life,
- grant that we may walk today in this new life,
You gave life to the dead, and led mankind from death to life,
- give eternal life to all those we shall meet today.You brought confusion on the guards at your tomb, but joy to your disciples,
- grant the fullness of joy to all who serve you.
Closing Prayer:
Loving God, with each passing week,
we enter more deeply into the Easter season.
You offer us healing in so many ways
as we long for the grace that helps us
to see Jesus as our risen savior.Help us to be aware of when we long
for the food that does not really last.
Give us the vision to do the work of God:
to believe in Jesus, the one he sent.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
O God, who open wide the gates of the heavenly Kingdom
to those reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,
pour out on your servants
an increase of the grace you have bestowed,
that, having been purged of all sins,
they may lack nothing
that in your kindness you have promised.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 7:51-8:1a; Psalms 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab; John 6:30-35
Daily Meditation:
I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.Stephen is stoned to death for his witness, faith and Spirit-filled to the end.
Jesus is asked for a "sign," in the sense of "proof," the way we often ask for a guarantee.
As the wonderful Fourth Gospel often does, Jesus turns this mis-understanding into
an opportunity to great depth.He reveals that he himself is the real food we need for our hunger and thirst.
We can ask for the grace to align our hungering and thirsting, for him,
and the gift of life he offers us.Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Intercessions:
By his own power Christ raised up the temple of his body when it had been destroyed in death. With joy let us ask him:
Lord, share with us the fruits of your victory.Christ our Savior, when you rose again you brought to the holy women and the apostles the joyful news of a world redeemed,
- make us witnesses to your risen life.You promised to all people that we would rise up again to newness of life,
- make us heralds of your Gospel.You showed yourself to your apostles and breathed the Holy Spirit on them,
- renew in us the presence of the same creator Spirit.You promised to be with your disciples to the end of the world,
- stay with us today, and remain with us always.
Closing Prayer:
Compassionate and loving God,
How often do I cover my ears
and rush toward others with stones?
Increase the grace you have already given me
and help me to remember that the bread you offer me
gives life not only to me, but to all of us in the world.
May my own longing for you,
become a hunger for the bread which gives life.
Renew in me an awareness of the presence of your Spirit
and stay with me, as you promised
until the end of time.May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Be present to your family, O Lord, we pray,
and graciously ensure
those you have endowed with the grace of faith
an eternal share in the Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 8:1b-8; Psalms 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a; John 6:35-40Daily Meditation:
Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day, says the Lord.Philip goes to Samaria and preaches the word and it is received with great joy.
Jesus invites us not only to see him but to believe in him.
It is God's will that he not lose anyone who comes to him.Today, we can find joy in the comfort of his presence with us now
and the promise of our being raised up on the last day.Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Intercessions:
Christ was given up for our sins and rose again to make us righteous. Let us cry out to him, saying:
Save us, Lord, by your victory.Christ our Savior, in conquering death you brought us joy, in rising again you raised us up and filled us with the abundance of your gifts,
- stir up our hearts, and sanctify this day through the gift of your Holy Spirit.You are glorified by the angels in heaven and adored by mankind on earth;
- as we celebrate your resurrection, accept our worship in spirit and in truth.Lord Jesus, save us; show your great mercy to your people, as we look forward to our own resurrection,
- have mercy on us, and protect us today from every evil.King of glory, source of our life, grant that, when you come again,
- we may be one with you in glory.
Closing Prayer:
Jesus, Lord and brother,
in my Easter joy,
I want more than to just be aware of you in my life.
I want to believe in your presence at my side.
I feel blessed with an abundance of your gifts
and your promise of being raised on the last day.
Help me to be like the your early followers
and, even when I am scattered,
to have my life be an example
of your word at work in today's world.
Thank you for the great mercy you show us.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
let us feel your compassion more readily
during these days when, by your gift,
we have known it more fully,
so that those you have freed from the darkness of error
may cling more firmly to the teachings of your truth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 8:26-40; Psalms 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; John 6:44-51
Daily Meditation:
The bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world.Philip opens the scriptures for the Ethiopian eunuch, and he is baptized.
The good news is spreading to the ends of the earth!Jesus further reveals how he is bread which gives life.
The bread, the food, he gives us is his very self-giving love.
His death itself - the gift of his flesh for us - is the life of the world.This is a great day to taste and give thanks for this great gift of Jesus for us.
Whoever believes has eternal life.
Intercessions:
Christ rose from the dead and is always present in his Church. Let us adore him and say:
Stay with us, Lord.
Lord, Jesus, victor over sin and death, glorious and immortal,
- be always in our midst.
Come to us in the power of your victory,
- and show our hearts the loving kindness of your Father.
Come to heal a world wounded by division,
- for you alone can transform our hearts and make them one.
Strengthen our faith in final victory:
- and renew our hope in your second coming.
Closing Prayer:
Loving God,
When I am freed from the darkness into the Easter light,
I want to cling more than ever to your teachings, your truth.
I can feel your compassion touch my life and
I know you invite me to live out my baptism, rejoicing.
Let me proclaim your truth
as I travel through my daily life.
Transform my heart, strengthen my faith
and renew my hope as I beg you
to stay with me, Lord, in everything I do.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Celebrate Easter Home | Renewal of Baptismal Promises | Lent/Easter Site Index
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Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who have come to know
the grace of the Lord's Resurrection,
may, through the love of the Spirit,
ourselves rise to newness of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 9:1-20; Psalms 117:1bc, 2; John 6:52-59
Daily Meditation:
I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood,
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.Paul's conversion - his experience of meeting the Risen Lord - is beautiful.
He would never forget that Jesus identified himself with his people, whom Paul was persecuting.The people misunderstand and Jesus again explains.
He invites us to an even deeper understanding of himself as the Bread that gives life.We can pray today in growing gratitude for the gift of his Body and Blood,
broken and poured out for us,
real food and drink for our communion with him.
We can ask for the grace to receive the Eucharist with more devotion and gratitude.The one who feeds on me will have life because of me.
Intercessions:
Let us pray to God the Father, who gave us new life through the risen Christ:
Give us the glory of your Son.Lord our God, your mighty works have revealed your eternal plan: you created the earth, and you are faithful in every generation,
- hear us, Father of mercy.Purify our hearts with your truth, and guide them in the way of holiness,
- so that we may do what is pleasing in your sight.Let your face shine upon us,
- that we may be freed from sin and filled with your plenty.You gave the apostles the peace of Christ,
- grant peace to your people, and to the whole world.
Closing Prayer:
Loving God,
I sometimes get lost as I follow your Way.
Help me to regain my sight
and be filled by your Spirit.
Give me the courage to spread your good news
to the whole world.
Let me receive your bread
with an awareness that this sacred food
will give me life, if only I trust enough to accept it.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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Easter Home | Renewal
of Baptismal Promises | Lent/Easter Site Index
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U. Online Ministries Home Page
Daily Easter Prayer
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Collect:
O God, who in the font of Baptism
have made new those who believe in you,
keep safe those reborn in Christ,
that, defeating every onslaught of error,
they may faithfully preserve the grace of your blessing.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 9:31-42; Psalms 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; John 6:60-69Daily Meditation:
Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.The gospel for Saturday of the Third Week of Easter lets us see
that some found Jesus' message tough to swallow.
Peter says they won't leave, because Jesus alone has the words of everlasting life.We can close this week reflecting on our desire for a missionary zeal,
the joy Pope Francis calls "evangelical joy."
Our faith, seen in our joy, can become contagious,
and a sign for others.
We ask for this grace of deep joy at this time in the Easter Season.How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? Psalm 116
Intercessions:
Christ is the bread of life; he will raise up on the last day all who share the table of his word and his body. In our joy let us pray:
Lord, give us peace and joy.Son of God, you were raised from the dead to lead us into life,
- bless and sanctify all the children of your Father.You give peace and joy to all who believe in you,
- grant that we may walk as children of the light, rejoicing in your victory.Build up the faith of your pilgrim Church on earth,
- that it may bear witness to your resurrection before the whole world.You suffered and so entered into the glory of the Father,
- change the tears of the sorrowful into joy.
Closing Prayer:
Loving God,
You have made us into new people by our baptism.
We are reborn in Christ!
Yet all too often, I live independently of you.
You urge me to cast aside my worries and fears and to trust in you.
And, it is only when I trust in you with all of my heart
that I can really say, "Lord, where else would I go?
You alone have the words of eternal life."
Then, I receive your great peace and joy.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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* New English translation according to the Third Typical Edition of the Roman Missal. 2010,
Copyright International Commission on English in the Liturgy.