Fourth Sunday of Easter
Daily Easter Prayer“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."
Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
lead us to a share in the joys of heaven,
so that the humble flock may reach
where the brave Shepherd has gone before.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. *
Today's Readings
Acts 4:8-12; Psalms 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18Daily Meditation:
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep and mine know me. - Jn 10:14
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” Acts 4The gospel in which Jesus tells us that he is our Good Shepherd can be quite personal.
He knows the people, and we know that other "shepherds" are not reliable.
He knows us and we know him.
He laid down his life for us.As we continue to celebrate Easter, we give thanks for his guiding, protective love.
And, we ask for the grace to share in his ministry of that kind of love for
our loved ones and our brothers and sisters who have been scattered.Look upon your flock, kind Shepherd, and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures
the sheep you have redeemed by the Precious Blood of your Son.
- Prayer after CommunionIntercessions:
God the almighty Father raised Jesus as the firstborn from the dead, and made him our Savior. Let us call upon him, saying:
Give us, Lord, the glory of your Son.All-holy Father, you brought your beloved Son Jesus from the darkness of death into the splendor of your glory,
- bring us also into your marvelous light.You have given us faith to save us,
- may we live by the faith of our baptism.You command us to seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at your right hand,
- do not let us be deceived by the allurements of sin.May our life, hidden with Christ in you, our Father, shine before the world,
- foreshadowing a new heaven and a new earth.
Closing Prayer:
Loving Shepherd,
You love me and watch over me always, in my joys and in my pain.
Help me not to be deceived by the world around me.
Thank you for the great gift of your love and protection
and for my faith in you, which shapes my life.May my heart be open to an awareness
of your great love
and may we carry that love to those
we pass each day who need it the most.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, perfect light of the blessed,
by whose gift we celebrate the paschal mysteries on earth,
bring us, we pray,
to rejoice in the full measure of your grace
for ages unending.
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 11:1-18; Psalms 42:2-3, 43:3, 4; John 10:1-10Daily Meditation:
“God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.” Acts 11
"I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved.
I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10It is always wonderful for us to hear how the early community discerned their mission to the gentiles.
It was revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.
God is at work in those who were strangers, so we must include them and serve them.Jesus describes himself as the gate to the sheepfold.
He is the only way to communion with others in the community.
And, he is the way to everlasting life.We can reflect on what the Spirit is revealing to us
and ask for the grace to let Jesus be the way for us
to the fullness of life here and to eternal life.As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God? Psalm 42Intercessions:
God the Father was glorified in the death and resurrection of his Son. Let us pray to him with confidence, saying:
Lord, enlighten our minds.Father of lights, you bathed the world in splendor when Christ rose again in glory,
- fill our minds today with the light of faith.Through the resurrection of your Son you opened for us the way to eternal life,
- as we work today sustain us with the hope of glory.Through your risen son you sent the Holy Spirit into the world,
- set our hearts on fire with spiritual love.May Jesus Christ, who was crucified to set us free,
- be today our salvation and redemption.
Closing Prayer:
Shepherd and spirit of love,
I listen for your voice, warm, familiar and loving.
I hear you call my name as you guide me in life.
Help me always to recognize your voice
leading and guiding me.Help me also to see the stranger
you lead me to love and serve.
I beg your Holy Spirit to set my heart on fire.
Like the deer longs for water, I long for you, my God.
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, celebrating the mysteries of the Lord’s Resurrection,
we may merit to receive the joy of our redemption.
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 11:19-26; Psalms 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7; John 10:22-30
Daily Meditation:
The hand of the Lord was with them
and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. Acts 11My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. John 10It is beautiful to hear about the growth of the community at Antioch,
where the followers of the way of Jesus were first called "Christians."This Easter meditation can ask for the grace to hear his voice
and to follow his ways, so we might receive the gift of eternal life.
How does he do this? Because Jesus and the Father are one.The Father and I are one. John 10
Intercessions:
The spotless Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world. Let us give thanks to the Father, and say:
Source of all life, raise us to life.Source of all life, remember the death and resurrection of the Lamb slain on the cross.
- listen to his voice as he lives for ever, making intercession for us.Now that the old leaven of wickedness and evil is destroyed,
- may we always feed on the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.Grant that today we may put aside all friction and jealousy,
- and show greater concern for the needs of others.Send into our hearts the spirit of the Gospel,
- that we may walk in the way of your commandments, today and forever.
Source of all life, raise us to life.
Grant that today we may put aside all friction and jealousy,
- and show greater concern for the needs of others.
Closing Prayer:
Source of all life,
I feel so secure, knowing that my shepherd knows me as an individual,
and that I rest safely in the father's hand.Help me to remain faithful with your grace.
Give me a firmness of heart, so different from my hardness of heart.
Soften my judgementalism,
and help me to show greater care for all those in my life
especially those most in need of me today.
May the joy of my redemption spill over into my life
so I may be truly called "Christian" -- a follower of yours.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, life of the faithful,
glory of the humble, blessedness of the just,
listen kindly to the prayers
of those who call on you,
that they who thirst for what you generously promise
may always have their fill of your plenty.
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 12:24-13:5a; Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, and 8; John 12:44-50
Daily Meditation:
The word of God continued to spread and grow. Acts 12
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. John 12Jesus is our light in many ways.
He helps us to see in the darkness which confuses us and trips us up
and which so often causes us to lose our way.
He also reveals the Father to us because when we see Jesus, he tells us,
we see the one who sent him.Our Easter meditation can invite us to pray for the grace to stay in his light.
And, we can ask that his light shine in those areas of darkness
which we sometimes hide from his light.
We can ask that, with the Spirit of new life we have received,
we might be light for others who long for the light of Christ in their lives.
Sometimes, this is the grace to be a light in our our family, among our friends,
within our city and our world.I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life. John 8Intercessions:
By the gift of the Father, the risen Christ was seen by the apostles. Let us pray to the Father, and say:
Give us, Lord, the glory of your Son.Father of lights, today we offer you our thanks and praise for calling us into your marvelous light,
- to receive your mercy.May the efforts of mankind to make the world more human,
- be purified and strengthened by the power of your Spirit.May we be so dedicated to the service of others,
- that the whole human family may become a pleasing sacrifice in your honor.At the dawn of a new day, fill us with your mercy,
- that the whole day may be a day of joy and praise.
Closing Prayer:
God of Light,
I pray to do more than simply follow your light.
I want to stay in that light toward which you draw me.
May I shine your loving grace on those in the darkness.The disciples believed in you
and laid their hands as they sent each other off
to spread the work of your gospel to the world.
Thank you for calling me into your light and truth.
Fill me with mercy for those on the margins
that my life, and theirs, may be one of joy and praise.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 restore human nature
to yet greater dignity than at its beginnings,
look upon the amazing mystery of your loving kindness,
and in those you have chosen to make new through the wonder of rebirth
may you preserve the gifts of your enduring grace and 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
1 Peter 5:5b-14; Psalms 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17; Mark 16:15-20
Daily Meditation:
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. Psalm 89When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. John 13Paul is invited to give some "words of encouragement"
and he tells the story of our salvation.Jesus, after washing his disciples' feet at the Last Supper
tells them/us that he has given an example of self-sacrificing love
which we are to imitate.We are missioned by Jesus - sent by him to reveal God's love to others.
We can ask for these graces today.Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. John 13Intercessions:
God the Father has given us his Son for the resurrection of his people. Let us turn with confidence to the Father and say:
May the Lord Jesus be our very life.As a pillar of fire, you lighted the way for your people in the desert,
- through his resurrection may Christ be today the light of our life.Through the voice of Moses you taught your people from the mountain,
- through his resurrection may Christ be today the light of our life.You fed your pilgrim people with your gift of manna,
- through his resurrection may Christ be today the light of our life.You gave your people water from the rock,
- through his resurrection may Christ be today the light of our life.
Closing Prayer:
Risen Jesus,
My heart sings of your goodness and I am in awe
of how you have graced all of our lives
with greater dignity and the wonder of rebirth.You have given me an example with your life
and mission me to receive those you place into my day
with dignity, service and love.
In my Easter joy, I find the courage to say Yes.
Help me to receive the ones you send to me
so that I might receive you.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, author of our freedom and of our salvation,
listen to the voice of our pleading
and grant that those you have redeemed
by the shedding of your Son’s Blood
may have life through you
and, under your protection,
rejoice forever unharmed.
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 13:26-33; Psalms 2:6-7, 8-9, 10-11ab; John 14:1-6
Daily Meditation:
We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you
that what God promised our fathers
he has brought to fulfillment for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. Acts 13Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. John 14Jesus tells his disciples, and us, that he goes to prepare a place for us
and that he will come and bring us there.
So, we can be freed from all that troubles our hearts.
If only we could trust his promise and live in it each day.Thomas' question is ours: We often don't know the way.
Today we can reflect on Jesus' response:Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 13Intercessions:
God the Father raised up Christ through the Spirit, and will also raise up our mortal bodies. Let us cry out to him:
Lord, raise us to life through your Holy Spirit.All-holy Father, you accepted the holocaust of your Son in raising him from the dead,
- accept the offering we make today, and lead us to eternal life.Look with favor on all we do today,
- that it may be for your glory and the sanctification of the world.May our work today not be in vain but for the good of the whole world,
- and through it lead us to your kingdom.Open our eyes today to recognize our brothers and sisters, and our hearts to love them,
- so that we may love and serve each other.
Closing Prayer:
Loving Jesus, you ask me to trust in you.
You tell me you have a place for me.
But, sometimes, like Thomas,
I don't know how to get to that place,
and fear enters my heart.
Then I hear your warm voice telling me
not to let my heart be troubled or afraid.
Give me the wisdom to trust in you.
Help me to open my eyes to my brothers and sisters,
so when I return to the place you are preparing,
there will be room for us all.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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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 celebration of Easter
graciously give to the world
the healing of heavenly remedies,
show benevolence to your Church,
that our present observance
may benefit us for eternal 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 13:44-52; Psalms 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; John 14:7-14Daily Meditation:
The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit. Acts 13
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father. John 14It must have been overwhelming when Jesus told his disciples
that when they were seeing him, they were seeing the Father,
that the Father is in him and that he is in the Father.But it must have been a whole further amazement when he told them
that if we put our faith in him, we will do even greater works than he did.Today, in our Resurrection faith, we can ask for the grace to put our faith in Jesus
and to be open to how we can love and serve others in the healing way Jesus did.
And we can reflect on who we are being called to love, as Jesus loves.If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples. John 14
Intercessions:
Christ has made known to us the life that lasts for ever. With faith and joy let us cry out to him, saying:
Lord, may your resurrection bring us the riches of your grace.Eternal shepherd, look on your flock as it rises from sleep,
- feed us with the word of life and the bread from heaven.Keep us safe from wolf and hireling,
- and make us faithful in listening to your voice.You are present to all who preach your Gospel, and give power to their words,
- make us today preachers of your resurrection by our holiness of life.Be our great joy that no one can take from us,
- so that we may reject sin with its sadness, and reach out to eternal life.
Closing Prayer:
Jesus, I feel as if I am rising from sleep sometimes.
Then I feel you offer me saving power,
and a healing with your words of life.
You want me to ask for anything in your name:
Please, be the light in any darkness I face.There are times that I, like your disciples,
do not recognize you.
I beg you to give me the grace to put my faith in you
so you can send me to your people
where I can share my great joy in you.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.