Sue O’Donnell. 07.03.21
“They will be radiant because of the LORD’s good gifts – the abundant crops of grain, new wine ... Their life will be like a well watered garden and all their sorrows will be gone.” (Jeremiah 31 v 12 NLT)
There is one scene my mind flies to.
It is that of the banqueting table on the altar,
A promised feast of good gifts laid before us.
Herein is our Father blessing us profoundly,
Forgiving all our sinful iniquity, serious failing,
By His beloved Son hung on a † for us.
Christ Jesus atones for mankind’s sinfulness.
The Holy Spirit, the power of holy love and mercy,
Flies to our side as the Paraclete,
To bring us the repealing, healing of holy love.
What a most marvellously loving mercy!
“ ‘Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done. I, the LORD, have spoken’!” (Jeremiah 31 v 37 NLT)
The good gifts laid on the altar are exclusive,
Becoming uniquely the body and blood of Christ Jesus,
As transubstantiated by the Holy Spirit of mercy,
Acting out of love’s holy authority given by God, the Almighty, our Father.
We are being forgiven all iniquity
Because Christ Jesus atoned for this, hung on a †.
His punishment is taken to save us from hell’s condemnation.
We are redeemed, restored as a new creation!
How profoundly holy love and mercy are shown,
Made known at the altar in this heavenly banquet
Let us ever offer all thanks and praise.
“ ‘This is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,’ says the LORD. ‘I will put My instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people’.” (Jeremiah 31 v 33 NLT)
“ ‘And they will not need to teach their neighbours, nor will they need to teach their relatives,’ saying, ‘You should know the LORD’. ‘For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know Me already,’ says the LORD. ‘And I will forgive their wickedness and I will never again remember their sins’.” (Jeremiah 31 v 34 NLT)
Oh what an incredible mercy, truly fulfilled as Christ Jesus dies on the †for us, His perfect holiness, His full obedience offered up to gain forgiveness for us at the †, re-presented in the good gifts laid out on the altar.
We are made to be God’s people according to the mercy offered us freely in the perfect life and death of Christ Jesus. “The fierce anger of the LORD will not diminish until it has finished all He has planned.” (Jeremiah 30 v 24 NLT)
And it is finished, all praise, all thanks, all glory ever, ever be. “In the days to come you will understand all this.” (v 24 cont.) And that time is now! Forgiveness is found at the altar in receiving the precious body and blood of Christ Jesus.
“Sing praises to God, sing praises, sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King over all the earth. Praise Him with a psalm.” (Psalm 47 v 6, 7 NLT)
You love us back into wholeness by sharing all the blessings of Christ Jesus’ holiness with us. Let us give You thanks for ever, dearest Father, and sing Your praises daily as we grow in understanding and appreciation of Your love and mercy, Your sovereign authority.
“It is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. You say you can’t see Him, but He will bring justice if you will only wait.” (Psalm 35 v 13, 14 NLT) Let us wait expectantly, for Your compassion hastens to meet us in Christ Jesus.
“God is leading you away from danger... to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.” (Job 6 v 16 NLT) This is the body and blood of Christ Jesus offered us in the Holy Eucharist.
“The Lord is my Shepherd” our Shepherd. “I have all that I need.” (Psalm 23 v 1 NLT) All believers have, thank You. “I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.” (v 4)
“You prepare a feast for me” for us, “In the presence of My enemies. You honour me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” (v 4, 5)
We are shepherded with loving care and mercy, an everlasting favour, a sure grace, a real blessing. It is Your unfailing love that can prevent us from stumbling and falling.
“O LORD, I give my life to You. I trust in You, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in You will ever be disgraced...” (Psalm 25 v 1, 2, 3) for we rejoice in receiving Your loving forgiveness through Christ Jesus, our Shepherd.
I ask that the Holy Spirit teaches all recipients, receiving the blessings of holy communion to know their faith is being supported, strengthened, enhanced and empowered in the most anointed way possible. Jesus’ body and blood is our treasure!
May we be blessed to discern the active, directive presence of holy love and mercy redeeming, restoring and replenishing us in the highest, richest, fullest way possible, that all glory be to the Trinity.
We have been blessed, comforted, consoled, uplifted, encouraged, helped, healed, all with the purpose of being made holy. Father God, let us give You all honour and praise with thanksgiving.
We must aim for perfection under Your Spirit’s guidance, His loving care supporting our daily intentions, decisions and actions. We must make all aspects of Your love the foundation of our life.
Let us aim to live within the Trinity’s perfect unity of love. Holy Spirit, Lord, please gift us fear, that emotion, which will dread offending holiness and therefore strive to shun all sin whether by commission or omission.
Lord, we turn to You for all our healing help. The Lord Jesus has done all that is necessary for us to lead a holy, worthwhile life, one which will delight and honour You. In the Holy Eucharist we claim our new identity in the love and mercy of the Holy Trinity.
Thank You that we have Your Son and Your Spirit as Guardian and Defender day by day. May we always be fully attentive to the impact of the Holy Spirit, His correction, suggestions and input. May we ever draw closer to the Lord Jesus in all circumstances, but above all in the Sacred Mystery of His real presence in the Mass.
“ ‘Let him (her) who glories glory in this, that (s)he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD exercising loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9 v 24 TNJB) Thank You for this.
O Lord, our Lord, how great is Your name as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in all the earth. Now and forever let us sing Your praise as we attempt to honour Your glory to delight You, choosing life not death, blessings not curses.
In You, through You, we stand secure in faith. We live by this trusting in mercy, fully dependent upon You as a Trinity of love and steadfast faithfulness with loving forgiveness, restoring our innocence.
Praise ever continue to safeguard and guide us, for satan does prowl about like a lion, seeking someone to devour. It will not be us, for we belong to Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. We are gifted gladness and wholeness, thank You.
We glory in Your name as Deliverer, Saviour, Sanctifier, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We rejoice to experience Your love for us at first hand. What a blessed and holy experience, a true joy, thank You.
You overcome our doubt, fear and anxieties as we ask to receive of Christ Jesus, honoured to do so, for in Him all the fullness of our holiness dwells. He is our Brother, yet our Saviour. What grace is at work that Your promise to help and save us from hell and condemnation, comes in a way we can recognise and respond to. Mercy is at work.
The Lord Jesus is this way because He manifests Your truth graciously, readily to all who call on His name asking forgiveness for all our sinfulness. Mercy takes us forwards in gladness of mind and heart, in wholeness of spirit restored.
This is our fullest joy, dearest Father, Lord of mercy, Your help promised and fulfilled by Christ Jesus, the Redeemer Saviour. Not one laid on our head will be harmed for You regard us as having been made Your children once again.
Restored and replenished, especially in the Holy Eucharist, this most wondrous of all sacraments, we can actively bring the power of holy love into our daily life, evangelising to give witness to all the Trinity is to us, does for us, being ever merciful.
Here is our peace of mind, our faith’s support and strengthening, our hope of happiness progressing as prayerfully we pursue holiness, being lifted high above sin’s disastrous influence. The Lord Jesus remains with us to ever help us. What a mercy!
We are not orphaned, left to struggle alone with worries and woes, doubts and difficulties, fear making life fraught by problems. No work too hard for our Saviour Brother, no problem too enormous, no sorrow too heavy to shoulder, we are lovingly, mercifully supported.
Three in One and One in Three, together and singly You act in all wisdom and truth to offer us fullness of life now and eternally. We hope to reach heaven. Please keep us praying, progressing towards holiness, praising and thanking, making the Lord Jesus our worship, as the Holy Spirit activates this. What glory we will see eventually! All praise ever be to the Almighty Trinity, especially through the Holy Eucharist. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
MERCY
