St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad.” (Psalm 126 v 3)

“I will sing of mercy and justice,” (Psalm 101 v 1)

The basis of the Lord God’s goodness,

His generous love towards us.

“To You, O LORD, I will sing praises” (Cont.)

In thanksgiving for our renewed living.

“For the LORD is good;

His mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100 v 5)

Look at the forgiveness won for us

By our Father’s beloved Son, Christ Jesus,

Accepting the †which should be,

Could be, our punishment for sinfulness.

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1 v 7)

We are released from sin’s captivity.

Both mercy and justice are found to be sound

In the life which was exemplary, perfectly holy,

And the sacrificial death on the †, of the Lord Jesus.

We are gifted a Saviour Redeemer Restorer.

What a blessing of merciful embrace.

And, in case we did not grasp this,

In addition, we have been sent One like Jesus.

The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete comes to us,

To stand beside us to enlighten, strengthen,

Support, guide, and safeguard our faith.

“Holy Spirit, soul of my soul I adore Thee; enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me; tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to be submissive in everything that Thou shalt ask of me and accept all that Thou permittest to happen to me, only show me what is Thy will.” (Cardinal Mercier)

Our trust in God’s mercy as manifest in Christ Jesus,

Tell us “ ‘The LORD has done great things for them’,” (Psalm 126 v 3)

Those who believe in the Lord Jesus as Saviour,

Who follow Him, the Good Shepherd,

Leading us forwards in holiness.

The Teacher gifting us a glimpse of heaven,

By setting up His kingdom upon earth,

The Redeemer Re-Creator gifting us a second birth.

We, His family, being made good works in progress,

Rejoice to be led into all holiness

By the One who knows us better than we know ourselves.

“Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him (her) By this we know that we are in Him.” (1 John 2 v 5)

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches

Grafted on to Him to gain strength in our faith.

The Father, by the Spirit, prunes us,

Cutting away all that impairs our holiness,

Making us more able to grow in a likeness of Jesus.

This is what has been done for us.

This is what is being done for us,

For the victory of the †is an ongoing work

Of salvation, of re-creation, the recommendation of mercy.

We learn to live a fruitful life through the Spirit in Jesus.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1 v 17)

“Of His own will, He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.” (James 1 v 18)

The Lord Jesus is that Word of truth. “ ‘You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you...If you keep My commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may

remain in you, and that your joy may be full’.” (John 15 v 3, 10, 11)

Yes, the Lord has done very many great things for us. In our joyous response let us pray. Amen.