Sue O’Donnell. 23.07.20
“The ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing and everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51 v 11)
We are returned to friendship.
We had lost this through sinfulness.
For justice there had to be punishment.
Jesus took this upon Himself at Calvary.
He went to the † to gain forgiveness for us.
We are re-established as God’s family.
A people to be made holy,
Travelling and now en route to our home and destiny,
Which will be a heavenly city.
It is the Holy Spirit who leads us
In a triumphant procession marked by forgiveness.
“Wisdom has built her house...She has also furnished her table...’Come, eat of My bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding’.”
(Proverbs 9 v 1, 2, 5, 6)
The effect of the † of the Lord Jesus
Is not consigned merely to history,
Its outcome is a present day reality.
The everlasting joy gifted us in the Lord Jesus,
Ever present amongst us sacramentally,
But most notably in the Holy Eucharist.
Here the Spirit of forgiveness is paramount.
We can count on God’s mercy,
And thereby feel joyously happy.
Joy and gladness are made ours by Jesus,
At work in the Eucharist miraculously,
By the Spirit of love being industrious to gift us Jesus.
“Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81 v 10)
Mysteriously the Spirit changes the bread and the wine
Into spiritual food to nourish us.
By means of the real presence of Jesus,
IS the sanctified bread and wine
Become for us Jesus’ body and blood
Exactly as offered up at the †.
Forgiveness is a most glorious gift of God,
Our Lord God of mercy who wishes to redeem us,
To rescue us from all that is evil.
In the Eucharist mankind becomes combined with Jesus,
With His divine heart offered up as a sacrifice.
“He causes...food from the earth and wine that makes glad the heart of man...and bread which strengthens man’s heart.” (Psalm 104 v 14, 15)
This sacrifice was one which would suffice to justify forgiveness for us.
How truly wondrous! How utterly marvellous!
Sorrow and sighing are done away with triumphantly.
God conquers evil victoriously and joyously.
After forty days the risen Lord Jesus,
Did ascend to heaven to send as promised,
His and the Father’s Spirit upon us,
As He first did at Pentecost to support His disciples.
Never are we alone, left to struggle independently.
The Spirit of love remains with us as family,
As of course, does the Lord Jesus, our Saviour.
“Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places...the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 52 v 9)
“...and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52 v 10)
Lord God, through Jesus, according to the working of the Spirit of love, a life giving Spirit, You have consumed and redeemed us. Thank You for the † and Jesus’ acceptance of our punishment.
The blood poured out at the† repurchases our freedom from satan and all the dire effects of sin. Our helplessness has been overcome by the victory the Lord Jesus won for us.
It was prophesied “He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; and precious shall be their blood in His sight.” (Psalm 72 v 14) This came to pass, as have all the other promises made to us and are
being fulfilled by the Lord Jesus.
When by Proverbs we are told to “...go in the way of understanding,” (Proverbs 9 v 6)wisdom speaking, this reminds us of the necessity of seeking the correct way to live, that very way the Lord Jesus teaches us,
models for us and prepares us for, by nourishing our faith with Himself.
Holy love and mercy think of everything that is necessary for our wellbeing, our making progress in pursuing holiness. Thank You for this benefit. Let us ever turn to the Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
We praise Your all loving faithfulness to us. As a Trinity Your “Work is honourable and glorious, and Your righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 111 v 3) because we are gifted a Saviour, dying for us at
the † of forgiveness.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You have “Made Your wonderful works to be remembered,” (based on v 3) by us partaking of holy communion, the perfect union between mankind and Your presence in heaven.
Thank You for the one perfect sacrifice made by our Saviour Brother and established for all times sacramentally. This Holy Eucharist is a blessed gift befitting our salvation. We offer the sacrifice up to You to the honour of Your name.
Lord, “Gracious and full of compassion, You have given food to those who reverence You” (based on v 5) the bread of life which is the Lord Jesus. “You will ever be mindful of Your covenant” and we rely upon Your love and mercy as “You have declared to us the power of Your works.” (based on v 6)
This is always the power of holy love as worked for us by the Holy Spirit, sustaining and strengthening our faith. When we are told
...righteousness delivers from death,” (Proverbs 10 v 2) it is the Holy Spirit of
conviction who counsels our understanding of the victory the Lord Jesus wins at the †.
Thank You that holy love and mercy enables our greatest fear, that of death, to be dealt with so compassionately, Your wisdom teaching us that death is not the end, but a new beginning entering us into the
true fullness of life the Lord Jesus has won for us.
So we come to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.” (Psalm 138 v 3, 4,5)
Ransomed we rejoice and offer all thanks in warmest appreciation for the new and eternal life we are given.
“What shall I render to You, LORD for all Your benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon Your name” (based on Psalm 116 v 12, 13) of loving mercy to be my redemption.
“Precious in Your sight LORD, is the death” (based on v 15) of any one of us committed to being a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Thank You so much for the gifted Holy Spirit, saving, shaping, and maintaining our faith. May this outcome ever be to the highest glory of the Holy Trinity, as we live to serve in Jesus’ name of love marked by forgiveness. Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
EUCHARIST
FORGIVENESS
