St Peters RC Church Hamilton

Begun centuries ago, was being accomplished at the † of forgiveness.

Justice was won for us at Calvary by the Lord Jesus,

His exemplary life given up as a sacrifice at the †.

Life then moves forwards in faith according to

The continuous working of the Spirit of holiness,

With, through, in and by us – those little words once more –

Carrying a store of promises fulfilled by the Lord Jesus,

Once we allow His Spirit of love to touch us.

So much accomplished at the †, much now awaits us.

“ ‘Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men’.” (Mark 1 v 17)

“ ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’.” (Matthew 28 v 19, 20)

Lord, during the Covid 19 Pandemic churches have been closed, denying us access to the gift of the Eucharist.

This was hard on us. We could however make a spiritual communion.

“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy sacrament of the Altar.” (A Spiritual Communion) I really miss coming to Your banqueting table to be fed and nourished by Your real Presence. I

ask the Spirit to sustain our faith by means of this spiritual action.

“I love You above all things,” (Cont.) beyond all things, and I truly thank You for sending me Your Spirit to enable this to happen. May my love and respect of You, that which delights our Father, become ever stronger.

“I desire to receive You into my soul,” (Cont.) for that is essential if my life is to be blessed and I am to be enabled to share His blessing with as many others as is possible. May the Spirit shape my prayer and my

worship through this spiritual communion.

“Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally” (Cont). and that is such a sadness, for it is Your wish and will to come to us in this communion, but “Come at least spiritually into my heart.”

(Cont.)

“I embrace You as if You are already there” (Cont.) for I believe You are as a result of all the times I have been blessed by being able to come to holy communion, a most significant event in my life.

I “Unite myself wholly to You,” (Cont.) rejoicing in this, and relieved to be able to receive of You in this way, nothing being impossible to the Lord God, ever at work with us by the Spirit.

“Never permit me to be separated from You,” (Cont.) for that way lies disaster which must be avoided.

Thank You for being with us always, for that is Your promise and as You reveal the truth of our Father’s love for us, such a promise cannot fail.

I look forward to returning to partake of the Holy Eucharist, believing that when we live in You, through You, Lord Jesus, we become a new creation led by the Holy Spirit, the old, self centred personality mercifully

dealt with.

Our Father is ever lovingly gracious and in so being has made a memorial of His wonders, His plan of salvation rescuing us. Thus He feeds us and “He has given food to those who fear Him.” (Psalm 111 v 5)

“He will ever be mindful of this covenant,”. (Cont) that love promised us and given through You, Lord Jesus, as enacted by the Holy Spirit of promise, who works “...in truth and uprightness.” (v 8)

Dearest Father, in Your Son, by Your Spirit, You have “Sent redemption to Your people, having commanded Your covenant forever. Holy and awesome is Your name. To reverence you is the beginning of wisdom.” (based on v 9, 10)

“You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion and gracious, long suffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86 v 15) What more could we possibly want or need other than to recognise these qualities?

This too You make available to us through Your Son, by Your Spirit of wisdom, of counsel, of understanding verifying for us who the Lord Jesus is and the reason He accepted the † of salvation as Your rescue plan for mankind.

“Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works” of creation, redemption and re-creation. “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.” (Psalm 86 v 8, 9)

“For You are great, and do wondrous things, You alone are God,” (v 10) the God of Three Persons, the Almighty Trinity. As we come to receive of You through the Holy Eucharist, please enrich our faith.

“Teach us Your way, O LORD, we will walk in Your truth; unite our hearts to fear Your name,” (v 11 the singular invocation changed to plural) as Father, the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, a most glorious Trinity.

Unite us as believers in Jesus, a people who delight to honour and serve You by godly works of charity. Please keep our faith strong in the belief we have in gaining a Saviour and a Sanctifier.

“We will praise You, O Lord our God, with all our heart, and we will glorify Your name forevermore.

For great is Your mercy towards us,” (v 12 changed to plural) that new life gifted us through Jesus, gifting us countless blessings, but none greater than His body and blood.

As a Trinity You draw us to You in love, such love! How this changes us. May it be that “The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of the dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day,”

(Proverbs 4 v 18 NLT) for then the world will be blessed by You, Lord God, through our life in the Lord Jesus as led by the Spirit, all to our highest contentment and Your fullest joy, all thanks ever be! Amen.