Weekly Prayer

Last Sunday, 8th June, was the Feast of Pentecost.
Pentecost (Greek for 50th day) is celebrated by Christians 50 days after Easter, and marks the day that the Holy Spirit became known to  the apostles while they were cowering and hiding behind locked doors following Jesus’ resurrection. After receiving the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit, the apostles immediately went out and preached Jesus’ message to everyone—even those who could not understand.

The Christian celebration of Pentecost originates from a Jewish feast that concluded the 50 days of Passover and celebrated the end of the barley harvest, plus the beginning of the wheat harvest.

Invitation to prayer….

Scripture:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God's spirit hovered over the water.”

Genesis 1:1-2

Reflection:

In this text we see one of the  first images encountered in the Bible is this beautiful picture of the Spirit of God moving over the surface of the waters at the dawn of creation. Everything that follows in the scriptures is set in the context of the goodness of creation and our call to care for our common home. This call is especially urgent today, in the light of the climate emergency. Let’s pray that God’s nurturing spirit will challenge and strengthen us to make profound changes in our lifestyles. Changes that will prevent further damage to our environment and restore creation for the common good.

To ponder…

What changes can we make to better care for the gift of creation?

Prayer:

Come Holy Spirit,
blow away division and despair.
Light your flame of courage and hope in us
and warm our hearts with wisdom and love.
Be our Helper, as we seek your ways of justice.
Be our Comforter, as we share your peace with our wounded world.
Be our Advocate, as we call for the fullness of life for all.