Praying Together April 19th 2026

So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.

Collect for Easter 3

Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reflection

1 Peter 1: 17-23

17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed for your sake at the end of the ages. 21Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

22 Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

To think about:

17 – all people impartially according to their deeds: Judgement is not restricted to either believers or non-believers – but All people

17 – reverent fear – not fear as in being frightened, but fear as in realising the enormity of what God’s only Son has done for His creation – and for you. And then aspiring to live in the understanding of what that means – holiness, an awareness of being in the presence of God

18 – ransomed from the futile ways: the old order is gone; by the cross all things are made new

20 – before the foundation of the world: Before time began, Jesus is. revealed for your sake: and He is made known to you

21 – raised him from the dead: in love, He died for you – in love, He lives for you.

22 – love one another deeply from the heart: And now you are to love one another – All people, as above, believers and non-believers alike

23 – born anew – you are a new creation through the living and enduring word of God – and nothing and no-one can take your new life away from you.