Celebrating Eastertide from Home: Wednesday in the 2nd Week of Easter
In these worship resources,
we continue our journey in Eastertide.
“This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.”
Reflection on Eastertide and ideas for celebrating this season from home
I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.Exquisivi Dominum, et exaudivit me;
et ex omnibus tribulationibus meis eripuit me.
Psalm 33:4
The Liturgy of the Word
Reflection
Our Gospel reading today begins with one of the most well-known parts of Scripture:
God so loved the world
that he sent his only-begotten Son
so that all who believe in him
might not perish
but have everlasting life.
Some commentators believe that this is a theological reflection by the Gospel writer rather than the words of Jesus himself.
Since the Gospel was only written in about 90 AD, there may be an element of truth in this.
Nevertheless, the Gospel relates that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is a gift to us, here and now, a gift – to quote TS Eliot – costing not less than everything.
The music you are invited to listen to is a chorale prelude for the organ by JS Bach.
Although a Passiontide chorale, ‘O Mensch, bewein…’ expresses the depths of God’s love to us in his Son.
The first section opens by addressing the listener O Mensch (O human being) and asking us to remember and deplore our great sin (Sünde groß).
Jesus Christ left his Father’s bosom, came to Earth (kam auf Erden), born of a virgin for us (für uns), wanting to become a mediator (Mittler).
The second section reminds us that he gave life to the dead and removed all sickness (all Krankheit), until it became urgent that he was sacrificed for us, carrying the heavy load of our sins (unsrer Sünden schwere Bürd), long on the cross.
God so loved the world
that he sent his only-begotten Son
so that all who believe in him
might not perish
but have everlasting life.
We are called today to accept this priceless gift.
Music for reflection
An Eastertide hymn
1 We walk by faith, and not by sight,
no gracious words we hear
of him who spoke as none e’er spoke,
but we believe him near.
2 We may not touch his hands and side
nor follow where he trod;
yet in his promise we rejoice,
and cry, ‘My Lord and God!’
3 Help then, O Lord, our unbelief,
and may our faith abound
to call on you when you are near
and seek where you are found.
4 That when our life of faith is done
in realms of clearer light
we may behold you as you are
in full and endless sight.
5 We walk by faith, and not by sight,
no gracious words we hear
of him who spoke as none e’er spoke,
but we believe him near.
Henry Alford, alt.
The Lord’s Prayer
Almighty God:
in your great goodness,
grant that we,
as pilgrims through the Easter mysteries,
may hold them fast in our lives;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end. Amen.
Alleluia!
In these strange times, we are called to trust
Other resources
The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA.
The Collects are from the Scottish Episcopal Church, 1982.
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