Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Day 8)
January 25, 2025
Day 8 (Jan 25)
Waiting for the Kingdom and the life to come
Opening Invocation
R/ Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father
O Christ the Lord, who for our sakes became poor
and who promise that the poor will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven,
you fill us with your riches. R/
O Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
who reveal a new world to those who trust in you,
you give us your fullness. R/
O Christ the Lord, who knelt and prayed with your face to the ground,
you who in sadness traced a way of consolation,
you are the joy that nothing and no one can take away from us. R/
O Lord Jesus, who cast down rulers and powers
and who clothe peacemakers with a glorious robe,
you transform us into your image. R/
O Christ the Lord, merciful and compassionate
who on the Cross forgave the thief who died with you,
we beseech you: Remember us when you come into your kingdom. R/
Scripture (Revelation 21:1-4)
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Psalm 85:8, 10-12
I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
From the Ancient Church
Whoever lives in love in this creation breathes the life coming from God. While yet in this world, he breathes the air of rebirth. In this air the righteous will delight at resurrection. Love is the kingdom whereof our Lord mystically promised the disciples that they would eat in his kingdom: “You shall eat and drink at the table of my kingdom.” What should they eat, if not love? Love is sufficient to nourish a man instead of food and drink. This is the wine that gladdens the heart of man. Blessed is he who drinks of this wine! (Isaac of Nineveh)
You, O Lord, have freed us from the fear of death. You have made the end of this life the beginning for us of true life. You, for a season, let our bodies rest in sleep and awake them again at the last trumpet. You give our earth, which you have fashioned with your hands, to the earth to keep in safety. One day you will take back what you gave, transfiguring with immortality and grace our mortal and unsightly remains ... You showed us the way of resurrection, having broken the gates of hell, and brought to nought him who had the power of death. (Gregory of Nyssa)
By hope God breastfeeds us, nourishes us, strengthens us, and give us consolation in this life of toil. In this hope we sing “alleluia”. Just look what joy there is in hope! What can the reality be? You ask: “What can it be?” Listen to what is said: “They shall get drunk on the plenteousness of your house.” That is the reality that hope is about. We are thirsty. We are hungry. It must be that we shall be satisfied. Hunger while on the road, satisfaction when we come home. When shall we be satisfied? “I shall be satisfied when your glory is revealed.” ... Then it will be “alleluia” in reality, while now it is just in hope. (Augustine of Hippo)
Musical Selection (Bainton Edgar)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away;
and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.
Collect
O Lord, hasten the coming of your great and glorious day!
In our darkness, many men and women no longer dare to hope.
Protect the flame of faith in the hearts of the weak and the suffering.
May the Church be a faithful herald of the victory of Christ your Son over death
and a beacon of expectation for his return in glory.
He is the Living One, with you and with the Holy Spirit.
now and forever and ever. Amen.
Concluding Chant (Nicene Creed)