Praying to be better pray-ers - Rector's Rambling for April 30, 2017

We continue our joyful celebration of Christ’s Resurrection from the dead with what is known as Good Shepherd Sunday.  Just as we concentrated last Sunday on the various Resurrection appearances of Jesus on Easter Day, so now we move forward in understanding the mission of the Church.

Last week’s Gospel reminds us that when Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room, He breathed upon them and gave them the gift of the Holy Ghost for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus’ first day out of the tomb and He is already putting the disciples to work for the spread of the Kingdom of God!

In last week’s sermon I charged the congregation to begin praying earnestly for our upcoming Thy Kingdom Come program from May 25 (Feast of the Ascension) to June 4 (Whitsunday, also known as Pentecost).  The primary purpose of these 11 days is for us to emulate the disciples in prayer, as we read in the book of the Acts of the Apostles.  After Christ ascended into heaven, Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:12–14)

So too we are going to continue in prayer and supplication as the disciples did in preparation for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  And until May 25, we need you to pray everyday for God’s blessing on this endeavor.  We are praying to be better pray-ers, that we may be open to God’s direction for these important days.