Rest is good. We’re taking a break from producing content over the summer. Enjoy this previously produced pattern and meditation.
With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God? Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are? Being comes before doing. This is a call to put first things first. Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion. Set aside this time as a sanctuary. Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9) O Lord, you are the God who makes peace from turmoil. As your child, send me to be a peacemaker. Amen.
Word: John 12:20-21
Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
Meditation
What do you see? Political bluster and arrogance. Shady power grabs. Hospital beds full of the sick. Beggars with signs on interstate off ramps. Children losing a year of education. Those weary of isolation.
Some Greeks came to Jesus at the Passover. They had traveled from afar to Jerusalem for the annual Jewish celebration. Little did they know this would be a Passover unlike any other. They heard about a Nazarene prophet. There were stories of miracles and healings. They make a simple request to Philip, one of the twelve. “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
Yes, we wish – we long – to see Jesus. We are weary. Overwhelmed. Tired of laboring the long road of this pilgrim journey. We wish to see Jesus in a world short on mercy, forgiveness, and righteousness. We echo the refrain of the Greeks in John 12, and Jesus is faithful to answer. Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.
Prayer for the Church
· For my local congregation, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
· For Christians across my community and city.
· For my denomination or church body.
· For repentance where God’s people have failed or erred.
· For the mission of God given to his people, that all nations know Him.
· For the church where she is persecuted for Christ’s name.
· For church plants and mission frontiers.
· For workers in the harvest: pastors, teachers, evangelists, servants.
· For the everyday, ordinary Christian to serve and witness as the priesthood of all believers.
· For the small, overlooked, and undervalued parts of the body of Christ.
Closing Prayer
Jesus, we wish to see you. Amen.