Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Readings at Mass
1st Reading. Genesis 14:17-20
Melchizedek is important in biblical tradition because he was both king and priest, connected with Jerusalem and revered by Abraham. The bread and wine he offered to Abraham are seen as being a precursor of the Eucharist, where bread and wine are transformed (like the wine at Cana in today’s Gospel) and become the means by which the Risen Christ, our King and Great High Priest, shares his life and love with us.
2nd Reading. Revelation 19: 6-10
We are created to praise God. In John’s vision of the worship of heaven we see that worship flows spontaneously at the ‘marriage feast of the Lamb,’ the wedding between Christ and His people. Christ is the Bridegroom and the Church – we-are His Bride. This communion with Christ our Lord issues forth in praise, adoration and thanksgiving and we are transformed.
Gospel. St John 2: 1-11
The changing of the water into wine is a sign of God’s glory breaking into the world through the person of Jesus, the Word made flesh. This ‘trickle’ of glory will become a flood at the Lord’s death and resurrection, as the glory of God’s love is poured out upon the world. The glory transforms us and the world itself.
Reflection
Water into Wine
Jesus brought the wine of God’s love into the world.
Everywhere he went the old was made new.
For the couple at Cana he changed water into wine.
For the widow of Nain he changed tears into joy.
For Zacchaeus he changed selfishness into love.
For the thief at Calvary he changed despair into hope.
And on Easter morning he changed death into life.
Lord, be present with us today and throughout our lives.
And when through human weakness
the wine of love is found wanting,
touch our hearts and strengthen our wills,
so that we may taste the wine of unselfish love.
(Flor McCarthy SDC)
Daily Prayer
Let’s continue to join together each day in a fellowship of prayer in union with Christ our Lord who unites us to Him and to one another wherever we are. Every day at St Gabriel’s: 8am Morning Prayer; 6pm Evening Prayer.
Join with us at these times or at any time that’s a good time for you.
You might like to begin your morning prayer with:
The night has passed and the day lies open before us; as we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of Christ set our hearts on fire with love for you, O God, now and for ever. Amen.
and your evening prayer with:
As our evening prayer rises before you, O God, so may your Christ banish all darkness from our hearts and minds and set us free to sing your praise, now and for ever. Amen
Intercessions
Pray for the Church: as this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ends we pray for the unity of the Church, for John our Archbishop, for Justin Archbishop of Canterbury, for Pope Francis, for Bartholomew the Ecumenical Patriarch and for all the leaders of the churches and for all Christ’s faithful people ‘that we may all be one’.
Pray for the world: for all who work for peace, justice, reconciliation and unity across the world; for the work of the United Nations and all organisations that work to alleviate poverty and need and promote education and wellbeing; for an end to violence and warfare, remembering especially the people of the Yemen, Syria, the Congo, Iraq and Palestine.
Pray for the sick and all in need: for all suffering from covid at home or in hospital and for all who are sick and for all who care for them; for the staff of our local hospitals, under extreme pressure at this time and for all NHS workers, medical, nursing and clerical; for all social workers and counsellors and for all hospital chaplains; for those who have recently been bereaved and for those who have died; for all teachers, parents and children and all involved with on-line learning and for all students and University staff.
Give thanks for: the continued roll-out of the vaccination programme; for all involved in medical research; for all lives of care and service; for the transforming power of God’s love and grace made manifest in Christ our Lord.
Almighty Father, whose Son Jesus Christ is the light of the world: may your people illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory that he may be known, worshipped and obeyed to the ends of the earth; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen
Keep in touch … with each other and remember those who live alone and contact them. Fr Mark can be contacted at any time by phone 464011 or email mark.griffiths35@btinternet.com. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
News…any news or items you would like included in our bulletin please send to Paul Reynolds. Many thanks.