Wednesday 3 April 2024

Today is Wednesday 3 April, in the 1st week of Eastertide.

Eliza King sings, ‘All Things New’. You might like to reflect on the ways in which God is making things new in your life today.

You break like the light of the sun
Bringing colour to shadows
Christ, it was you all along
You’re the words of an ancient song, we’ve been singing
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
You rise, as the bright morning star
We were blind but we see you now
The light of the world here with us
You’re a fire making holy ground, by your spirit
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
You’re the treasure of the ages
Sought for generations
How the prophets longed to see what we have seen
You’re the final word incarnate
Leaping from the pages
You’re the burning heart behind the mystery
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new
Behold, He makes all things new




Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 3:1-10

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Let's spend some time “getting inside” this remarkable story.

Take a moment to imagine the scene… can you picture the Beautiful Gate?

And what about this man, lame from birth… how is he in your mind’s eye? What might he be feeling? What is he hoping for?

“They were filled with wonder and amazement”.

As you listen to the passage a second time, are you able to get a sense of this wonder and amazement? Is there anything that really strikes you as you listen?

People saw the man “walking and leaping and praising God”. You might like to end this time of prayer by talking with God about how others see you and your faith…what would you like to ask God for to help with this?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.