INTRODUCTION
This piece can be adapted for individual or group use. The devotional begins on the day after Ascension Thursday and finishes on the day before Pentecost Sunday.
We are told that after the Ascension the disciples returned to Jerusalem and spent time together in prayer. They probably also shared stories of Jesus and of all the things they had heard him say.
Over the next nine days we will use the Gospel as a starting point for a time of reflection and prayer. The devotional is designed to be flexible: use as much or as little as you wish in your journey towards Pentecost.
The outline for each day:
Reading: a short extract from the Gospel, with reference to the full text
Wondering: a few questions relating to the reading
Contemplation: Lectio Divina (the slow, prayerful reading of the scriptures)/Gospel contemplation (putting yourself in the scene)
Reflection: some thoughts and questions
Prayer: concerns and a prayer invoking the Holy Spirit
Throughout the devotional you might find it helpful to keep a prayer journal.
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THE FIRST DAY
Reading: John 16:21–23 (NRSV)
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.’
Wondering:
How does this image of a woman giving birth speak to me? Have I experienced or witnessed a birth – and do I agree with Jesus? How can I help to support people through the process of ‘birth’: easing their pain and encouraging them through what may be a very difficult time?
Contemplation:
Read the passage through slowly and see if any words or phrases stand out for you. Why might they have spoken to you at this time? Do they offer any insights into what God might be asking of you?
…
Jesus is speaking these words as part of what is called ‘the last discourse’: trying to talk about things the disciples may not have understood, but would come to understand after the Resurrection and, especially, after Pentecost.
Try to put yourself in their shoes …
Imagine how the day after the Ascension would have felt to the disciples: they knew something was going to happen but not what or when. What might
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they have said to encourage each other, as they waited for this ‘something’ to happen?
Reflection:
This may not be the most comfortable Gospel reading to begin our devotion with – but speaking about birth gives us hope.
Like a woman wondering or worrying about how she will cope with a difficult labour, some people feel apprehension about the future. Others feel more excited at the prospect of new possibilities, and see great opportunity beyond any initial pain. How do you feel about the prospect and process of ‘birth’?
Prayer:
Pray for those for whom the future looks worrying – even terrifying. Pray for their consolation and comfort.
Come, Holy Spirit, to all who are preparing to give birth to new ideas and ways of being. Give comfort to those who are apprehensive, confidence to those preparing for change and trust in your guidance.
Lord’s Prayer
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THE SECOND DAY
Reading: from John 16:23–28 (NRSV)
‘On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.’
Wondering:
Praying in Jesus’ name – what does this mean? When Peter prayed in the name of Jesus, folk were healed – the dead were raised … How has God used my prayer? Was it as I expected – or surprising – or confusing … but ultimately the ‘right’ answer?
Contemplation:
Read the passage or whole reading through slowly and see if any words or phrases stand out for you. This Gospel follows on directly from yesterday’s. Do any of your thoughts today add to those from then? …
Read the Bible passage and build up the scene in your imagination: sometimes seeing the scene, as a film director might, can help to get inside it. Listen to Jesus talking to the disciples … and then invite him to speak to you … What does he say?
Reflection:
Prayer is powerful – but when we pray we often can’t see ‘the big picture’. How do you cope with this? How easy is it for you to ‘let go and let God’?
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Prayer:
Pray for those who have had to try to take the big picture into account, and are concerned about how their decisions will be received.
Come, Holy Spirit: fill the hearts of your faithful. Bless those charged with discernment about major decisions. Grant them insight and wisdom and a deep love of the people entrusted to them.
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THE THIRD DAY
Reading: from John 17:1–10 (NRSV)
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.’
Wondering:
What does eternal life mean to me? How does the promise of eternal life influence how I live? Do I try to share that promise with others? How?
Contemplation:
Read the passage or whole reading through slowly and make a note of any words or phrases that stand out for you. Why do those words speak to you at this time? …
Take a few moments to build up the scene of Jesus praying for his disciples and try to put yourself into it. What do you see, smell, sense …? Hear Jesus say these words directly to you, perhaps looking into your eyes. What do the words mean to you now?
Reflection:
Eternal life is what we are promised at our baptism. In the constant routine or struggle of our day-to-day lives it is easy to forget our destiny. In times of change we can also lose sight of our ultimate goal and focus solely on the
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here and now. How can we retain a sense of vision: seeing beyond what may seem confusing or problematic? How can we help others to set things in a greater context?
Prayer
Pray for your community and its sense of vision.
Pray for an increased awareness of your eternal destiny and that of others.
Come, Holy Spirit, and renew our vision: remind us of the great promise made to us in baptism – the promise of eternal life.
Lord’s Prayer
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THE FOURTH DAY
Reading: from John 16:29–33 (NRSV)
Jesus answered them … ‘I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’
Wondering:
Jesus said many things to his disciples – and these things have been passed on to us. Which of Jesus’ words have offered me comfort? Which have challenged me? Which have brought me peace? …
Contemplation:
Read the passage or whole reading a few times. Take your time and stay with any words or phrases that stand out for you. Why might those words be significant to you at this time? …
Create a setting in which Jesus might have said these words: think about the sky and surroundings, the sounds and smells … Where is Jesus: is he sitting or standing? Where are the disciples? Jesus is preparing to leave the disciples – things are going to happen that will terrify them. What expressions do you see on the faces of those around you? What is Jesus’ expression? You might like to ‘talk’ to Jesus about anything that troubles you and invite his response.
Reflection:
Change can be frightening. People can become confused, and suspicious of the motives of others and reasons behind their decisions. At a time of major change there are doubts and uncertainties – some expressed, others hidden.
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This is a time for bravery: for facing the future in the knowledge that Jesus has indeed conquered the world, and given us the Spirit to help us play our part in the building up of his church. What part are you being called to play?
Prayer:
Pray for those who will have to make brave decisions over coming months.
Pray for a generosity of spirit: for trust in the work of the Holy Spirit.
Come, Holy Spirit: deepen our faith in the One who created us, confidence in the One who saved us and fill our hearts with your peace.
Lord’s Prayer
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THE FIFTH DAY
Reading: from John 17:1–11(NRSV)
Jesus looked up to heaven and said … ‘Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.’
Wondering:
How did the disciples know that Jesus had come from the Father? What Godly qualities did they recognise in him? What helps me to believe that Jesus came from the Father and choose to follow his teaching?
Contemplation:
Read the passage or whole reading and see if any words or phrases stand out for you. Why do these words have special meaning for you today? …
Build up the scene in your imagination. Picture Jesus amongst the disciples … How does he look? What does he sound like? As you look and listen, what strikes you? What is it about Jesus that reveals the divine in him?
Reflection:
Jesus' teaching has been handed on from apostle to apostle, disciple to disciple. Over the centuries, people have gathered, prayed, discussed and discerned. How can we continue to grow in discipleship and responsibility? How can we foster a practice of discernment rooted in scripture and tradition?
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Prayer:
Pray for the gift of openness to the Word of God and willingness to be guided by it.
Come, Holy Spirit: inspire our minds with love for the Word of God, for the rich heritage of tradition, for the people with whom we pray and worship, and for those with whom we long to share the Good News at the heart of our faith.
Lord’s Prayer
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THE SIXTH DAY
Reading: from John 17:11–19 (NRSV)
‘I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.’
Wondering:
What does it mean to ‘not belong to the world’? How does my life show that I have been consecrated in the truth? How does the life of my community witness to the truth? How am I protected from ‘the evil one’?
Contemplation:
Read the passage or whole reading through slowly and see if any words or phrases stand out for you …
Contemplate the scene. You might like to speak Jesus’ words aloud: savour them … As you say the words, how do they touch you? What expression comes into your voice? How might that be an echo of the voice of Jesus?
Reflection:
We are, it is often said, ‘in the world but not of it’ – a phrase that comes down the centuries to us from Jesus. What does it mean? Our contemplative communities are certainly clear signs of one way of living this truth. But how are lay people called to live in the world: ‘to be in it but not of it’?
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Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit: fill the hearts of your faithful. Consecrate us afresh in your truth, protect us from the temptations of our time and show us ways in which to make our world a better and happier place.
Lord’s Prayer
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THE SEVENTH DAY
Reading: from John 17:20–26 (NRSV)
Jesus looked up to heaven and said … ‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.’
Wondering:
How do my words and actions bring others to believe in God? How have the words and actions of others helped me to believe?
Contemplation:
Read the passage or whole reading through slowly and prayerfully. Stay with any words or phrases that stand out for you and allow God to speak to you through them …
For several days now in our readings, John has described Jesus as raising his eyes to heaven. Take a moment to watch the sky: the changing patterns of cloud; the starlight and moonlight … People long believed that heaven was in the sky: we have a different sense of heaven. Allow the time of gazing up and contemplating the sky to speak to your soul of heaven and the promise of eternal joy; of wonder and of being fully present in the moment: the miraculous here and now …
Reflection:
It is a staggering thought that our lives can touch other people’s lives in ways that speak to them of God: the fact that we may say or do something that
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helps people come to know Jesus, and that kindles the spark the Spirit has planted in them.
How can we better build up relationships of encouragement and support?
Prayer:
Pray for people in neighbouring communities or parishes.
Pray for wisdom and enthusiasm for people working together on community projects: food co-ops, youth projects, peace and justice groups …
Come, Holy Spirit: give us a sense of unity and common purpose; as we have received faith through other people, give us words and actions that will help others to believe in you.
Lord’s Prayer
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THE EIGHTH DAY
Reading: from John 21:15–19 (NRSV)
Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’
Wondering:
We move away from ‘the last discourse’ to a reading that reminds us of the commission given to Peter and his successors.
How aware am I of being part of the two thousand years of the history of Christianity? How am I playing my part in witnessing to the Gospel and in building up the contemporary church?
Contemplation:
Read through the Gospel passage or whole reading and see what words or phrases speak to you. Why might these words be significant for you today? …
Spend some time imagining the scene. Where is it set? What do you see, smell, hear …? Where are Peter and Jesus in relation to the other disciples? What emotions do you sense: in the disciples, in Peter and in Jesus?
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Reflection:
Although the call to ‘feed my lambs’, ‘feed my sheep’ was given to Peter in a very special way, it is one given to all Christians.
We express our love for Christ by feeding the hungry amongst us (Matthew 25:31–46). Who are the hungry amongst us: the homeless, the dispossessed, the lonely …?
In order to get strength to go out and feed others, it is important to remember to feed yourself. How do you feed yourself: through contemplation, reflection, prayer, worship and communion, reading, play, conversation …? Where do you find inspiration? …
Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit: fill the hearts of your faithful. Give us ears to hear the call of Jesus and minds, hearts and wills ready and willing to respond to it.
Lord’s Prayer
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THE NINTH DAY
Reading: from John 21:20–25 (NRSV)
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Wondering:
What were all the ‘other things’ that Jesus did and said? Why did John and the other Gospel writers choose the stories and sayings they did? Ask yourself: If I had been an eyewitness to the events in Jesus’ lifetime, which story/saying would I be most keen to have included in a Gospel? Why?
Contemplation:
Read the passage or whole reading through slowly. What words or phrases stand out for you? Let the words sink into your soul, allowing God to speak to you through them …
Call to mind some of your favourite accounts of events in the Gospel or your favourite sayings of Jesus. Spend a while with one of them, building up the scene in your imagination – seeing and hearing Jesus in action or at prayer. Invite him to share anything that he wants you to know; or place before him a concern or worry and ask him for new insights or advice.
Reflection:
Tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday, and so our devotional is drawing to a close. But our journey does not end here. Our times of prayer have helped to prepare
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us for a new beginning – a new Pentecost. Like the early Christians, we will of course experience uncertainties; there will be disagreements and the need to take time to build up trust and new relationships. But we do this having reflected on events in Jesus’ life, which offer both challenge and great promise.
Prayer:
Give thanks for the joy of people who are witnessing God’s promises being fulfilled.
Come, Holy Spirit: fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them your love. Send forth your Spirit to re-create us and renew the face of the earth.
Lord’s Prayer
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SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
All Bible extracts from the NRSV: Passages from NRSV copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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JOURNEY TOWARDS PENTECOST by Kathryn Turner/ Wellspring
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