scripture readings
textweek resources
This is the Fourth Sunday of Easter (not the third Sunday after Easter).
• collect/opening prayer reflection for Easter 4 May 15 and week following
Please add hymns, prayers, ideas, resources in the comments.
Encourage consciousness of Easter being a season, not just a day – “attend” Easter is 50 days and invite your friends.
Exegesis of this Sunday’s readings
From WaiapuAcademy.org
Roman Catholic collect/opening prayer
Omnipotens sempiterne Deus,
deduc nos ad societatem caelestium gaudiorum,
ut eo perveniat humilitas gregis,
quo processit fortitudo pastoris.
Almighty and eternal God,
lead us unto the communion of heavenly joys,
so that the humility of the flock may reach that place
from whence the might of the shepherd came forth.
God of everlasting power,
guide us toward the joyful company of heaven,
so that your lowly flock may follow where Christ, the great Shepherd,
has gone before and lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
Almighty and ever-living God,
tend us to a share in the joys of heaven,
so that the humble flock may reach
where the brave Shepherd has gone before.
Who lives and reigns with you…
I’m not sure what “tend us to a share…” means, exactly…?
Alternative Opening Prayer from ICEL 1998:
O God,
you never cease to call even those far away,
for it is your will that all be drawn into one fold.
Attune our ears to the voice of the Good Shepherd,
who leads us always to you,
that we may find under your tender protection life in all its fullness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the resurrection and the life,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Common Worship (CofE) collect/opening prayer
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:
raise us, who trust in him,
from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things which are above,
where he reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
I take your point to be that we are still in the Pascal Season, it din’t end with Easter Sunday. Are you aware that the firat Week of Easter in the Eastern Church counts as one day, the Altar Doors remain open for all this time – “Bright Week”
Anyway This Sunday is called the Sunday of the Paralytic.
Epistle: Acts 9:32-42
Gospel John 5:1-15
The Hymn
Yes, Andrei – I am aware of that – I’m not sure I mentioned it on this site – maybe I did – but thank you for highlighting it. Thanks again for your Orthodox contribution. In some ways I think that the whole Easter Season is as if it is one day – the Great Sunday of the year.