Opening Prayer
O Lord, who though you were rich yet for our sake became poor, and has promised in your holy gospel that whatever is done for the least of your brethren you will receive as done to you; give us grace, we humbly beseech thee, to be always willing and ready to minister, as you enable us, to the needs of others, and to extend the blessings of your kingdom over all the world; to your praise and glory, who are God over all, blessed forever.
— St. Augustine, 354-430
TEXT
John 13:31-38 NIV
When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
Read
O Lord our God,
Fill us with hope in the shadow of your wings;
Protect and sustain us.
You will uphold us, right from our childhood until our old age,
Because our present strength,
If it comes from you, it is strength indeed;
But if it is merely our own strength then it is weakness.
When we are close to you we find living goodness,
But at the very moment we turn aside from you
We become corrupt.
So Lord, make us retrace our steps,
So that we are not defeated.
— St. Augustine, 354-430