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Day 8: Intercession for the gift of Evangelism
And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover" then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it.   Mark 16:15-20
 
Meditation
Jesus' Ascension was both an end and a beginning for his disciples.  While it was the end of Jesus' physical presence with his beloved disciples, it marked the beginning of Jesus' presence with them in a new way.  Jesus promised that he would be with them always to the end of time (Matthew 28:20). Now as the glorified and risen Lord and Saviour, ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven, Jesus promised to send them the Holy Spirit who would anoint them with power on the Feast of Pentecost, just as Jesus was anointed for his ministry at the River Jordan.  When the Lord Jesus departed physically from the apostles, they were not left in sorrow or grief.  Instead, they were filled with joy and with great anticipation for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus' last words to his apostles point to his saving mission and to their mission to be witnesses of his saving death and his glorious resurrection and to proclaim the good news of salvation to all the world.  Their task is to proclaim the Gospel - the good news of salvation.  God's love and gift of salvation is not reserved for a few, but it is for the whole world - for all who will accept it.  The Gospel is the power of God, the power to release people from their burden of guilt, sin, and oppression, and the power to heal, restore, and make us whole.  Do you believe in the power of the Gospel?

This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task - to be heralds of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only saviour of the world.  We have not been left alone in this task, for the risen Lord works in and through us by the power of his Holy Spirit.  Today we witness a new Pentecost as the Lord pours out his Holy Spirit upon his people to renew and strengthen the body of Christ and to equip it for effective ministry and mission world-wide.  Do you witness to others the joy of the Gospel and the hope of the resurrection?
 
Prayer
Lord Jesus, through our Baptism, you have opened our ears to hear your word and loosened our tongues to proclaim it.  May we be living and loving witnesses to your grace and mercy in our lives, in our families, our workplaces and our communities.
May we be courageous proclaimers of your truth, in season and out of season, to bring your salvation to all.


Daily prayers to the Holy Spirit

Synod prayer: 
God our Father, you sent your Son to show us how to live fully in the Spirit.  Be with our diocesan family while we walk together in the generation ahead; may we become a people of evangelisation  who will go out to seek those  who do not know you;  a whole people of clergy and laity who will take on our proper vocations in the Church and share responsibility for our vision and mission;  a discerning people who together will come to know Your will  and have the generosity to follow Your call. 

Help us to be a Holy People who live by prayer and faith our pilgrimage on earth.  Send the Holy Spirit to guide us; to keep us united in purpose and give us courage for this journey of faith.  Help us in our deliberations and discussion to be aware of Your presence, to listen to Your voice and to discern Your will for our diocese in the months and years to come.

Our Lady of Paisley, pray for us.  Saint Mirin, pray for us.
 
Prayer for guidance this day:
Father in heaven: Yours is a Spirit of truth and love.  Pour that same Holy Spirit into my body and mind and soul.  Preserve me this day from all illusion and false inspirations and reveal your presence and purposes to me in a way that I can understand. 
I thank you that you will do this while giving me the ability to respond through Jesus Christ Our Lord.  Amen
 
Prayers of reflection:
Help me to be aware of your promptings and inspirations you have given me today and to know whether I responded to them or not.
 
Father in heaven, help me to recall with gratitude those occasions when I was aware of your presence today and to savour again what you mean to me.
 
Final prayer of the day:
Thank you, Father for the gift of your Spirit.  Today it has urged me to see you more clearly; to love you more dearly; to follow you more nearly.  Forgive my failings and now bless me as I sleep, so that refreshed by your Spirit I may rise with joy to sing your praises, through Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen.