“Strengthen  us for service, Lord”

Our Prayer after Communion at Mass today speaks to us of how our whole self is touched by the Grace of God

when we receive Holy Communion.

 Strengthen for service, Lord,

the hands that holy things have taken;

But it’s not just about our hands …

‘may the ears which have heard your word be deaf to clamour and dispute’

What do you allow to ‘penetrate’ into your hearing – idle gossip, demeaning speech, destructive words – or the Word of God?

‘may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit;’

The Truth of God touches our mouth in Holy Communion – afterwards, how life-giving is your speech to others?

‘may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love shine with the light of hope’

We behold ‘the glory of God’ in the Sacrament of the Altar, albeit veiled in Bread and Wine – how does Communion with Christ change how you see yourself, the world and those whose lives you touch?

Does the Light of Christ shine through in your thoughts, your words and your actions, to His glory?

‘and may the bodies which have been fed with your Body

be refreshed with the fullness of your Life’

His Body reclaims our broken selves – how carefully do you respect your own body and those of others

knowing that Christ has given His own Body so you can have newness of life in Him?

‘to You, O Christ,  be glory for ever and ever. Amen’

You may like to join in ‘Shine, Jesus, shine’ now and come along to worship with us tomorrow at 10am

when this shall be our final worship song at Mass  …