FLM TOBY FANANTENANA 67 Ha
Communion’s prayer, Sunday V after Easter
Week from 22 to 27 May 2017
“God makes a covenant of peace”
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Introduction: God is not a God of disorder or strife, but of peace and harmony (1 Cor 14:33). And even if the sinners defied Him through their sins – by disobeying God’s commands as did Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Gen 3:6) – He made everything to have them back again and to make peace with them. So He made a lasting covenant that He won’t betray. And because He does not want the sinners to perish, He sent His one and only begotten Son to accomplish a redemption through his precious blood (1 Pet 1:19), the forgiveness of our sins that separated us from God (Is 59:1-2). God offered up Jesus Christ, His Son, in order to save us sinners, and He declares about Himself: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” Jn 10:11. He still calls his sheep and sends his servants to tell them: “Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” 2 Cor 5:20-21. That being so, He wants to consolidate his offer of peace to the sinners and says to them: “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” Jer 31:33.
Monday 22: God makes a covenant of peace.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you” Jer 29:11a.
Reading 1: Jn 3:16-21; Reading 2: Jer 29:11-14; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jer 29:11. Other references:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” Jn 14:27.
“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” 2 Cor 6:16b-18.
Tuesday 23: Jesus Christ, the Guarantor of the covenant of peace.
“Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant” Heb 7:22.
Reading 1: Is 49:8-10; Reading 2: Heb 7:18-25; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Heb 7:20-22. Other references:
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” Mt 26:28.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” Jn 14:6.
“Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him” Heb 7:25a.
Wednesday 24: The covenant of peace unifies God’s people.
“I in them and You in me. May they be brought to complete unity” Jn 17:23a.
Reading 1: 1 Cor 12:12-20; Reading 2: Jn 17:18-23; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Jn 17:23. Other references:
“I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd” Ez 34:23
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” Jn 15:9
“So that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” Rom 15:6.
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” Eph 2:14
Thursday 25: The covenant of peace, source of blessings.
“Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do” Deu 29:8.
Reading 1: Rom 8:28-32; Reading 2: Deu 29:1-8; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: Deu 29:8. Other references:
“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All those blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God” Deu 28:1-2.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” Jn 15:7.
Friday 26: God is still calling to make a covenant of peace.
“Be reconciled to God” 2 Cor 5:20b.
Reading 1: Lk 19:37-44; Reading 2: 2 Cor 5:17-21; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: 2 Cor 5:20. Other references:
“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” Ez 18:32.
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near” Mt 4:17.
Saturday 27: Take hold of the covenant of peace
“Do not forget the covenant I have made with you” 2 Kg 17:38a.
Reading 1: Rev 3:7-11; Reading 2: 2 Kg 17:34-39; Preaching 1 (choice); Preaching 2: 2 Kg 17:38. Other references:
“No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame, but they will ever be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse” Ps 25:3.
“Simply let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’, and your ‘no’, ‘no’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one” Mt 5:37.
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