Sunday, April 05, 2015

Collect for Easter Day

Prayer book

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without en. Amen.

Reflection
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Our Saviour always prevents us. The word has changed its meaning over time, but it literally means "going before". We use the word to mean, "putting obstacles in the way," but this is certainly not what Our Lord does, for He goes before us, opening doors, vanquishing enemies, preparing a place for us.

It is by His grace preventing us that we can come to faith in the first place for it is in His revelation to us that we come to belief in Him. We cannot achieve salvation by our own works, we have to follow the path that Our Lord has trod if we truly desire to be with Him. The path is that of Love itself - a path of toil and uphill struggle, but a path that can only be trod in the first place because we have been loved first. It is our turn to respond to that Love, to take the hand, to walk that path with all its tiral and tribulation. The effect of that trial and tribulation no longer leads to Death, but rather to where He reigns as king for al Eternity!

He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

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