Pour into our hearts such love …

The Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer, 225

A few questions from our prayer

I invite you to read through this prayer and then use these prompts as you ponder, contemplate, or journal. Please let the beauty and power of our common prayer be nourishment and refreshment along the Way.

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: 

• What evidence do you have that this is true, a trustworthy statement? From your life experiences, name some of those who have trusted this statement and share that trust with you.

Pour into our hearts such love towards you, …  

• “Pour into our hearts…” How many ways could God (who is love, 1 John 4:8) do this pouring? How many ways has love towards God filled your heart?

that we, loving you in all things and above all things,

• Describe the challenges of living like this.

may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire;

• What “promises” (from God) do you most cherish? Most desire to be fulfilled? What promises arouse the most curiosity in you? Why do you suppose our prayer uses a plural (promises) form?

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

• As disciples of Christ, as believers, we trust that “Christian prayer is [a] response to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.” from The Book of Common Prayer, p. 836

More

• The Collect: an Anglican/Episcopal Treasure. From the “Foreward” to The Collects of Thomas Cranmer edited by C. Frederick Barbee and Paul F. M. Zahl. This essay provides historical and liturgical background to this type of liturgical prayer.
• A Pattern for Prayer by John D. Witvliet posted on Religion Online. The author believes the study of ancient liturgical materials facilitates special insight.  He discusses at length the understanding which lies in the structures and patterns of early collects and similar prayers, for preparing such prayers challenges us to draw on nearly the whole range of theological themes and motifs.

About Wind in the Chimes

Wind in the Chimes (renaming and reintroduction of Wind Chimes, 7/21/20)

Wind Chimes: September 25 2012 (an introduction)