13th. April. 2022. Daily Devotion.

Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.

Have you ever experienced the betrayal of someone close to you? Have you ever been the one who betrayed the trust and confidence of another? These are very challenging questions, and they are ones that have a special relevance today.

When we form a close attachment to someone, we go on a journey that involves us in the process of making ourselves increasingly vulnerable. Layer by layer we allow someone to get closer and closer as we let them into the secrets of our inner thoughts and our most intimate experiences. We give that person unfettered access to information that is so privileged that it may not be shared by any other person in the world. We allow that person to know us in a way that is only shared by God. But, how do we feel, how do we cope, if that level of trust and confidence is then betrayed? How do we feel, how do we cope, when we find that our innermost secrets have been used as a weapon against us? How do we feel when we have been betrayed by our closest friend?

We can be sure that Judas had constructed a convincing argument for his actions in the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. He had undoubtedly created a whole story to justify his betrayal of his teacher, friend, and Messiah. But that justification was based on human wisdom alone. Judas had seen the signs and heard the teaching, and yet he took the decision to betray. We face the same temptation on many occasions in our lives. We may not be a Judas, but every time we let someone down, we are betraying them; we are causing hurt and pain; we may even be creating the agony of crucifixion!

Father God keep us constant in our faith in our Lord Jesus, and in the faith, we have in each other. Let us not join the register of those who will only be known for their lack of faith.

Guide and direct your Church, O Lord, that in essentials we may preserve our unity, in non-essentials we may live in liberty and diversity and, in all things we may exist in love and charity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Rupertus Meldenius (1582-1651

God of all, whose love welcomes each person, in a world where many feel they have no place, help us to remember that you offer a place for all, that no one is excluded from your love and that each has a home in your kingdom of justice and peace. When we are tempted to think ourselves more important than others, remind us of the special place you hold for people who are poor, weary and dispossessed, and for those who are neglected, reviled or unjustly treated. Help us to share in your righteous anger against all that harms our sisters and brothers, to rejoice in your all-encompassing love and to see in our neighbour the face of Christ, who makes us one. Amen.

A Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice,
we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,
that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

Archbishop Justin Welby and Archbishop Stephen Cottrell