Sunday 3rd May 2026
- May 1
- 5 min read
EASTER 5A
3rd May 2026
A short act of worship and daily devotions
Opening Prayers
Lord of my life,
Lord of every life,
I give you thanks for this world,
the beauty that is all around me,
the people with whom I share my life.
Let my soul sing out in awe and wonder,
Let me give thanks.
Lord of all life,
I know, though, that sometimes I forget the wonder of your world.
I don’t respect and protect the beauty that surrounds me, everyday.
I can be unthinking and uncaring towards the people with whom I share this world.
I am sorry for the harsh words, the unsaid words, the times when my actions have caused pain.
I ask for your forgiveness.
Breathe new life into me, this day, I pray.
As you breathe that new life into me, show me how to breathe deeply. Giving thanks, Appreciating all I have. Amen.
You may now wish to say the Lord’s Prayer in a version or translation with which you are familiar.
Reading: John 14:1-14 – Click for reading
Reflection on the reading
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
Jesus speaks these words at a moment of deep uncertainty. The disciples can sense that something is ending: the future feels unclear, fear is close to the surface.
And into that space, Jesus does not offer a detailed plan or easy answers. He offers presence and trust.
“Trust in God; trust also in me.”
Then come the familiar words: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…” These verses have often been interpreted as a promise about heaven, and it seems likely this is what they are about, but they also speak to something more immediate. They speak of belonging, of spaciousness, of a God whose presence is wide enough to hold all of who we are.
Jesus is not describing a narrow path that only a few can find. He is revealing a relationship: a way of being rooted in love.
When Thomas asks, “How can we know the way?” Jesus responds: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
For many, this has sounded exclusive. But perhaps Jesus is not drawing boundaries so much as offering direction. The “way” is not a set of doctrines, it is a way of living shaped by love, justice, compassion, and truth. Jesus is a direction of travel: it is more important which way you are facing, than how far you have come.
To follow “the way” of Jesus is to walk the path he walks: welcoming the outsider, challenging injustice, embodying grace. Then Jesus says something astonishing: “The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these.”
This is not about power or prestige; it is about participation. Jesus invites his followers not just to admire his life, but to continue it, to become vessels of healing, reconciliation, and hope in the world.
For those of us navigating faith today, this passage offers both comfort and challenge:
Comfort, because we are reminded that we are not alone, there is space for us in God’s presence.
Challenge, because we are called not just to believe, but to live in a way that reflects that love.
So today, reflect on this:
What does it mean for you to trust, especially in uncertain times?
How might you follow “the way” of Jesus in your relationships, your work, your community?
Where are you being invited to take part in the “greater works” of compassion and justice?
Jesus does not give us a map. He gives us himself: a way to walk, a truth to embody, a life to share. May you walk that way with courage, trust the truth that sets you free, and live the kind of life that brings hope to the world.
Hymn/Song: 665 STF – Make us your prophets Lord – YouTube
Blessing
Lord of life, Giver of hope, Bringer of light, Healer of rifts, May I see you with me on the journey this day, this week, and beyond. Amen. ____________________________________________________________________
Prayers and Prayer Pointers For This Week
Monday 4th May
On this day in 1256 (yes, 770 years ago!), the Augustinian monastic order was formally constituted by the Pope, officially recognising a community of people living by the rule of Saint Augustine (from another 800 years before that!), and which still exists in various forms today.
The monastic orders have contributed a great deal to the life of Christianity across many centuries, usually with a rooting in a rhythm of prayer. You might like to research or ask about any similar communities of prayer in your area or meeting digitally. Pray for those who pray for us, today.
Tuesday 5th May
In the UK, we marked St George’s Day a couple of weeks ago, some of us with a sense of anxiety as the St George’s Flag has become a contested symbol in recent years, having been partly co-opted by the alt-right and used as a symbol of exclusion.
Today, however, is the Feast of St George (or Al-Khidr in the Arabic) in Palestine. A celebration that began during Christian rule, but has become a shared feasting day for both Muslims and Christians in the region. Amongst the conflict currently happening in Palestine, let us pray for them on a day that connects the patron saint of England with the Holy Land.
Wednesday 6th May
‘We shall go out with joy, and be sent forth with peace…’
What does your ‘going out’ look like today? Are you leaving the house and meeting people, visiting shops, or going to work? Are you looking out through your window to the world beyond?
As you interact with the world outside of your own private spaces, pray for the people you see, meet, or think about. If appropriate, you might like to ask someone if there is anything you can pray for this week.
Thursday 7th May
Hold a moment of stillness today. If you can, make it as long as 10-15 minutes.
During the quiet, simply offer into God’s hands the things that are weighing you down or worrying you.
‘Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest’.
Friday 8th May
Today is the anniversary of the day in 1945 when World War II officially ended in Europe.
Today, in 2026, there is still war in Europe, and today we pray for peace, for all involved in or affected by conflict, for political and business leaders and the roles they can play for good.
Come, Prince of Peace. Come, Lord of Light.
Saturday 9th May
Today, when you eat, take a moment to think of all the people involved in bringing this food to your table, to your plate.
Give thanks for the farmers, the shopkeepers, the transport drivers, and the miracle of modern life.
Perhaps take slightly longer to eat than you usually do, to appreciate the food in front of you and the gift of God’s grace.