A Moment To Pause: Thursday 7th May 2025

We join Kirk Jacob for this morning’s short audio reflection during the 5th week of Eastertide.

Today is Thursday, 7th May and this morning’s Oblate podcast is on the Scripture text of John 15:10 – Abide in my love. 

Good morning to you. We begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

The word: ‘ABIDE’ occurs 3 times in today’s Scriptures.           What comes to mind is that  famous Hymn ‘ABIDE WITH ME’ – a tear bringer at funerals! I did a little research on this hymn – thanks to ‘Uncle Google’! In 1847, an Anglican cleric and poet Henry Francis Lyte composed it. Writing it shortly before dying with TB, Henry’s prayer reminds us of that transit journey moving from this earthly life to divine presence. The hymn is supported by William Monk ‘s ‘Eventide’  tune.  ‘ABIDE WITH ME’ is really a prayer seeking God to remain present at the hour of our death whenever that moment is in God’s time. 

Here is a reminder of those lyrics: Be present to how you feel hearing it: 

"Abide with me, fast falls the eventide. 

The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide. 

When other helpers fail and comforts flee, 

Help of the Helpless, Oh, abide with me." 

And Its richness is summed up in the last verse’s last two lines: "In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me". 

Jesus prayer for each of us today: May his Joy abide in us so that our joy may be full. Do we really get it? 

We bring our time of reflection to a close. I invite you to: ‘Be the very JOY that you have been possibly been waiting for many a year! Amen.