Materials for each of the eight days of prayer. The biblical texts for each day highlight in turn key statements of the Nicene Creed.
The texts provided for personal or communal prayer for each of the eight days include two scripture readings and a psalm. The biblical texts for each day highlight in turn key statements of the Nicene Creed.
Photo: © Bose Monastery by Jim Forest
Ancient writers recognise the qualities of both Father and Mother in God, as Clement of Alexandria, notes, in God’s ‘compassion he has become for us mother’.
Theophilus of Antioch wrote in the second century: “God cannot be seen by human eyes, but is seen and perceived through his providence and works."
‘In the beginning’ the God who lives in relationship with the Son and the Spirit, displayed his heart for his beloved image-of-God, likeness-of God, life-breathed-by-God human beings.
In the creed we speak of Christ’s humanity, of Christ humbling himself, even to death on the cross.
Some of our ancient texts help us understand more deeply the work of the Spirit and our invitation to receive the gift of this beloved Advocate.
We are called to live with humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
John Chrysostom in Constantinople in the late 4th century wrote that in Baptism God lavishes upon us an “excess of his grace.”
As Christians we believe in hope, even in the darkest of places, even in death. It is the transforming love of God that dares us to hope.
