The word of the Lord endures

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Nos autem gloriari

The monks of Glenstal Abbey

Today is Wednesday the 27th of May, the feast of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, in the 8th week of Ordinary Time.

The Monks of Glenstal Abbey sing Nos autem gloriari: ‘We should glory in nothing other than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection; through him we are saved and set free. May God have mercy upon us and bless us; may he make his face shine upon us and be merciful to us.’

2:33

Today’s reading is from the First Letter of Peter.

1 Peter 1:18-25

You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. For

‘All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

but the word of the Lord endures for ever.’

That word is the good news that was announced to you.

4:41

Peter tells us that we have been “ransomed from futile ways”. Can you think of an example of “futile ways”?

We hear that obedience to the truth leads to "genuine mutual love”, a love that moves “deeply from the heart”. Where do you recognise this playing out in your walk of faith?

“The word of the Lord endures forever…the good news that was announced to you”. As you listen to the passage again, can you hear it all as “good news” afresh?

7:24

1 Peter 1:18-25

You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. For

‘All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

but the word of the Lord endures for ever.’

That word is the good news that was announced to you.

9:17

What would you like to say now to the Lord, whose word endures forever?

11:21

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen