Episode Details

Monday 21 April 2025

A very warm welcome to the season of Eastertide. We pray that it will be joyful and refreshing for you and your prayer life! Every day this week, there will be a short announcement at the end of each prayer session. This is important information for those who use our app to listen to Pray As You Go. But for now, we’re so glad you’re here to pray, and we hope you encounter God afresh today. Today is Monday the 21st of April, in the 1st week of Eastertide. The Cape Town Camerata sings Wana Baraka: ‘Those who pray Jesus himself said so. Alleluia! They have peace, those who pray Jesus himself said so. Alleluia! They have joy, those who pray Jesus himself said so. Alleluia!’ Halleluyah, halleluyah Yesu mwenyewe alisema Wana baraka wale waombao Yesu mwenyewe alisema Halleluyah, halleluyah Yesu mwenyewe alisema Wana amani wale waombao Yesu mwenyewe alisema Halleluyah, halleluyah Yesu mwenyewe alisema Wana furaha wale waombao Yesu mwenyewe alisema Halleluyah, halleluyah Yesu mwenyewe alisema Wana uzima wale waombao Yesu mwenyewe alisema Halleluyah, halleluyah Yesu mwenyewe alisema Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 28:8-15 So [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] left [Jesus’] tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’ While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, ‘You must say, “His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.” If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day. This is an extraordinary story. What is most staying with you from it? Perhaps a word or phrase…an image or a feeling? We hear that the two Marys left the tomb with “fear and great joy”. What a combination! Have you ever felt something close to this? What do you think this moment of mixed feelings would have been like? We hear that the guards “told the Chief Priests everything that had happened”. Did these guards believe in the Resurrection? Take a moment to put yourself in the place of one of the guards… What would you say to the Chief Priests if you were in their position? Now listen as the story is read once more. Is there anything that really strikes you this time? Matthew 28:8-15 So [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] left [Jesus’] tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’ While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, ‘You must say, “His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.” If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day. Speak to God about your experience with this passage… What would you most like to say as this prayer time draws to a close? 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 Thank you for waiting around for this short announcement. We have been listening to our community for the