Please Note

You are viewing the old version of the Forward Movement prayer site, which is no longer updated. It is possible that content may not reflect the latest updates, and may contain errors.

Daily Prayer: a resource of Forward Movement

The Forward Day by Day Meditation for July 28, 2022

We post a Forward Day by Day Meditation for every day of the year - and we invite you to consider them and talk about them here. If you'd like to comment, you can log in to Disqus with your Facebook, Twitter, or Google account; just click "Login," or the appropriate logo below. Or, you can sign up for a Disqus account; just use the entry form below, or click the "D" logo to start the process. You can find the past week's Meditations in the box at right (or below, for mobile users), or search for previous entries on the Archives page. You can also listen to the Forward Day by Day podcast anywhere you find podcasts!

Please note: you won't be able to use the Comment feature unless you enable Javascript in your browser. In general, your overall experience on the Daily Prayer site will be greatly enhanced if you enable Javascript.

THURSDAY, July 28
[Johann Sebastian Bach]

Acts 1:16b Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas.

How striking that between the Great Commission, the Ascension, and Pentecost is this more personal interlude among the disciples. They wonder: who will pick up the work Judas left behind? And between the lines, I read another question: how does any community heal after a profound betrayal of trust?

Judas, after all, had been there every step of the way. His name is so synonymous with betrayal that I often forget to insert him into all of those stories. He was in the boat watching Peter step out onto the waves. He saw those few fish and loaves feed a multitude. He healed and prayed and taught right alongside his friends.

To call a new member into the work of the apostles was a small act of bravery—and healing. Just as they had prayed alongside their former friend, they gathered in prayer again, trusting the Holy Spirit to guide their discernment into a new relationship. Some of the hurt caused by Judas would doubtless remain, but this growing community of the resurrection trusted that new life was ahead.

MOVING FORWARD: Pray for the healing of a broken relationship.

PRAY for the Diocese of Masvingo (South Africa)

Ps [70], 71 * 74 | Judges 4:4-23 | Acts 1:15-26 | Matthew 27:55-66