"I will not leave you orphans."

Jesus Christ came in due time.

He was part of the passing scene.

He appeared in limited time.

And then he disappeared from human sight.

What were his bereaved disciples to do?

They, as we, are to remember his promise:

"I will not leave you orphans."

He promised them that THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

would enliven them.

This Spirit he called our Advocate.

Like the disciples we sometimes do not know the way to go.

So we must realize we are never alone.

The Spirit is with us to guide us on right paths.

But there are obstacles blocking our paths.

Someimes our obstacles seem like heavy stones that get in our way, or even burdens tied round our neck like the mythical albatross.

And so we pray:

"O God, let us cast away these stones:

the heavy stone of fear.

May the Risen Christ cast away this stone:

the heavy stone of injustice.

May the Risen Christ cast away this stone:

the heavy stone of despair. 

May the Risen Christ cast away this stone:

the heavy stone of misunderstandings.

May the Risen Christ cast away this stone:

 the heavy stone of worry.

 May the Risen Christ cast away these stones:

the heavy stones of all that burdens me.

Like the disciples, we ask:"Who will roll back  this stone for us?"...

Then they looked up and saw that it had been rolled back!

It was a huge stone--and they walked right in."

Mark 16:3-4

 [ From: The Contemporary North American Prayer Book]