Voice: Mylene
Today is Thursday, 16th of October.
As we start another day, let us observe a moment of silence.
We pray:
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Psalm 78:1-8
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
8 and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.
Mark 14:43-52
43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.
51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
And They All Left Him and Fled
If you have attended a Maundy Thursday or Tenebrae Service, you will be familiar with this verse.
As the service draws to a close, the lights are dimmed while Scripture is read. One by one, candles are extinguished until total darkness fills the space. Then, this verse is read:
“And they all left Him and fled.”
We can almost feel the weight of that night. Fear filled the air. The disciples did not merely walk away — they ran. The fear of being caught by the authorities overwhelmed them.
In our world today, we may have fairer systems of justice, but even now, to be “caught by the authorities” remains terrifying. Whether in the first century or the twenty-first, no one wants to be found on the wrong side of the law. Perhaps it is the fear of punishment — or of public shame, the loss of reputation, or concern for one’s family.
Earlier, Jesus had said:
“Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words… of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed.” (Mark 8:38)
But in the chaos of that night, none of the disciples remembered these words as they ran into the darkness.
Then comes a curious detail recorded only in Mark:
“And a young man followed Him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.” (Mark 14:51–52)
Who was this young man? Some have wondered if it was Mark himself. Whoever he was, the image is unforgettable — a young follower so desperate to escape that he left even his clothing behind.
If we were in their place, would we have done better? It is a question with no easy answer.
So, perhaps there is no clear “lesson” today. Instead, let us pause in the quiet of this moment to worship and give thanks to the One who did not run away — who endured betrayal, abandonment, and the cross, all for our sake.
We end with the Collect that is often used in Tenebrae Services:
O Lord our God, whose blessed Son gave his back to be whipped
and did not hide his face from shame and spitting:
Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time,
confident of the glory that shall be revealed;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
In closing be blessed by this classic hymn, God so Loved the World
God so loved the world.
God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth, believeth in Him
should not perish, should not perish
but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world
to condemn the world.
God sent not His Son into the world
to condemn the world;
But that the world through Him might be saved.
God so loved the world.
God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth, believeth in Him
should not perish, should not perish
but have everlasting life, everlasting life,
everlasting, everlasting life.
God so loved the world.
God so loved the world.
God so loved the world.
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at terrywong@anglican.org.sg
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