for Sunday September 6, 2015,
Year B, 16th Sunday after Pentecost, Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33; Ps
19, James 3:1-12, Mark 8: 27-38
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" [Mark 8:27-29a]
"Who do you say that I am?" An easy enough question to answer in the safety of my prayers, or in conversation with my priest. But how do I respond "in public"? Is wearing a cross enough? What about attending church, pledging, and doing good deeds? As James calls us out for blessing and cursing with the same mouth, I think oh, that, well, I do make mistakes... Farther on in Mark, Jesus speaks of those who are ashamed of him and his words - is it shame that keeps me so quiet? Or am I just embarrassed to be seen as one of those proclaimers that seems, to me, to be less interested in Jesus, and more interested in themselves...oh, wait, am I blessing and cursing?...Catholic social activist Dorothy Day said, If I have achieved anything in my life, it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.
Ok, stop, breathe, and fill in the blank: JESUS IS the MESSIAH. Now all I need to do is set my mind on divine things, take up my cross, follow Jesus, and let others do as they will. Ok, that should be easy, sort of...
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, rather
than forfeit our souls for mere earthly profit, grant us the courage to know, name, and
proclaim Jesus as our Messiah with joy and delight, with praise and confidence.
O LORD, our Strength and
our Redeemer
RESPONSE: May the meditations of our hearts help turn our
lives to You
~
God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, help us to use our strong voices to
implore all of the world’s leaders, and those in our nation and our community, to
grant immediate and compassionate aid to all who struggle amidst the tragedy
and life-threatening circumstance of war. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O LORD, our Strength and
our Redeemer
May the
meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You
~ God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, cradle
those exhausted by the endless pain of disease, depression, or homelessness,
and fortify those who work hard to fulfill all earthly needs. We now join our
voices to pray aloud for those in need…
O LORD, our Strength and
our Redeemer
May the
meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You
~
God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, brighten the hearts of those who have shrouded
themselves in sorrow, so they may know that the ones they love live once more
in the splendor of Your holy eternity. We pray especially for:
O LORD, our Strength and
our Redeemer
May the
meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You
~
God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud
or silently…
O LORD, our Strength and
our Redeemer
May the
meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You
~
God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, sanctify again all who lead us in Your
Church, who teach us the ways of discipleship, and who, while also only human,
journey with us in all phases of our lives. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O LORD, our Strength and
our Redeemer
May the
meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You
The Celebrant adds: Glorious, Life-Giving, Creator, in the midst of our
many mistakes in this life, help us to rejoice in Your commandments and re-dedicate
our minds to follow the path of Your divine and eternal glory. We ask through
Jesus, our Christ and our Messiah, and the Holy Spirit, our fount of Pure Wisdom,
who together with You reign as the fullness of One God, now and forever. Amen.
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