for Sunday, July 5, 2015, Pentecost 6, Yr B, Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 12b-19; Ps 48, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13
Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and
said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh..." [2 Samuel 5:1]
Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn
was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from
being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would
leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is
made perfect in weakness." [2 Cor 12:7b]
Then Jesus said to [the disciples], "Prophets are not
without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their
own house"...Then he went about among the villages teaching. He
called the twelve and began to send them out two by two... [Mark 6:4,7-8a]
In our times, as throughout history, powerful/charismatic leaders attract some ardent followers who want to stay very close, idolize, and would even act as "the bone and flesh"of the hero. Such devotion by others can sometimes skew one's initial humility and original intent. It is isn't so easy to be constantly admired or put on a proverbial pedestal and stay modest. Paul may have recognized that in himself and accepted the thorn as a sacred reminder to be aware of the dangers of holding power over others. And yet there are always detractors. Perhaps Jesus was shaking off the dust of his frustration with the hometown reaction he received as he kept moving along, doing what he could, where he could. David, Paul, and Jesus were all doing the work God had given them to do and, as in every human life, some days were better than others.
There are two post-Communion prayers in the US Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and in both God says that we are "living members" of the Body of Christ. In one, we, the pray-ers, ask God to, "Send us now into the world in peace..." and in the other to "...send us out to do the work you have given us to do..." Whose bone and flesh, and what thorns are we willing to take on? Jesus called the disciples and sent them off two by two to do God's work and to "shake off the dust" where they weren't welcomed. Let us do some of God's prophet-sharing work together - there will always be more than two of us to help shake off the dust of disappointment on the difficult days, and to keep the thorns from piercing all the way through. In our times, as throughout history, powerful/charismatic leaders attract some ardent followers who want to stay very close, idolize, and would even act as "the bone and flesh"of the hero. Such devotion by others can sometimes skew one's initial humility and original intent. It is isn't so easy to be constantly admired or put on a proverbial pedestal and stay modest. Paul may have recognized that in himself and accepted the thorn as a sacred reminder to be aware of the dangers of holding power over others. And yet there are always detractors. Perhaps Jesus was shaking off the dust of his frustration with the hometown reaction he received as he kept moving along, doing what he could, where he could. David, Paul, and Jesus were all doing the work God had given them to do and, as in every human life, some days were better than others.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ O LORD of Hosts, help us to recognize and
receive the thorns of this life as grace-filled challenges in our quest to find
our strength through You.
O God of Loving-Kindness
RESPONSE: Grant us desire to live as the bone and flesh
of Christ
~
O LORD of Hosts, even if our words are not welcomed, let us not refrain from
speaking the truth of Your love, justice, and mercy to all who govern the
peoples of this world, our nation, and our community. We pray especially for:
add your own petitions
O God of Loving-Kindness
Grant us desire to live as the bone and flesh of Christ
~ O LORD of Hosts, restore health to all who must
cope with continuing sickness, and hope to all who are homeless in living or in
spirit. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions
O God of Loving-Kindness
Grant us desire to live as the bone and flesh of Christ
~
O LORD of Hosts, console all who grieve the earthly loss of loved ones, as You
welcome home, with honor and rejoicing, all those we now commend to Your
eternal care. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O God of Loving-Kindness
Grant us desire to live as the bone and flesh of Christ
~
O LORD of Hosts, we pause in this
moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or
silently…
O God of Loving-Kindness
Grant us desire to live as the bone and flesh of Christ
~
O LORD of Hosts, as Jesus called and taught the Twelve, so on behalf of Christ we are called and taught, by those who lead us in our Church, how to live in and
proclaim God’s word. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O God of Loving-Kindness
Grant us desire to live as the bone and flesh of Christ
The Celebrant adds: Most Holy LORD, our Eternal Guide, help us to
shake off the dust of rejection or mockery as we turn our lives to Christ,
share in his prophetic ministry, and be his bone and flesh on earth. We ask
through Jesus, our Teacher and the Holy Spirit, our source of Wisdom, who
together with You reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.
Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to Leeosophy@gmail.com. All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.
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