Prayers of the People: Then is Now, 6th Sunday of Easter Yr C

For Sunday, May 1, 2016, 6th Sunday of Easter, Year C, Readings: Acts 16:9-15, Ps 67, Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5; John 14:23-29

       A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us...The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul...she and her household were baptized. [Acts 16: 14-15a]

      In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God...its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb...for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb... [Revelation 21:10, 22, 23b]

        May God be merciful to us and bless us, show us the light of his countenance and come to us. Let your ways be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations. [Ps 67:1-2]

       Jesus said..."Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them..." [John 14:23]

       A new heaven and a new earth was the promise in last week's Revelation along with a New Jerusalem, as a Holy City for all people, coming down out of heaven. In this week's reading we are told again of the vision of the holy city coming down out of heaven from God. For me it conjures an image like a TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space), a science fiction TV time machine that seems to have no beginning, no end, and no limitations of interior space. The New Jerusalem comes to us, the Trinity make their home with us, and all we need to do is listen eagerly, love Jesus, and keep his word. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS...along with everything else that this life demands. It is much easier to feel as though we have fulfilled the mandate of faith by attending church on Sunday, dropping some cash in the plate, and smiling nicely to the others who are doing the same. Yet, as I delude myself by believing that I do act in faith - mostly - I know deep down that I let the weather, the bills, the traffic, the news, the frustrations, irritations, and machinations of life get in the way. The time is now to live in the new earth and recognize that all that is to come is already here. It won't make all the tasks, demands, and requirements of life disappear, but it will lighten the burden. ALL I NEED TO DO IS listen eagerly, love Jesus, and believe.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ God of Blessing and Mercy, the magnificent vision of what is to come is clouded by the incessant realities of our current time. Dispel the fog of our own making and re-capture our desire to listen eagerly, love you deeply, and overflow with Your peace.

Jesus, Lamb of God

RESPONSE:             Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, guide the leaders and all people of this Earth, this Nation, and this Community, that they may judge with equity, increase in honor and faithfulness, and abandon all practice of falsehood and bigotry. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, grant Your saving health to all whose lives are beset by physical, emotional, or spiritual illness, and infuse their care-givers with the love that heals. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, untrouble, and encourage the hearts of those who mourn to rejoice, as those we love are now released from the trials of earthly life, into the Heaven of eternal life and joy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

~ God of Blessing and Mercy, invade the sameness of daily tasks and rituals of those we choose to lead us in Your church, and rekindle the fire and depth of Your early call to service. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Lamb of God

                                                Open us to the glory of Your Light

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Holy Christ, God’s Word Incarnate, You are our Home on Earth and in Heaven; you came to us that we might come to You. Excite our souls to seek and believe in Your glory and truth, in every moment of every day, in this time, and this place. We ask through the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, and the Infinite Almighty, who together with You are One God, now and beyond 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.

Prayers of the People: Creating Love, 5th Sunday of Easter, Yr C

For Sunday, April 2 , 2016, 5^th Sunday of Easter, Year C, Readings: Acts 11:1-8, Ps 148, Revelation 21:1-6, John 13:31-35

           And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit; If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that could hinder God? [Acts 11:16-17]

         I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more...the home of God is among mortals...Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more. [Revelation 21:1-2, 3b, 4b]

        Jesus said..."I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."  [John 13:34-35]

          How can we hear these words differently? What can arouse us from our distractions, our inattentiveness, our numbness? This mortal home is seething with rage, disparity, tragedy, poverty, disease, fear, and so much more. Peter, in his time, astonishes his listeners with the words of Jesus and his own realization that he himself received the gift of the Holy Spirit when he believed, as will everyone. The writer of Revelation sees a new earth and tells us that God's home is among us. And Jesus tells us, through the disciples, that we must love one another. Not only those we already love, but everyone. 

         Our Creator continues to create but do we see? By actively loving others, especially the unlovable, through our words and actions, we are co-creating with God to bring the new earth into our present existence now. There is joy and goodness to be experienced, divisions among people to be repaired, brokenness healed. Will every moment be as running through fields of roses and daisies - not in the least. But by shaking ourselves out of complacency, by dusting off our faith, and becoming a partner with God, the Church, and each other, we can change the tiny parcel of this mortal home we inhabit. Anguish and anger within us could be no more. Who am I to hinder God working in me? We can create love.  

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God of all that is and will be, through the sacrifice and gift of Christ, we are redeemed and made clean in Your sight. Fill us with the desire to continue Christ’s mission in our mortal days, as we await the coming of the new heaven and the new earth to dwell eternally with You.

LORD God, Alpha and Omega,

RESPONSE:           Teach our hearts to love as You love

~ O God of all that is and will be, help us partner with You to be the voice of all who suffer through the actions of those who govern by law or lawlessness on this earth, in this country, or in our community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                LORD God, Alpha and Omega

                                                Teach our hearts to love as You love

~ O God of all that is and will be, calm the fears and anguish of all who are chronically ill in body, mind, or spirit, and replenish the stamina of those giving care and support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                LORD God, Alpha and Omega

                                                Teach our hearts to love as You love

~ O God of all that is and will be, may the sorrow of those who grieve be eased by knowing, that those who have left this mortal home, now drink from Your eternal water of new life, where mourning and crying and pain are no more. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                LORD God, Alpha and Omega

                                                Teach our hearts to love as You love

~ O God of all that is and will be, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                LORD God, Alpha and Omega

                                                Teach our hearts to love as You love

~ O God of all that is and will be, ignite the imaginations of those we have chosen to bring us the Good News, to help us find new ways together to learn, grow, and embody Christ’s commandment to love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                LORD God, Alpha and Omega

                                                Teach our hearts to love as You love

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Glorious Christ, our Great High Priest, nourish our souls through the continuing radiance of Your Resurrection that, marked as Your own disciples, we will share Your love in every action, every day. We ask through the Holy Spirit, our Divine Counselor, and God the Creator of Heaven and Earth, who together with You reign as One God, forever and ever.  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.

Prayers of the People: Believing is Seeing, 4th Sunday of Easter Yr C

for Sunday, April 17, 2016, Fourth Sunday of Easter, Readings: Acts 9:36-43, Ps 23, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30

       Peter...knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tabitha, get up." Then she opened her eyes and seeing Peter, she sat up...This became known...and many believed in the Lord. [Acts 9:40b-41, 42b] 

    So the Jews gathered around him and said to him...If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly. Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe...because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.  [John 10:24-25a, 26-27]

   The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want... [Psalm 23:1]

         The story of Peter raising Tabitha from the dead seems almost incongruent with the other three readings that are filled with images of shepherding. What stood out for me in the passage from Acts was that, again, many people believed in Jesus from seeing what Peter did as a direct disciple of Christ. As Jesus said about Thomas who insisted on touching his wounds to believe in the Resurrection, others are more blessed who do not see and yet believe. And then we have the contrast in John's Gospel relating the story of those who ask Jesus directly if he is the Messiah and he is clear in his response - "I have told you, and you do not believe."

          While the piece of Revelation may be too mystical for us to understand completely, we are given a clear vision of Christ ...the Lamb, robed in white...standing at the center of the Throne will be their shepherd. [Revelation 7:9b, 17a] And, of course, we are given Psalm 23 with its rich and powerful descriptions of God's caring. I have often used this Psalm when praying specifically for someone using her or his name instead of "I" and changing the pronouns accordingly. For example, "The LORD is Joe's shepherd, he shall not be in want. He makes Joe lie down in green pastures and leads Joe beside still waters..." It gives me an amazing sense of triangular connection to God, to the person I pray for, and within myself. I can see and feel my faith so deeply in those moments.
           The symbolism of what is one of the most well-known pieces of Scripture across all faiths and none, is fascinating and complex. I commend to you a charming and interesting little book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller, himself a modern-day shepherd, for a closer look at the connections between the Psalm's imagery and real life sheep farming. I can find myself among Keller's sheep especially in those unruly moments when I wander away. In the meantime, the way these readings are connected reminds me of another Gospel, Mark 9:24, I believe; help my unbelief!  Jesus has us in his grasp, the whole world in is in God's hands, and I see when I believe. Alleluia!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Merciful LORD, Loving Shepherd, draw us to Your comfort and spread Your table to feed our faith, so that our moments of unbelief are few, and the love in Your voice is strong and clear.

   Jesus, Most Sacred Lamb

RESPONSE:           Revive our souls and guide us

~ Merciful LORD, Loving Shepherd, strengthen our spirits to engage the leaders of this world, this country, and this community, to outline the right pathways for government in health, safety, and equality, for all the sheep of Your divine pasture. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                   Jesus, Most Sacred Lamb

                                                Revive our souls and Guide us

~ Merciful LORD, Loving Shepherd, anoint the hearts of those who are in chronic pain, fighting addictions, or lost in despair, and restore the hope and energy to all who care for them. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                   Jesus, Most Sacred Lamb

                                                Revive our souls and Guide us

~ Merciful LORD, Loving Shepherd, wipe the tears from the eyes of all who grieve, as those we have sent ahead to You, are now bathed in the springs of everlasting light and life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                   Jesus, Most Sacred Lamb

                                                Revive our souls and Guide us

~ Merciful LORD, Loving Shepherd, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

                                                   Jesus, Most Sacred Lamb

                                                Revive our souls and Guide us

~ Merciful LORD, Loving Shepherd, sanctify again the souls of the Apostles of our own time who confirm Your presence in our lives, our prayers, and our worship. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                   Jesus, Most Sacred Lamb

                                                Revive our souls and Guide us

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Christ, Messiah, amplify Your voice in our souls and keep us in the knowledge that You hold us close and shelter us in the shadows and valleys of earthly life. We ask through the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, and the Almighty, our Creator, 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.

Prayers of the People: Catch of the Day, 3rd Sunday of Easter Yr C

for Sunday April 10, 2016, 3^rd Sunday of Easter, Year C, Readings: Acts 9:1-6, (7-20), Ps 30, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19

        But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done..." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and...the people of Israel..." 

[Acts 9:13a-15]

         ...Jesus stood on the beach [and] said to them, "Children you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat"...and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish...When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread...Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast..." When they had finished breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John...do you love me..." [John 21:4a-5a, 6b, 9, 12a, 15a]

         The story of Paul's conversion on the Road to Damascus is, as with many Biblical passages, almost too familiar so I may just zone out in the reading of it. Yet there is always a new insight, a fresh awareness of something I already "knew" but needed to see in a new light. What I caught from working with the passage in Acts was not about Paul but rather a sudden re-awakening to the role of Ananias and his reluctance to heal Paul ~ strong enough to question Jesus ~ because of the evil of this enemy of Christians. But Jesus is clear that, however unlikely, Paul has been chosen as an instrument to spread the Good News. In these days of terrorism, fear, and suspicion, here is a strong reminder that even those we perceive as dangerous and evil can work to God's purpose wittingly or un-. 

        And then there's a real sea change when Jesus directs the casting of the fish nets to the other side of the boat yielding a massive catch on that day. And dear sensitive Peter gets his feelings hurt because Jesus asks him three times, "Do you love me?" apparently forgetting that he denied Jesus three times not very long ago. 

        The catch of these readings for me is to become more conscious of when I am reluctant or resistant to look beyond the obvious or dismiss someone or an entire group because I dislike their appearance, their politics, or their general attitude as I ~ perhaps (probably) mistakenly ~ perceive it. When have I denied Jesus through what I do and ~ more likely ~ what I don't do? How have I declared my love for Jesus and in what ways do I take part in feeding the flock? Scripture this week provides yet another opportunity to remove the scales from the eyes of my soul, and dust off all the good intentions. Ready, set, FOLLOW...

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Jesus, Lord of Life, Lord of the Way, interrupt our everyday hurriedness to heed Your call and cast our soul nets in Your direction. As You nourish our spirits, let us in turn feed the sheep of Your flock with Your Word and Sacraments.

                                                  Hear, O God of Glory

RESPONSE:           In faithfulness we give You thanks

~ Jesus, Lord of Life, Lord of the Way, guide the thoughts and actions of all who wield the means of power and authority, over all people in all places, toward compassion, integrity, and fairness. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Hear, O God of Glory

In faithfulness we give You thanks

~ Jesus, Lord of Life, Lord of the Way, instill a fresh source of strength and hope in those who live in physical or emotional pain and suffering, and lift the hearts of all who give them care and comfort. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Hear, O God of Glory

In faithfulness we give You thanks

~ Jesus, Lord of Life, Lord of the Way, calm the sea of grief for those who weep in the night, and let the morning bring the joy of those now eternally alive in Paradise. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Hear, O God of Glory

In faithfulness we give You thanks

~ Jesus, Lord of Life, Lord of the Way, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Hear, O God of Glory

In faithfulness we give You thanks

~ Jesus, Lord of Life, Lord of the Way, arouse and excite our earthly shepherds that we in turn may experience a rebirth of desire to follow You in every waking moment. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Hear, O God of Glory

In faithfulness we give You thanks

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Christ, Risen and Glorified, You transformed the resistance of Paul and the reluctance of Ananias into instruments expanding the knowledge of Your presence in this world. Convert our complacence to faith in action, and restore our inner vision of life in You. We ask through the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and the power of the Almighty, 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.