For Sunday, October
9, 2016, 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Jeremiah
29:1, 4-7, Psalm 66:1-11, 2 Timothy 28-15, Luke 17:11-19
he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
He turned the sea into dry land...There we rejoiced in him...let the rebellious not exalt themselves. [Psalm 66: 5-6, 7b]
Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. [2 Timothy 2:14]
Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" [Luke 17:17-18]
As we in this country fail, in epic proportions, to avoid wrangling over words in the midst of a presidential election, we also fail to understand the reality that such arguing changes no minds and only ruins those who are listening. But then, who of us listens to the arguments of anyone we have already decided is wrong? Then it must be that we are all ruined and in exile from one another and from God. Yet the often gloomy Jeremiah gives us a positive path to God through acceptance of the place where God has placed us and working to make it better. In that way we will better ourselves for the glory that is to come. In the Gospel reading, 10 lepers who begged Jesus for healing were told to present themselves to the priest. After they did they realized they were all healed but only 1, the Samaritan foreigner, turned back to thank Jesus.
For me, the readings this week seem to particularly mirror where I see my own behaviors and responses to the upsets and healings that occur in my life. I exile myself from God and others in ignoring the Creation around me in all forms, complaining about all the injuries I receive from others (real and imagined), and celebrating only myself when wellness or some other good occurs. Time to get out the NO WHINING banner, return from the exile I chose, and live life where I am planted, remembering why and for Whom I was created.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ God of
Eternity, draw back the veil of darkness that covers us in our self-imposed
exile from You. Help us to seek and pray for the welfare of all on this Earthly
plane, remember to give thanks for healing in ways known and unknown, and in so
doing find our way to salvation in Christ.
Lord God,
our Creator
RESPONSE:
Let us turn back to You in praise
~ God
of Eternity, open the eyes of all who hold political authority on land and sea
and in the air across Your diverse Creation, that they may see You reflected in
themselves, every human face, every grain of sand, and govern in all good
faith. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Lord God,
our Creator
Let us turn back to You in praise
~ God of
Eternity, as You raise up strength for all Your people, grant healing to the
spirits of those laid low by earthly illness or infirmity. We pray especially
for:
Lord God,
our Creator
Let us turn back to You in praise
~ God of
Eternity, may echoes of sweet memory quell the pain of earth-bound grief, as
the souls of those who’ve left this ground, now soar in the peace and glory of
everlasting life in Christ. We pray especially for:
Lord God,
our Creator
Let us turn back to You in praise
~ God of
Eternity, we pause in this moment to offer You our other
heartfelt intentions and petitions, silently or aloud…
Lord God,
our Creator
Let us turn back to You in praise
~ God
of Eternity, we give thanksgiving for Your loyal servants anointed to awaken us
to the wonders of all Your works, and who call us find our true place within You
forever. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Lord God, our
Creator
Let us turn back to You in praise
The Celebrant
adds: LORD of Life from Beginning to Infinity, release us from wrangling
over words that do no good but only ruins those who listen. Fill us with
continuous awareness, praise, and delight for the Divine Good in all You have
wrought, that propels us to faithful action and prepares us for the perfection
of life in Your eternity. We ask through Jesus, our Merciful Healer, and the
Holy Spirit, Your Still Small Voice, who together with You are our One Almighty
God of all Creation. Amen.
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