For Sunday, November
20, 2016, Last Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Jeremiah
23;1-6, Psalm 46, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23: 33-53
Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock...and I will bring them back to their fold and they shall be fruitful and multiply. [Jeremiah 23:3]
God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change...though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city... [Psalm 46:1-2a,3b-5a]
May you be made strong...and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins... [Colossians 1:11-13, 15a]
Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise. [Luke 23:43]
As usual I put a few verses of the appointed readings above this space to highlight what stood out for me and influenced my language for these prayers. It was difficult to choose as all three readings have been wafting through my brain over the last week as well as the readings from the other set of these prayers that I have written for the Season of Creation, that have been used in my home parish for the last 7 Sundays, especially one from Teilhard de Chardin [see The Cosmic Christ post]. What hasn't particularly grabbed me is the Gospel for this week - Luke 23:33-43. Because of the setting - Jesus on the Cross with the 2 thieves - I can only speculate that it was placed here in the 3rd of the 3 year reading cycle simply because it mentions the mocking of the soldiers and the sign of King of the Jews. Even the often gloomy and depressing Jeremiah spoke loudly and hopefully to me along with the Psalm and the entire piece from the Letter to the Colossians. Given the results of the presidential election here in the U.S., the country is divided first, by jubilance or devastation, and second, by too many things you already know about. Yet I am heartened that all of us are called into the kingdom of [God's] beloved Son, in whom we have redemption. The language of these readings resound with God's presence: The LORD is our righteousness; God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble; God is in the midst of the city; God will help; The LORD of hosts is with us; Be still, and know that I am God! If I but put my fear on the back burner and when it flares turn again and again to the Kingdom of Christ to live the Gospel each day, seek the Light of Christ in everyone, expect to be disappointed but strive on to do all I can in the place where I am, then this Gospel will speak to me as I hear Jesus say to me at my last, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.
God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change...though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city... [Psalm 46:1-2a,3b-5a]
May you be made strong...and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins... [Colossians 1:11-13, 15a]
Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise. [Luke 23:43]
As usual I put a few verses of the appointed readings above this space to highlight what stood out for me and influenced my language for these prayers. It was difficult to choose as all three readings have been wafting through my brain over the last week as well as the readings from the other set of these prayers that I have written for the Season of Creation, that have been used in my home parish for the last 7 Sundays, especially one from Teilhard de Chardin [see The Cosmic Christ post]. What hasn't particularly grabbed me is the Gospel for this week - Luke 23:33-43. Because of the setting - Jesus on the Cross with the 2 thieves - I can only speculate that it was placed here in the 3rd of the 3 year reading cycle simply because it mentions the mocking of the soldiers and the sign of King of the Jews. Even the often gloomy and depressing Jeremiah spoke loudly and hopefully to me along with the Psalm and the entire piece from the Letter to the Colossians. Given the results of the presidential election here in the U.S., the country is divided first, by jubilance or devastation, and second, by too many things you already know about. Yet I am heartened that all of us are called into the kingdom of [God's] beloved Son, in whom we have redemption. The language of these readings resound with God's presence: The LORD is our righteousness; God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble; God is in the midst of the city; God will help; The LORD of hosts is with us; Be still, and know that I am God! If I but put my fear on the back burner and when it flares turn again and again to the Kingdom of Christ to live the Gospel each day, seek the Light of Christ in everyone, expect to be disappointed but strive on to do all I can in the place where I am, then this Gospel will speak to me as I hear Jesus say to me at my last, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Lord God, our Refuge and Strength, gather us again into Your fold
whenever we tremble at earthly, temporal tumult. Turn us again toward the
Kingdom of our Christ, the flower of Your Love, in whom we have redemption, and
forgiveness of sins.
Holy
Jesus, Christ of the Cosmos
RESPONSE: Our Stronghold and our
Salvation
~ Lord
God, our Refuge and Strength, keep those who govern across Creation, in all
Nations and local Communities, aware of Your constant Presence in their midst.
Guide those who lead us to cease wars and promote justice, mercy, and deal wisely
for all people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Holy
Jesus, Christ of the Cosmos
Our
Stronghold and our Salvation
~ Lord God, our Refuge and Strength, embrace and encourage all who
suffer chronic illness, difficult treatments, or emotional torment to keep
strong and patient; and grant endurance and fortitude to all who give them
care. We pray especially for:
Holy
Jesus, Christ of the Cosmos
Our
Stronghold and our Salvation
~ Lord God, our Refuge and Strength, may those who grieve be
comforted by a supportive community around them, as those we have sent before
us, awaken to the joyful new day in Your Holy Habitation. We pray especially
for:
Holy
Jesus, Christ of the Cosmos
Our
Stronghold and our Salvation
~ Lord God, our Refuge and Strength, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, silently
or aloud…
Holy
Jesus, Christ of the Cosmos
Our
Stronghold and our Salvation
~ Lord
God, our Refuge and Strength, sustain the spirits of our pastoral shepherds as
they endeavor to keep us eager to live the Gospel each day, and be impassioned
pursuers of the Divine Light of Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Holy
Jesus, Christ of the Cosmos
Our
Stronghold and our Salvation
The Celebrant adds: Jesus, Firstborn of all Creation, our Great High
Priest, rescue us from the power of darkness and transform our anxieties into
fruitful action. Keep us striving toward Your purpose, and enable us to share
in the full inheritance of the saints in the light. We ask through the Holy Spirit,
the very Breath of Love, and the Almighty LORD of Righteousness, who together
with You are our One God, now and forever. Amen.
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