For Sunday, October 27,
2019 ~ 20th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings:
Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22; Psalm 84:1-6,
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14
Yet
you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not
forsake us...We set our hope on you...
[Jeremiah 14:9b,
22b]
How lovely is your dwelling place...Happy are those whose
strength is in you... [Ps 84:1, 5a]
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have
kept the faith. [2 Timothy 4:7]
I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than
the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble
themselves will be exalted. [Luke 18:14]
Jeremiah tries to ease the gloom and doom of our knowing our failures by
reminding us that God is in our midst and calls us by name. I want to stay with
that image and the resonance of that voice all along the route of my life, as I
climb from height to height. Then, when I am finally at the Finish Line
of racing-while-human, I will be gifted with the full revelation of God’s glory.
The lovely dwelling place of God is our ultimate destination and the Psalmist
reminds us that we who find our strength in God are happy.
The Letter to Timothy continues the assurance
that the Lord stands by us even though others desert us, and in graciousness, the
writer also asks that those who didn't come to his aid not have their rejection
counted against them. Oh, to be so humble!
In Luke, Jesus tells the disciples about
those who put themselves above others in the pride of their spiritual
accomplishments with contempt for those they deemed beneath them. The self-exalted
ones will not be justified as are those who are humbled by awareness of their own
sin.
Humility is difficult to achieve. When you
think have it, you've lost it in that instant! As I continue the race through this
life, I must relinquish marking milestones and simply keep putting one foot in
front of the other, making each breath a prayer. When I listen for the still,
small voice that calls my name, I can rest in the knowing that the Lord rescues
me when I fall. I must be constant in keeping faith, knowing that my hope and strength
rests in God. I paradoxically pray two prayers, one for humility and the second to not know that I have it.
Through God in Christ I’m more able to resist the petulance that arrives with
the sense of superiority and false pride. Jesus doesn't want us to be proud of
being humble.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord in our midst, You call us by name
to awaken our souls to Your presence. Keep us from wandering, forget our iniquities,
and bring us to You in the time of healing and good.
O
God of gods
RESPONSE:
For Your Mercy, we pray
~ O Lord in our midst, as our hope and our strength are set on You,
grant us the fortitude to challenge all leaders in governments across the expanse
of this Planet, to work together to achieve the peace of living together in
unity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of gods
For
Your Mercy, we pray
~ O Lord in our midst, calm all who are
in fear and heal all who are suffering in any part of life. Comfort and care
for those who serve. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in
need…
O
God of gods
For
Your Mercy, we pray
~ O Lord in our midst, free the hearts
bowed down in grief, as our loved ones now dwell in the loveliness of Your heavenly
house forever. We pray especially for…
O
God of gods
For
Your Mercy, we pray
~ O Lord in our midst, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…
O
God of gods
For
Your Mercy, we pray
~ O Lord in our
midst, we give You thanks for all
who are chosen to show us by Word and example how to finish the race of this
life, keep the faith, and walk together to our home in You. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of gods
For
Your Mercy, we pray
The Celebrant adds: Living,
Loving Lord, sustain us in our struggle to live humbly in Your sight, to free
ourselves from the sin of self-promotion, and to set our hearts on the pilgrim’s
way. We ask through Christ Jesus, our Savior; and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate;
who together with You are One God in Glory, forever and ever. Amen.
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