For Sunday, November
17, 2019, Readings: Malachi
4:1-2a, Psalm 98, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19
But for you who revere my name the sun of
righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. [Malachi
4:2a]
O sing to the LORD a
new song, for he has done marvelous things...Make a joyful noise to the LORD,
all the earth...He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples
with equity. [Psalm 98:1a, 4a, 9b]
For
we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any
work...Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. [2
Thessalonians 3:11,13]
When
you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must
take place first, but the end will not follow immediately...By your endurance
you will gain your souls. [Luke
21:9, 19]
It is election
season in this country and elsewhere, as I write, and all the potential, and threatening narratives of outcomes and events around the world seem to be written into this
Gospel, indeed in all of these readings. The vitriol, derisiveness, and divisiveness
of the electioneering has families and friends turning against each other. There
are earthquakes, hurricanes, famines, terrorist acts, random violence, personal
tragedies, and somewhere there are lions, and tigers, and bears, Oh My, and
things that go bump in the night.
Let us take a breath and stop living in the
fear that more terrible things will happen. Yes, of course they will, they
ALWAYS HAVE, from the beginning of time not a day goes by on this earth without
something dreadful happening to someone, or to many, and the instant access to
muddied headlines confirms the fear we want to have to keep us from moving forward
in faith. But life is filled with many wonderful and life-giving moments also,
if we but turn to the light to see and appreciate them.
Jesus
tells us not to fear wars and insurrections, betrayals, natural disasters, and
not to be led astray by those who falsely claim to know when the end time is
near. Whether or not you are
living in a difficult time at this moment, Jesus told us: I will give
you words and a wisdom...By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Whatever
your fears, know that the fears of others are the same. Let our
enduring work begin with prayer for confidence in God's sun of righteousness
to rise. Let us shake ourselves out of idleness borne of the paralysis of
fear that masks as hate and anger. Let us move out of living in grief to
finding purpose in our earthly time. Let us feed our faith together, and never,
ever, weary of doing what is right. Whatever is to come, take heart in the assurance that if
we stay together and in faith on this path, our souls will not perish through
any evil doing now nor in the apocalypse then. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done
marvelous things.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord
of Hosts, strengthen us to begin within ourselves to sing a new song of Your
marvelous works in our midst. Free us from idle faith and empower our hearts to
serve You with joy, never wearying of doing all that is right in Your name.
O
God of Righteousness
RESPONSE:
In
joy we revere Your Name
~ O Lord of Hosts, we lift up our prayers
for all who lead this World, this Country, and this Community by election,
fiat, or inheritance. Implant in their souls a deepening hunger for
unquestionable integrity, global and local peace, and justice tempered with
mercy for all people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of Righteousness
In
joy we revere Your Name
~ O Lord of Hosts, nestle
the aching, the fearful, and the desperate in Your loving embrace, and
revitalize all who support their needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those
in need…
O
God of Righteousness
In
joy we revere Your Name
~ O Lord of Hosts, we give You thanks for
lives well led as the Heavenly gates open for our beloved, who now live again in
glory of life everlasting in Christ. We pray especially for…
O
God of Righteousness
In
joy we revere Your Name
~ O Lord of Hosts, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…
O
God of Righteousness
In
joy we revere Your Name
~ O Lord of Hosts, quicken the spirits of
those called and ordained to speak Your Words and celebrate Your Sacraments,
inspiring us all to live lives of selfless intent in this earthly life. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
O
God of Righteousness
In
joy we revere Your Name
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