A moment of contemplation for yourself or on behalf of others on everything from the life-altering to the mundane.


Prayer: A conversation with The Higher Other who lives within each of us. An invitation to vent, to re-think, to ask, and to rest.

Monday, August 23, 2021

Prayers of the People: The Heart is the Matter ~ 14th Sunday after Pentecost '21 Yr B

For Sunday, August 29, 2021, Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Psalm 15, James 1:17-27, 
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 …keep the commandments of the Lord your God…observe them diligently for this will show your wisdom and discernment….Take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your minds all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children. [Deuteronomy 4:2b, 6a, 9]

   Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? Who may abide upon your holy hill? Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart. [Psalm 15:1-2]

    Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above...let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God's righteousness...be doers of the word, and not merely hearers...care for orphans and widows in their distress...keep...unstained by the world. [James 1:17a, 19b-20, 22a, 27b]

    "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites...You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition"...For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come... [Mark 7:6a, 8,21a]

     Our first reading this week is from Deuteronomy. The name comes from a compound word with the prefix deutero which means second, and the suffix -nomy­ which means a system of laws or rules, or a body of knowledge of a particular subject. The full word in this context means the second pronouncement of the Law¸ meaning God’s Commandments. The first appearance of the Ten Commandments is in Exodus 20:3-17, and the second is in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. In this reading, Moses is admonishing the Israelites, who like us, need continuing reminders to live in accordance with these commandments. They and we are neither to add to or subtract from them based on a human idea that this or that is no longer valid. Of course, we know that Jesus distilled them in Matthew 22:37-39: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” If you think about the Ten and all they say ~ loving God with all that is in you turns into loving the God within you and therefore loving yourself, and then, the not stealing, killing, coveting, etc. ~ truly means loving your neighbor given that we won’t steal, kill, or covet anything of a beloved neighbor. So, nothing is added or subtracted, all we need to do is observe them diligently.
     The Psalmist asks God who can live in the Tabernacle upon God’s holy hill? Those who lead a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart. Again, we are given all that we need to know to do what is right.
     The writer of James tells us that it is through God's generous act of giving that we are brought to birth by the word of truth and are directed to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger...we are to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers [James 1:17a, 18a, 19, 22a]. But, as always, it is Jesus who, in quoting Isaiah, speaks bluntly to the Pharisees who make human tradition and precepts into idolatrous doctrine, as they abandon the commandments of God. He tells the rest of us by way of addressing "the crowd" that it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come... [Mark 7:14]
      This Gospel jolts me into awareness that my commitment to God has become more shallow than I am willing to admit to myself and I hearken back to Psalm 51, verses 2 and 10 in particular: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 
      In our own time and "religious practice" when the "tradition" and ritual are the ends rather than the means to holiness, when purpose and origin are unknown or forgotten, when the music is more entertainment than worshipful, and the "why" of it is no longer mindfully considered, we have lost the integrity and intention of the worship of God  especially in daily living. We have ceased to be conscious, and have become merely hearers, not doers of God’s Word. We are desensitized, sterilized, and removed from receiving and giving the deep, abiding love of and for God, the God who gazes through the windows of our souls.   
     We are to consciously seek to deepen our relationship with God. James reminds us that our God-given purpose is to act on behalf of those in distress, and to keep ourselves unstained by the world. Committing ourselves again to God's commandments, let us welcome with meekness the implanted word that will save our souls as it goes straight to our hearts, wherein lies the voice of our Beloved. In accepting and returning the lyrics of love from, to, in, and through God, we gladly become the doers of God's Word, grace filled and soul-full. The Heart IS the matter that, when undeceived by human forgetfulness, greed, and selfishness, brings blessings, wisdom, and salvation to ourselves and to all we meet.  

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY 

Leader:  ~ O God, our God, stir our hearts with urgent generosity to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slower to anger. Awaken in us Your perfect gifts to live as doers of Your word and truth, caring for all in distress, and remaining unstained by this world.

                                                     O Lord, Most Beloved                                                        
RESPONSE:               Cleanse our hearts of evil intent

~ O God, our God, grant all who govern Your people everywhere in this Earthly realm, purity of motive and principled determination to stay free of hypocrisy and greed, while eager for justice and mercy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Most Beloved
                                                       Cleanse our hearts of evil intent                                                      

~ O God, our God, release from pain those who suffer through life-threatening illness, depression, or addiction, and give strength to all who provide for their daily needs. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Most Beloved
                                                       Cleanse our hearts of evil intent                                                               

~ O God, our God, soothe the wounds of those who grieve, as our loved ones live again with heavenly rejoicing in the Tabernacle of Your Holy Hill. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Most Beloved
                                                       Cleanse our hearts of evil intent 

~ O God, our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Most Beloved
                                                       Cleanse our hearts of evil intent 
                  

~ O God, our God, quicken the spirits of all who bring us Your Word and Sacraments, that together we may move from the idolatry of mere human tradition, to the honoring of Your commandments with each thought and action of our lives. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Lord, Most Beloved
                                                       Cleanse our hearts of evil intent 

The Celebrant adds: Holy and Righteous Lord, so draw our hearts, so guide our wills that we always think, pray, speak, and act only through Your implanted Word that holds the power to save our souls. We ask through the perfection of Jesus, our Christ and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, who together with You, reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 




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