Prayers of the People: Our Common Humanity ~ 3rd Sunday in the Season of Creation '21

For Sunday, October 24, 2021, Readings: "Human Family"*, Psalm 146, Philippians 2:1-5, Matthew 25:31-45

I note the obvious differences In the human family…the variety of our skin tones Can confuse, bemuse, delight…I’ve seen the wonders of the world yet not one common man…I’ve seen ten thousand women…But I’ve not seen any two who really were the same…We are more alike my friends, Than we are unalike. [Human Family, by Maya Angelou]

Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! Whose hope is in the Lord their God…who keeps his promise for ever…Who gives justice to the oppressed…opens the eyes of the blind, lifts up those who are bowed down… [Psalm 146:5, 6b, 7a, 8b]

If there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit…make my joy complete…Do nothing from selfish ambition…Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ. [Philippians 2:1a, 2a, 3a, 5a]

Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me…Truly I tell you, that just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. [Matthew 25:40, 45]

The Season of Creation originated in the Anglican Church of South Africa and was formalized in 2008. It is designed for us to explore our faith from a Creation perspective. For more information see: https://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2018/10/prayers-of-people-in-beginning-1st.html. We use Biblical and other readings that pertain to the specific theme of each of the 7 weeks of the Season. Alternate readings used are posted with asterisk.

Week III's Theme is: 
Our Common Humanity

*Human Family – a poem by Maya Angelou

"I note the obvious differences In the human family. Some of us are serious, Some thrive on comedy. Some declare their lives are lived As true profundity, And others claim they really live The real reality. The variety of our skin tones Can confuse, bemuse, delight, Brown and pink and beige and purple, Tan and blue and white. I've sailed upon the seven seas And stopped in every land, I've seen the wonders of the world Not yet one common man. I know ten thousand women Called Jane and Mary Jane, But I've not seen any two Who really were the same. Mirror twins are different Although their features jibe, And lovers think quite different thoughts While lying side by side. We love and lose in China, We weep on England's moors, And laugh and moan in Guinea, And thrive on Spanish shores. We seek success in Finland, Are born and die in Maine. In minor ways we differ, In major we're the same. I note the obvious differences Between each sort and type, But we are more alike, my friends, Than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, Than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, Than we are unalike."

    We are truly all in "this" together ~ this life, this planet, right now. So very often, especially in these fraught times, we look at others and others look at us as different because of skin color, regional accent, nationality, religion, political views, sexual orientation, life circumstance, or merely because someone lives in a different part of the world, the country, or the city. We all too easily dismiss, and worse ~ completely and immediately reject ~ those who aren't like us. Suddenly they become one of them, not to be trusted or valued as the full human person God created, and in God's own image. When we ignore, avoid, or dismiss an other person for such reasons, we damage ourselves and our souls by de-valuing a child of God’s making.
     Maya Angelou’s poem Human Family breaks through the self-imposed shields and barriers and says quite starkly, truthfully, unequivocally: We are more alike, my friend, than we are unalike.
    The Psalmist calls us to celebrate our God, the God of Jacob, as our hope, as one whose promise is kept forever, who gives justice to the oppressed, and opens the eyes of the blind.
    The writer of Philippians reminds us to do nothing from selfish ambitions and, in humility regard others as better than yourselves…look not to your own interests, but to the interest of others. And most importantly, we are to Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ.
     Jesus is even more specific than Maya, when he tells his story in his time and now to us, that whatever we do to another, we do to him; and, whatever we do not do to another, we do not do to him. Seems like the perfect time to work with each other to discover how we can, together, be in the same mind that was in Christ for the benefit, betterment, and salvation of our common humanity.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ Blessed are You, O Lord our God, Master of the Universe, Creator of Our Entire Human Family, fill us with delight in discovering the wonder of our many colors, the array of all our shapes, sizes, and ages, the personhood of us all that is the Christ within. Keep us ever mindful and respectful, that we are each the other to someone, when we step out of our own and into another’s comfort zone. May Your Light radiate from our eyes, and our everyday words and actions reflect always that we are more alike than unalike.
 
                                                            O Lord, our God                                                
                      RESPONSE:       Our Help, Hope, and Faith is in You         
 
~ Blessed are You, O Lord our God, empower us to hold fast, to not lose heart, to stand strong for truth, mercy, and justice before the leaders of our World, our Country, and our Community. Strengthen us to prod open the hearts of those blinded by selfish ambition, political machinations, and all oppressive actions that do not reflect the mind of Christ in them or in ourselves. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                            O Lord, our God
                                                            Our Help, Hope, and Faith is in You
 
~ Blessed are You, O Lord our God, comfort all who are burdened with serious illness, addiction, and/or emotional distress, and grant energy and peace to those who give them care. We now join our hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                            O Lord, our God
                                                            Our Help, Hope, and Faith is in You
           
~ Blessed are You, O Lord our God, in the midst of sorrow for our temporary loss, we find love and consolation in Your glorious welcome for those we cherish, now at peace in Your eternal kingdom. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
 
                                                            O Lord, our God
                                                            Our Help, Hope, and Faith is in You
 
~ Blessed are You, O Lord our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
 
                                                            O Lord, our God
                                                            Our Help, Hope, and Faith is in You
                       
~ Blessed are You, O Lord our God, we ask Your special blessings for all who are chosen and anointed to show us by example of prayer, preaching, and humble compassion, how to share in the Spirit in this life, and discover the Word that will lead us to You in the next. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                            O Lord, our God
                                                            Our Help, Hope, and Faith is in You
 
The Celebrant adds: O Blessed God of the Hungry and the Privileged, Lord of those Raised High and those Laid Low, grant us the joyful yet solemn awareness that we bear within us the very substance of Your Incarnate Son. Open our souls to sing your praise as long as we live, for You who brought our common humanity and all else in the heavens and on Earth into being, and keeps Your promise forever. We ask through the Compassion of Jesus our Christ, and the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, who live and reign with You as One God, every day, every way, always, and forever. Amen.

 

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