Moses implored
the Lord his God…”Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and
do not bring disaster on your people”…And the Lord changed his mind about
the disaster that he planned to bring on his people. [Exodus 32:11a, 12b, 14]
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; in
your great compassion blot out my offenses…Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me. [Psalm 51:1, 11]
...even though I was formerly a blasphemer...I received
mercy, so that in me...Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience,
making me an example to those who would come to believe in him...To the King of
the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory, forever and
ever... [1 Timothy:13a, 16b-17]
And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying,
"This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them…Just so, I tell you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents." [Luke 15:2, 10]
I once was lost but now
am found...goes the stirring hymn written by a former slave-ship captain. I
think, though, that I’m still a little bit blind. As I, all-too-often, cannot
see the continuous flow of amazing grace within and around me,
I all-too-quickly and frequently lose sight of the direction in which to turn.
Just as quickly the week runs by and I’m confronted with the Lectionary
readings as I prepare to prepare for this moment. It is then that I realize I
have been lost. How soon and easily we forget what we are called to do while in
the hustle, bustle, distractions, and self-absorptions of daily life, and, at
times its deep sorrows. The busy-ness surrounds and sometimes nearly drowns us.
Yet first and foremost, fellow Scribes and Pharisees, how much more
self-satisfyingly easy it is to point to all THOSE people who have clearly lost
their direction, and we are certain, however loath we are to admit,
that they are not worthy to be found much less redeemed.
As we go grumbling along,
peeking through our particular choice of colored lenses, This fellow Jesus, welcomes sinners and eats with them. Surely not
THOSE sinners, because within our group-think we're all quite certain about
what has or will happen to them. Yet Jesus would
welcome them as he welcomes you and me. As if that’s not
enough, more difficult to accept is that it isn't a job for any of us to
determine whose sins are greater or where another's soul resides for
eternity. My job is to acknowledge that I am a sinner, yet I can still see
the light of Christ in myself and in another through the darkness of my own
sin. I can reach out for that amazing and saving grace that is always within me
if I but want to know it. The question becomes, how hard am I willing look for
that grace ~ as much as for a lost piece of property or a sheep more like
myself? Even if I am unable to relinquish all of my anger, my grief, my fear,
of all that has happened in our own time globally, locally, personally, or my
own tendency to sin in the past, the present, and the future, God in
Christ never, ever leaves us. I’m the one who
turns away if only for a moment, a day, or longer. I’m the one who is lost when
I turn away through anger, selfishness, or grand self-righteousness. It’s past
time for me, to yet again, stir the joy of heaven and repent. The
word repent literally means to turn toward.
In this time of global and
local rancor, violence, and hatred, let us reach for the grace within to turn
back toward Jesus. Therein lies all hope. Paul reminds us elsewhere in 1 Timothy [6:12-16] that God, Who is Immortal, Invisible, the One, Who with Christ and the Holy
Spirit, is our true direction in this life. The only person I am to change is ME, and a good time for that is like, you know, NOW. Will
having hope change the world ~ not likely, but it will improve my attitude
which may improve my interactions with a few people. Will hope fix, heal, or
restore anything that's broken, wounded, or lost ~ who knows ~ it
definitely cannot make things worse. Hope, however fragile in a moment, can
keep us buoyant through the tidal waves of emotion, fear, and guilt that pound
upon our personal shores. Hope and determination find that lost sheep, discover
that dropped coin, and cause angels to rejoice. Hope is the light of Christ
that beckons and welcomes, even me, a sinner, and grants me a measure of inner
peace and an immeasurable amount of spiritual nutrition. Peace is certainly
something the world close by and at large needs in great measure. So, let it
begin with me feeling hopeful, not lost but now found, with a clean heart and a
right spirit renewed.
LET US,
GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O God
of Loving-Kindness, create in us hearts so clean that we move beyond
stiff-necked stubbornness, and, purged of our sin, we may display the patience
to others that is granted to us by Christ.
O Lord of Utmost
Patience
RESPONSE: We rejoice in Your
mercy
~ O God
of Loving-Kindness, renew a right spirit within us all, especially those
who govern on this Earth, in this Nation, and in this Community. May we,
together, welcome the lost, especially all who suffered and continue to as a result of 9/11, and, in so many tragedies since, in this Country and in all others, in this State, and in this City. Help us to find the best care for all Your sheep, and protect
the coins and hopes of those with so little else. We pray especially for: add
your own petitions
O Lord of Utmost Patience
We
rejoice in Your mercy
~ O God of Loving-Kindness,
embrace those anguished by illness, uncertainty of treatment, or anxiety for
loved ones, and give ease and healing to all. We now join our voices to pray
aloud for those in need…add your own petitions
O Lord of Utmost Patience
We
rejoice in Your mercy
~ O God of Loving-Kindness, as
we send our own ahead to You, let our hearts feel and hear the joyful noise of
all who abide in Your eternal bliss, until we join the feast. We pray
especially for…add your own petitions
O Lord of Utmost Patience
We
rejoice in Your mercy
~ O God of Loving-Kindness, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add
your own petitions
O Lord of Utmost Patience
We
rejoice in Your mercy
~ O God of Loving-Kindness,
magnify the faith of those anointed as our surrogate shepherds, who choose to
shoulder the burdens of being an example of and bringing Christ to our daily
lives. We pray especially for: add your
own petitions
O Lord of Utmost Patience
We
rejoice in Your mercy
The Celebrant adds: Holy God, King of the Ages, judge us faithful
in all that we do to bring honor and glory to Your Name. Restore our
willingness to hear and accept Your call to seek our soul’s fortune only in
You. We ask in the name of our Christ who welcomes all sinners; the Holy
Spirit, who kindles our faith; who together with You are the One, Immortal,
Invisible, God Only Wise, now and forever. Amen.
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