For
Sunday, October 23, 2022; 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...they will climb from height to height... [Ps 84:1, 5-6a]
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 am promised 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. The Pharisee revels in his status of being above
those he judges of lesser importance including the tax collector, and reports
his own fasting and tithing. The tax collector is humble in his prayer for mercy,
speaking to God for mercy as a sinner. Two different prayers, one of pretension
and the other of penance.
Humility is difficult
to achieve. When you think have it, you've lost it in that instant! As I
continue the sprint 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 is with me always, even 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 if
I have achieved it. In attending God in Christ, I’m far more able to resist the
petulance that arrives with a false sense of superiority and pride. Jesus
doesn't want us to be proud of our humility in this continuous and often contentious race of a
lifetime.
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 this Planet, to work together to achieve the health of our
Earth and 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, as You grant comfort and
care for those who serve others. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those
in need… add your own petitions
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… add your own petitions
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… add your own petitions
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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