You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble, you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. [Psalm 32:7]
We must always give thanks to God for you...because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. [2 Thessalonians 1:3b]
And then we have Zaccheus in the branches above the crowd, peering through the leaves. I always wonder what Mrs. Zacchaeus was thinking when she opened the door later. Did she give him that look – you know the one: seriously, THIS guy for dinner, and he invited himself? I'm sure she already knew what the neighbors were thinking being less than the popular couple on the block because of her husband's job. Yet here is Jesus calling Zacchaeus out of the tree – to the grumbling chorus of nay-sayers and finger-pointers – and telling him Salvation has come to this house...the Son of Man came to seek out to save the lost.
How easy it is to let go of the reminder in The Lord’s Prayer when we ask God to forgive us AS [in the same way that] we forgive others? And, also, that part of the Great Commandment to love your neighbor AS [if they are] yourself? Perhaps the words are so familiar and routine the impact of what we are saying is lost.
Through forgiveness we rid ourselves of the poison of resentment, allowing more love to flow through us to all we meet. NOT easy, but with one breath at a time improvement is possible. A small quiet act of kindness even in the face of serious defiance, rescues both of us, whether we see and know it in another or we don’t. In prayer, Jesus may not be seen walking by, but he's always with us whenever we feel lost, especially when we feel we’re up a tree.
Leader: ~ LORD of Hope and
Promise, as You know us better than we know ourselves, guide us to seek and recognize
You in others, to find You living deep within us, and to learn to rescue,
defend, and plead with more fervor for others than for ourselves.
~ LORD of Hope and Promise, renew us each day to persevere in prayer as we take action to kindle integrity, morality, and empathy in the Leaders of all governments across Your Creation. Instruct us all in the ways of Christ’s peace, that together we may find the path where peace will grow and spread beyond all barriers and borders. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
~ LORD of
Hope and Promise, lay Your healing hand upon those weary of pain or anguish in
this life, and hold fast to those who offer caring help. We now join our voices
to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
~ LORD of Hope and Promise, lighten the darkness for the grieving, as our loved ones return Home to the eternal splendor and glory of new life in Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
~ LORD of
Hope and Promise, we pause in this moment to offer You our
other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently… add your
own petitions
~ LORD of Hope and Promise, refresh the courage and confidence of those anointed to call us to Your Holy Table, that our worship may be true, faithful, and pleasing to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
The
Celebrant adds: Lord
of Creation, Salvation, and Wisdom, grow our faith abundantly and increase
our ability to love one another as we are loved by You. Grant us the grace
to embody Your Presence and to serve the world together in Your name. We ask
through Jesus our Redeemer Christ; and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Guide; who
together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment