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 an asterisk
and follow the prayers below.
Week III's
Theme is:
Our Common Humanity
We are truly all in "this" together ~
this multiverse, this planet, this life, right in the now that is all we
ever have. Yet all too 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 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, with necessary repetition: 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. This phrasing also bears
repeating, to be written down and available to our eyes and hearts at waking,
mid-day, and in the approach to sleep as a mantra in prayer to be embedded in
our life’s purpose as God’s agents in Creation.
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. This, too, gives us a charge, a mindset, our primary mission in
this life.
Jesus is quite specific when he tells his story in
his time through this part of Matthew’s Gospel that comes 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. It is always 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, and never more perfect than today, even when we disagree
about many things. If we cannot find common ground with some, then we
must redouble our efforts with those with whom we can, for the sake of Jesus,
our Christ, and for all of humankind that each of our God-Given lives touch.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Blessed are
You, Lord of and in our Souls, Creator
of Our Entire Human Family, fill us with delight in
discovering the wonder and joy 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 each of us are 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 that we
are more alike than unalike in Christ.
O
Christ, Son of Humanity
RESPONSE: Our Help, Hope, and Faith are in You
~
Blessed are You, Lord of and in
our Souls, 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
Christ, Son of Humanity
Our
Help, Hope, and Faith are in You
~
Blessed are You, Lord of and in
our Souls, 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
Christ, Son of Humanity
Our
Help, Hope, and Faith are in You
~
Blessed are You, Lord of and in
our Souls, 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
Christ, Son of Humanity
Our
Help, Hope, and Faith are in You
~
Blessed are You, Lord of and in
our Souls, we pause in this moment to
offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and
memorials… add your own petitions
O
Christ, Son of Humanity
Our
Help, Hope, and Faith are in You
~
Blessed are You, Lord of and in
our Souls, 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
Christ, Son of Humanity
Our
Help, Hope, and Faith are in You
The Celebrant adds: Most
Gracious 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 have breath, for You who brought our common
humanity and all else in the heavens and on Earth into being, for You who 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.
*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."
All compositions remain
the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and
edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way.
For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com
