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 will be gifted with 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 fasting and tithing, while the tax collector is humble in his
prayer for mercy, speaking to God as a sinner. Two different
prayers, one of pretension and the other of penance.
True
humility is difficult to achieve. If 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 must, 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 arrogance or self-righteousness that arrives with a sense of
superiority around others deemed to be less worthy. Jesus doesn't want us to be
proud of our humility in this continuous 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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