Prayers in Pentecost: The only thing I'm always sure of is that I'm not always sure...

The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth. - Peter Abelard* [1079-1142]

Well, God, 
     Doubt and Questioning has always been part of my journey to You although for my early life I kept it hidden and secret. I was told what to believe by the religious education I had as a child and there was no room for questions. I drifted away, You know, but when I came back, I was still in the really, is that what happened, okay maybe but....mode. I discovered a lot more "religious" types who only wanted to tell me how things are, what the Bible means, and any disagreement isn't tolerated.  Didn't stay with them, either.  After some more serious study I am surprised at how many questions I still have but I'm grateful to have found a community in which to ask, discuss, disagree, and decide at least about a few things. I've learned to listen, to think, to process but mostly, to pray.  I know I don't have many answers, sometimes I don't even know the questions, but one thing I know I'm sure of - Your Presence. Thank You for being here. You don't mind about the questions, right? amen.


*Peter Abelard was a French philosopher and theologian who was no stranger to controversy.  The son of a knight he gave up inheritance and a military career to pursue philosophy and traveled around France studying with the foremost philosophers of his day.  He ultimately moved to Paris and became a well-known teacher of philosophy and theology and was hired as a private tutor for the daughter of the Canon of the Cathedral of Paris. Abelard and the Canon's daughter, Heloise, fell in love, conceived a child and secretly married. The Canon had Abelard castrated and sent to a monastery; Heloise to a convent. Abelard continued to write controversial books and articles and was at various times declared heretical and also had large followings. He and Heloise famously wrote many letters to one another and at his death, she had his body buried near her convent.  She was buried with him when she died.  





Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: 1 + 2 = ONE, Trinity Sunday, Yr A

for Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2014, Readings: Gen 1:1-2:4a; Ps 8, 2 Cor 13:11-13, Mt 28:16-20

      A central mystery of most Christian denominations, the Trinity may be the most confounding. The Trinity is/are one God in three persons, distinct from one another yet consubstantial with each other, co-equal, and co-eternal. The Fourth Lateran Council [in years 1213-1215] declared that "it is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds." The Roman Catholic catechism says, "Accordingly, the whole work of creation and grace is seen as a single operation common to all three divine persons, in which each shows forth what is proper to him in the Trinity, so that all things are 'from the Father', 'through the Son' and 'in the Holy Spirit.'" How do you explain it? If all things are possible with God....

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:        ~ Eternal Trinity, In the beginning, You created the heavens and the earth, separated the dry land from the waters, the day from the night, provided seeds and vegetation, living creatures of every kind, and ourselves – male and female, human, in Your Image. 

                     Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

Response:  We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

~ Eternal Trinity, our God-given intellect, the love of Christ, and the holy courage of the Spirit, give us the ability and the call to serve all the people of God with justice, mercy, and in peace. Help us to strongly encourage the leaders of our nation and in the world, of the necessity to do likewise. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                        Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

                        We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

~ Eternal Trinity, bestow the grace of hope and healing upon those who are ill in mind, body, or spirit and grant those who give them care continuing strength and perseverance. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                        Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

                        We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

~ Eternal Trinity, we implore You to set the Fire of Pentecost as the essential beacon before those who are lost in the icy winter of grief. Carry those who have left our earthly experience into the warmth of Holy comfort and peace in Your life everlasting.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                        Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

                        We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

~ Eternal Trinity, for all those You have called and blessed as guides for our souls in this life, we ask You for their peace of heart, strength of mind, and courage of conviction.  Let us hold fast together and walk through all blessings and trials as we journey toward everlasting life in Your Holy of Holies.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                        Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

                        We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

The Celebrant adds: Eternal Whole, One and All, anoint us with the essence of Your Presence in all that we do, and think, and pray. We beseech You through Your Son Jesus, and the comfort of Your Holy Spirit, who live and reign with You, One God, now and forever.  Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Pentecost: Jesus, my Druid

for June 9, Feast of St. Columba of Ireland and Scotland

I do not hold to the voice of birds, or any luck on the earthly world, or chance or a son or a woman.  Christ the Son of God is my Druid; Christ the Son of Mary, the great Abbot; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  My estates are with the King of Kings.  -St. Columba* [591-597]

In ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh,**
        Your servant, Columba, has touched the ancient pagan fragments carried deep within my Celtic bones and has fanned the flames of Pentecost in my soul.  Embolden my fervor that I might live deeply into the love of Christ and give deeply of that love to all around me. Whether in my moments of solitude or in the midst of all of life's delights and disasters, keep me unflagging in my devotion to and actions on behalf of Christ, Druid and Abbot for all whom God has created.  amen. 



*Born in County Donegal of royal blood, Coumba (also called Columcille) became a monk and rose to the rank of priest.  About 561 he became embroiled in a dispute over copyright with St. Finnian which resulted in numerous deaths in a battle. As penance, Columba was ordered out of Ireland for the remainder of his life and told to make as many converts as men killed in the battle.  He went to Scotland where his conversion of the Picts is legendary as is his bringing back to life a man killed by the Loch Ness monster and driving the monster off with the sign of the cross.  He established a monastery on the island of Iona on the west coast of Scotland which still today is a site of pilgrimage and retreat. As one of the three patron saints in Ireland, this Holy Three of Erin are buried together - St. Patrick, St. Columba, and St. Brigid - in County Down.

**Irish Gaelic for "In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"

Druid:  priest in ancient Celtic religion: a priest of an ancient religion practiced in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul until the people of those areas were converted to Christianity


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Sea-ing with New Sight

The sea is not less beautiful in our eyes because we know that sometimes ships are wrecked by it.

 ― Simone Weil*  [1909-1943]

God of Living Water and Breathing Earth ~

         When the devastating and tragic hit in a nanosecond, stealing my breath and holding it hostage, and the noise in my head feels as if giant fingernails are scratching an unimaginably huge blackboard, and I can't walk straight for feeling swamped - You are the only One who understands me then.

       And through You, my breath slowly returns, my head clears and quiets, the essence of beauty is re-discovered. With the marks of despair healing, then growth, balance and a measure of contentment again seep into consciousness.  Through You, I find my life, my heart, and my strength. I never outgrow my need for You. Life goes on and I with it because You are with me. Help me to remember You in the days of wonder, deep breathing, and, when sailing through life in rough seas and calm. amen.


*Simone Weil, a French philosopher, political activist, and Christian mystic, was known for her extraordinary compassion for those suffering from the ravages of WWI. She often sacrificed her own food for the sake of others perhaps hastening disease and an early death. She was loved by many and others found her irritating and her extensive writing found little attention until the 1950s and 60s. Over time that too waned yet her influence on scholars continues with well over 2,500 academic works were published about her philosophy from 1995-2012.


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email.  Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Discovering Half-Full Glasses

I am fundamentally an optimist...Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.  

~ Nelson Mandela* [1918-1913]  

To:     God, Heaven
Attn:  Attitude Adjustment Department
Re:     Grant Request


Dear Ma'am, Sir, Spirit, or Entity:
        I believe that I am unlikely to ever be optimistic on a full-time basis, and as that is likely to be considered a pessimistic viewpoint, I am applying to Your department for a grant to help me to adjust my attitude accordingly.
       Over the course of my life I have had times of extreme pessimism brought on by life circumstances, general malaise with a touch of decrepitude, occasional bouts of junk food, and prolonged periods of monkey mind. There are breaks in these cycles in which I discover sunshine, half-full glasses, delight in a child's laughter, and the hopefulness of contemplating eternal life with Jesus. It is to further such moments of the lightness of being a Child of God, that I ask for you to bestow a grant of significant improvement in my levels of optimism.
      As the recipient of such a grant, I would be able to develop a greater sense of life as a gift in all of its moods and activities, be more likely to give thanksgiving to God regularly, to experience hope and joy with greater frequency, and to send up my prayers almost daily with new and less-fettered energy and enthusiasm.  As to the terms, I respectfully request regular, on-going renewal with no expiration and a lifetime supply of gratitude. For my part, I will endeavor to keep my head pointed toward the sun and my feet moving forward.  amen, er, um, I mean, Sincerely....
      

Even if the pessimist is correct in the long run, the optimist will have a better trip.

*Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, served 27 years of imprisonment for treason fighting for equality, justice, and the end of apartheid segregation in his country. After his release, he was elected President and served faithfully for 4 years.  An exemplar of inspiration, creator of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights abuses, established the Mandela Foundation to fight HIV/AIDS, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the American Presidential Medal of Freedom and many more honors, President Mandela has been called the "Father of his country", and widely admired for his concern for truth and racial reconciliation and harmony.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Is there ever enough?

But of God you can never have a sufficiency. The more you have of God, the more you desire. 

If you could ever have enough of God, 

so that you were content with him, 

then God would not be God.    

― Meister Eckhart* [c. 1260 – c. 1327]

Dear God,

      I'm feeling some resistance within myself at the thought that the more of You I have - that is, the more I recognize that I have - the more of You I will want. I know You are already here but the difficulty I'm having is that I think I might be wary of wanting more. How will that change my life?  I already go to church, pledge, do my work, talk to You on a fairly regular basis, contribute to charities, take care of a few people in the family now and then. Does wanting more of You in my everyday life require me to pay more attention to You than I do my lawn, my car, the new Smart TV? What will the neighbors think if I get all "Godly" on them? Heck, what will my family think - ok, so I know what they'll think. 

      Well, it also seems to me that I do want more of You but can we work up slowly?  I'm not sure how I'll handle the rest of my life with You at the Center given that I had expected it to be a bit different. Can I still go on the vacation if I promise to take You with me? Let's just say, for the moment, HELP! I'm reaching out hesitantly but I'm also certain You'll always hold me close. amen.

*Meister Eckart von Hockheim was a Dominican priest, German philosopher, theologian, and mystic who had more than a brush with controversy. Some of his teachings were labeled as heresy and he was brought before the Inquisition. Since the 19th century, interest in Eckart's teachings have been quite popular and he is now considered a "great mystic". 

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Made my mind UP!

Prayer is the raising of the mind to God.

We must always remember this.

The actual words matter less. 

― Pope St. John XXIII*  [1881-1963]

So, God,
        I'm very glad that the words aren't critical. Some days I don't have any words that make sense together. Some days I know what I want to say but feel that I shouldn't. Other days I have so many words they compete with one another. Even though some who know me would say I often talk too much, I find that, more often, I feel closest to You in prayer when I use no words at all; when I just raise my mind to You. Oh, wait! I get it now - that's the ultimate moment, when my mind's made up!  amen.



*Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born 4th out of 14 children to a sharecropper family in Lombardy in 1881. He became a Cardinal and Patriarch in Venice in 1953 and in 1958, at the age of 77, he was elected Pope on the 11th ballot.  He surprised the Church and the world by convening the historic Second Vatican Council which met from 1962-1965. A staunch supporter and encourager of equality and ecumenism, Pope John XXIII died June 3, 1963, before the Council was completed. He was canonized Saint, by the Roman Catholic Church, less than two months ago on April 27, 2014. 

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but they may be used with attribution provided they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to the appearance on the blog, send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: PENTECOST - I'm all fired up! Yr A

for Pentecost, June 6, 2014, Readings:  Acts 2:1-21; Ps 104:25-35, 37; 1 Cor 12:3-13; Jn 20:19-31

Fifty Days after Easter, 

Ten Days after the Ascension 

comes Pentecost, 

 the feast of Holy Spirit:  

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place.  And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house...Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.  Acts 2:1-4

      

Let Us, God’s People, Pray

LEADER:  ~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, You have bestowed so many precious gifts upon us today. Infuse our souls further with the courage to discover and use them. Our voices now carry the language that must clearly speak of You, and our hearts and minds are filled with knowledge of the all-encompassing love of Christ to share in all the world.

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

RESPONSE:      In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, we each have, from You, the power to work for the common good throughout the Earth. Let us continually remind the leaders of this world that we expect them to use their gift of Your power wisely. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

                          In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, embrace those who are living each day with the pain and distress of illness or injury, and re-invigorate all who help with their care and comfort.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

                          In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, soothe the weary hearts of those who struggle in the midst of grief and carry those who have left us into the loving arms of Your eternity.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

                          In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, illumine the hearts of those called to lead us in Your Church that they may see and feel Your wisdom within. Grant them an extra measure of Your gifts so they can guide us to You with the surest of footing through the peaks and valleys of our lives.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

                          In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

The Celebrant adds:  Almighty and Eternal God, this day You have filled us with the Power of Your Most Holy Spirit that we may carry Your word to the Earth’s farthest reaches. Let us light the fires of Your love and peace in each and every day.  We humbly ask through Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, Comforter of our souls, who live and reign in unity with You, one God now and forever.  Amen.

      On the Jewish calendar, this ancient feast is Shavuot and celebrates the giving of the Law on Sinai. It's possibly another reason the Apostles were gathered together in addition to waiting for the sign promised by the resurrected Jesus 10 days before when they had locked themselves in a house in fear. 
       Also known as the Birthday of the Church, Pentecost marks the official beginning of the ministry of the Apostles beyond their local area and into the whole world. The descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire imbued them, and each of us by extension, with extra-ordinary gifts to bring the message of Christ to everyone.
       This day is known as Whitsun in Ireland and the UK, a descendant of a Gaelic celebration of medieval or perhaps even more ancient times. 


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: The Real Transformers

What the caterpillar calls
the end, 

the rest of the world calls 

a butterfly.

― Lao Tzu*

Holy God of Heaven and Earth,
       I'm so oblivious to the everyday ways of my small privileged part of the world that I blitz past the most remarkable occurrences of Your Creation. How can I fail to see the magical, the amazing, the dazzling displays our earthly life has to offer? And in so doing, I also fail to get Your message. 
       I guess I'm so caught up in paying the bills, grouching about some political ***, um, person, or yelling at the guy in the car ahead of me that I simply ignore the transformations all around me.  Ah, and that is the word isn't it - transformation. 
       Help me to connect the dots, Lord, from the transformations of nature to the transformation of my soul. The night into day, the winter into spring, the tadpole into frog, my everyday life into eternal life. In the darkest of nights, in the saddest of times, the end of what was is always another beginning. A dying to the old becomes a new birthing of promise and potential. Remind me again, tomorrow, please, I promise to stop, see, and be transformed.  amen.


*Lao Tzu, a legendary, and perhaps mythical, philosopher and poet of ancient China, is the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching (dow day jing), a classic Chinese text of philosophy, some time in the 4th, 5th, or 6th century BCE.  He may have been a contemporary of Confucius, and he is also considered to be the founder of Taoism (dow-ism).  Taoism is a philosophical, ethical religious tradition in China that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, which is at once the source and the driving force of everything that exists. 






Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: I Can, Can, Can, Can't I?

Dear God,
    It's seems too simple, John Wesley's Rule of Life.  Just do good, all the time, in all ways, in all places, to everyone for as long as possible.  But I realize that sometimes in the seemingly simple there is deep complexity. I must look deeply within myself to be conscious and intentional about my thoughts and actions to see where I am on track and where I am not.  Dear God, I'm off track more than I'm on and I am in such need of Your help. I want to do the good You have called me to do. Having Wesley's words as a kind of mantra will help to guide me but at the end of every day, I need to return to You in my prayer. Please breathe the good of Jesus into my soul as the fuel to fire my life in Christ. Give me the courage and fortitude to spread the Good News through good actions throughout all the days of my life, for as long as I ever can.  amen.  


John Wesley [1703-1791], born in Epworth, England, was an Anglican cleric and with his brother Charles, also Anglican, and Charles Whitefield, a Calvinist, are credited with starting an evangelical movement known as Methodism and strongly influenced the Holiness and Pentecostal movements. He argued against Calvinism, especially pre-destination, and remained committed to the Anglican Church and its sacramental theology. He effectively trained and used non-ordained itinerant preachers to develop small Christian discipleship groups with religious instruction to effect social reforms particularly in prison reform and abolitionism. By the end of his life he was known as "the best loved man in England."

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Up to Maya

It is this belief in a power 

larger than myself 

and other than myself 

which allows me to 

venture into the unknown 

and even the unknowable.

Dear Jesus,  
Here is my prayer ~  Please help me to remember, and put into action, the wisdom of these and many other words of Maya:

\

AMEN!

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Easter: ASCENSION! Yr A

for Thursday, May 29, 2014, Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53, Psalm 47 or Psalm 93

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them...as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them...
 Luke 24:50, Acts 1:9b-10

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Do not complain. Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution.
― Maya Angelou* [April 4, 1928 - May 28, 2014]

...They said, "Men of Galilee why do you stand looking up toward heaven?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

Dear Jesus of the Highest Height ~ as we wait in earnest for Your Spirit to reveal Your plan for us and have the eyes of our hearts enlightened, we are filled with the joy of Your presence among us still. And yet also with some sadness, we convey to Your care our Beloved Sister Maya, who now today shares in Your promised inheritance of eternal love and life.  Bless us, Jesus, son of God. The wisdom words You have given us, and the words we have from Dr. Maya, will ascend in our hearts and minds and souls until we, too, arrive into the Promised Land of Eternal Hope, Freedom, and Peace.  amen.

*Dr Maya Angelou, actor, author, poet, producer of plays, university professor, and so very much more, who had a tumultuous youth and early adulthood sometimes experiencing the sadder and seemier parts of life, rose to such local and international heights and respect that she became a living icon.  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings began our journey with her. We have much more to learn from her about living life, even while she has this day gone to her destiny in God. We have been blessed by her life among us and her words which will remain.

The Feast of the Ascension is one of the five major markers in the Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus, the others are Baptism, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. It is one of the essential elements of Christian credal statements and one of the significant mysteries in the life of Christ.  In Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox theology, the Ascension is interpreted as the culmination of the Mystery of the Incarnation, in that it not only marked the completion of Jesus' physical presence among his apostles, but consummated the union of God and man when Jesus ascended in his glorified human body to sit at the right hand of God the Father. The bodily Ascension into heaven is also understood as the expression of Christ's two natures: divine and human.  The mythology, the mystical, and the mysterious all combine to fuel the fires of discussion, disagreement, and theological divides across generations and denominations.




Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Easter: Got hope?

We should ask God to
increase our hope when it is small,
awaken it when it is dormant,
confirm it when it is wavering, 

strengthen it when it is weak, 

and raise it up when it is overthrown.  

                     ― John Calvin* [1509-1564]


        Well, God, I think I'm a pretty hopeful person.  But as I think about it in this moment, I'm not sure what I'm hopeful about.  When I was young I was hopeful about a happy marriage and great kids, a successful career and lots of travel.  Some of it has happened.  Some of it went a very different way.  There were times when things were so bleak I didn't care enough to even want to have hope. But then, through no action of my own, hope blossomed again.
          SO, what am I hopeful about now?  I'm not sure other than the usual list:  good health, healthy family and friends, world peace, ending hunger and violence, etc. Oh, and being a good and useful Christian. Hmm, maybe I should say something about my relationship with You - I will work on that.  At the very least, I know that when life is painful and chaotic, I can pray for the desire to hope. And, when I am feeling hopeful,  help me to remember to give thanks to You. I do know that You are always here.  amen.



*John Calvin, was born Jehan Cauvin in France. The ordained Calvin left the Roman Catholic Church and became a major player in the Protestant Reformation. His writings were contentious and he was influential in at least one execution.  He and his contemporary, Martin Luther, had respect for one another early on though each had a differing theological view. There was a disagreement between Luther and a Reformer in Zurich, Huldrych Zwingli, over the interpretations regarding the Eucharist. Calvin's opinions on the matter caused Luther to equate Calvin with Zwingli. From those tempestuous beginnings, Calvin's theological perspective is seen as the major influence for the Reformed, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches throughout the world today.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: We'll wait upstairs, 7th Sunday of Easter

for Sunday, June 1, 2014, Readings:  Acts 1: 6-14; Ps 68: 1-10, 33-36; 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11; Jn 17:1-11

From Jesus we know that God was here before us, God is with us now, God is our ultimate destination for eternity.  We wait, again, in expectation and wonder for all that is to come in this earthly life. We are to be one in Jesus, united through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit who rests on we who believe. We do not know what is to come but our souls are safe by knowing and serving  God. Now and then we can take a break in our own Upper Room to pray, and watch, and wait together for the full flowering of the glory of God to be revealed.

Let Us, God’s People, Pray

LEADER:  ~ O God of All Grace, You were God before the world existed and You are with us now. Jesus has brought us to know You, to cast our anxiety upon You, and to receive the protection of Your steadfast love. We humble ourselves before You to rejoice in Your glory revealed.

                           God, Holy and Mighty

RESPONSE:      Glorify us in Your own Presence

~ O God of All Grace, Support and strengthen those in political leadership in every part of this Earth.  Keep them from bowing to pressure to deviate from the course of Justice, Mercy, and Peace for all the people of Your Creation.  We pray especially for: Barack, our President; Jack, our Governor; Tom, our County Executive; and Dennis, our Mayor.

                           God, Holy and Mighty

                           Glorify us in Your own Presence

~ O God of All Grace, Refresh and renew the hope of those coping with serious illness or injury. Comfort and energize those wearied by giving love and care. Please rest Your Healing Spirit upon them all as we pray especially for: Karen Brennan,

                           God, Holy and Mighty

                           Glorify us in Your own Presence

~ O God of All Grace, Surround those who are suffering the loss of those they hold dear. Infuse their hearts with comfort and peace in the knowledge and promise of Your eternal life for us all.  We pray especially for:   

                           God, Holy and Mighty

                           Glorify us in Your own Presence

~ O God of All Grace, Empower the leaders of Your Church who bring us together into Your Holy Place and lead us out to do Your work in this world. Grant them spiritual wisdom, souls yearning for You, and hearts open to the challenges of being Christ’s emissary to guide us on The Way.

                           God, Holy and Mighty

                           Glorify us in Your own Presence

The Celebrant adds:   Holy God of Power and Glory, there is never a better time than this moment to reflect, revive, and renew our conversion of life to Your purpose. Grant us the stability of our faith that we may be obedient to Your call.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier; who live and reign with You, One God, now and beyond forever.   Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Easter: It's that neighborly thing

The bible is very easy to understand. But...[t]ake any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world...
                                                 ~ Søren Kierkegaard* [1813-1855]

Jesus said, "The First Commandment is this:  Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no commandment greater than these. [Mark 12:29-31]

Dear Jesus ~ 
        I don't have any idea when I last examined my relationship with the Commandments. I know that I haven't killed anyone or stolen anything (well, nothing very big and not since I was a kid). But then You already know what I have and haven't done.       
       I go through each day, week, month, and year and just assume I'm doing reasonably ok as a Christian. Well, actually, I don't really think about it at all; I just wander through time doing everyday stuff and as life goes, some days are better than others and I do better on some days than I do on others. It's time, now, to look closer at how I know that I love God and all of my neighbors and, how I act upon that love. Dear Jesus, help me to Love. Give me the compassion, the empathy, the humility to live into all that I profess to believe. It is a struggle, each and every day, to be intentional and conscious of being a Christian with all that You expect of me and all that represents to the world. It's very hard work. So, please, please, I need all the help You can give me, and I will work at being better at Love (with a capital L as in Christian Love). amen.   

and also Love:
Thy Hispanic Neighbor
Thy Hindu Neighbor
Thy Asian Neighbor
Thy Poor Neighbor
Thy Rich Neighbor
Thy Elderly Neighbor
Thy Teenaged Neighbor
Thy Terrible-Twos Neighbor
Thy Terrible Parent Neighbor
Thy Thoughtless Next-Door Neighbor
Thy Driver-on-the-Road Neighbor
Thy Cranky Neighbor
Thy Mentally Ill Neighbor
and all of Thy Other Neighbors


*Søren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and wrote extensively on Christian Ethics, psychology, and the philosophy of Religion.  He often focused on personal choice and commitment and the art of Christian love. He was a strong critic of some of his philosopher contemporaries such as Swedenborg, Hegel, Goethe, and Hans Christian Anderson. It is impossible to distill his vast work into a small space as his work continues to influence the discussions of intellectuals and religious philosophers to this day. Fear and Trembling and Either/Or are only two of his most well-known works still being read.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Easter: Peeking out from the cocoon

The spiritual life is not the elimination of struggle; 

it is the sanctification of struggle.  It is struggle transformed to wisdom.

           ~ Sr. Joan Chittister* [1936]



When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.  1 Cor 13:11


Dear God,
       When I was a kid I thought You were The Most Magic Person. You created the heavens and the earth and all that is in it, Adam and Eve and me!  As I grow older I wonder more about You and discover that the more I learn, the less I know although I now believe some things very differently. I don't think that You are a god of the chessboard who moves me around willy-nilly in order to satisfy some divine whim, or causing this and/or saving me from that event or encounter. Nor do I believe that You give me or take away people and things from me. 
      I now believe that, as life happens, it's up to me to turn to You, the Holy Trinity, to sanctify my struggles. In the midst of terrible times I won't feel immediately better as the Magic You of my childish imaginings would have it. But it does help the older me to be more readily able - eventually - to move toward accepting the things I cannot change and live as fully as possible into the life I have. Perhaps in that way I will find that my struggle in life can transform into a little bit of wisdom.   
    As I grow older, help me please, to be more childlike in my faith - that is, unspoiled, open, with an accepting innocence, and less childish - that is, immature, demanding, and stubborn to have things my way.  Let me remember always that the Magic of life is in my acceptance, perseverance, and Faith. amen.


*Sr. Joan Chittister is a member of the Benedictine Sisters in Erie, Pennsylvania.  A noted author and lecturer, she is regular columnist with the National Catholic Reporter, and also contributes to other publications on-line and in print. She writes on the issues of women in the church and society, human rights, peace, and justice in the areas of war and poverty, religious life, and spirituality. She is co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, a UN-sponsored organization creating a worldwide network of women peacemakers.  The author of more than 50 books, hundreds of articles, Sr. Joan has received numerous awards for her writing.
  
Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.