People's Prayers

Monday, September 19, 2022

Prayers of the People: The Other Lazarus ~ 16th Sunday after Pentecost '22 Yr C

For Sunday, September 25, 2022; Readings: Amos 6:1a. 4~7; Psalm 146, 1 Timothy 6:6~19, Luke 16:19~31

Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches…but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph…they shall now be the first to go into exile and the revelry of the lounger shall pass away. [Amos 6:4a, 6b, 7]

The Lord loves the righteous…cares for the stranger…sustains the orphan and widow but frustrates the way of the wicked. [Psalm 146: 8]

But those who want to be rich, fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil...some have wandered away from the faith...But as for you...fight the good fight of the faith...command them...to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up...the treasure of a good foundation for the future...take hold of the life that really is life. [1 Timothy 6:9a, 10a, 17a, 18~19]

But Abraham said, "Child remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony...between you and us a great chasm has been fixed…" [Luke 16:25, 26a]

We hear so much familiar phrasing in these readings, we may be surprised to remember or to discover their origins. For example, just in 1^st Timothy we are given:

~we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it
~the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil
~Fight the good fight...
~King of kings and Lord of lords

Then in Luke comes the more precise wording that gives us: ...storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future...

All of the readings for this week give us the direction we need to reach the final destination of our own choosing. Amos warns that those who care only for their own ease and comfort in this life will find themselves on a different side of eternity at their mortal end. The first letter to Timothy gives us clear definitive steps to take us to the ultimate life to which we are called by God. We are to pursue godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Jesus, in the parable in Luke's Gospel tells us of the fate of the beggar Lazarus and of a Rich Man. His point, to the Pharisees who were lovers of money [Luke 16:14], is that we have been given all the instruction we need for eternal life through Moses and the prophets ~ and for us as Christians, Jesus is the foremost Prophet as our Redeemer. All we need are eyes to see, ears to listen, and a willing soul.

And there are many subtleties amidst the clarity. Money itself is not evil ~ it is the love of money that is the issue. When do we realize that though our needs are fulfilled our wants have turned to desire for more and more and more? Ironically, when the "more" falsely seems so easily available to the many, more and more of humanity falls into desperate poverty ~ fueling rage, violence, and war. The western "lottery economy"* gives otherwise rational people a heightened and sometimes addictive and ruinous clamoring for the artificial opulence in lifestyles of celebrities or mega-gazillionaires. One spin of the wheel, one more right number, one more roll of the dice, one more square to scratch and you, too, will be rich beyond measure, all the while depleting ever lessening resources in the pursuit of total ease and comfort. In that we have wandered away from faith.

Nothing new here ~ see Timothy again: But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires... We, the people of God, never seem to have those eyes and ears aimed properly. We are often oblivious to the movement of our own desires, longings, and eagerness to have much more than we need. We know that we can’t take it with us yet we keep on seeking more. Timothy continues to awaken us as we, and especially the already rich, are gently admonished not to set our hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God...and the teaching tells us to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share. And therein lies the path to storing up our treasure in heaven. Life is busy, life is full, life is hard, life has its good days and its not so good, but, all in all, whether you are feeling like this Lazarus or the Rich Man today, LIFE.IS.SHORT. It may end at any moment, whether we are healthy, wealthy, and wise, or unhealthy, poor, and otherwise. We are given the Way and the knowledge and the free will to choose our own path. Will we take hold of the eternal life that really is life or will we be among the first into exile where we will struggle to warn those left behind to change their life’s direction? Which path will we choose? The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Justin Welby, in his message at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, put it this way: "People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases, those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten."

*A nod and thank you to A.K.A. Adam, Tutor in New Testament, Oxford University, England for his term "lottery economy."

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord our God, You give life to all living things ~ seen and unseen. Deliver us from the traps of harmful and senseless desires in this temporal life and guide us to fight the good fight of the faith in Christ Jesus.

Almighty and Eternal God

RESPONSE: We put our trust in You

~ O Lord our God, command the hearts of all with political power across this Earth to govern with justice, mercy, and peace, sustaining the needful and frustrating the ways of the wicked. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Almighty and Eternal God

We put our trust in You

~ O Lord our God, grant hope to the hopeless, love to the loveless, and lighten the burden of pain and anguish for all who suffer in any way. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

Almighty and Eternal God

We put our trust in You

~ O Lord our God, shelter and ease the hearts that grieve, as our loved ones, carried to Abraham by the angels, now take hold of the life that truly is life, in Your loving and eternal comfort. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

Almighty and Eternal God

We put our trust in You

~ O Lord our God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Almighty and Eternal God

We put our trust in You

~ O Lord our God, may all ordained as the prophets in our time exemplify to us Your purpose in this world, and find continuing strength in the grace of Your ever-constant Presence. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Almighty and Eternal God

We put our trust in You

The Celebrant adds: Living God of Promise, heighten our awareness of the chasm before us at this life’s end that we persevere in good works, generosity, and sharing. Help us to store up our treasure of a good foundation in the true and eternal life after life, to which we are each called. We ask through Jesus, our Sovereign King of Kings; and the Holy Spirit, the Sacred Breath in our souls; who together with You are One God, now and forever and ever. Amen.

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Monday, September 12, 2022

Prayers of the People: For the Love Of... ~ 15th Sunday after Pentecost '22 Yr C

For Sunday, 22, 2019, Readings: Amos 8:4-7, Psalm 113, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13

Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land…The Lord had sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. [Amos 8:4, 7]

Hallelujah! Give praise, you servants of the Lord; praise the Name of the Lord…The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory is above the heavens. [Psalm 113: 1, 4]

For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all... [1 Timothy 2:5-6a]

Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?...You cannot serve God and wealth. [Luke 16:10-11, 13b]

Wealth and Power are the hallmarks of success and prosperity; the American Dream, the primary aspiration that our western culture teaches. Of course, Americans are far from alone in this dream. If we are among those who declare themselves as believers in God, we may also want to believe that once those material goals are achieved, then we will work on the details of faith, hope, and charity. If we slip into working overly diligently on material goals perhaps our faith goals will fall by the wayside.

Martin Luther referred to Mammon, the ancient name for material gains though greed, as "the most common god on earth." Of course, there is a serious distinction between those who would be greedy or dishonestly wealthy, and those who would use their wealth to honestly and faithfully prosper others. Most of us are at least a little bit guilty of wanting and pursuing “more.” Few of us haven't played a few games of chance and fantasized about all we would be able to have and to do if we won. Yet formal studies say that nearly 70% of those who win extraordinary payoffs are bankrupt within 7 years. Too much of a good thing, or a bad thing? Perhaps merely a case of discovering that having all that we want still isn't enough. For some, the desperate seeking of greater material wealth and power becomes an unwitting addiction, driving them into a downward spiral of self-destruction and relational ruin.

Self-examination is key when Jesus calls us to account on how faithful and honest we are in little and big matters. What is our true intent? Is a little lottery dreaming sinful? Hardly, unless it takes up too many waking minutes, too much of our necessary income, and/or harms oneself or another. The writer of the letter of Timothy tells us that leading a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity is right and acceptable in the sight of God. Whether or not that seems realistic in these combative, angry, and violent times isn't the point. Life is difficult, far worse for some than others given wars, natural disasters, or life-threatening illness. Yet serving wealth on behalf of ourselves isn't the path to inner peace, godliness, or dignity of the soul. Even if it may give a temporary glow on the surface, we know the little discomforting niggle of conscience.

Jesus is never clearer, than in this Gospel. We cannot serve two masters; we cannot serve God and wealth. If we seek only the accumulation of more material possessions to the exclusion of and harming the welfare of others, if only in very small ways, we may prosper in this life, but we will lose in the next. Even a little dishonesty becomes much more so in God’s sight. The prophet Amos gives us God's words: I will never forget any of their deeds. Yet the Good News is always present when Jesus teaches. However imperfect we are, if we are intentional about serving God even with a meager amount of faith, God will never forget that either. It is never too late to return to serving God who desires everyone to be saved. As Jesus says, Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. Let us examine our own intentions and be clear to ourselves what it is we truly want; for, if we cannot be honest with ourselves who will trust us with the true riches of eternal life? Let us turn our soul’s path to an upward spiral, intentionally choosing to seek and to serve only God, ready for the final accounting of this mortal life. Let us do so eagerly, and, in Faith, for the love of God in Christ.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord Most High, open our hearts to make supplications and prayers for everyone, open our minds to come to the knowledge of Your truth, and open the eyes of our souls to be and to do only what is right and acceptable in Your sight.

O God, our Savior

RESPONSE: Our true wealth is serving You

~ O Lord Most High, on behalf of us all who wish for a peaceable life in all godliness and dignity, we offer intercessions for those in high positions as leaders on this Planet, in this Nation, and in our Community. May they intentionally govern with integrity, with honor, and without deceit. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, our Savior

Our true wealth is serving You

~ O Lord Most High, calm the anxiety of all who suffer in pain of body, mind, or soul, and strengthen all who give them care. We now join our hearts to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O God, our Savior

Our true wealth is serving You

~ O Lord Most High, dry the tears of the grieving, as the glory of the heavens welcomes all who are now transformed into eternal life and joy. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

O God, our Savior

Our true wealth is serving You

~ O Lord Most High, 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, our Savior

Our true wealth is serving You

~ O Lord Most High, we praise Your Name in thanksgiving for the special gifts of all who have been chosen, anointed, and faithfully devoted in their lives and ministries among us. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, our Savior

Our true wealth is serving You

The Celebrant adds: Holy God, the Glory above the heavens, by Your divine love we were created with the truest form of riches available in our mortal time. Infuse us with desire to serve only You, that even our little faith will become greater and offer a blameless accounting at this life’s end. We ask through Jesus, our Holy Mediator; and the Holy Spirit, the Divine Breath in our Souls; who together with You are One God, forever and always. Amen.

Monday, September 5, 2022

Prayers of the People: Clean Up and Renew ~ 14th Sunday after Pentecost '22 Yr C

For Sunday, September 11, 2022, Readings: Exodus 32:7-14, Psalm 51:1-11, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10

Moses implored the Lord his God…”Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people”…And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people. [Exodus 32:11a, 12b, 14]

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; in your great compassion blot out my offenses…Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. [Psalm 51:1, 11]

...even though I was formerly a blasphemer...I received mercy, so that in me...Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him...To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory, forever and ever... [1 Timothy:13a, 16b-17]

And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them…Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." [Luke 15:2, 10]

I once was lost but now am found...goes the stirring hymn written by a former slave-ship captain. I think, though, that I’m still a little bit blind. As I, all-too-often, cannot see the continuous flow of amazing grace within and around me, I all-too-quickly and frequently lose sight of the direction in which to turn. Just as quickly the week runs by and I’m confronted with the Lectionary readings as I prepare to prepare for this moment. It is then that I realize I have been lost. How soon and easily we forget what we are called to do while in the hustle, bustle, distractions, and self-absorptions of daily life, and, at times its deep sorrows. The busy-ness surrounds and sometimes nearly drowns us. Yet first and foremost, fellow Scribes and Pharisees, how much more self-satisfyingly easy it is to point to all THOSE people who have clearly lost their direction, and we are certain, however loath we are to admit, that they are not worthy to be found much less redeemed.

As we go grumbling along, peeking through our particular choice of colored lenses, This fellow Jesus, welcomes sinners and eats with them. Surely not THOSE sinners, because within our group-think we're all quite certain about what has or will happen to them. Yet Jesus would welcome them as he welcomes you and me. As if that’s not enough, more difficult to accept is that it isn't a job for any of us to determine whose sins are greater or where another's soul resides for eternity. My job is to acknowledge that I am a sinner, yet I can still see the light of Christ in myself and in another through the darkness of my own sin. I can reach out for that amazing and saving grace that is always within me if I but want to know it. The question becomes, how hard am I willing look for that grace ~ as much as for a lost piece of property or a sheep more like myself? Even if I am unable to relinquish all of my anger, my grief, my fear, of all that has happened in our own time globally, locally, personally, or my own tendency to sin in the past, the present, and the future, God in Christ never, ever leaves us. I’m the one who turns away if only for a moment, a day, or longer. I’m the one who is lost when I turn away through anger, selfishness, or grand self-righteousness. It’s past time for me, to yet again, stir the joy of heaven and repent. The word repent literally means to turn toward.

In this time of global and local rancor, violence, and hatred, let us reach for the grace within to turn back toward Jesus. Therein lies all hope. Paul reminds us elsewhere in 1 Timothy [6:12-16] that God, Who is Immortal, Invisible, the One, Who with Christ and the Holy Spirit, is our true direction in this life. The only person I am to change is ME, and a good time for that is like, you know, NOW. Will having hope change the world ~ not likely, but it will improve my attitude which may improve my interactions with a few people. Will hope fix, heal, or restore anything that's broken, wounded, or lost ~ who knows ~ it definitely cannot make things worse. Hope, however fragile in a moment, can keep us buoyant through the tidal waves of emotion, fear, and guilt that pound upon our personal shores. Hope and determination find that lost sheep, discover that dropped coin, and cause angels to rejoice. Hope is the light of Christ that beckons and welcomes, even me, a sinner, and grants me a measure of inner peace and an immeasurable amount of spiritual nutrition. Peace is certainly something the world close by and at large needs in great measure. So, let it begin with me feeling hopeful, not lost but now found, with a clean heart and a right spirit renewed.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of Loving-Kindness, create in us hearts so clean that we move beyond stiff-necked stubbornness, and, purged of our sin, we may display the patience to others that is granted to us by Christ.

O Lord of Utmost Patience

RESPONSE: We rejoice in Your mercy

~ O God of Loving-Kindness, renew a right spirit within us all, especially those who govern on this Earth, in this Nation, and in this Community. May we, together, welcome the lost, especially all who suffered and continue to as a result of 9/11, and, in so many tragedies since, in this Country and in all others, in this State, and in this City. Help us to find the best care for all Your sheep, and protect the coins and hopes of those with so little else. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Utmost Patience

We rejoice in Your mercy

~ O God of Loving-Kindness, embrace those anguished by illness, uncertainty of treatment, or anxiety for loved ones, and give ease and healing to all. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

O Lord of Utmost Patience

We rejoice in Your mercy

~ O God of Loving-Kindness, as we send our own ahead to You, let our hearts feel and hear the joyful noise of all who abide in Your eternal bliss, until we join the feast. We pray especially for…add your own petitions

O Lord of Utmost Patience

We rejoice in Your mercy

~ O God of Loving-Kindness, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

O Lord of Utmost Patience

We rejoice in Your mercy

~ O God of Loving-Kindness, magnify the faith of those anointed as our surrogate shepherds, who choose to shoulder the burdens of being an example of and bringing Christ to our daily lives. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord of Utmost Patience

We rejoice in Your mercy

The Celebrant adds: Holy God, King of the Ages, judge us faithful in all that we do to bring honor and glory to Your Name. Restore our willingness to hear and accept Your call to seek our soul’s fortune only in You. We ask in the name of our Christ who welcomes all sinners; the Holy Spirit, who kindles our faith; who together with You are the One, Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, August 29, 2022

Prayers of the People: Discount Tickets? ~ 13th Sunday after Pentecost '22 Yr C

For Sunday, September 5, 2022; Readings: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 1, Philemon 1:1-21, Luke 14:25-33

But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray…you shall perish…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life…loving the Lord your God, obeying…and holding fast…for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give your ancestors. [Deuteronomy 30:17a, 18a, 19-20]

Happy are those who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked…everything they do shall prosper…It is not so with the wicked; they are like chaff that the wind blows away. [Psalm 1:1a, 3b, 4]

Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me...So, if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me…Refresh my heart in Christ. [Philemon 1:11, 17, 20b]

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?...Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? [Luke 14:28, 31]

These are not-so-easy readings this week with uncomfortable choices between blessings and curses. Deuteronomy, [doo-ter-ah-no-me] is not merely a “practical cat” named by poet T.S. Eliot. It is a series of sermons by Moses to the Hebrews as they have a first view of the entry to the Promised Land. He speaks to the new generations of those who left Egypt 40 years earlier. The word “deuteronomy” is from the Greek, meaning “second law.” In this use, Moses is recounting the original laws of God, the Commandments, that God gave to him at Sinai. The book also relays some of the history of the mighty acts of God on behalf of their ancestors to this group who never lived in Egypt or experienced the Exodus. We are only given a taste of this final book of the Pentateuch [pen-teh-too-k], the name also from the Greek, meaning “5 books.” These first five books of the Bible were traditionally ascribed to the hand of Moses himself, but later and current scholarship hold it to be from the ancient texts that compile the Jewish Torah. Moses, in this piece, is stressing that the importance of obeying God’s Commandments is the way to authentic life and that turning away is to perish. The psalmist echoes his words by telling us that the wicked…are like chaff which the wind blows away.

Paul is writing to Philemon [fuh-lee-mun] in what is quite an amazing little letter in only 25 verses. There are far more paragraphs written about it than there are in it and it has a very interesting back-story that leaves so many unanswered questions ~ for one, is Onesimus [oh-nes-ih-mus] a runaway slave? We won't ever know the fine details of the life of Onesimus, but Paul ~ following the law and culture of the land and its time ~ reminds us even now, regardless of this or any other man's, woman's, or child's status, he, she, they are to be welcomed as a beloved brother or sister. Nothing is more true, necessary, or timely in this day and time than this! Paul tells Philemon that when we understand all the good that comes from sharing our faith, we will become even more effective.

And then there's the discomforting passage in Luke’s Gospel admonishing those of us who would travel with Jesus to hate family and even life itself and give up all possessions or we cannot become disciples. But in pondering and reading all the words such as Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus [Luke 14:25a] it occurs to me that maybe he was tiring of the party groupies who were merely enjoying hanging out with this celebrity and not quite understanding the full importance of his teaching. This certainly would have gotten their attention, it does mine. Perhaps that was the point. He goes on with the analogy of building a tower ~ reasonable for us to consider now ~ who wouldn't begin a building project by estimating the cost? As for warring kings, there are other parallels for us to envision such as the long-term costs and implications of political policies and pronouncements that help or hinder the lives of God's people and Creation itself.
As the Israelites knew about following God, and we know, that traveling with Jesus isn't all just loaves and fishes. It IS a hard road but who of us are able to imagine the cost of giving up our families and all of our possessions? We aren't told that we MUST do that, only that we must IF they or that stand in the way of our faith and our work as disciples; in other words, the taking up of the Cross. Last week Paul told us to be content with what we have and in Luke, Jesus was telling us how not to exalt ourselves. I think there is much the same in this week. A recurring theme of Scripture is not getting caught up in earthly delights or gathering wealth or possessions but rather to focus on the goal of everlasting life in Christ. Missteps, loving community, disagreements, estrangements, reconciliations are all along the way and we can use them wisely as tools for climbing out or digging deeper. This isn't just a hobby for groupies to follow when convenient, although sometimes looking deeper and curiously is the start of something much bigger. This is a life-calling and there is a price. Some days we'll feel blessings and other days will seem like curses. We'll have many wrong turns and unholy moments but if our intent is true, and we keep turning back to Christ, we will be made whole and sanctified when we arrive at our ultimate destination. We are called to a life that continues to build on Christ as our One Foundation, not merely constructing a tower to enjoy the view. There are no discount tickets for this ride, the cost is the full price of admission to Forever.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, grant us the grace, the peace, and the courage, to accept discipleship of the cross of Christ throughout our length of days, however steep the price or the path.

O Lord our God

RESPONSE: Refresh our hearts in Christ

~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, guide the hearts of all who build the towers of governments to step away from the costs of wicked counsel and choose the life-prospering benefits of justice, mercy, and peace. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord our God

Refresh our hearts in Christ

~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, send comfort and healing to all who are ill, feel hopeless, or are addicted, and replenish the energy of those who give support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

O Lord our God
Refresh our hearts in Christ

~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, let grieving hearts be lifted, for those from whom we are now separated will be back with us forever, in Your glorious and eternal Land. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

O Lord our God

Refresh our hearts in Christ

~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

O Lord our God

Refresh our hearts in Christ

~ O God, Almighty and Boundless, we give You thanks for all who have dedicated their lives as true disciples of Jesus, who teach us to count the blessings more than the cost, to grow and live in faith. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O Lord our God

Refresh our hearts in Christ

The Celebrant adds: O God of Blessings and Curses, You offer us a choice for life through the blessing of carrying of Christ’s Cross as His willing prisoners of and for love, or the curse of throwing our souls like chaff into the winds of the wicked. Turn us toward You, in the time we each have, to stand upright in Your Knowing Presence sharing our faith with joy. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer Christ; and the Holy Spirit, our Source of Wisdom; who together with You are our One God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, August 22, 2022

Prayers of the People: Humble Pride? ~ 12th Sunday after Pentecost '22 Yr C

For Sunday, August 28, 2022; Readings: Proverbs 25:6-7, Psalm 112, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14

Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. [Proverbs 25:6-7]

Light shines in the darkness for the upright; the righteous are merciful and full of compassion…they put their trust in the Lord. [Psalm 112:4, 7b]

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it...Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have...Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Through him, then, let us offer a sacrifice of praise to God... [Hebrews 13:2, 5, 8, 15]

But when you are invited, go and sit at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, "Friend, move up higher"...For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." [Luke 14:10-11]

The basic elements of the readings for this week contain the full Gospel of Christ in a nutshell: Humility. Love. Hospitality. These are at once the minimal and the essential requirements for an authentically faithful and faith-filled life. One can be taught how to embrace and internalize these to live and act from within them; yet, confusingly, to actually “have” them is to not be consciously aware of them. We are to, not-so-simply, just “be” and do accordingly. That is contrary to our first-world notions of proof and confidence that we have “arrived” by what we have gathered to ourselves in fulfillment of earthly wants, our worldly status as determined by our place at various tables or events, and our magnanimous gestures to the “less fortunate” among us. Humility can be an ego trap.
Feeling proud and pleased with a prestigious invitation, having a beautiful home, or wearing the best clothes are not in themselves bad. Rather, as always, it's how we reflect these kinds of acquisitions by our lives. We wander off the path of Christ if our attitude, whether conscious or less so, places us above any others. We are perfectly justified to be content with what we have as long as we Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have... [Hebrews 13:16] without regard to being thanked or repaid.
Humility is a tricky aspect of character as it is difficult to keep our egos unaware and our motives pure. Some of us may have to start small and practice often until the true spirit of it takes hold. I’m getting better at letting that car in ahead of me in traffic yet I still have to stop myself too often in the midst of silent judging. One definition of humility is “lowliness of mind,” in that it is a heart attitude, not merely outward behavior. Tough work for those of us who want to be humble and, the payoff is if we do it right we won't know we've gotten there, although we always know deep down when we have not.
This has reminded me of the 1980 song by Mac Davis, O Lord It’s Hard To Be Humble [link below]. It is a funny piece and also slightly sobering. We can only do the best we can in trying not to judge those who reflect the song lyrics, or worse, recognize ourselves. In faith and by intentional attention to our own soul-work, we are more able to let mutual love continue without needing direct evidence of those hidden angels. Jesus modeled humility for us in many ways, especially with the foot washing at the Last Supper. We, as followers of Christ, are called to humility, love, and hospitality in an attitude of a lower place in this life with the blessings and grace already given us. If nothing else, I’ll try to remember that Jesus doesn't want us to be proud of our humility!

click here for Mac Davis: O Lord It's Hard To Be Humble or find on YouTube

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Lord, our Constant Helper, open our hearts to let mutual love continue among all of Your people, whether known or unknown to us. Let us not neglect to show hospitality in sharing with, and caring for, all who are poor, imprisoned, or tortured in body or soul.

O God, Light in our Darkness
RESPONSE: We put our trust in You

~ O Lord, our Constant Helper, humble the souls of those who wield international, national, and local power. Guide them, and us all, to the path of leadership vested in compassion, generosity, and thoughtful justice that frees us all from hatred and violence. We pray especially for: add your own petitions