Prayers for Ash Wednesday

We've burned the fronds from last year's Palm Sunday to ash. We've filled up on Fat Tuesday's pancakes before we are shriven - confessed - and now it's time to prepare ourselves for the season of Lent.
               The word "Lent" comes from the Anglo-Saxon and essentially means "Spring" and "lengthen" as in the days lengthening in the Spring. Of course, in the Southern Hemisphere, the days are shortening so the perspective is slightly different.  However, we all observe the 40 days of Lent - although, Sundays are in Lent, rather than of Lent.  A picky detail but if you've ever counted the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter....more than 40 days because Sundays aren't actually counted as they are in other liturgical seasons.
               And now Lent is upon us ~ a time for reflection, repentance, and repair of our souls. Some of us will be marked on our foreheads this day with the sign of the cross in the palm ashes as an outward sign and inward recognition of our human mortality.  Some of us will enter into a period of dedicated fasting, prayer, and self-denial. Some will give up chocolate or cigarettes, some will take on daily meditation, some will begin in earnest and then fall away in distraction.  Whatever your mode, Lent begins...

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and help me find my way back to You. 
While I would like to show my good intentions by grand repentant gestures 
and pious activity, I'm not likely to stick with the discipline.  
Help me clean my heart and restore my soul in smaller ways such as 
being mindful of my thoughts, emotions, and actions while driving; 
let me try to be more patient in the grocery store line; 
give me the courage to step back and not have to be "right" once during each day; 
and mostly, Lord of all Peoples, on each day of this Holy Lent, 

let me understand and live into the words You have given us: 

"Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who sin against us."  

Perhaps that could change us for the better. 

For all this we pray.    
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 of the People: The Clouds of All-Knowing ~ Transfiguration

Readings for Sunday, March 2, 2014: Ex 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Ps 2 or 99; Mt 17:1-9

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down and still somehow

It’s cloud’s Illusions I recall,

I really don’t know clouds at all

(from Both Sides Now as written/performed by Joni Mitchell)

              It’s a big week for clouds and mountains! The OT and the Gospel make significant references to the cloud, first covering and settling on Mt Sinai when Moses went up to receive The Law, and next, the cloud that overshadows those assembled on the Mount of Transfiguration and from which God spoke. These particular kinds of clouds, in which God is present, are known in Judaism as the Shekinah (Shek-in-ah) – a feminine Hebrew word for a name of God. It also translates to "settling or dwelling of the Divine Presence."  Clouds seems to have emerged as a theme for me; the refrain (above) has been replaying in my head for days. And, as we read at the parish (www.SsAM.org), lectionary study, the phrase "The Cloud of All-Knowing" hit my brain.  It is a play on the title of a famous 14th century book on contemplation, The Cloud of Unknowing, by an anonymous mystic. I read it quite a few years ago so to refresh my memory I went to Wikipedia. From a longer quote there I gleaned:

“…[L]et all our thought and desire be contained in the one small word ‘God.’ Nothing else
and no other words are needed… Let this little word represent to you God in all his fullness
and nothing less than the fullness of God.”  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cloud_of_Unknowing from which you can obtain a free pdf of the book).

      A practiced contemplative person becomes comfortable with just the Presence.  Although God is "all-knowing,” it is unnecessary for us to know all – Moses was given all he needed to know and teach during his 40 days and nights within the Shekinah.  But most of us would have great difficulty trying to let go of, or un-know, the details of God, to give up intellectualizing, and just be in the fullness of the Divine Presence.  

     As for the cloud that envelopes Jesus on Mt. Tabor (the traditional site of the Transfiguration), it is from that cloud that God speaks again, as at the Baptism of Jesus, to say that Jesus is God’s beloved Son and to tell the chosen disciples (and us!) to listen to him. The 13^th century Italian theologian Thomas Aquinas considered this miraculous moment as the greatest of the miracles of Jesus as it corresponds to the 5 most significant events in his life, the other 4 being: Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension.  It was at this moment, the Transfiguration of Christ, at the top of the mountain, that Human and Divine meet, when Jesus is the connector between heaven and earth, when the temporal and eternal spark a dazzling display of transcendent, Majestic Glory all in the sight of the chosen disciples who then bear witness to the prophecy confirmed.

   Our own connections to these readings and this Life in Christ are a continuing work in progress...and while we don’t have to Climb Every Mountain (from The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein) isn’t it comforting to know that There Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (by Ashford and Simpson) to keep God from us, and, vice-versa.   (ok, so I got a little swept up in ‘60s music this week)          Meanwhile:

      Let Us, God’s People, Pray

Leader:  ~ Holy God of Glory and Light, upon Your Sacred Mountains you gave Moses the Law for our instruction and transfigured the Being of Your Son, Jesus, as our model for life. Rise in our hearts as the Morning Star, melt the ice that can chill our souls, dwell in us, and embrace us with Your Holy Cloud of All-Knowing.

                                 O God of the Highest Heights,                            

Response:       Let our prayers ascend to You. 

~ Holy God of Glory and Light, transform the hearts and minds of the leaders of this world so that their judgments are unclouded and they legislate justice tempered with mercy for all.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                              O God of the Highest Heights,                            

                          Let our prayers ascend to You. 

~ Holy God of Glory and Light, help us to reassure those who are ill, weary, or anxious, that they, too, are as Beloved of You as is Jesus.  Bless those who care for the weakest of Your children and give them unfailing strength of body and heart.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                              O God of the Highest Heights,                            

                          Let our prayers ascend to You. 

~ Holy God of Glory and Light, our Beacon of Hope in the dark times of mourning, help us find comfort in knowing that the souls of those who have gone before us are now bathed in the dazzling glory of the Transfigured Christ.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                              O God of the Highest Heights,                            

                          Let our prayers ascend to You. 

~ Holy God of Glory and Light, rejuvenate and sustain those You have given to us as the leaders of Your Church, and help them remember that they may also follow and take refuge in Your wisdom and counsel.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                              O God of the Highest Heights,                             

                          Let our prayers ascend to You. 

The Celebrant adds: O LORD our God, You bade us “listen” to the Transfigured Jesus, and Jesus told us “do not be afraid.”  Let us know and listen to the Radiant Christ in our hearts so we may follow Your Law without fear and receive Your Divine Presence with His.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Your Beloved Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  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 of the People: Being Cheeky, 7th Sunday after Epiphany

Readings for Sunday, February 23, 2014: Lev 19:1-2, 9-18; Ps 119:33-40; 1Cor 3:10-11, 16-23; Mt 5:38-48

Turn the Other Cheek.
 

And get slapped again?

 

                Actually, yes, most likely.  That's the way with it, non-violent resistance, that is. And we probably should smile at the same time - sincerely.  Oh sure.

               

            But Walter Wink, theologian and Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City, gives us a useful context.  The very short version is that the usual back handed slap across the face is intended to humiliate. If one turns the left cheek after the first blow, it thwarts the connection.  It reduces the power of the one doing the hitting to dehumanize.  As Gandhi taught, "The first principle of nonviolent action is that of noncooperation with everything humiliating." Wink's easily-read article explains much more about this. Do take a look at:  http://www.cres.org/star/_wink.htm   
 

          And this week, like last, we are commanded to care for God's people which, by the way, includes ourselves.  Love them and us by not stealing, defrauding, reviling, slandering, hating, or taking vengeance and the like. Love those who love us but mostly those who don't ~ our enemies, our persecutors, the evildoers.   

          Love is such an enriching emotion that ideally brings pleasure, satisfaction, and even fulfillment, whether romantic, filial, parental, or some other kind that brings a heart flutter.  Of course, in reality, love can be painful and difficult. Jesus then gives us this business of loving people we don't like and who don't like us.  How do we do that? Perhaps we can start by at least accepting the concept and then work up to doing it. It's a tough sell, especially in these times of instant gratification by whatever means possible. 
 

           And then, of course, there's letting go of "An eye for an eye..."  When there is almost as much satisfaction in retaliation as there is in love, in a society when violent reaction by physical or social media smack-down is instantaneous, how are we supposed to love everyone and not respond in kind to a disagreement, a threat or a despicable action?  Pray.....without ceasing. And work on ways to respond thoughtfully rather than react in haste.

Let Us, God’s People, Pray

Leader:    ~ O Holy LORD, our God, as temples of Your most gracious love, You give us the way of Your statutes in Your Commandments.  You tell us what we need to know about how to love and serve You.  But we often slip on the ice of distraction, and care first and only for ourselves and not our neighbors or those in need.

                        Lord Jesus of God, Foundation of our souls

Response: Teach us to long for life in Your way.

~ O Holy LORD, our God, turn the hearts of our elected leaders away from what is worthless in this world and toward us working together to build the world according to Your Way.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions
 

                          Lord Jesus of God

                    Teach us to long for life in Your way.

~ O Holy LORD, our God, you exhort us to show love for our neighbors with every action of our lives. Let us begin anew by caring for those who are sick, injured, or afraid, and for those who selflessly aid and comfort them.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Lord Jesus of God

                    Teach us to long for life in Your way.

~ O Holy LORD, our God, we are bereft of the company of those in our hearts who have gone home to You; but we are soothed with the knowledge that they are with You in Your Holy Temple.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                            Lord Jesus of God

                    Teach us to long for life in Your way.

~ O Holy LORD, our God, we ask Your blessings on those who lead us in Your Church.  Revitalize and enliven their sense of Divine Call so that they can show us the way to turn, not just the other cheek, but our whole being toward You.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                              Lord Jesus of God

                    Teach us to long for life in Your way.

The Celebrant adds:  O God of All that is Holy, Your servant Paul tells us to choose carefully how we each build on the Foundation that is Christ.  Jesus tells us to always respond in love, to turn the other cheek, and to pray even for those who would not love us in return.  Guide us toward having the charity of heart and the strength of character to be as giving of our love as we are eager to receive it.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, 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. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayer for Before the Aftermath

         this prayer is by request

   Dear Lord of the Skies, We're bracing again.  We know it's coming and all we can do is watch. We're so weary of the snow, ice, wind, floods, and frigid temperatures that have been the hallmarks of this winter in the northern hemisphere. 
                  SO, as the sun shines this morning, I'm thinking of those who are in flight, on the roads, away from home, or even at home who will soon be frozen in their tracks by power outages and accidents.  Please keep all your children safe, warm, and careful.  Help us all be available for each other in prayer and presence. 
                 We ask special blessings for utility workers, snow plow crews, ambulance and rescue people, police, postal carriers, and anyone whose work requires them to be outside.  May the rest of us have the good sense to stay home, bundle up, and not contribute to the work of emergency personnel. 
                 Keep us safe and warm in Your love, keep tempers calmed, and patience increased today and in the days to come. Amen.                 


                  Oh, and one very small request - please turn the minds of the local tv producers so we don't have to be subjected to 10 hours of "Look, it's snowing."  Oh, never mind, we have Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and, the Off button.  Then, a good book!
                       And, really, this storm is named PAX?  Who thinks that's a good idea?

                



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: Here's the Deal ~ 6th Sunday After Epiphany

Readings:  Deut 30:15-20, Ps 119:1-8, 1Cor 3:1-9, Mt 5:21-37      

  The readings said to me:

        It's All Up to YOU.

      Take It or Leave It.
     What's It Gonna Be?
You CAN handle the truth.
          Make Amends.
  Face the Consequences.
             Grow Up.

       Reductive?  Most certainly!  There is so much that could be and has been said about these (and most other) Scripture readings. Literally multiple trillions of academic tomes, texts, and pages have been published; not to mention sermons over the course of two millennia. But, after all is said and written, I need to know: what does it all mean for me in my life NOW? And Jesus himself, reduced it all into very clear terms in what is sometimes called "The Greatest Commandment" and it is taken in part from the sacred Judaic Shema (sheh-mah) from earlier in Deuteronomy.  We read it most often in Mark 12:29-31 when Jesus was asked "Which commandment is first of all?" and Jesus said:   The first is, Hear,O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these.

               Love God, love your neighbor as yourself - if you do all that then you ARE following the Commandments.  Of course, there is one slight footnote I feel compelled to add - not by way of defense of the sin, only as a clarification for the sake of historical context.  Adultery - ugly though it is - was in that time not exactly what it is now.  Polygamy had existed in the distant past (that is, men could have multiple wives) and had never been specifically repudiated by Jewish Law. And "adultery" only existed if the woman in question was married.  Otherwise, "visiting" non-married women wasn't adultery for him.

               What, for me, is the clear message of the combined readings is God gives us free will to choose the path we take and tells us what to expect as a result of our choice. Think about it.  What road are you on?

                                                      Let Us, God’s People, Pray

Leader:   ~ O God of Mercy and Promise, You offer us the choice of abundant life in You or the emptiness of death to the Spirit.  Our hearts are so easily turned by the gods of human distractions.  Do not forsake us as we find our way from being milk-fed spiritual babies to the solid food of following Your statutes as conscious, intentional adults.     

                      O God our Strength and our Redeemer

Response:  Help us choose to put our trust in You

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, we want those in government to lead us with sincerity and to follow the letter and the spirit of the law of this land as it meets Your law.  We beg for an end to the violence, quarreling, and jealous power plays in our world and yet we know that such reconciliation must begin in our own lives. Give us the courage to be what we expect of our political leaders.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                      O God our Strength and our Redeemer

                     Help us choose to put our trust in You

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, we ask your blessings on those who are seriously ill, aged, or life-weary, and for those who serve their needs and see to their care. Help us all, especially through our weakest moments, to stay on Your path and hold fast to Your ways. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                     O God our Strength and our Redeemer

                     Help us choose to put our trust in You

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, our hearts are heavy with the loss of those who have left us and this life.  Surround those who mourn and hold them close in Your complete love and perfect peace.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                     O God our Strength and our Redeemer

                     Help us choose to put our trust in You

~ O God of Mercy and Promise, as planters and waterers in Your field, we are to work together for the common purpose You have given us. Grant those who lead us in Your Church the spiritual maturity to guide themselves, and each of us, away from behaviors borne of human inclination and toward the growth and grace of Your perfect love.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                     O God our Strength and our Redeemer

                     Help us choose to put our trust in You

The Celebrant adds:   O God our Strength and our Redeemer, please hear our prayers and keep us on course to avoid the empty promises and harsh consequences of the life of the flesh.  Help us to reconcile our hearts with one another, begin each day with the sincere desire to seek Your Will, and to have the prudence to choose the blessings and abundance of true Life with You, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and through eternity.  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 of the People: Gettin' Real on the 5th Sunday after Epiphany

            

               Although we are still in the Season after the Epiphany, we are moving toward Lent, the season of fasting and repentance.  The Lessons for this Sunday are a good primer on how to get real and start to think again about how to live as God wants.  Isaiah tells us that just showing up to do a few good acts and a bit of fasting without the right intention isn’t enough, especially if we’re still pointing fingers and judging others.  God sees through our waving of hands and cries of “Look at me” when self-interest is our prime motivator.  Paul carries us along by saying that those who are not spiritually inclined don’t care about what is or isn’t of God and are more likely to get caught up in following the "wisdom" that is merely human. But if we truly seek the wisdom and spirit of God we will be given more ways to understand. 

         And just after the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes us further by letting us know that he has come to fulfill the Law - the Commandments - and that we are to follow even the least of these and teach others to do the same.  We are the “salt of the earth” which, in the time of Jesus, is meant to imply great importance.  Salt was more than a condiment then, it was currency.  Soldiers’ wages were paid in salt and salt was used by everyone as we use money today. If currency is devalued, if salt loses its taste, it becomes worthless.  We are called to realize our own worth and potential in God's sight and let our good works reflect the Glory of God as a pathway to eternal life.  

       Let’s take some time this week and think about all the intentional “good works” we do and see what is self-less and what – although still good for others – might be more for self-importance.  What's it worth?

Readings:  Is 58:1-9-12, Ps 112:1-10, 1 Cor 2:1-16, Mt 5:13-20

Let Us, God’s People, Pray

Leader: ~ O God, Eternal and Holy, we, Your humble servants, want you to see all the good that we do to please You and show ourselves in the best light.  You ask us to know our own hearts, to see our deeply disguised motives, and to recognize the pride in our false sense of humility.  Please give us Your Gift of spiritual discernment that we may move from acting in unconscious self-interest to working for the ease and well-being of Your people.  Let Your Glory shine through us and give Light to all the World.

                   God of Abundant Love and Light, move us beyond mere human wisdom,

Response:  Help us to know the Mind of Christ

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, those who hold public office reflect the values of those who voted for them. Give their lives and ours, a sacred intent and the strength to fast from the judgment of pointing fingers, quarreling for its own sake, and holding ourselves above those we are charged by You to serve.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                     God of Abundant Love and Light,

                     Help us to know the Mind of Christ

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, with a true sense of compassion, we ask for Your Blessing on those who are afflicted by serious illness, disability, or troubling circumstance.  We also pray for continuing energy for those who give solace and wait upon them, that they, and we, may discover the best ways to be of help.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                     God of Abundant Love and Light,

                     Help us know the Mind of Christ

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, our minds and hearts are with those who are saddened by the loss of those dear to them.  Whether the loss is new or freshly remembered, give us the good sense to be simply present and sensitive in their time of need.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                     God of Abundant Love and Light,

                     Help us know the Mind of Christ

~ O God, Eternal and Holy, Your Servant Paul teaches us to rest our Faith only in Your Spirit and Power, not in the false wisdom of those doomed to perish in their own age. We ask that those who lead Your Church and minister in the name of Christ Jesus take on the yoke of Your truth, delight in Your Commandments, and teach us by example and love.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

The Celebrant Adds:  God of Wisdom, God of Abundance, guide us toward discerning the mind of Christ; help us to fast from willful self-indulgence, to salt the earth with actions that reflect Your Spirit, and to be the shining lamp lighting the path that leads us all to You. 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.

Prayer for Starting Over

   Dear Lord of New Beginnings,         

      It's one of those anniversaries, the really difficult one, the kind you watch the calendar for and see coming a month and more away.  And now it's here, a long day's journey and an almost endless night that reopens the wounds that have never really closed.

      Breathe Your Light into those whose souls are sad and surround them with Your Healing Presence.  Help us all, when we face those moments, to take small steps toward the dawn and start over with the new day.  We may never get over all that we've lost but in starting over we can walk through one more moment, one more day, one more week or however long it takes until we become aware of the pain easing, a bird singing, the light of the day a little brighter.

      With Your presence, the memories become sweeter, the time between tears is lengthened, and the fullness of life is just ahead.  In its own time the grief will lift as does deep fog burned off by the sunlight.  Keep us in the warmth of Your embrace as we seek Your peace in the life we are given to live, the life that he, she, and they would want for us.  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.