Prayers of the People: Our Living Planet, Season of Creation II

For Sunday October 18, 2015, 2nd Sunday in the Season of Creation**, Readings: Job 38:1-11, Ps 104 (1-5, 14-15, 24-27, 31-33), The Canticle of the Sun [St. Francis of Assisi*], Matthew 6:25-34

      Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: ...Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements ~ surely you know! Or stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? [Job 38: 1a,4-7]

    Bless the LORD, O my soul [Ps 104:1a]

    We praise and bless You, Lord, and give you thanks, and serve You in all humility. [Canticle of the Sun]

        Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these...Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [Matthew 6:28b-29, 33] 

       At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home. [Eucharistic Prayer C, Book of Common Prayer]

      It is easy enough to discover the bad news about the condition of our planet, from devastating weather to disastrous environmental events, to war and disease and it all needs our awareness, action, and God-ordered stewardship. But today, we celebrate. This is a moment to learn more and know this great gift of God, our Earth, more deeply. We re-examine its lushness, its highest peaks and deepest depths, the fragrances and the freshness; re-discover our companion creatures and the extraordinary life among the plants and organisms that support us. Marvel at the vastness of the oceans, the rhythm of the tides, the flow of rivers. We see what has gone before, where we are, and, all of our world's potential and what we are called to do about it. This Earth and her resources feeds our bodies and provides oxygen for our breath, and breath-taking beauty. How magnificent is Our Living Planet?! Let us behold our God's gracious hand and safeguard all of it for posterity. 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Living God of all Creation, excite us each new day with the abundance in Your precious gift of this living, breathing planet; the literal ground that supports our earthly being. Kindle our desire to actively participate in the care of and for this fragile Earth, our island home.

O LORD, our God

RESPONSE:  We bless You with our souls, our faith, and our action

~ Living God of all Creation, counsel the leaders of our Planet, our Nation, and our Community, so that their words and actions may be enlightened and merciful, knowledgeable and just, and not darkened by willful personal or political power. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

We bless You with our souls, our faith, and our action

~ Living God of all Creation, grant peace and healing to all who live in the grip of chronic illness, fear and physical danger, or critical life circumstance; and bestow endurance on all who give them care. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

We bless You with our souls, our faith, and our action

~ Living God of all Creation, console the grieving with the knowledge that love never dies, and that those we have sent ahead are with You now in the resplendent grandeur of Eternal Life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

We bless You with our souls, our faith, and our action

~ Living God of all Creation, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, silently or aloud…add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

We bless You with our souls, our faith, and our action

~ Living God of all Creation, energize our spirits and those who lead us in Your church that we may walk together as caring and careful stewards of this treasured world. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our God

We bless You with our souls, our faith, and our action

The Celebrant adds: God of Glory and Majesty, re-fresh our hearts, our ears, and our minds, to receive, listen, and know again, the splendor of Your word, Your works, and Your gifts of all Creation. We ask through Jesus, our Great High Priest, and the Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Advocate, who together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.

*A reading from St Francis of Assisi’s The Canticle of the Sun (originally titled The Canticle of the Creatures), read responsively:

Leader: 

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, honor and blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong;
 no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Response:

We praise You, Lord, for all Your creatures,
especially for Brother Sun,
who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
of You Most High, he bears your likeness.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars,
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

We praise You, Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air,
 fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.

We praise You, Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night.
 He is beautiful, playful, robust, and strong.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Earth,
 who sustains us with her fruits, colored flowers, and herbs.

We praise You, Lord, for those who pardon,
those who, for love of You, bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
by You Most High, they will be crowned.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Death,
from whom no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in their sins!
Blessed are those that She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.  

We praise and bless You, Lord, and give You thanks,
and serve You in all humility.

St.Francis of Assisi [1182-1226] was born into a wealthy Italian merchant family as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone with the nickname of Francesco. While heading off to war in 1204, he turned back to Assisi after a vision directed him. Later he was moved to live in poverty after a pilgrimage to Rome. He founded the Order of the Friars Minor (known today as Fransicans), The Order of Poor Clares (for women) and The Third Order for men and women not able to live as itinerant preachers.

**For an explanation of the origin and application of The Season of Creation go to:  http://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2015/10/prayers-of-people-in-beginning1st.html




Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to 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.

Prayers of the People, In the Beginning,1st Sunday in the Season of Creation '15

for Sunday, October 11, 2015 ~ Readings: Gen 1:1-31, Ps 33:1-11 [from the Anglican Chant by John Randall], Pope Francis*, John 1: 1-14 [from “The Message”]

Welcome to the 

Season of Creation!

        The Season of Creation 
originated in the Anglican Church of South Africa in 2008 and is designed for us to explore our faith from a Creation perspective. We are to realize our place in the order of God’s creating and to see and act upon the need to care for our entire life-support system - the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil in which we grow our crops - not merely humanity, but our total environment, as it pertains to ALL life. 

         From the early days of the Season of Creation at SsAM [www.SsAM.org], we established that “the primary aim of the events of the season is to enable adults and youth to celebrate and experience the inextricable link which binds together the destinies of all of God’s creatures.” It is a moment of pause to remind ourselves that God calls us to see “what great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions” and for us to renew our commitment to making real the biblical vision of the earth at unity with itself. It is a vision of human beings of all races, backgrounds and walks of life in local communities and among the nations of the earth, living together in love and peace with justice for all. "As disciples of Christ, we are called through our Baptismal Covenant, to be instruments for the healing of our broken world," and with a renewed commitment to personal and communal prayer and action.

         We will use Biblical and other readings that pertain to the specific theme of each of the 6 weeks. The alternate readings used will follow the prayers on this page.  

     We begin this Season at the Beginning. Professor Wangari Maathai,** 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner, describes the Book of Genesis as "the book for environmentalists." "If we had been created on Tuesday," she said, "There would have been nowhere for us to stand! God, with infinite wisdom, waited until the last day!" 



LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Almighty Creator, grant us the wisdom to allow ourselves to stand in humble awe of You, and the inherent miracle of Your Divine Architecture. Inspire us to be conscious of, and more active in, our calling as stewards for humanity, for all forms of life, and for the eco-systems and environment to sustain us all.

 O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

RESPONSE:   Help us weave the whole of Creation together in Your love 

~ Almighty Creator, strengthen our voices to reach all those who govern on this Planet, in our nations, and in our communities, so that they may support, enact, and enforce legislation to promote universal peace, justice, and the preservation of all Creation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Help us weave the whole of Creation together in Your love

~ Almighty Creator, cast the light of Your presence into the shadows of those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. Let the Word that is Christ bring comfort, peace, and rest. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Help us weave the whole of Creation together in Your love

~ Almighty Creator, ease the hearts of all who mourn, as those who have gone ahead now enter the glorious Life-Light of Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Help us weave the whole of Creation together in Your love

~ Almighty Creator, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, silently or aloud…

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Help us weave the whole of Creation together in Your love

~ Almighty Creator, we give thanksgiving for those who are chosen as Stewards of Your Church and bring us the Word that is Christ, and the words that are of Christ, to inspire us to live in Christ through each moment of our lives. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Help us weave the whole of Creation together in Your love

The Celebrant adds: Holy God, Sovereign and Eternal, In the Beginning, You proclaimed every facet of Your work to be Good. May all of our work in Your Creation give glory to Jesus our Christ, the incarnate Word, and to the Holy Spirit, the vital Spark, who together with You, reign as One God through all time and throughout the known and unknown expanse of the Universe.  Amen.

*A reading from Pope Francis:

          Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society. Moreover, when our hearts are authentically open to universal communion, this sense of fraternity excludes nothing and no one. It follows that our indifference or cruelty toward fellow creatures of this world sooner or later affects the treatment we mete out to other human beings. We have only one heart, and the same wretchedness which leads us to mistreat an animal will not be long in showing itself in our relationships with other people. Every act of cruelty toward any creature is “contrary to human dignity.” We can hardly consider ourselves to be fully loving if we disregard any aspect of reality: “Peace, justice, and the preservation of creation are three absolutely interconnected themes, which cannot be separated and treated individually without once again falling into reductionism.” Everything is related, and we human beings are united as brothers and sisters on a wonderful pilgrimage, woven together by the love God has for each of his creatures and which also unites us in fond affection with brother sun, sister moon, brother river, and mother earth. 

~Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si': On Care For Our Common Home, (May 24, 2015) 90, 91)

The 266th and current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church is Jorge Mario Bergoglio [1936- ], an Argentinian by birth. He was elected on March 13, 2013, and took the name of Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. The title of Pope is a title he holds ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign/Head of State of the Vatican City.

**Professor Wangari Maathai [1940-2011], a Kenyan environmental and political activist, Member of Parliament as Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, was educated in the United States and in Kenya. In 2004, she was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was honored for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace".

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to 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.

Prayers of the People: In the Eye of the Believer, 20th Sunday after Pentecost

for Sunday, October 11, 2015, Yr B, Readings: Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Ps 22:1-15, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31

          Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!...he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.  

[Job 23:3, 6b-7]

          The word of God is living and active... able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart...Let us...approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Hebrews 4:12, 16]

          It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God...[but] for God all things are possible...many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

[Mark 10:25, 27b, 31]

        Poor Job! We're 23 chapters into his story and things are as grim as ever, or worse. And yet, he keeps trying, keeps wondering, keeps asking God, WHY?! But he answers for God as he knows deep in his faithful heart, that God would listen to reason and acquit him of these terrible trials, if only he could find God, if only he didn't feel forsaken. Yet, he doesn't give up; he perseveres. Would I? 

         The writer of Hebrews confirms what Job believes, that God does know our thoughts and intentions and further, because of Jesus, we are to be bold and ask God for what we need.

          And this week in the Gospel, a man grieves as he walks away from Jesus because he follows the commandments but doesn't want to let go of his earthly possessions. How many in this world this week have lost so much because of winds, floods, fires, war, and the everyday tragedies and tempests of life? How many of us say "I believe"and go about our every-day lives as if there was nothing we have to do differently, assured of our place in the front of the line. But will we cry "Where is God?" when the winds, floods, and tempests hit our lives?

          Job never stops asking for God to be present because hope keeps him going, as it does for us all even in the times when faith is weakest. And whether we wonder how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, or whether Jesus meant literally that a camel would have to go through that needle, Jesus tells us plainly, with God all things are possible.  It's all in the eye of a believer.

          

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Holy God, Living and Active, keep us mindful of our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts that we may measure our wealth each day by how well we live out our love for You.

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

RESPONSE: Grant us the courage to trust and follow You

~ Holy God, Living and Active, strengthen our voices to reach all those who govern on this Planet, in our nation, and in our community, to implore them to show mercy, provide justice, and enable peace for all those in great need. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Grant us the courage to trust and follow You

~ Holy God, Living and Active, cast the light of Your presence into the shadows of those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit as the love of Christ brings comfort, peace, and rest. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Grant us the courage to trust and follow You

~ Holy God, Living and Active, ease the hearts of all who mourn by knowing that those who have gone ahead now enter the glorious Kingdom of new life in Christ.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Grant us the courage to trust and follow You

~ Holy God, Living and Active, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Grant us the courage to trust and follow You

~ Holy God, Living and Active, inspire the souls of those chosen to lead us in Your Church, that they may impart Your wisdom and instill Your spirit in our hearts to feed us in our every day lives. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, Omnipotent and Everlasting

Grant us the courage to trust and follow You


The Celebrant adds:  Holy God, Sovereign and Eternal, help us to truly believe that even in the darkest times of life, You will never forsake us, and through You all things are possible. We ask through Jesus our Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who together with You, reign as One God through all time, forever and ever. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to 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.

Prayers of the People: Testing, Testing, 19th Sunday after Pentecost

for Sunday, October 4, 2015, Year B, 19th Sunday after Pentecost, Readings: Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Ps 126, Hebrews 1:1-2:12, Mark 10:2-16

          The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life."...In all this Job did not sin... [Job 2:6, 10b]

          Prove me, O Lord and try me; test my heart and mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you. [Ps 26:2-3]

          Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. [Hebrews 2:1]

          Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. [Mark 10:15]

          The Book of Job is far from easy to read, let alone to understand and receive direction. It is at once a debate or dialogue - between God and Satan*, Job and his wife, Job and his friends - it contains poetry, it is partly folk-tale. From the opening of this Book, we can hear the music of doom playing in the background; things will only get worse yet even now we are told In all this Job did not sin... How would we fare against such tribulation? 

          The Psalmist has us asking for the trouble that I have always been advised not to borrow! Do I really want to be tried and tested? I'm not sure that I am ready to be the next Job. If I succeed, how do I refrain from the sin of boasting? If I fail, how do I keep my faith?

          In the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, we are given some help by the instruction to pay more attention to what God is telling us through all he has done and especially through Jesus - who is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being. 

          And, even as Jesus is tested by the Pharisees, Jesus teaches the disciples, once again, this time as indignant, to let the children come forward and be welcomed fully and completely and with blessing. He teaches us all to be as these, feeling the peace and security of a child beloved of a parent so that we may receive the kingdom of God as a little child. Let us not drift away and lose the ability to love unconditionally as a child does. To hear and know the love and presence of God, through Jesus and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, will help us to accept and thrive within all that life provides. Whatever the tests may be, the difficult and the good (sometimes, it's easier to blame God when things go wrong; sometimes it's easier to forget God when things go well), whatever the twists and turns in the trials of faith, God is faithful to us, let us be faithful to God.

 *I find that an interesting aside is the concept of Satan, who appears in the texts of Abrahamic traditions (primarily, but not limited to, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) variously translated as "The Adversary", the "Devil", or "The Accuser". [click highlighted terms for more information]

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, our Majesty on High, through Job’s trials and tragedies he stayed faithful and did not sin. Grant us the willingness to have even a small portion of the faith of Job, to pay greater attention to all we know of Your presence and love, and to live each day as Your true and beloved children.

Glorious LORD, through Whom all things exist

RESPONSE: Help us to walk in faithfulness to you

~ O God, our Majesty on High, release all leaders of this Earth, our country, and our community, from any hardness of heart or wicked intent, that through actions of integrity, equity, and generosity, they may find their own power in the well-being of all people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Glorious LORD, through Whom all things exist

Help us to walk in faithfulness to You

~ O God, our Majesty on High, give peace and respite to those who try to cope with persistent illness, homelessness, hunger, or fear, and reinvigorate those who provide them with care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

Glorious LORD, through Whom all things exist

Help us to walk in faithfulness to You

~ O God, our Majesty on High, let the hearts of the sorrowful know, that even as Jesus, those we love who experienced earthly death, are now crowned with Your celestial glory and honor, forever. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Glorious LORD, through Whom all things exist

Help us to walk in faithfulness to You

~ O God, our Majesty on High, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

Glorious LORD, through Whom all things exist

Help us to walk in faithfulness to You

~ O God, our Majesty on High, give extra grace to our anointed leaders in this congregation, and everywhere in Your Church, as they bring us Your precious Word, tell us of the signs and wonders of Christ, and help us find our own gifts from the Holy Spirit. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Glorious LORD, through Whom all things exist

Help us to walk in faithfulness to You

The Celebrant adds:  Holy and Sovereign LORD, with Your steadfast love ever before us, kindle and strengthen our hearts to accept all the tests that come to us in life, and remain faith-filled, thankful, and purified of sin,  We ask, with child-like love, through Christ Jesus, the imprint of Your Being, and the Holy Spirit, bestower of gifts great and small, who together with You, are One God, eternal, infinite, and limitless. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to 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.

Prayers of the People: Shake, Shake, Shake, 18th Sunday after Pentecost

for Sunday, September 27, 2015, 18 the Sunday after Pentecost , Year B, Readings: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; Ps 124, James 5:13-20, Mark 9: 38-50

image from tinychapel.blogspot.com

      Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. [Ps 124:8]

      The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has sins will be forgiven...pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. [James 5:13-15, 16b]

      For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. [Mark 9:49-50]

      As always there is much that can be said about today's readings, including the one from Esther for which I provided no quote. Esther is a wonderful, romantic story - one of my favorites as I was growing up and one of the few books of the Bible I ever read all the way through until I was an adult. There are fascinating and significant historical and theological differences between its Jewish/Hebrew origins (it is the basis for the feast of Purim) and the later Greek/Christian translations with which we are most familiar. But for me it was a disconnect with the other appointed readings (not an unusual occurrence with the lectionary). 
      There are an array of commentaries, interpretations, explanations, contextual considerations, and perspectives for any part of the Bible that we are given to think about each week. Of course those are the basis for study, discussion, and sermonizing. I am always interested in the thoughts and ideas of others and how I can synthesize and clarify for myself and others. This week was no different and there was much to ponder and reflect upon and yet there was something simpler calling to me from the collective words of the Psalm, James, and Mark.  I found it in the image above: Serve. Act. Love. Teach. And, from James, Pray. Let's just go with the basics this week, shall we? We can shake up our faith, shake up our intentions and shake our prayers over all that we do for, with, and in the Name of the LORD.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Holy LORD, Maker of Heaven and Earth, we use Your Name many times in each day in ways great, small, indifferent, irreverent, and in vain. Open our minds and hearts to feel the power of Your presence each time we speak of You, or to You, for ourselves and for the well-being of all Your people.

O God, our Help and our Hope

RESPONSE: Strengthen us to be at peace in You and with one another

~ Holy LORD, Maker of Heaven and Earth, in a world fraught with anger, violence, suspicion, and fear, guide us to seek out and encourage leaders, with earthly political authority, to end war, intolerance, and injustice for all people, from the youngest to the oldest, in every part of this Earth. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, our Help and our Hope

Strengthen us to be at peace in You and with one another

~ Holy LORD, Maker of Heaven and Earth, whisper Your love into the hearts of those longing for release from sickness, injury, or the struggles of life, and give them comfort from the prayers we lift together. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

O God, our Help and our Hope

Strengthen us to be at peace in You and with one another

~ Holy LORD, Maker of Heaven and Earth, calm the pain of grief for those whose loved ones have departed this life as You celebrate the arrival of those who will live forever in Your joy-filled eternity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, our Help and our Hope

Strengthen us to be at peace in You and with one another

~ Holy LORD, Maker of Heaven and Earth, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

O God, our Help and our Hope

Strengthen us to be at peace in You and with one another

~ Holy LORD, Maker of Heaven and Earth, we give You thanks for those who have been chosen and who have accepted the challenge of leading us in Your church. Bless them for praying with us and for us, and guiding our spiritual journey in our community of faith.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O God, our Help and our Hope

Strengthen us to be at peace in You and with one another

The Celebrant adds: Abiding, Everlasting LORD, salt our souls with the fire of love that we may live and act through the power of Your name, and one day enter, and bring each other into, Your heavenly kingdom. We ask through Jesus, our Teacher and Redeemer, and through the Holy Spirit, Your Sacred Breath, who together with You, are our One God, forever and ever.  Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to 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.

Prayers of the People: The Question Is..., 17th Sunday after Pentecost

for Sunday, September 20, 2015, 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Readings: Proverbs 31:10-31, Ps 1, James 3:13-4:3, Mark 9: 30-37

          For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed. [Ps 1:6]
          But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth...But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy...And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. [James 3:14, 17-18]
          ...for [Jesus] was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him...Then they came to Capernaum; and...on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. [Jesus]...said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he...said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." [Mark 9:31-32, 33a, 34b, 35b, 37]

          In a culture that teaches that one must strive to thrive through success, achievement, wealth, power and position, it is exceedingly difficult to avoid the traps of envy, ambition, conflict, distrust, and so on. Fear of asking questions is also prevalent - one learns early in school to be fearful of being labeled stupid if one asks a seemingly dumb question. Surely one only wants to ask the "right questions" and not give too much information away to those with whom one competes. As the writer of Mark tells us this week, even the chosen disciples were afraid to ask Jesus to explain what he meant by all the talk about being betrayed and killed and rising again. But then, there they were asking and arguing among themselves about which one of them was the greatest of them all. 
          Righteousness is one of those words we hear a great deal of from the Bible - we can guess by its sound that it means to be "right" with God and in truth it does mean that, to lead a life that is pleasing to God, someone whose actions God would find to be justified and ethical. We are told very specifically what happens to those who sit in the seats of the scornful [Ps 1:1]  and are boastful and false to the truth [James 3:14b] . And Jesus gives the disciples, and us, the terms of a righteous life: Be last, not first, a servant of all, and those they welcome in the name of Jesus will be welcoming God into their midst, thereby drawing themselves closer to God. So, the question is, what am I waiting for? 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ LORD of Truth and Righteousness, refresh our souls in the human struggle to balance our earthly needs, wants, and promises with our yearning to live in faithful closeness to You, our God.  

Holy God, Just and Merciful

RESPONSE: Keep us from envy and selfishness; draw us to You

~ LORD of Truth and Righteousness, enliven our spirits to stand together as we intentionally seek ethical and principled governing by the leaders of our world, our country, and our community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Holy God, Just and Merciful

Keep us from envy and selfishness; draw us to You

~ LORD of Truth and Righteousness, especially cherish those who suffer debilitating pain in body, mind, and spirit and envelop the stalwart hearts of those who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

Holy God, Just and Merciful

Keep us from envy and selfishness; draw us to You

~ LORD of Truth and Righteousness, illuminate the dark corners of this earthly life for those who are grieving, as You gather those newly departed from us, into the gleaming expanse of eternal life with You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Holy God, Just and Merciful

Keep us from envy and selfishness; draw us to You

~ LORD of Truth and Righteousness, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

Holy God, Just and Merciful

Keep us from envy and selfishness; draw us to You

~ LORD of Truth and Righteousness, quicken the minds and hearts of those who share Your wisdom with us, who free us from the fear of asking questions about our faith, and delight with us in the building of a diverse worshiping community dedicated to Your never-ending glory. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Holy God, Just and Merciful

Keep us from envy and selfishness; draw us to You

The Celebrant adds:  Benevolent LORD, Infinite and Immanent, quell our pridefulness that we may come to You as selfless, loving, and welcoming servants of all Your people, all Your children. We ask through the glory and sacrifice of our Savior Christ Jesus and the splendor of the Spirit Most Holy, who together with You, are our boundless and eternal God, forever and ever. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to 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.

Prayers of the People: Fill in the Blank, 16th Sunday after Pentecost

for Sunday September 6, 2015, Year B, 16th Sunday after Pentecost, Readings: Proverbs 1:20-33; Ps 19, James 3:1-12, Mark 8: 27-38

        For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle...From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. [James 3:2, 10]

       Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" [Mark 8:27-29a]

          "Who do you say that I am?" An easy enough question to answer in the safety of my prayers, or in conversation with my priest. But how do I respond "in public"? Is wearing a cross enough? What about attending church, pledging, and doing good deeds? As James calls us out for blessing and cursing with the same mouth, I think oh, that, well, I do make mistakes... Farther on in Mark, Jesus speaks of those who are ashamed of him and his words - is it shame that keeps me so quiet? Or am I just embarrassed to be seen as one of those proclaimers that seems, to me, to be less interested in Jesus, and more interested in themselves...oh, wait, am I blessing and cursing?...Catholic social activist Dorothy Day said, If I have achieved anything in my life, it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.
          Ok, stop, breathe, and fill in the blank: JESUS IS the MESSIAH. Now all I need to do is set my mind on divine things, take up my cross, follow Jesus, and let others do as they will. Ok, that should be easy, sort of...

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, rather than forfeit our souls for mere earthly profit, grant us the courage to know, name, and proclaim Jesus as our Messiah with joy and delight, with praise and confidence.

O LORD, our Strength and our Redeemer

RESPONSE: May the meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You

~ God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, help us to use our strong voices to implore all of the world’s leaders, and those in our nation and our community, to grant immediate and compassionate aid to all who struggle amidst the tragedy and life-threatening circumstance of war. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our Strength and our Redeemer

                                    May the meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You

~ God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, cradle those exhausted by the endless pain of disease, depression, or homelessness, and fortify those who work hard to fulfill all earthly needs. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions

O LORD, our Strength and our Redeemer

                                    May the meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You

~ God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, brighten the hearts of those who have shrouded themselves in sorrow, so they may know that the ones they love live once more in the splendor of Your holy eternity. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our Strength and our Redeemer

                                    May the meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You

~ God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or silently…add your own petitions

O LORD, our Strength and our Redeemer

                                    May the meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You

~ God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, sanctify again all who lead us in Your Church, who teach us the ways of discipleship, and who, while also only human, journey with us in all phases of our lives. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

O LORD, our Strength and our Redeemer

                                    May the meditations of our hearts help turn our lives to You

The Celebrant adds:  Glorious, Life-Giving, Creator, in the midst of our many mistakes in this life, help us to rejoice in Your commandments and re-dedicate our minds to follow the path of Your divine and eternal glory. We ask through Jesus, our Christ and our Messiah, and the Holy Spirit, our fount of Pure Wisdom, who together with You reign as the fullness of One God, now and forever. Amen.

Requests for prayers or meditations for this space or private use may be sent to 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.