Prayers of the People: An Unexpected Hour ~ 9th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, August 11, 2019 ~ 9^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Genesis 15:1-6, Psalm 33:12-22, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; 
Luke 12:32-40

     The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid…I am your shield; your reward will be very great.” [Genesis 15:1]

    Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Indeed our heart rejoices in him, for in his name we put our trust. Let your loving-kindness…be upon us, as we have put our trust in you. [Psalm 33:2-22]

   Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen...For he looked forward to the city that has foundations; whose architect and builder is God...they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. [Hebrews 11: 1,10, 16a]

   Do not be afraid, little flock…Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also...Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit...You must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. [Luke 12:32a,  33b-35, 40]

    We are what we love. There is no difficulty in understanding and recognizing the truth of the statement from Luke’s Gospel that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. It is worth the time to consider where it is that we place our hearts, especially as, if by nothing else but the sudden starkness of random tragedy, we are reminded by current events and the Gospel that earthly life is startlingly and all too often abruptly short. What material treasure in this life is so important that it disconnects us from the path to that Heavenly Country prepared for us by God?

    There is much to do to be ready for the return of the Son of Man. In arranging our lives around what is truly important, placing far less emphasis on the material and much more on the spiritual, the unfailing treasure in heaven is the goal for which we were created. Paul reminds us of the strength of the faith of Abram, not yet Abraham, to leave his home not even knowing where he was headed, and God’s promise to him was fulfilled through the innumerable descendants from two old people, nearly as good as dead. 

    This faith work seems especially hard in these days and times with so many delicious or frustrating or fearful distractions that keep us from centering ourselves on our soul's vocation: Full-Time Faithful Followers of Christ. 

    One key is obvious, the simplicity in reducing the accumulation of unnecessary things, activities, and diversions. Another is to begin and end each day in prayer and find moments throughout the day to offer thanks in between asking for help, or a quick acknowledgment of God's Presence. Another is genuine, unplugged (electronically and otherwise ) Sabbath time. Let us put ourselves in God's way and allow God to get in ours. Yes, yes, I know, I'm working on it, I'll get to it as soon as I finish writing this, cleaning that, paying the bills, checking on-line bargains, texting, arguing on social media posts... Part-time Christianity isn't what God has in mind. Our Heavenly Broker is all about Vocation Vocation Vocation - using our life's work as preparation for the unexpected hour when we will be called to the City of God. Light that lamp. Be dressed for action, now. Prepare to abandon earthly appointment calendars to be called forward into an unknown destination. Don't let time slip by unnoticed. And mostly do not be afraid as God said to Abram, and Jesus to his disciples. Now is the time to be energized by the love of God in Christ continually flowing through us. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen now and in an unexpected hour. 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, our Help and our Shield, our souls need not wait upon Your love that is within us and around us every moment of our lives. As we rejoice in Your loving-kindness, guide us to awaken each day ready to abandon our human plans in obedience to Your call, unafraid, even toward an unknown destination.

                                                    Most Loving Lord

RESPONSE:                 We put our trust in You   

~ O God, our Help and our Shield, open and fill us with true conviction to stand among all who lead in this world, this nation, and our community seeking the assurance and the delivery of things hoped: justice, the rescue of the oppressed, and the defense of those made helpless through ignorance, poverty, and greed. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Most Loving Lord                                                      

                                                       We put our trust in You

~ O God, our Help and our Shield, release from despair all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and peace to all loving helpers. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       Most Loving Lord                                                      

                                                       We put our trust in You

           

~ O God, our Help and our Shield, our sorrow lifts as we know our loved ones live again in the boundless joy of Your Heavenly Country, and the City You have prepared for them for eternity. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       Most Loving Lord                                                      

                                                       We put our trust in You

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

                                                       Most Loving Lord                                                      

                                                       We put our trust in You

                       

~ O God, our Help and our Shield, we give You thanks for those You have called to gather us, Your flock, in Your Holy Name. Grant that our hearts become the purse of Your unfailing treasure that radiates divine love to friend and stranger, beloved or divided. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Most Loving Lord                                                      

                                                       We put our trust in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds: Creator, Almighty, You are the Architect and Builder of all that is, seen and unseen. In our short and temporal sojourn, urge us to prepare our souls continuously for the unexpected hour when the Son of Man returns. We ask in the name of Christ Jesus, the Living Word; and the Holy Spirit, the Revealer of Truth; who together with You are One God, infinitely, eternally, forever. Amen. 

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Storing the Treasure ~ 8th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, August 4, 2019 ~ 8^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23; Psalm 49:1-11, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21

      …even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity. [Ecclesiastes 2:23b]

     My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and my heart shall meditate on understanding. 

[Psalm 49:2]

     Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God...no longer Greek and Jew...Christ is all and in all!  [Colossians 3:1-11]

     But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God. [Luke 12:20-21]

       As the saying goes, "You can't take it with you" though heaven knows how hard we try. What we do take with us is the baggage of foolish neglect or even ambivalence toward God in our daily living. Those of us privileged enough to have options to build our barns and store up earthly materials, often shield ourselves and deny the ticking clock. It is as if in unknowing what hour the chime will toll for us, we have the time to acquire, accumulate, and just have more. I am reminded of the late comedian George Carlin’s brilliant riff on Stuff [see YouTube, there’s even a censored version], at once a hilarious and sobering look at our western sense of need.

     Check out a local estate sale and see a lifetime of collections, clothing, furniture, and just plain stuff that's left behind, offered at a bargain to be collected by others and then left again. Meanwhile all around us others cry out for basic treasures such as clean water, food, clothes, shelter, and health care. If you haven’t watched the news lately Google the after-effects of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, catastrophic floods, and deadly wild fires just to see how one can measure the loss of possessions against the loss of life. And don’t avert your eyes and ears to the cries of those, already desperate, suddenly caught indefinitely in horrifyingly cruel conditions most of us cannot even imagine – babies and children separated from parents, spouses separated from each other – in dreadfully dangerous war-torn areas and along the borders of our "civilized country" as we in this land like to think of ourselves.
     The grandest home is not permanent storage, nor is it even the grave – think about Egyptian tombs! No matter how privileged or how honored in this mortal life, no one will live forever and no thing will go along. How are you prepared this very day for the next? And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?  THIS life is meant to be less about downsizing than upsizing - start storing up spiritual treasures by turning toward God. Be filled with kindness, selflessness, benevolence, love. In taking on a new self, as Paul tells us, we are no longer Greek and Jew, white and black, brown and yellow, citizen and immigrant, one political party and another. Christ is all and in all. Life is short and no amount of stuff will make it last longer; what we do with what we have is what matters. Whoever is wise will ponder these things...Set your minds on things that are above... How are you storing your treasure?

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O Christ who is all and in all, free us from all earthbound self-indulgent vanities and incline our minds to things above. Help us to discard our old practice and be renewed according to the image of our Creator.

                                                     O Christ in God 

RESPONSE:                 You are the richness of our Life

~ O Christ who is all and in all, awaken the souls of all who govern by merit or by force, in the nations of this world and locally, to remember that even the greatly honored cannot live forever. Guide them to store up their treasure in good and sincere service, to benefit all Your children in this life, and themselves in the next.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Christ in God

                                                       You are the richness of our Life

~ O Christ who is all and in all, lift the spirits of those who languish in the face of physical or emotional pain, hunger, or addiction, and refresh the energy of all who try to help. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

  

                                                       O Christ in God

                                                       You are the richness of our Life

         

~ O Christ who is all and in all, liberate the hearts that grieve with the joy that those we have sent ahead now rise to live again, revealed in the newness and glory of Christ our Lord. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       O Christ in God

                                                       You are the richness of our Life

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

                                                       O Christ in God

                                                       You are the richness of our Life

                       

~ O Christ who is all and in all, as we are continually blessed by those You have called to lead us in Your church, grant them Your wisdom to speak of ways that guide us all to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Christ in God

                                                       You are the richness of our Life

                                                                                                       

The Celebrant adds: Most Holy Teacher, open our hearts to understanding the brevity of this fragile life. Empower us to clothe ourselves anew by choosing the divine abundance of eternal love through selflessness, benevolence, and joy-filled obedience to Your transcendent truth. We ask through Jesus, our constant Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our eternal Advocate, who together with You are One God, now, always, and forever. Amen. 

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: Waiting by the Door ~ 7th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, July 28, 2019 ~ Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 138, Colossians 2:16-15, (16-19), Luke 11:1-13

      …Abraham remained standing near the Lord…and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” 

[Genesis 18:22b, 23b]

     When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me. [Psalm 138:4]

    See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition...and not according to Christ. [Colossians 2:8]

     I tell you…at least because of his [friends’s] persistence, he will get up and give [his friend] whatever he needs. "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks the door will be opened for you. [Luke 11:8-10]

    

      Persistence is the theme for this week’s group of assigned readings. Perseverance will be rewarded. The most astonishing example, I believe, is in Abraham’s diplomatic, if bold, questioning of God about God’s plans for the wicked in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham knew his nephew Lot, a decent man, had settled in Sodom and with all the concern of a loving uncle, he begins asking if God’s intentions are to sweep away the righteous with the wicked? In a deliberate but respectful tone he asks first if there are fifty righteous, then 45, 30, until he gets God to agree not to destroy the city if 10 righteous are found. Makes me wonder what the rest of Abraham’s day was like.

     Paul chimes in with the reminder that we who have received Christ must continue being rooted in him and established in the faith. We are particularly instructed, in his persistent way, not to be taken captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition…not according to Christ. As Paul says, we were made alive together when God forgave us our trespasses, erasing our tarnished records. Luke begins with the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray and he gives them a framework to follow that we use to this day, including the reminder to ask for forgiveness and to forgive others.

     Jesus, as he often does, follows with a story. This parable of persistence may make many of us in western culture a bit squirmy and even silently (or worse) judgmental. A friend who would knock at midnight and be told to go away only to continue until the door is opened and the request fulfilled is at the very least, we might say, annoying or even rude. But the code of hospitality and community is so strong in other cultures that despite the inconvenience, one asks and the other aids. Some of our own discomfort with this story is far less about ourselves being awakened late by a friend in need but rather because asking for help for ourselves seems quite antithetical to the “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps” mindset. For some, asking for help connotes weakness and fear of being perceived as inadequate by others. Yet knowing when and how to ask for help is a marker of personal strength, even spiritual maturity.

     Jesus explains and reinforces the expectation of God that we are to continually Ask of, Search for, and Knock on God's eternal door to be given, to find, and to have opened to us all that God offers. It isn't difficult once you get started. The Psalmist knows the answer will come and our strength is increased by calling on God. Ralph Waldo Emerson tells us, "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed but that our power to do is increased." So, we have learned from Abraham how to ask, and from Paul that we already have the forgiveness we seek. Jesus has opened us to persistence in prayer with the faith that God is always just there, waiting to open the door. 

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, Faithful and Loving, restore our wandering hearts to the certainty of Your mercy and truth, that in the darkness and the light of this mortal life, we will persevere in faith, being filled with the substance that is Christ within us.

                                                         Most Patient Lord

RESPONSE:                    We find our strength in You

~ O God, Faithful and Loving, infuse the rulers and authorities of this World, this Nation, and this Community, with the wisdom not to sweep away the righteous with the wicked. Release them from the temporal captivity of a philosophy or empty deceit that is only according to human thinking, not according to Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Most Patient Lord

                                                       We find our strength in You

~ O God, Faithful and Loving, ease the pain and anguish of all who are suffering and refresh the energy of all who give care and support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       Most Patient Lord

                                                       We find our strength in You

          

~ O God, Faithful and Loving, calm the sorrow and tears of those who mourn, as You grant to all of our faithful departed, the glory of everlasting life in You. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       Most Patient Lord

                                                       We find our strength in You

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

                                                       Most Patient Lord

                                                       We find our strength in You

                       

~ O God, Faithful and Loving, instill further grace and tenacity in faith to all who are anointed to pastor us in wellness and in sickness, in joy and in sorrow, in preaching and in teaching, as they guide us to Your glory and the salvation of us all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Most Patient Lord

                                                       We find our strength in You

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds:  Gracious God, endow us with the persistence to ask often for the awareness of Your Presence in our lives, to seek Your help to forgive others as we are forgiven, and to knock constantly on Your door to Eternal Life. Turn us from the human pathways of trespass and trial into the fullness of Christ our Savior. We ask through Jesus, the Bread of Life, and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier, who together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen. 

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Prayers of the People: The Mary-er the Better ~ 6th Sunday after Pentecost '19 Yr C

For Sunday, July 21, 2019 ~ 6^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, Readings: Genesis 18:1-10a, Psalm, 15, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-42

      The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. [Genesis 18:1-10a]

      Lord, who may abide upon your holy hill? Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart…there is no guile upon his tongue…he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor. [Psalm 15:1b-3]

        And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death...provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith... [Colossians 1:21-22, 23a]

        But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her. [Luke 10:41-42]

Rublev's Trinity

       Of course, the focus for today's readings is the iconic Martha and Mary story in Luke's Gospel. But there is another icon to mention from today's reading in Genesis, arising from the visit to Abraham as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. It opens with "The Lord appeared to Abraham" and then tells us that Abraham looked up and saw three men yet strangely spoke to them in the singular of "My Lord..." The men who sit at Abraham’s table were beautifully captured by the 15th century Russian Orthodox iconographer, Andrei Rublev, in his famous, and my personal favorite of all icons, "Rublev's Trinity." This icon, as icons always are, is filled with much symbolism which I encourage you to explore.* But for this moment, it is his stunning interpretation that speaks to me of the "three in one" mystery of the Trinity. As for the rest of the reading, a cliff-hanger of sorts for Sarah and Abraham, as we imagine them pondering the parting words of the men who say she will have a son. 

     The Psalm is filled with God's instructions on how to find our way to heaven, the Holy Hill, and Paul congratulates the Colossians for their turn from evil deeds to the fullness of God through Christ. But it is the age-old Martha/Mary conflict that draws the most attention. Then as now, the everyday tasks take over life and some days, or many, there’s simply not enough time left over for God.

       We're all so very busy despite all sorts and conditions of modern technology in our western culture that is supposed to encourage and allow more leisure time. Martha was trying to have Jesus understand all that she had to do and needed Mary’s help. Lucky Mary wins the round with Jesus patiently explaining to the harried Martha to take a breath and relax, sit down and choose the better part. I’m wondering if Martha is looking at him with the “and just who do you think is going to get all this cooking and cleaning done for all these people” look?

       Who of us doesn’t struggle with making the better part of life as time with our Trinity? Someday, I’ve often mused, I’ll have the time to continue securely established and steadfast in the faith without shifting from the hope promised in the Gospel. It isn’t even a question of “balance” in our lives. We are to be faithful to God in Christ first and then get on with the other stuff. Sure, easy to do when you don’t have to make a living, or meet every deadline, do the shopping, prepare the food, cope with the interminable interruptions such as weddings, births, sickness, and whatever else life throws at you. And if you have children or teens at home, there are a thousand other things to do. Naturally we know that someday, once everything settles down, we can get on with the business of the God and faith stuff. But God is always with us, Christ always within us, the Word always surrounds us and all we need to do is breathe consciously in and out with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit on our lips and in our hearts.

        I saw a sign once that said, "Someday is not on the calendar." Busy may accomplish earth-bound tasks in the life where someday never arrives. But being merely busy doesn't draw us closer to Christ, it keeps us away. Let us mindfully, intentionally, deliberately choose the better part of the very brief God-given life we have and all that needs doing will truly get done. The Mary-er the better.

 *click here to learn more about: Symbolism in Rublev's Trinity

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Invisible, Immortal God, grant us the courage to lead a blameless life free of guile, with no contempt for our neighbor. Guide us to always do what is right, reject evil, and strive to present ourselves to You, mature in Christ, proclaiming his wisdom to all we meet.

                                                 Lord, in Your Fullness

RESPONSE:             Keep us steadfast in our faith

~ Invisible, Immortal God, strengthen us to speak the truth from our hearts that will reconcile to Your Will the earthly rulers of all thrones, dominions, and powers in every corner of this world, great and small. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Lord, in Your Fullness

                                                       Keep us steadfast in our faith

~ Invisible, Immortal God, restore health and hope for those with chronic pain in body, mind, or spirit, and refresh all who bring them comfort and care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       Lord, in Your Fullness

                                                       Keep us steadfast in our faith

          

~ Invisible, Immortal God, lift grieving hearts with the joy of eternal life in glory, now bestowed on those we have loved in this life. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       Lord, in Your Fullness

                                                       Keep us steadfast in our faith

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

                                                       Lord, in Your Fullness

                                                       Keep us steadfast in our faith

                       

~ Invisible, Immortal God, look with extra favor upon those who lead us in Your Church and teach us to recognize when You arrive in the heat of the day, or the cold of the night. As servants of the Gospel they shepherd our souls to follow, together, in the footsteps of Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       Lord, in Your Fullness

                                                       Keep us steadfast in our faith

                                                                                                        

The Celebrant adds: Lord God of Promise and Presence, release us from the traps of worry, busyness, and distraction that we set for ourselves, estranging us from You. Infuse us with the wisdom to choose the better part of the life you have given us to live, the hope of Christ within us. We ask through Jesus, Firstborn of All Creation, and the Holy Spirit, Counselor to our souls, who together with You are One God, forever and ever.   Amen. 

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. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com