Prayers of the People: All Us Chickens ~ 2nd Sunday in Lent '22 Yr C

For Sunday, March 13, 2022; Readings: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27, Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

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

     The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom then should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then should I be afraid? [Psalm 27:1]

     Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me...For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ...Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven... stand firm in the Lord... [Philippians 3:18a, 19-20a, 4:1b]

      Jerusalem, Jerusalem...How often I have desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings and you were not willing! [Luke 13:34b]

                Before he becomes Abraham, the childless Abram, even with his substantial wealth, bemoans to God that his only heir is a slave born in his house. We remember where this story goes as God gives to the faithful Abraham the children he desires and the descendants that number as the stars. The message we are to receive is that through our own faithfulness and sacrifice, God speaks to us also when he says, Do not be afraid…I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.

    The Psalmist echoes the confidence we can have in God and the comfort we can take in not being fearful in either the ordinary moments or in the extraordinary. God is the light in our darkness, our strength and our salvation in all parts of this life.

     Paul is chiding the Philippians in this letter and warning them about their attachments to earthly things. He harshly reminds them, and us, that we must learn to recognize our own inconsistencies, divided loyalties, and the complacency that results in them, and us, being enemies of the cross of Christ. For those who are not living as Christ would have them live, their god is the belly. Paul’s true and heartfelt intention is for us to imitate his example and model our lives ~ as much as we are able ~ on Christ. We who are faithful will be transformed by the commitment to Jesus and, therefore, our primary citizenship is in heaven, rather than in this brief human sojourn.

     Jesus speaks bluntly to the unusually well-intentioned Pharisees in a foreshadowing of the three days to come. The Pharisees were no fans of the Herod family and Jesus took their warning as sincere. He then gives them a message for that fox that lets them know that he has no fear of Herod, fully understands what is to come, and is deliberately walking into it all. Jesus scolds Jerusalem for her unwillingness to be gathered as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, as he would gather us. Yet the hope of things to come remains in his cryptic telling that he will not be seen until…

    These readings tell us, in this renewing season of Lent, to be less fearful in our everyday life and not to seek God in the stuff of earth. It is clear, however, that while we are in this mortal moment, we have much to do. We are charged with being faithful, as Paul tells us, to live in, with, and as Christ did; we also are to speak truth to power as Jesus did with the Pharisees. Rather than chickening out, let all us chickens begin this week by chickening in to whatever comes in turning our lives to Jesus, willing to gather under his wings, and be a holy, busy, and faith-filled brood awaiting the Blessed…one who comes in the name of the Lord.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Lord of Light and Salvation, we look to You for the courage to release ourselves from the earthly traps and tinsel that beguile us into complacency of faith. Free us of the fear to conform our lives to Christ, standing firm in Him in this life, so to attain our place in the next.

                                                     O Christ, hear us         

RESPONSE:                 Have mercy upon us

 

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, steady our hearts and minds amidst these unsettling times. Grant us the courage and fortitude to boldly bear witness to and proclaim the Gospel, upholding Your message of peace, justice, and humanity, to all Leaders and Legislators in our Country, in our Community, and across our World. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Christ, hear us

                                                       Have mercy upon us

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, comfort all who are in distress from chronic pain, serious addiction, and mental illness; and sustain the hope of all who give them care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                       O Christ, hear us

                                                       Have mercy upon us

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, lift the weight from grieving hearts, as those we send ahead to Heaven’s eternal splendor, now live again where tears and trials are no more. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Christ, hear us

                                                       Have mercy upon us

~  Lord of Light and Salvation, 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, hear us

                                                       Have mercy upon us            

~ Lord of Light and Salvation, grant extra strength and wisdom in mind, heart, and spirit to all who are ordained to the yoke of Christ as our pastoral guides, in triumph and tribulation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Christ, hear us

                                                       Have mercy upon us         

The Celebrant adds: O Jesus, our Christ, blessed are You who comes to gather us as Your own brood, not as enemies of Your Cross, but with willing, faithful, and trusting acceptance in our citizenship of heaven, this day and always. We ask through the Holy Spirit, our Advocate; and our Creator, Most High; 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 and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com

Ash Wednesday: Dusting our Spiritual Closets ~ Lent Begins ~ March 2, 2022

Ash Wednesday   

   The fronds from last year's Palm Sunday have been burned to ash. And while Mardi Gras, which literally means Fat Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday, has not been the usual carnival of food and parades again this year, many of us still may have had a good filling of pancakes, or candy, or some other pre-Lenten treat. Yesterday was also Shrove Tuesday as we are soon to be shriven, that is, absolved of our misdeeds great and small, if we present ourselves for confession, repentance, and penance. And now, Lent.
    The word "Lent" comes from the old Anglo-Saxon language and essentially means "lengthen" as in the days lengthening in the Spring. Of course, in the Southern Hemisphere, the days are shortening so the perspective is a little different. However, we who are Christians from the Roman, Orthodox, or Anglican traditions all observe the same 40 days of Lent. The 40 days and nights represent the time Jesus spent alone in the wilderness, after his Baptism by John, being tempted by Satan, in preparation for the official start of his ministry. 
     Sundays are in Lent, rather than of Lent on the Church calendar. A picky detail but if you've ever counted the days from Ash Wednesday to Easter there are more than 40 days because Sundays are always a celebration of Easter.

     During these 40 days, some of us will enter into a period of dedicated fasting, prayer, and self-denial. Some will give up things such as chocolate, alcohol, or cigarettes, some will take on activities such as daily meditation or volunteer work. Some will give up and take on. Some will begin in earnest and maintain their discipline and others will fall away in distraction or be a bit haphazard. There's no right or wrong way to do Lent when you are intentional about wanting to be closer to God.

    Even if you are not a church-goer, or in a denomination that practices Lent officially, for someone who has faith, whose faith is shaky, or someone who wants to try having faith, Lent is a season to discover or renew a relationship with God. It is a time for reflection of our past actions, our genuine intentions for daily life, and the repair of our souls. Some will be marked on their foreheads on this day with the sign of the cross in the palm ashes, as an outward sign of our human mortality. 

    Whether one is Christian or not, we all know the expression Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. No matter how high one reaches in life, or how low, we all return to dust.

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 worthy pious activity, I have to be honest here as I know I'm not likely to stick with a full on heavy discipline for 40 whole days. So, for today, please help me clean my heart and restore my soul in other smaller ways such as with patience to give up arguing a point on Facebook and take on being mindful of my thoughts, emotions, and actions while driving and in the grocery store line. Dear Lord of all Peoples, on each day of this Holy Lent ~ and beyond ~ let me understand and live into the words You have given us through Jesus:

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

             Perhaps that could change us all for the better.  

For all this we pray. Amen.

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use 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: Be Tempted ~ 1st Sunday in Lent '22 Yr C

For Sunday, March 6, 2022; Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Ps 91:1-2, 9-16; Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13

     Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and your house. [Deuteronomy 26: 11]

        He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, abides under the shadow of the Almighty. He shall say to the Lord, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust.  [Psalm 91:1-2]

    For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. [Romans 10: 12-13]

      Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil...Jesus answered him..."One does not live by bread alone...Worship the Lord your God and serve only him...Do not put the Lord your God to the test." [Luke 4:1-2a,4b, 8b, 12b] 

         40 days and 40 nights thou wast fasting in the wild…tempted and yet undefiled. So goes the 19^th century hymn [#150 in "The Hymnal 1982" of the US Episcopal Church]. And so our time of 40 days and 40 nights has begun again; shall we be “undefiled” at its conclusion? Realistically, not likely. Temptation is a human foible and even with the best of intentions, we all – more often than we’d like to admit – fall prey to the allure of some thing or another, sometimes to especially unhealthy levels and to our own or others' detriment, or both. Yet isn’t our situation different? Jesus was tempted by the Devil, after all, with promises of earthly power and glory and authority. But do we dismiss ourselves from this self-examination because of our mere mortalhood? It would seem that as he was "full of the Holy Spirit," it must have been much easier for him. Yet this preparation for his imminent ministry, this long retreat, fully human as he was, was no picnic in the park. Sure, we might not be promised power and authority by a supernatural being, or spend all that time alone in a wilderness, but the pull to just turn toward the glitter of all that beckons, those idols we create for ourselves, can be very difficult to resist in our brief human journey. And that brings its own kind of wilderness.

      The readings for this week give chapter and verse on how God hears us, shelters us, and saves us if we but turn toward the Lord our God. The literal translation of "repent" from the Greek is, at its basic level, to turn away from sin by turning toward God. These 40 days bring us the time to reconcile our earthly wants with our eternal souls. We are to clean out our spiritual closets and blow the dust off hidden temptations, overindulgence, and the shallow distractions that distance us from Christ. It's time to turn the light on what we hide from ourselves and re-awaken to the call of salvation. I bid us each, over these weeks, to worry less about what to “give up” and concentrate more on what to “take on” to discover what will turn us back toward our Risen Lord and Savior. Keep the word near you, on your lips and in your heart as Paul tells us. Prayer is a starting place, even if only asking “WHAT, HOW, WHERE DO I START?”

       Jesus gave 40 days and 40 nights to his spiritual growth and strength for the beginning of his earthly ministry. Can you give 40 minutes over 6 weeks? How about 10 minutes 4 times a day? How much time is spent on the idols of our daily living, not counting work time, the phone, the tablet, the computer, social media, online shopping, flipping channels on the tv remote, etc. Take 10, in a quiet space – the morning or evening shower, that time in the other part of the bathroom – wherever. Take on a definitive, intentional, conscious turn toward the Lord by thought and by action, by desire, and most importantly by faith. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. What could be more important for those of us who call ourselves Christian? Here's a start, copy this onto post-it notes for the laptop, the refrigerator door, the coffee pot, or the car dashboard. Ask Alexa to read it to you at regular intervals, and take a long slow deep breath every time you see it, hear it, or say it out loud; this one line from this week’s Psalm: You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust. Got 40 minutes? We can always make time for the things we really want to do. We can easily blow 40 minutes scrolling Facebook, playing Wordle, or Minecraft. It’s time to be tempted to turn toward the One Who is calling. Give in.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ Almighty God, Most High, as we enter the pilgrim way of Lent once more, let these 40 days and 40 nights fill us with unceasing prayer. Strengthen our souls to dismiss the enticements of this earthly life, and to proclaim, with faith on our lips and in our hearts, that Christ Jesus is our Risen Lord.

                                                Jesus, Son of God                                                       

         RESPONSE:            Deliver us from idol temptation

~ Almighty God, Most High, grant us the fortitude of Christ in the wilderness to stand before the Powers of this World, this Nation, and this Community, to demand for all people the release from affliction, injustice, inhumanity, and oppression imposed by the evils of greed and corruption. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Son of God

                                                Deliver us from idol temptation

~ Almighty God, Most High, shelter in Your love all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and encourage all who give them help. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Son of God

                                                Deliver us from idol temptation

 

~ Almighty God, Most High, ease the hearts of all who grieve, as those we love in our living memory are now risen in the joy and glory of eternal life. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Son of God

                                                Deliver us from idol temptation

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

                                                Jesus, Son of God

                                                Deliver us from idol temptation

~ Almighty God, Most High, may all who are chosen to bring us Your Word and Sacraments in times of sorrow and times of gladness, abide under Your Shadow, bound to you in love. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                Jesus, Son of God

                                                Deliver us from idol temptation     

The Celebrant adds:  O Lord, our God, rescue us from the wilderness of our own making, turn us from fear to faith, and from complacency to action. Help us keep the Word near on our lips and in our hearts as we call upon Your name and serve only You. We ask through Jesus, the Christ of our Salvation; and the Holy Spirit, Divine Breath of our Souls; 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 and edited for local use 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: Lifting the Veil ~ Last Sunday after the Epiphany '22 Yr C

For Sunday, February 27, 2022, Readings: Exodus 34:29-35, Psalm 99, 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, 

Luke 9:28-36, [37-43a]

Earl Mott, Artist

       As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. [Exodus 34:29]

     Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; for the Lord our God, is the Holy One. [Psalm 99:9]

    And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit…we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. [2 Corinthians 3:18, 4:2b]

   And while [Jesus] was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem... Then from a cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" [Luke 9:29-31, 35]

          We have arrived at the Last Sunday after the Epiphany and we end nearly as we began. All the way back on January 6^th, Isaiah told us to Arise, shine; for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. [Isaiah 60:1] and the Gospel reminded us of the Wise men from the East following a shining star leading them to newly born king of the Jews [Matthew 2:2]. This Sunday Moses has talked with God and comes down from the Mountain with the two tablets and the skin of this face was shining. [Exodus 34:30] The Gospel of Luke is telling us of the Transfiguration of Jesus as his face changed and his clothes became dazzling white.
        The season of Epiphany can last anywhere from 4-9 weeks depending on how Easter falls on the lunar calendar guided by the timing of Vernal Equinox (Autumnal in the Southern Hemisphere). This year, we are finishing on the 8^th Sunday with Ash Wednesday following immediately. Whatever the number of Sundays, the final one is always known as The Last Sunday after the Epiphany and includes one of the three Gospel accounts of the Transfiguration.
         As we hear this week, Moses brought the tablets down to those waiting at the base of the Mountain in the time of the Exodus with the Israelites in the desert after fleeing slavery in Egypt. Having spoken with God, his face is shining so brightly it frightens everyone. So, after revealing the Commandments that God spoken to him, Moses veiled his face to hide the brilliance but removed the veil whenever he went in before the Lord.    
        But Paul gives us a different perspective by saying that in the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. In turning to Christ we are as with unveiled faces. Through the Spirit of Christ there is freedom and, in that freedom with our unveiled faces we, too, are being transformed.
         As Jesus takes Peter, John, and James to another mountain to pray, he knows his destiny. This was the chance to reveal himself in such a way to give them the strength to go through what was to come.
         In the midst of the stunning change in his appearance, who appears in the blaze of glory but Moses and Elijah and they discuss with Jesus his coming departure, his own exodus. The disciples were too overwhelmed in that moment to consciously understand that the presence of these others connects Jesus to the breadth of the history of Salvation. In that moment, Jesus completes the teachings of the Law and the Prophets. As the voice of God appears from a cloud – as through the pillar of cloud along the trek of the Exodus – the command is to listen to him, the one who is chosen as the Son of God.
        As we leave the season of Epiphany let us carry the dazzling glory of the Transfiguration with us to not lose heart during the weeks of Lent ahead. As we reflect on our faith, our lives, our repentance, we seek the new radiance of Christ’s Resurrection. As Paul says through Christ, we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth, we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
        Verse 9 of today’s Psalm 99 says: Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; for the Lord our God, is the Holy One. Our whole Earth, this island home, is God’s holy hill as are the sanctuaries of our houses of worship that serve the same special purpose, to proclaim God’s greatness.
        To paraphrase Julia Ward Howe’s poem that became the Battle Hymn of the Republic: “In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea, with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me. As He died to make us holy, let us live to make all free, with Christ we’re marching on.”  Let us lift the veil that we use to hide Christ's shining glory within us and light up the world we live in!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ Great and Holy Lord unveil our hearts to know Your Glory within us that it may shine upon all we meet. Transform our faith from passive to active, reflecting Your mercy and love in all our thoughts, words, and actions.
 
                                                Jesus, our Christ
         RESPONSE:            We turn again to You
 
~ Great and Holy Lord, inspire the wills of all who govern on this Planet, in this Nation, and in this Community, to commend themselves in Your sight and in good conscience to renounce all forms of racism, injustice, and all legislative acts that deprive basic human rights to our brothers and sisters everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                Jesus, our Christ
                                                We turn again to You
 
~ Great and Holy Lord, release all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and grant resilience to those who offer support. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions
 
                                                Jesus, our Christ
                                                We turn again to You
 
~ Great and Holy Lord, brighten the shadows for all who grieve through the radiance of those we love, who now share in the bliss of new and unending life in Christ.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                Jesus, our Christ
                                                We turn again to You
 
~  Great and Holy Lord, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions
 
                                                Jesus, our Christ
                                                We turn again to You
           
~ Great and Holy Lord, uplift and continually energize all who are chosen and anointed as our earthly Shepherds of Your Word and Will, the guiding beacons on our sacred path to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                Jesus, our Christ
                                                We turn again to You
 
The Celebrant adds: O Christ, Transfigured, draw us by Your Light and Love to obey God’s command to listen and heed the words of Your Gospel. Strengthen our hearts to feel Your constant presence, and to faithfully embrace the call to Your ministry as our purpose, to light the way for us all in this life. We ask this of You, God’s Chosen Son; and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom Source; who together with our Creator, live and reign as one God, in Glory, now and for ever. Amen.

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution and edited for local use 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: Long Road/Short Path ~ 7th Sunday after the Epiphany Yr C '22

For Sunday, February 20, 2022; Readings: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42; 

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38

      Then Joseph said to his brothers…do not be distressed , or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here…And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them… [Genesis 45:5a, 15]

     Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him…Do not fret…over the one who prospers…Refrain from anger, leave rage alone…the Lord…is their stronghold…because they seek refuge in him. [Psalm 37:5a, 8a, 9a, 41b, 42b]

          So it is with the resurrection of the dead…What is sown…is sown in dishonor…it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. [1 Corinthians 15:42a, 43-44a]

      Jesus said, “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also…Do to others as you would have them do to you…for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” [Luke 6:27-29a, 31, 38b]

        On the face of the readings, the theme is pretty simple: Do this, don’t do that. Do to others as you would have them do to you, do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned, says Jesus*, and all we have to do is love the unlovable and forgive the unforgivable. Sure, we’ve heard it all before but not so easy to practice, at least for me.

        The beginning point for this week’s lesson is Joseph forgiving his brothers. It is quite a dramatic story especially if you know the history that came before [Genesis 37, 39-50]. Joseph is the youngest, the favorite and best-loved of his father, the tattletale, the dreamer of grandiose dreams, an all-around annoying little brother which caused the older brothers to successfully plot to be rid of him. It is a compelling account of the stuff of novels, films, and Broadway musicals. But perhaps in the abstract, we only consider it as a nice piece of holy fiction that doesn’t have much impact on our life and times. Yet, imagine being Joseph, could I/could you Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you...

        A priest friend recounted a TV interview he saw with a man who had committed his life to working with young offenders. The man’s son had been recently murdered by such a person and the interviewer asked if he had forgiven the murderer. He said that he had forgiven him because the killer was just the kind of young person he was trying to help. Is that within or beyond my capacity to do, especially if that was my child? I seriously wonder, and question my faith, and my commitment.

          It isn’t that Jesus is promoting a dismissal of appropriate blame and its consequences. Rather, as we simply do not and will not know what transpires between God and the one who offended, we cannot, should not, must not assume the final verdict of God who knows what changes of heart and soul occur. It’s God’s job, not mine, to sort out the truly wicked evildoers and the truly righteous and faithful, and all in-between, and to judge, punish/reward accordingly. Earthly legal systems do what they must and mostly should; in the Earthly realm of Christ, we are called to love and forgive especially those who are the most difficult.

         Yet before we can approach and attempt this challenging kind of love and forgiveness, we have to do some internal, self-directed work to believe – and accept – that God truly loves and forgives us, you, me. That is the hardest work of all, and it is where we must begin. For when we let go of judging ourselves, or at least begin to want to reduce and redirect it, knowing and believing how God loves and forgives us, we can be opened to love and forgive others more easily. 

        In other words, I try to always remember that the measure I give out in this life is the measure I’ll get back in the next. Remember the Lord’s Prayer. Spend some time with it this week to read what it says, and go beyond the familiar syllables in recitation to clearer understanding. Look especially at: forgive us our trespasses (sins), AS We forgive those who trespass against Us. Hear and feel deeply what it is we are truly asking for. Rephrasing might change the perspective a bit and perhaps bring some discomfort if we say: forgive me my trespasses in the same way that I forgive them. It's a radical departure to how we generally think and feel about loving and forgiving those we usually want nothing to do with. Or, honestly, those we secretly love to hate. Be one to love first, forgive next. Oh, and the extra hard part: don't expect any gratitude or appreciation in return. The practice of radical love and forgiveness feels like a long road in this life, but it is the shortest path to receiving immeasurable love and forgiveness in the next.

*Jesus also said this week: If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.  Walter Wink, [1935-2012] was a theologian and Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. His easily-read article explains much more about this in a useful context. He said, in part:

    "If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also."  Why the right cheek?  A blow by the right fist in that right-handed world would land on the left cheek of the opponent.  An open-handed slap would also strike the left cheek.  To hit the right cheek with a fist would require using the left hand, but in that society the left hand was used only for unclean tasks. Even to gesture with the left hand at Qumran carried the penalty of ten days' penance. The only way one could naturally strike the right cheek with the right hand would be with the back of the hand.  We are dealing here with insult, not a fistfight. The intention is clearly not to injure but to humiliate, to put someone in his or her place...A backhand slap was the usual way of admonishing inferiors.  Masters backhanded slaves; husbands, wives; parents, children; men, women; Romans, Jews. We have here a set of unequal relations, in each of which retaliation would be suicidal. The only normal response would be cowering submission. Click here for: Walter Wink on Turn the Other Cheek and beyond.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, grant us the courage and the strength of faith to trust in, and accept as true, Your all-encompassing love for ourselves. Release us from judgment and anger that we may grant the same love, mercy, and compassion to all others as we receive from You.
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
           RESPONSE:                  Urge our hearts to love and forgive
 
~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, impel the hearts, minds, and souls of all who govern across every location on this Earth, to act always with the highest ethical, moral, and spiritual intent for those they lead. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
 
~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, ease the distress for those who are poor in health, in spirit, or in the basic needs of life, and for those who selflessly aid and comfort them. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
 
~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, soften the grief for all who are bereft, as our beloved, raised to new life in glory and joy, are now with You for all eternity. We pray especially for... add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
 
~  O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
             
~ O God, our Stronghold and our Refuge, grant extra blessings for those who lead us in Your Church as they inspire and encourage us, through Your Word and Sacraments, to take delight in and commit our ways and our lives entirely to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, Most High       
                                                       Urge our hearts to love and forgive
             
 
The Celebrant adds: Merciful, Benevolent God, relieve us of distress, frustration, and rage over the wickedness of others, and leave that judgment to You. Heighten our desire to be as generous with our love and forgiveness in this life, as You have promised to return to us in the next. We ask through Jesus, our Risen Christ; and the Holy Spirit, the Breath of our Souls; who together with You, are God Almighty, now and forever.  Amen. 

All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution, and edited for local use, 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: Dancing in Faith ~ 6th Sunday after the Epiphany '22 Year C

For Sunday, February 13, 2022; Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26

    Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord…Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord…I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to…the fruit of their doings. [Jeremiah 17:5, 7, 1]

  Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked…their delight is in the law of the Lord… [Psalm 1:1a, 2a]

  Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead…But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. [1 Corinthians 15:12, 20]

     And all in the crowd were trying to touch [Jesus], for power came out from him and healed all of them…And he looked up at his disciples and said: Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God…But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation… [Luke 6:19-20, 24]

      This Sunday we are treated to readings we don’t often get to in the season after the Epiphany. Owing to the date of Easter derived from the Lunar calendar, some years have fewer Sundays in this season. So on this, our Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany we are confronted by the prophetic and instructive blessings and woes. The Good News/Bad News Sunday.
      Jeremiah starts us off with similar wording to Psalm 1 which follows in the appointed lectionary. Jeremiah would have known this Psalm and his perspective is to trust in God. He tells his audience, and us, that those who trust in mere mortals and whose hearts turn away…shall be like a shrub in the desert…in the parched places…uninhabited salt land. Those who trust in the Lord are blessed, and like a tree planted by water have strong roots and nothing to fear, even when heat comes. Jeremiah further says that the Lord will test the minds and hearts and give each what is deserved, according to their ways.
      The Psalmist tells us a slightly different rendering with essentially the same outcome. God knows what we’re up to and we will prosper if we live according the God’s law, however, the way of the wicked is doomed.
       Paul, writing to the Corinthians, was engaging them to move beyond believing only what could be seen. The Pharisees, of which Paul is reputed to have been one, is one sect of Judaism that believes in an afterlife. Some in Corinth were questioning resurrection in general. Paul argued that if there was no resurrection from the dead then Christ would not be raised and they would all retain their sins. A conundrum for the sophisticated Corinthians to ponder as they certainly didn’t want to be merely like the rest of human-kind. Paul continued his work with them through the end of this and beyond into his second letter to them.
       Luke’s version of the Beatitudes is similar yet distinctly different than the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew [Mt 5:1-12]. As Jesus arrived at a level place there was a great crowd who had come to hear him and be healed. He then spoke to his disciples and delivered a set of 4 blessings and a set of 4 woes, two states of being or of life, from which to choose. This is not sweetness and light, even for the blessed. Sacrifice and self-denial, persecution, and deprivation doesn’t sound much like a blessing. But then, those who are living high off the fat now will face complete reversal of fortune when, as the Psalmist says, the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes. Faith is tested every day in various ways in this human existence. Choice of lifestyle is not available to everyone when there are significant hardships. Yet for those who are able to have a high, even luxurious living standard, it is difficult to choose Christ when considerable distraction and temptation abound in the arenas of instant gratification.
      Hope in Christ is what Paul is giving us. Jeremiah, the Psalmist, and Jesus, all give us the options in how to live life. Nothing is easy but there is always hope. God knows whatever we choose and Jesus IS Risen which is the VERY Good News and always within us. A quote I once read, from the late Brazilian theologian Rubem A. Alvez, brings it home for me: Hope is hearing the melody of the future – faith is dancing to it today.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
 
Leader:  ~ All-Knowing God, guide us through our darkest and weakest moments with the assurance of Your blessings, helping us to remain rooted deeply in faith with delight in Your law.
 
                                                     O Lord, our Strength 
            RESPONSE:              We put our trust in You
 
~ All-Knowing God, turn all leaders of government, across Your Creation, away from the false counsel of cursed mortals with wicked intent, toward choosing to prosper all of Your beloved, and standing upright when judgment comes. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
 
~ All-Knowing God, embrace the hearts of all who are seriously ill, addicted, or life-weary, and give energy to those who see to their care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
 
~ All-Knowing God, surround those who mourn with Your perfect peace, as the glory and joy of eternity now enfold those we have sent ahead to You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
 
~ All-Knowing God, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
             
~ All-Knowing God, grant all who lead us in Your Church with wise and gracious spirits, as they guide each of us and themselves, toward the radiance of everlasting life in You. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
 
                                                       O Lord, our Strength
                                                       We put our trust in You
             
The Celebrant adds: God of Hope and Healing, as you test our minds and search our hearts, keep us mindful of the choices we make in all that we do. Endow us with the courage to accept and trust Your blessings where we are, and to be spared the woes of those whose hearts turn away. We ask through Jesus, our Risen Christ; and the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of our Souls; 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 and edited for local use as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. For more information or comments, contact: Leeosophy@gmail.com