People's Prayers

Monday, April 10, 2023

Prayers of the People: A Letter to Thomas ~ Second Sunday of Easter '23 Yr A

For Sunday, April 16, 2023, Readings: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31

For David says concerning him, "I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken, therefore my heart was glad...my heart will live in hope." [Acts 2:25-26]

O Lord, you are my portion and my cup; it is you who uphold my lot….You will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. [Psalm 16:5, 11]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... [1 Peter:3]

[Jesus] said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."...Jesus said to [Thomas], "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." [John 20:22b-23, 29]

Dear Thomas, what infamy you have achieved, quite unfairly, I think. You have become a label ~ "a Doubting Thomas"~ for those who don't believe something without concrete proof. You watched him die, being taken down from the Cross, placed in the tomb. Who of us would not be doubtful of the claim of the Resurrection in that moment? You are saddled with all the blame for your disbelief until your eyes beheld the Risen Lord and touched his wounds. And yet, you were far from alone in your skepticism. The other Gospel accounts all tell of your companion disciples doubting. Luke 23:11 tells of them dismissing the women's account as an idle tale, and in Mark 16:11, when Mary Magdalene tells them she had seen the risen Jesus, they would not believe. My personal favorite ~ in defense of you ~ is in Matthew 28:17 that says even when they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Whenever any of us are unsure or questioning of this preeminent event in the life of Christ, despite the Gospel accounts and the significance to the whole of Christian theology and practice, we are in good company! For me the story of Thomas and the other disciples' initial disbelief, humanizes these men and brings them into this current time, as did Peter's denial of Jesus, and Judas' betrayal, remorse, and suicide. We know these people in our own lives, we are some of them when we struggle to accept and understand all that we are told in the Christian/New Testament and by those who have taught us from the pulpit or in our families. Our own doubt seems unfaithful to those who say and think they must accept it all on faith alone. Yet key elements of true faith for me are to constantly learn more, think more, wonder more, examine more, and discuss more with others. If we aren't questioning the tenets of our faith at various times, it seems to me that we haven’t really discovered the specifics of what it is that we do believe and why.

      These Gospel moments allow us to be who we are in this present time and relate to those who were with Jesus and still wondered what his movement was all about even as they moved forward with him. Each time I read this Sunday’s and other accounts of Christ’s life, teachings, death, and resurrection, or any part of any of the Gospels and Epistles, I discover something new and often profound.

  Whatever I believe about the Resurrection and its significance to our Christian faith, in moments of human wavering or in absolute certainty, I try to remember the words of King David from Peter's quotes in Acts 2. David isn't known for unwavering fidelity to God's Commandments! Yet these words for me form the crux of the message of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah which is to see the Lord always before me, to live in hope, and to follow the path of life He has shown me, as well as I can, through all of this life's trials. There is no better time than this moment to ponder those thoughts. The Presence of Christ is always within us, and our faith, however shaky at times, is the vehicle that keeps us upright and guides our thoughts and actions through trial and triumph. Un-doubt-edly in our human mistakes and wanderings, the writer of 1 Peter 1:4 reminds us quite specifically that what we have been given by the resurrection is: an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading...

      Dear Thomas, I firmly believe that Jesus wasn’t scolding you, he was speaking to all present then and all of us now, in love, compassion, and the utmost understanding of our human foibles and failings.

   Whether seen or unseen, the results of living in faith, as Christ teaches through the Greatest Commandment  [Matthew 22:36-40], will be a gift to ourselves and to others in our mortal time and in the time to come, by receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [1 Peter 1:9]. I’m reminded of a title of a book by the late Dr. Wayne Dyer, You’ll See It When You Believe It. And even when we struggle in claiming our beliefs, our place in Jesus is always saved. For now, for always, Christ IS Risen! Alleluia!

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O Christ Risen! How often have we simply walked through the penitence of Lent, the excitement of Palm Sunday, the passion of Holy Week, and the joyful celebration of Your miraculous Resurrection, taking it all for granted because it happens for us every year? In this and all times of trial, open our hearts to truly REJOICE as if for the first time. You have suffered, died, and Resurrected for each of us. Thomas saw and believed, help us to simply believe in the gift of our salvation.

Jesus, Messiah

RESPONSE: Our Living and Eternal Hope

~ O Christ Risen! Grant us new courage to refresh our faith in eternal life, and the energy in this life to challenge the leaders of this planet, this nation, and this community, to provide a Just, Safe, and Mercy-filled life for all Your people. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Our Living and Eternal Hope

~ O Christ Risen! Ease the hearts of those who are sick, fearful, or life weary in mind, body, or soul, and grant energy, strength, and resilience to all who give them care. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need… add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Our Living and Eternal Hope

~ O Christ Risen! Our joy at Your resurrection is tempered with our grief at the loss of those we love. Yet in faith we can rejoice knowing they are with You in the miracle of their resurrection into Your eternal promise. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Our Living and Eternal Hope

~ O Christ Risen! We pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Our Living and Eternal Hope

~ O Christ Risen! Refresh and renew those who guide us in Your Church as they seek and find ever more inspiring ways to reach us with the continuing Good News of our own salvation. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Jesus, Messiah

Our Living and Eternal Hope

The Celebrant adds: Creator of All There Is, Seen and Unseen, shelter us when we retreat into doubt, remind us to seek Your Path through this life, to set You always before ourselves, and to forgive as we are forgiven by faith in the imperishable inheritance of our salvation to come. We ask this through Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life; and the Holy Spirit, the Wisdom of our Souls; who together with You, reign as One God, forever and beyond. Amen.

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Meditation Moment in Easter Week ~ Monday '23

Now What?

How often have we simply walked through the idea of the penitence of Lent, the excitement of Palm Sunday, the passion of Holy Week, and the joyful celebration of Your miraculous Resurrection, taking it all for granted because it happens for us every year? And now, all our work of Lent and Easter is over and we can get back to normal while we finish up the peeps, jelly beans, and what's left of the chocolate bunnies, right? Yet, a question remains ~ where are we to put all the faith eggs from our baskets?

O Christ Risen!

Where do we go from here? Of course life was so much simpler when I was a kid (in age, body, and too long in mind). Easter was just a day for new clothes and a big family dinner like Thanksgiving and Christmas. And now, as an alleged grown-up (no doubt of that in age and body), I’m supposed to actually stop to think and reflect that You suffered, You died real actual death, and You Resurrected from that real actual death for each of us. Of course I have done that in the moment during Church services that were inspiring and then I'd go home. I've often felt as though I have more to do, more to be in terms of putting my faith into action ~ but ~ I am well aware that openly and intentionally following You carries some serious responsibilities and, honestly, I'm really not sure I'm completely up to the task. I mean, I fall off that wagon of attempted perfection quite regularly and those moments of doubting my faith and my commitment creep in. BUT ~ okay, insert taking a long deep breath here, it's a new week, it's a new season, maybe even a new me as in a new creation [1 Corinthians 5:17]. I'll keep going. I'm putting all of my faith eggs in one basket, Yours. I do believe that You are all I need but I could use some serious help here, please.

In this and all times of trial, open our hearts to truly REJOICE in this Eastertide as if for the very first time and for all the best reasons. amen.

Friday, April 7, 2023

Meditation Moment in Holy Week ~ Saturday '23

John 19:38-42:

After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Jesus, our Holy Redeemer,
On this Saturday, the silence of the Tomb engulfs the followers of Jesus. They are still and hear only the beating of their sorrowful hearts. The night before was long and dark and cold, and painful in heart, mind, and soul.

For anyone waking to a stunning loss, the day after is confusing as first light offers a nano-moment of forgetting. Then as sudden as the loss, the reality hits the psyche again as a lightning strike that penetrates deeply and burns hot. In their time, the followers of Jesus would still be in shock, knowingly and futilely grasping at any hole in the truth that what they witnessed yesterday didn't happen.

Be with us, Lord, as yesterday and the day before, we had the opportunity to hear or read again the Gospel accounts of the last days of Your human life. Help us, on this quiet day after to relate to the grief of those who knew and loved You in that time. Embrace us in the mercy of Your redemption to answer Your call to return our souls to You, to know and love You by being Your disciples in our time.

Even as we know the story of what tomorrow will bring, let us go through this day and this night as if we don't. May we awaken to all the joy, jubilance, and Faith-filling experience that Easter offers every day of our human lives. amen.

Meditation Moment in Holy Week ~ Friday '23

The Gospel of John 18:1-19:42

In Wilmington, Delaware, USA, on Good Friday, for several years prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, my Episcopal Parish and choir of Sts. Andrew and Matthew (SsAM), with members of other congregations of various denominations, gathered to walk the city streets in procession stopping at 8 different places that were designated as our Urban Stations of the Cross for that particular year. Some of the places chosen over time were community centers, shelters, food distribution organizations, the State Building housing criminal courts, and neighborhood sites of prior violence and death. Traditionally there are 14 Stations but in the interest of time and coordinating with the City for assistance in crossing busy streets, etc., 8 were chosen each year. The procession returned to SsAM for the 8^th Station and a concluding prayer service. It was a humbling privilege to be asked to write the prayers for these Urban Stations each year being joined with the others who wrote for and planned these powerful experiences. The following is my contribution to the walk of 2017.
If you have never experienced the Stations of the Cross, or even if you have many times, follow along as if on the walk in this year through the last hours of the earthly life of Jesus.

1. Jesus is condemned to die – Truth

Jesus, Scapegoat of Cowards, Messiah of Humanity, You were condemned to earthly death by the will of the self-interested, who, fearing loss of their local power, fueled and manipulated the rage of the discontented. As we walk through our human time, let us look deeper into Your Gospel to find our guidance, seeking the True Life of eternity with You.