Prayers in Pentecost: Finders Keepers

For whatsoever 

from one place doth fall, 

is with a tide 

unto another brought. 

For there is nothing lost, 

that may be found, if sought.

                                            ― Dante Alighieri* [1265-1321]

O Master of the Universe,

        I seem to lose You every now and then. You've given me the choice to be with You or not and sometimes I'm not paying attention and I wander away.  I may not have made the conscious choice to give You up, but it's clear that I can make that choice to look for You, to be with You, to live my life as You have instructed. I can't really lose You after all, I can only turn away by choice or by carelessness. But You have said that if I ask, if I knock, if I seek, all will be given, opened, and found. All I have to do is look...easy enough when all is well but when things aren't going so well I can't get out of my own way. Sometimes, I need Your help to remember where to look. I know now  where You are - will You please help me then? amen. 

*Dante Aligheri, was born in Florence, otherwise known simply as Dante, is the major Italian poet whose Divine Comedy, which includes the Inferno, has been called the greatest piece of literature in the Italian language and it remains a masterpiece of world literature.



Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers after Pentecost: Seeding the Future

God created seeds, too, in all colors, shapes, and sizes

       We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.  Nothing we do is complete...No prayer fully expresses our faith...No confession brings perfection.  We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are the workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.  ~Oscar Romero* [1917-1980]      [emphasis added]

Lord of All, our Master Builder, 

       We westerners pride ourselves on accomplishment, our completion of tasks - even in our ministries. We proclaim ourselves "doers" and point to all the external activities in which we count ourselves competent, even expert. The checklists, the programs, the agendas, the plans....and then real life interrupts and some "important" projects never get finished. 

       Help us all, especially me, to remember that we can plant the seeds of Your love by a simple handshake, a smile, a kind word; and, that is often more ministry than building a church, fussing over liturgical details, or writing a check. While we can continuously renew our commitment to You within a community of like-minded people, when we live our love for You on the inside, we will wear it on the outside. In that way, You will be known to all through our love first and then through the simplicity of our actions, whether or not we are around to harvest the fruit.  amen.   
       
   

*Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, ordained in Rome and worked towards a doctorate in theology with a specialty in ascetical theology. When he returned home, he moved over time from a conservative stance to a radical supporter of Liberation Theology and supported the poor and the "disappeared".  More than 70,000 El Salvadorans were disappeared by the military leaders in 10 years and Dr Romero spoke out vociferously, even preaching to the United States to stop supporting the government because it was "killing my people."  He was murdered, shot to death while behind the altar presiding at Mass in 1980.  He has been given the title, "Servant of God" by the Vatican as a prelude to the process of canonization to sainthood.  


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers after Pentecost: Passing the Test

Here's a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished:  

if you're alive, it isn't.   

~ Richard Bach* [1937- ]

Lord of Now, Lord of Forever,
       I'm alive. Now what? 
       Some days it's hard work just to be alive. Other days go by so fast I hardly realize it. And then, someone you care about is suddenly gone and life takes on new meaning, again. And just as suddenly it hits me that his mission is finished whether he was ready for it to be or we who cared about him were, it just is. It's a recent theme of mine, asking You for help with the meaning of living, and now, for help in finding my mission. I thought I knew what it was - doing good deeds, taking care of others, giving money, donating time.
      But here is yet another moment to re-evaluate and re-discover how I can live as if You were with me every moment. Maybe if I worry less about doing stuff and learning more about just being, especially with You, my mission will become clearer. Of course I'll keep doing but I'm seeing again that if I spend more of life working to love You with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength, and my neighbors as myself ~ as You instructed ~ that mission thing will take care of itself. Thanks for listening, again.  amen.


*Richard Bach is an author best known for classic 1970s bestsellers Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Illusions, and The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. His books carry a philosophical theme that our physical limits and mortality are merely appearance.  A love of flying nearly cut his mission short in 2012 as his small plane landed upside down in a field and he was badly injured.



Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: Fear is for the Birds, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost '14 Yr A

for Sunday, June 22, 2014, Readings: Gen 21:8-21; Ps 86:1-10, 16-17; Romans 6:1-11, Mt 10:24-39

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father...So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. [Mt 10:29,31]

      In an age where obedience is an alien and archaic concept, we are yet called three times in these readings to be obedient without ever seeing the word itself. Abraham is the icon of radical obedience, following and doing on complete trust and faith in God. 

      Paul lets us know that we must die to sin to live in Christ which requires an obedience to the promises of our Baptism. Jesus tells us that we will be held greater than the beloved sparrows when we acknowledge (and obey) him above all others. To obey or not? There are significant consequences either way. But, we still have our free will. Our choice to follow Christ in all things must be voluntary.
       All we have to do is choose - intentionally, deliberately, mindfully.  So, what is there to be afraid of?

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:   ~ God of Mercy, God of Favor, You have called each of us out of a life in sin to the newness of life in Christ. Help us to attain the pure faith of Your servant Abraham and trust that You will always hear our voices, even from the wilderness we make for ourselves.

                       

                       O Lord, in Your great compassion

Response:    Hear our prayer

~ God of Mercy, God of Favor, strengthen our resolve to frequently remind the political leaders in our state, in our country, and in the world, of the imperative for the fulfillment of justice, mercy, and basic human needs. No one in Your Creation is beneath another in importance. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions  

                       O Lord, in Your great compassion

                       Hear our prayer

~ God of Mercy, God of Favor, send healing comfort to those who are wearied of illness in body, mind, or spirit, and soothe the hearts of those who attend to their needs.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                       O Lord, in Your great compassion

                       Hear our prayer

~ God of Mercy, God of Favor, we commend to Your loving care those we have loved who have left this mortal life, and we ask Your shelter for all who grieve. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                       O Lord, in Your great compassion

                       Hear our prayer

~ God of Mercy, God of Favor, lay Your hands again upon those who have been called by You to accompany us on our life-long journey to You. Impart Your wisdom and grant them strength of soul and character.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                       O Lord, in Your great compassion

                       Hear our prayer

The Celebrant adds: Wondrous God of Heaven and Earth, help us to clearly know that Your promise to care for us, is as constantly fulfilled and renewed as it was for Sarah’s Isaac, Hagar’s Ishmael, and all who are the offspring of Abraham. Mold us again in Your image that we may be Your compassion in the world. We ask this through Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer and the Holy Spirit, our Guide and Comforter who live and reign with You as our One God in Three Persons.  Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers after Pentecost: Life from now til then

          To love life is to love God...Every bit of our life is final for us, and we should treat all life as a sacred gift and responsibility. We should see our relation to life as being like an immediate relation to God. We are moved and touched by the way all living things, and not just we ourselves, spontaneously love life, affirm it and cling to it.       ~ Don Cupitt* [1934]

Dear Mystical Entity ~
        Life confronted me today in two opposing ways. One was a bouncy, vivacious toddler full of sparkle, full of life. Another was a dear friend calmly, if wistfully, dying. The first demanded my attention, with a voice to be heard through the ether, filled with energy, delight, and love. The second accepted my attention, in quiet tones, holding my hand as we reminisced and we never pretended that there will be a next time or that all will be well ~ not this time ~ but still, there was love. So, here I am, again, with a frequent and selfish prayer. I ask not to change the course of what is, but instead to have the consciousness to recognize in myself the spectrum of life from the child's joy to the accepting calm and all that is in between, all that brings me to You. Please help me remember to live in my life so that I know and love that I am living. Help me not to be oblivious to all that life is ~ the happy, the sad, the ordinary, You are in it all. Let my unconscious moments be fewer as I walk toward the inevitable when. And most of all, let me remember the precious moments of love I've received and given and know the best of Life is always in You, with love. amen. 

P.S. Many of us will grieve the loss of our friend's presence in this life.  I and others pray for a peaceful transition for this lovely person and his family.

     

An update, our dear friend left his earthly existence in radiant peace and comfort surrounded by his wife, daughter and son only an hour or so after the above was posted.  We mourn his passing, we celebrate his life, we give great thanksgivings to have known and been known by this amazing person of God.

*Don Cupitt has been an Anglican priest, philosopher of religion and scholar of Christian theology, broadcaster, author, and a professor at Cambridge University in England. Described as a radical theologian, he became well known in Britain, Australia, and New Zealand in 1984 for a BBC-TV series called the "Sea of Faith" and he still continues involvement in the network of that name.  In that series, and through the Sea of Faith Network with like-minded people, and in his writings, orthodox Christian beliefs are explored and challenged. Cupitt has self-described as a Christian non-realist meaning that he follows spiritual practice and ethical standards associated with Christianity without a belief in the actual existence of the mystical entities God and Christ.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Pentecost: Paving that path

You are what you do, 

not what you say you'll do.

                            ― C.G. Jung* [1875-1961]




Dear Spirit of All Good Intention ~
          I am often guilty of following the path of least resistance, also known as the prettier and easier way to procrastinate. Equally as often, I make elaborate plans to do so many good things but then allow myself to be distracted. I jump into being overly busy at superficial pursuits or worse, slacking off altogether. As Paul says in Romans 7:19: For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Well, I'm not out there doing so much evil, I mean, I don't think I'm doing bad things so much as I'm not just doing as many good things as I could. Or, maybe, it's just that my intention is off track. I often race through a day, a week, a month thoughtlessly, without really processing WHY I'm doing things, be they good, not-so-good or just neutral.  
          Please stoke the desire within me to start and end each day with prayer. Help me to walk through each part of the day with You as my reason for being, with You as my reason for doing, with You who inspires all Good Intention. Um, do You mind if I take the walk along that pretty path while I pray?  I'll try and stay intentionally focused...amen.

*Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist and is known as the founder of analytical psychology. He developed the concept of archetypes, extroversion and introversion, and the collective unconscious. His deep and collegial friendship with Sigmund Freud lasted about 6 years until a serious disagreement broke the relationship. Jung believed, in part, that spiritual development, a journey of transformation was essential for human well-being. His study of many religions gave rise to his thought that in what he called individuation, a journey to meet the self also leads to meeting the Divine.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Pentecost: The Remember Room

          The time is ripe...not all the time, surely, but from time to time...to enter that still room within us all where the past lives on as a part of the present, where the dead are alive again, where we are most alive ourselves to turnings and to where our journeys have brought us. 
         The name of the room is Remember — the room where with patience, with charity, with quietness of heart, we remember consciously to remember the lives we have lived.   ― Frederick Buechner* [1926- ] 

O Holy Comforter ~
          The calendar only highlights the dates that are burned deeply into my heart with a mix of sweetness, sadness, and even a smile. And on each of those days I open the door to my inner room of memories and sit with them as if in a familiar attic. I sift through the virtual folders and boxes that hold remnants of the most meaningful people and times of my life now past. And on each of those days I need Your presence to surround me while I winnow through the highs and the lows of all that has been. Most importantly, please be here while I caress the remembrances of the all-too-brief moments with those now gone who I have loved and who have loved me. Give me Your peace when I go from this room until it is time again to remember. Strengthen my resolve to walk more fully into today, into all that is now, and all that is yet to be. amen.     



*Carl Frederick Buechner is an American theologian, Presbyterian pastor, and author of more than 30 books in several genres such as fiction, autobiography, and sermons, and is well-known among readers of Christian meditation.  He has received the O. Henry Award and been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award among many other honors. 





Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Pentecost: From Within to Without

Peace is not something you can force on anything or anyone... much less upon one's own mind. It is like trying to quiet the ocean by pressing upon the waves. Sanity lies in somehow opening to the chaos, allowing anxiety, moving deeply into the tumult, diving into the waves, where underneath, within, peace simply is.   ― Gerald G. May*   [1940-2005]

Lord of the Deepest Peace,
      There are so many days that I see the world around me is in such chaos - whirling in violence, poverty, and pain. I am at such a loss trying to know in which direction to turn, which good cause needs me the most. What can I possibly do to make any kind of useful difference? I am merely the tiniest pebble in the hole of a huge dyke that strains against impending disaster. And then, taking a breath, I remember  - You - and my prayer begins again. Grant me the stillness within that I can turn into focus without. My footing is more certain when the peace of heaven is in my heart and my soul takes its ease in Your comfort. From then I can move forward and the direction of my path becomes clear. Grant me the stillness within that I can turn into service without. amen.  



*Gerald Gordon May, was an American psychiatrist and theologian, and as a conscientious objector, worked as an Air Force psychiatrist in Vietnam. Later he was a staff psychiatrist in a prison mental hospital in Maryland. He later became a senior fellow at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland conducting workshops in contemplative theology and psychology. He wrote several books on the subject of combining spiritual direction with psychological therapy. 


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Pentecost: The only thing I'm always sure of is that I'm not always sure...

The key to wisdom is this - constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth. - Peter Abelard* [1079-1142]

Well, God, 
     Doubt and Questioning has always been part of my journey to You although for my early life I kept it hidden and secret. I was told what to believe by the religious education I had as a child and there was no room for questions. I drifted away, You know, but when I came back, I was still in the really, is that what happened, okay maybe but....mode. I discovered a lot more "religious" types who only wanted to tell me how things are, what the Bible means, and any disagreement isn't tolerated.  Didn't stay with them, either.  After some more serious study I am surprised at how many questions I still have but I'm grateful to have found a community in which to ask, discuss, disagree, and decide at least about a few things. I've learned to listen, to think, to process but mostly, to pray.  I know I don't have many answers, sometimes I don't even know the questions, but one thing I know I'm sure of - Your Presence. Thank You for being here. You don't mind about the questions, right? amen.


*Peter Abelard was a French philosopher and theologian who was no stranger to controversy.  The son of a knight he gave up inheritance and a military career to pursue philosophy and traveled around France studying with the foremost philosophers of his day.  He ultimately moved to Paris and became a well-known teacher of philosophy and theology and was hired as a private tutor for the daughter of the Canon of the Cathedral of Paris. Abelard and the Canon's daughter, Heloise, fell in love, conceived a child and secretly married. The Canon had Abelard castrated and sent to a monastery; Heloise to a convent. Abelard continued to write controversial books and articles and was at various times declared heretical and also had large followings. He and Heloise famously wrote many letters to one another and at his death, she had his body buried near her convent.  She was buried with him when she died.  





Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: 1 + 2 = ONE, Trinity Sunday, Yr A

for Trinity Sunday, June 15, 2014, Readings: Gen 1:1-2:4a; Ps 8, 2 Cor 13:11-13, Mt 28:16-20

      A central mystery of most Christian denominations, the Trinity may be the most confounding. The Trinity is/are one God in three persons, distinct from one another yet consubstantial with each other, co-equal, and co-eternal. The Fourth Lateran Council [in years 1213-1215] declared that "it is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds." The Roman Catholic catechism says, "Accordingly, the whole work of creation and grace is seen as a single operation common to all three divine persons, in which each shows forth what is proper to him in the Trinity, so that all things are 'from the Father', 'through the Son' and 'in the Holy Spirit.'" How do you explain it? If all things are possible with God....

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:        ~ Eternal Trinity, In the beginning, You created the heavens and the earth, separated the dry land from the waters, the day from the night, provided seeds and vegetation, living creatures of every kind, and ourselves – male and female, human, in Your Image. 

                     Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

Response:  We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

~ Eternal Trinity, our God-given intellect, the love of Christ, and the holy courage of the Spirit, give us the ability and the call to serve all the people of God with justice, mercy, and in peace. Help us to strongly encourage the leaders of our nation and in the world, of the necessity to do likewise. We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                        Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

                        We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

~ Eternal Trinity, bestow the grace of hope and healing upon those who are ill in mind, body, or spirit and grant those who give them care continuing strength and perseverance. We pray especially for: add your own petitions 

                        Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

                        We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

~ Eternal Trinity, we implore You to set the Fire of Pentecost as the essential beacon before those who are lost in the icy winter of grief. Carry those who have left our earthly experience into the warmth of Holy comfort and peace in Your life everlasting.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                        Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

                        We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

~ Eternal Trinity, for all those You have called and blessed as guides for our souls in this life, we ask You for their peace of heart, strength of mind, and courage of conviction.  Let us hold fast together and walk through all blessings and trials as we journey toward everlasting life in Your Holy of Holies.  We pray especially for:  add your own petitions

                        Glory to God: Holy Creator, Redeemer, Comforter,

                        We praise You and highly exalt You forever.

The Celebrant adds: Eternal Whole, One and All, anoint us with the essence of Your Presence in all that we do, and think, and pray. We beseech You through Your Son Jesus, and the comfort of Your Holy Spirit, who live and reign with You, One God, now and forever.  Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers in Pentecost: Jesus, my Druid

for June 9, Feast of St. Columba of Ireland and Scotland

I do not hold to the voice of birds, or any luck on the earthly world, or chance or a son or a woman.  Christ the Son of God is my Druid; Christ the Son of Mary, the great Abbot; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  My estates are with the King of Kings.  -St. Columba* [591-597]

In ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh,**
        Your servant, Columba, has touched the ancient pagan fragments carried deep within my Celtic bones and has fanned the flames of Pentecost in my soul.  Embolden my fervor that I might live deeply into the love of Christ and give deeply of that love to all around me. Whether in my moments of solitude or in the midst of all of life's delights and disasters, keep me unflagging in my devotion to and actions on behalf of Christ, Druid and Abbot for all whom God has created.  amen. 



*Born in County Donegal of royal blood, Coumba (also called Columcille) became a monk and rose to the rank of priest.  About 561 he became embroiled in a dispute over copyright with St. Finnian which resulted in numerous deaths in a battle. As penance, Columba was ordered out of Ireland for the remainder of his life and told to make as many converts as men killed in the battle.  He went to Scotland where his conversion of the Picts is legendary as is his bringing back to life a man killed by the Loch Ness monster and driving the monster off with the sign of the cross.  He established a monastery on the island of Iona on the west coast of Scotland which still today is a site of pilgrimage and retreat. As one of the three patron saints in Ireland, this Holy Three of Erin are buried together - St. Patrick, St. Columba, and St. Brigid - in County Down.

**Irish Gaelic for "In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"

Druid:  priest in ancient Celtic religion: a priest of an ancient religion practiced in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul until the people of those areas were converted to Christianity


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Sea-ing with New Sight

The sea is not less beautiful in our eyes because we know that sometimes ships are wrecked by it.

 ― Simone Weil*  [1909-1943]

God of Living Water and Breathing Earth ~

         When the devastating and tragic hit in a nanosecond, stealing my breath and holding it hostage, and the noise in my head feels as if giant fingernails are scratching an unimaginably huge blackboard, and I can't walk straight for feeling swamped - You are the only One who understands me then.

       And through You, my breath slowly returns, my head clears and quiets, the essence of beauty is re-discovered. With the marks of despair healing, then growth, balance and a measure of contentment again seep into consciousness.  Through You, I find my life, my heart, and my strength. I never outgrow my need for You. Life goes on and I with it because You are with me. Help me to remember You in the days of wonder, deep breathing, and, when sailing through life in rough seas and calm. amen.


*Simone Weil, a French philosopher, political activist, and Christian mystic, was known for her extraordinary compassion for those suffering from the ravages of WWI. She often sacrificed her own food for the sake of others perhaps hastening disease and an early death. She was loved by many and others found her irritating and her extensive writing found little attention until the 1950s and 60s. Over time that too waned yet her influence on scholars continues with well over 2,500 academic works were published about her philosophy from 1995-2012.


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email.  Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Discovering Half-Full Glasses

I am fundamentally an optimist...Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.  

~ Nelson Mandela* [1918-1913]  

To:     God, Heaven
Attn:  Attitude Adjustment Department
Re:     Grant Request


Dear Ma'am, Sir, Spirit, or Entity:
        I believe that I am unlikely to ever be optimistic on a full-time basis, and as that is likely to be considered a pessimistic viewpoint, I am applying to Your department for a grant to help me to adjust my attitude accordingly.
       Over the course of my life I have had times of extreme pessimism brought on by life circumstances, general malaise with a touch of decrepitude, occasional bouts of junk food, and prolonged periods of monkey mind. There are breaks in these cycles in which I discover sunshine, half-full glasses, delight in a child's laughter, and the hopefulness of contemplating eternal life with Jesus. It is to further such moments of the lightness of being a Child of God, that I ask for you to bestow a grant of significant improvement in my levels of optimism.
      As the recipient of such a grant, I would be able to develop a greater sense of life as a gift in all of its moods and activities, be more likely to give thanksgiving to God regularly, to experience hope and joy with greater frequency, and to send up my prayers almost daily with new and less-fettered energy and enthusiasm.  As to the terms, I respectfully request regular, on-going renewal with no expiration and a lifetime supply of gratitude. For my part, I will endeavor to keep my head pointed toward the sun and my feet moving forward.  amen, er, um, I mean, Sincerely....
      

Even if the pessimist is correct in the long run, the optimist will have a better trip.

*Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, served 27 years of imprisonment for treason fighting for equality, justice, and the end of apartheid segregation in his country. After his release, he was elected President and served faithfully for 4 years.  An exemplar of inspiration, creator of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights abuses, established the Mandela Foundation to fight HIV/AIDS, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the American Presidential Medal of Freedom and many more honors, President Mandela has been called the "Father of his country", and widely admired for his concern for truth and racial reconciliation and harmony.

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Is there ever enough?

But of God you can never have a sufficiency. The more you have of God, the more you desire. 

If you could ever have enough of God, 

so that you were content with him, 

then God would not be God.    

― Meister Eckhart* [c. 1260 – c. 1327]

Dear God,

      I'm feeling some resistance within myself at the thought that the more of You I have - that is, the more I recognize that I have - the more of You I will want. I know You are already here but the difficulty I'm having is that I think I might be wary of wanting more. How will that change my life?  I already go to church, pledge, do my work, talk to You on a fairly regular basis, contribute to charities, take care of a few people in the family now and then. Does wanting more of You in my everyday life require me to pay more attention to You than I do my lawn, my car, the new Smart TV? What will the neighbors think if I get all "Godly" on them? Heck, what will my family think - ok, so I know what they'll think. 

      Well, it also seems to me that I do want more of You but can we work up slowly?  I'm not sure how I'll handle the rest of my life with You at the Center given that I had expected it to be a bit different. Can I still go on the vacation if I promise to take You with me? Let's just say, for the moment, HELP! I'm reaching out hesitantly but I'm also certain You'll always hold me close. amen.

*Meister Eckart von Hockheim was a Dominican priest, German philosopher, theologian, and mystic who had more than a brush with controversy. Some of his teachings were labeled as heresy and he was brought before the Inquisition. Since the 19th century, interest in Eckart's teachings have been quite popular and he is now considered a "great mystic". 

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: Made my mind UP!

Prayer is the raising of the mind to God.

We must always remember this.

The actual words matter less. 

― Pope St. John XXIII*  [1881-1963]

So, God,
        I'm very glad that the words aren't critical. Some days I don't have any words that make sense together. Some days I know what I want to say but feel that I shouldn't. Other days I have so many words they compete with one another. Even though some who know me would say I often talk too much, I find that, more often, I feel closest to You in prayer when I use no words at all; when I just raise my mind to You. Oh, wait! I get it now - that's the ultimate moment, when my mind's made up!  amen.



*Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born 4th out of 14 children to a sharecropper family in Lombardy in 1881. He became a Cardinal and Patriarch in Venice in 1953 and in 1958, at the age of 77, he was elected Pope on the 11th ballot.  He surprised the Church and the world by convening the historic Second Vatican Council which met from 1962-1965. A staunch supporter and encourager of equality and ecumenism, Pope John XXIII died June 3, 1963, before the Council was completed. He was canonized Saint, by the Roman Catholic Church, less than two months ago on April 27, 2014. 

Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but they may be used with attribution provided they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to the appearance on the blog, send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: PENTECOST - I'm all fired up! Yr A

for Pentecost, June 6, 2014, Readings:  Acts 2:1-21; Ps 104:25-35, 37; 1 Cor 12:3-13; Jn 20:19-31

Fifty Days after Easter, 

Ten Days after the Ascension 

comes Pentecost, 

 the feast of Holy Spirit:  

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place.  And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house...Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.  Acts 2:1-4

      

Let Us, God’s People, Pray

LEADER:  ~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, You have bestowed so many precious gifts upon us today. Infuse our souls further with the courage to discover and use them. Our voices now carry the language that must clearly speak of You, and our hearts and minds are filled with knowledge of the all-encompassing love of Christ to share in all the world.

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

RESPONSE:      In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, we each have, from You, the power to work for the common good throughout the Earth. Let us continually remind the leaders of this world that we expect them to use their gift of Your power wisely. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

                          In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, embrace those who are living each day with the pain and distress of illness or injury, and re-invigorate all who help with their care and comfort.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

                          In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, soothe the weary hearts of those who struggle in the midst of grief and carry those who have left us into the loving arms of Your eternity.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

                          In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

~ Luminous, Resplendent, Spirit of God, illumine the hearts of those called to lead us in Your Church that they may see and feel Your wisdom within. Grant them an extra measure of Your gifts so they can guide us to You with the surest of footing through the peaks and valleys of our lives.  We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                          Bless You, Lord of our Souls,

                          In You we are One Body, filled with Holy Fire!

The Celebrant adds:  Almighty and Eternal God, this day You have filled us with the Power of Your Most Holy Spirit that we may carry Your word to the Earth’s farthest reaches. Let us light the fires of Your love and peace in each and every day.  We humbly ask through Your Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, Comforter of our souls, who live and reign in unity with You, one God now and forever.  Amen.

      On the Jewish calendar, this ancient feast is Shavuot and celebrates the giving of the Law on Sinai. It's possibly another reason the Apostles were gathered together in addition to waiting for the sign promised by the resurrected Jesus 10 days before when they had locked themselves in a house in fear. 
       Also known as the Birthday of the Church, Pentecost marks the official beginning of the ministry of the Apostles beyond their local area and into the whole world. The descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire imbued them, and each of us by extension, with extra-ordinary gifts to bring the message of Christ to everyone.
       This day is known as Whitsun in Ireland and the UK, a descendant of a Gaelic celebration of medieval or perhaps even more ancient times. 


Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.

Ascending Prayers: The Real Transformers

What the caterpillar calls
the end, 

the rest of the world calls 

a butterfly.

― Lao Tzu*

Holy God of Heaven and Earth,
       I'm so oblivious to the everyday ways of my small privileged part of the world that I blitz past the most remarkable occurrences of Your Creation. How can I fail to see the magical, the amazing, the dazzling displays our earthly life has to offer? And in so doing, I also fail to get Your message. 
       I guess I'm so caught up in paying the bills, grouching about some political ***, um, person, or yelling at the guy in the car ahead of me that I simply ignore the transformations all around me.  Ah, and that is the word isn't it - transformation. 
       Help me to connect the dots, Lord, from the transformations of nature to the transformation of my soul. The night into day, the winter into spring, the tadpole into frog, my everyday life into eternal life. In the darkest of nights, in the saddest of times, the end of what was is always another beginning. A dying to the old becomes a new birthing of promise and potential. Remind me again, tomorrow, please, I promise to stop, see, and be transformed.  amen.


*Lao Tzu, a legendary, and perhaps mythical, philosopher and poet of ancient China, is the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching (dow day jing), a classic Chinese text of philosophy, some time in the 4th, 5th, or 6th century BCE.  He may have been a contemporary of Confucius, and he is also considered to be the founder of Taoism (dow-ism).  Taoism is a philosophical, ethical religious tradition in China that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, which is at once the source and the driving force of everything that exists. 






Please feel free to request a prayer to be composed for a particular concern or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. Requestors will remain anonymous.