Prayer: A conversation with The Higher Other who lives within each of us. An invitation to vent, to re-think, to ask, and to rest.
Monday, April 10, 2023
Meditation Moment in Easter Week ~ Monday '23
Friday, April 7, 2023
Meditation Moment in Holy Week ~ Saturday '23
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.
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Meditation Moment in Holy Week ~ Friday '23
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 8th 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.
2.
Jesus takes up his cross – Fortitude
Jesus, Messiah of Humanity, with courage and determination, You took on the cross, bearing its worldly weight upon your scourged and weary shoulders. Help us, in everyday moments and our deepest darkest times, to see Your cross as a symbol of survival, on our way to the never-ending joy of Life without shadow in Love’s Pure Light.
3.
Jesus falls for the first time – Perseverance
Jesus, Messiah of Humanity, even in a most weakened physical state, You are our model of endurance, an example of pushing on through excruciating pain ~ physical, emotional, and spiritual ~ even in the most brutal stages of Life. As our Perfecter of Faith, reinforce our willingness to get up again and again and again, whenever we fall down in our faith in You.
4.
Jesus meets His Mother – Tenderness
Jesus, Messiah of Humanity, this exquisite yet tragic image of Mother-Son love reaches profoundly into the essence of us all. Infuse our souls with the instinct to protect and shelter each other in the midst of Life’s traumas – loved ones and strangers alike – as we are sheltered by Your Saving Grace.
5.
The Cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene – Hope
Jesus, Messiah of Humanity, as even the strongest need a helping hand in a difficult time of Life, relieve us of our reluctance to give aid to another in trouble, for whatever the burden and whatever the cost.
6.
Jesus and the women of Jerusalem – Compassion
Jesus, Messiah of Humanity, in Your most difficult moment in human Life, You show us an extraordinary example of empathy for others. Assist us as we strive to follow Your Commandments to love God, and to love others as if they were ourselves.
7.
The Crucifixion – Acceptance
Jesus, Scapegoat of Cowards, Messiah of Humanity, as Your mortal time waned upon the cross, Your steadfast spirit gave way to accepting this price for the redemption of every single human Life. Let us take a moment to be still, to breathe deeply, to ponder the depth and breadth of emotion, the wonder and awe, of the moment that Your being transformed from lifeless Human to Eternally Divine.
8.
Jesus is laid in the tomb – Life
Jesus, Messiah of Humanity, let us wait in quiet solitude, in the silence of the Tomb, for a radiant awakening in the dawn of New Life. Grant us a peaceful transition at our own time, being serenely willing and unflinchingly ready to rise again in Glory, free of sin and strife, through the magnitude of the Sacrifice by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Meditation Moment in Holy Week ~ Thursday '23
For the Passover, God, through Moses and Aaron, promised protection
to all whose homes displayed the blood of a sacrificed lamb and proclaimed it a
day of remembrance forever. It is celebrated this year before sundown on April 5
and ends after nightfall on April 13. It is a Festival of Liberation
remembering the Jews’ Exodus from slavery in Egypt.
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
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Meditation Moment in Holy Week ~ Wednesday '23
Paul's letter to the Hebrews says: Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart [Hebrews 12:3]. When I have felt the world is against me, or life is just too hard, or I simply cannot cope with one more thing going wrong ~ did I ever once think of the suffering of Jesus at the hands of others? Have I ever thought of Judas if I did someone a wrong turn to benefit myself, even if "only" in a small way? Perhaps Jesus is too big in my mind to compare myself to and perhaps Judas is too bad...
On this Wednesday in our time some churches mark this evening ~ or some others will on Maundy/Holy Thursday or Good Friday ~ with a service called Tenebrae [ten-eh-bray]. The name comes from the Latin and means shadows or darkness. The service consists of readings and chanted/sung Psalms while candles are extinguished in sets between readings and chants until the church is completely darkened. Often at the end, in the dark, a sudden loud noise ~ a gong, slamming a large book, or stamping of feet ~ is heard as a symbol of the earthquake that signaled the death of Jesus. Holy Wednesday in Holy Week, hearkens back to the penitence of Ash Wednesday just a few weeks ago, as the solemnity of the mood of this Week of Weeks deepens.
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Meditation Moment in Holy Week ~ Tuesday '23
Monday, April 3, 2023
Prayers of the People: Again and Always Risen! Indeed! ~ Easter Day '23 Yr A
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher)…Jesus said to her…”go to my brothers and say to them I am ascending to my Father…” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples...”I have seen the Lord…” [John 20:16-18]
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Christ, Risen! On this Day the Lord has acted! We will rejoice and be glad in it. In the midst of the darkness and fear in this world, let us revel in the Divine Light of Your Glorious Resurrection.
~ O Christ, Risen! Especially in these uncertain times, grant
ever increasing amounts of prudence, integrity of purpose, compassion, and
mercy, to all the political leaders of this Earth, this Nation, and this
Community. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
~ O Christ, Risen! Lavish Your healing grace and hope upon all who are ailing in body, mind, or spirit, and all who give them daily care. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own petitions
~ O Christ, Risen! Our grateful hearts commend to You those we
love, who have risen with You into the heavenly peace and splendor of life
everlasting. We pray especially for… add your own petitions
~ 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
~ O Christ, Risen! Infuse the leaders of Your Church with limitless
energy and interior peace, as they strive in ever more creative ways, to guide
our prayer and encourage us to follow Your Truth. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions