Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 1/11

No one knows me
    as well as you do, Lord...

No one understands me
    the way you do...

No one's as patient with me
    as you are, Lord...

No one watches over me
    as carefully as you do...

No one delights in me
    as much as you do...

No one's more faithful to me
    than you are, Lord...

No one judges me
    more mercifully than you do...

No one gives me more second chances
    than you do...

Lord, no one loves me
    as deeply as you do...

So, for all your gifts and grace,
    for your healing, love and mercy
I thank you, O my Lord:
    I have no God but you...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 1/10

O Lord, with such divine artistry 

did you fashion the human heart!

It's dimensions are quite defined

and yet my heart can hold what seems 

an infinite number of

    joys and sorrows, stories and memories,

    hurts and healings, dreams and schemes,

    regrets and disappointments 

    tragic endings and hope-filled new beginnings...

 

On one day, Lord, this heart of mine

can bear the weight of burdens unimaginable

and one day later -soar and float,

a feather on a summer breeze... 

My heart has no eyes and yet 

it sees what can't be seen, 

what's hidden, eternal and mysterious...

 

My heart has no arms or hands 

and yet it reaches out, touches and embraces

more than I could ever hope to hold...

My heart has no ears and yet

it hears a word you whisper

and the truth you speak aloud...

 

And sometimes, Lord, my heart closes in,

struggling in vain to hide from you

0r worse, to keep you out

- but then comes grace -

and grace reveals, inside my soul, a place

great enough, wide enough,

deep enough for you, my God,

to come and make your home...

My small heart has room for you, Lord,

and for many others, more than I can count:

family, friends, strangers - brothers, sisters all -

tapping, knocking on my heart's door 

seeking a place to rest, to visit, 

a place to call their own for a while, 

for an evening, a day, for a lifetime,

- forever...

O God, with such divine artistry 

did you fashion the human heart,

my heart, beating in my chest

and even deeper, in my soul,

in my heart of hearts 

where you, my Maker,

choose to make your home...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

and watch over me when I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

Make Room In My Heart 

   by Nick Hebert 

 

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If my heart can make a home 

Then as long as I am able 

I will make it Yours alone 

If my praise can build a throne 

Then as long as I am breathing 

You will be the cornerstone

 

I make room in my heart 

I make room in my heart 

I make room in my heart for You 

Let the world fade away 

Let your spirit invade 

I make room in my heart for You 

 

Every idol hit the ground 

Cause there’s only space for Jesus 

When He clears the temple out 

So turn the tables upside down 

This is my surrender 

Only one king to be crowned 

 

Push back the unbelief 

Push back anxiety 

Tear down the shame 

In Jesus name 

Don’t stop until You’re done 

God let your kingdom come 

Forever reign in Jesus name 

 

Be the king of my heart 

Be the king of my heart 

Be the king of my heart, Jesus 

The first name on my lips 

The one reason I live 

Be the king of my heart Jesus

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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 1/10

I posted this prayer several years back but I've just now considerably expanded it and - given our current circumstances - I offer it again for our reflection...

 

What if, Lord?

 

What if you walked by my side today:

    right by my side... all day long...

 

With you so close at hand,

    might my tone be gentler?     

    my words more temperate? 

    my deeds more loving?

    my heart more open? 

    my anger tamed?

    my pardon more freely granted?  

    my self, less pitied?

    my efforts more earnest? 

    my promises more sincere? 

    my politics more honorable? 

    my intentions more noble? 

    my conscience clearer? 

    my deeds more just? 

    my views less judgmental?  

    my touch more tender?

    my spirit more forgiving? 

    my thinking less narrow?

    my transactions more honest? 

    my affections less prejudiced? 

    my conversations less contentious?

    my pride less consuming?

    my motives more innocent?

    my play more fair? 

    my behavior more mature? 

    my pledges more trustworthy?

    my faith bolder?

    my mercy more indulgent?    

    my viewpoints more rational? 

    my habits more disciplined? 

    my bitterness sweetened? 

    my disposition milder? 

    my speech more straight-forward?

    my convictions stronger?

    my humor more wholesome? 

    my opinions less strident?  

    my manner more peaceable? 

    my praise more fulsome?

    my critique more constructive?

    my outlook broader?  

    my demeanor more welcoming?

    my patience more enduring?

    my choices more studied?

    my dreams less selfish?

    my ego humbler? 

    my love more passionate?

    my giving more generous?    

    my thoughts kinder?

    my attitude more accepting? 

    my desires more transparent?

    my decisions wiser?  

    my soul more devout? 

    my hope deeper?

    my judgments more impartial?

    my time better spent?

    my prayer more frequent?

 

Of course, the thing is, Lord 

    it's not "What if?"

It's "You do!"

You do walk by my side, 

    close by my side,

this day, every day

    and all day long! 

 

So, help me spend today, Lord:

   speaking, acting, responding, giving,

   trying, working, discerning, thinking,

   choosing, waiting, wanting, praying

- being truly blessed and humbled - 

    walking by your side 

        this day and every day 

            and all day long...

Amen.

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Something truly rare these days.. a clear mind speaking a clear truth...

Speaking to diplomats accredited to the Holy See (1/9/226), Pope Leo said that language has become increasingly ambiguous and weaponized, undermining clear realities, authentic dialogue, and diplomacy’s role in preventing conflict.

 

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What's a "theophany?"

Tapestry by John Nava

The Christmas season on the church calendar is not yet complete: it will end with this weekend's celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. (We return to Ordinary Time on Monday, January 12.)  

You can find the readings for this weekend and background material on them here.   

Background  

With this Sunday's feast we come to the close of a season of Theophanies. Our word Theophany comes to us from the Greek Θεοφάνεια - Τheophaneia which means "appearance of God."  

In the early Church, Epiphany originally celebrated four different events: the Baptism of the Lord; Christ's first miracle, the changing of water into wine at the Wedding in Cana; the Nativity of Christ; and the Visit of the Magi. By the 4th century, these theophany feasts separated out into individual celebrations, principally: Christmas on December 25 and Epiphany on January 6.

This weekend the gospel (Matthew) tells the story of Jesus being baptized in the Jordan River by John - and the voice of God declaring Christ as the Beloved Son. (The same event is found in the day's second scripture taken from the Acts of the Apostles.)
 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 1/9

End of day's a good time, Lord, 

    to look back      

    on what I saw... 

    what I heard... 

    what I felt...
    on what I said and did... 

    and what I failed to say or do...

 

Eventide's the hour to sit and share with you 

    my worries, fears and cares,

    my blessings, joys and thanks

    and my prayer for those in trouble, 

    nearby and far away...

Nightfall's a time for me to muse 

    on all the ways, today, 

    you nudged me, 

    tapped me on the shoulder, 

    moved deep within my soul 

    and softly whispered in my heart...

Just before the dark of night, Lord, 

    hold a mirror to my day

    that I might see 

    how you were with me,  

    by my side, 

    every hour, 

    every moment, 

    every second, 

    all day long...

Help me look in that mirror so I'll more clearly see

    your presence and reflection 

        in my life, 

        in my neighbor 

        and in all the world around me...

 

End of day's a good time, Lord, 

    to sit with you 

    and look back

    and thank you 

    for all this day has been,

    for all your mercy, grace and peace... 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake,
     watch over me while I sleep
that awake I might keep watch with you
     and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

Tonight's song, Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in a Mirror), is from one of my favorite composers, Arvo Pärt.  This exquisitely simple instrumental meditation is performed by Herbert Schuch (piano) and Leonhard Roczek (cello). Let their music be the mirror reflecting the day just ending...

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 1/9

 

Who doesn't long and pray
    for restful nights and peaceful days?

Who doesn't wait an end
    to times of anxious, worried fears?

Who among us hasn't prayed
    for nights of deep and restful sleep?

Has anyone a heart not longing,

    aching to be loved?

 

Don't all souls seek what's beautiful,

    what's gracious, pure and good, 

        what's worth our keen devotion?

 

Who doesn't ask for good health?

    for shelter, food and comfort? 

        for liberty and freedom?

Indeed, do I know anyone

    whose needs and whose desires

        differ all that much from mine? 

We're all much more alike, Lord,

    than the ways that we are not: 

in our souls our similarities 

    outnumber our disparities.

From the same place deep within, then,
    we share a common thirst
and all who share our hunger
    seek that love that feeds the heart...

Help me then to see, Lord, 

    to care for and to nourish

        all the hearts of those around me

and open wide my heart to all

    who seek to feed and nourish me

        with all they have to offer... 

         

 Amen.

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 1/8

There's just no hurrying the winter, Lord! 

Even if it's a warmer-than-usual winter, even if there's very little snowfall, there's nothing will speed the earth's journey, on its path around the sun - and only the sun can warm the earth and coax another springtime to bud and bloom in beauty...

 

Staring out my window, I see the bare branches of maples, oaks and birches shivering through these nights and days, jealous of the evergreens who stand against the cold, well-dressed for this long wintry spell: give me their patience, Lord...

 

Give me patience with the universe, with how the sun and planets set the pace for springtime's sweet return - with longer days and colors bright and hope in every leaf and bloom - and in my heart and soul where the winter takes its toll while I wait for April's warmth... 

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake and watch over me while I sleep, that awake, I might keep watch with you and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

A Time for Every Blues by Holy Groove

 

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Tell everything. There's a season

and a time to every purpose under heaven's reason.

 

A time to be born, a time to die,

a time to plant, a time to cry,

a time to kill, a time to heal.

 

A time to pray, a time to seal,

a time to weep, a time to dance,

a time to lose, a time for chance.

 

He hath made all things beautiful in time,

but man can't grasp his full design.

He said, "Eternity in our soul,

yet we see only part not whole.

 

A time to cast away the stone.

A time to gather what was thrown.

A time to keep. A time to tear.

A time to speak, a time to care.

 

I know there's nothing better for man

than to rejoice and do what he can

to eat and drink and labor true.

 

This is the gift God gives to you.

He hath made all things beautiful in time,

but man can't grasp his full design.

He said, "Eternity in our soul,

yet we see only part not whole.

 

Whatsoever God do it shall be forever.

No adding, no taking none shall ever

fear before him standing on

for he is time eternal.

 

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