Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 11/8

 

 

Lord,

your Spirit is with me 24/7/365,
    pushing and pulling me,
    prompting and prodding me,
    nudging me always
    to love what's good,
    to do what's just,
    to speak the truth,
    to do the next right thing,
    to help my neighbor,
    to choose wisely,
    to lift my heart to you in prayer
    and to walk humbly

        by your side...

But so often, too often, Lord,
    I'm deaf to your voice,
    blind to your presence, 

    too busy, too lazy,
    too foolish, too self-absorbed
    to see, to hear, to notice
    all the ways your Spirit moves
        in me, around me and through me...

Today, Lord,
    open my ears and my eyes,
    my mind and my imagination,
    and my heart's and my soul's desires
        - all to your Spirit -
    living and breathing within me
        and through the whole of creation...

Amen. 

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Night Prayer: SATURDAY 11/7

Both the first reading and the gospel for mass tomorrow focus on wisdom - so wisdom's on my mind... 

Lord, I'm working on my homily 

 and trusting you won't laugh too loudly

  when you hear me preach about wisdom!

 

Just thinking about wisdom 

 reminds me of how foolish,

 how unwise, I often am

 and of just how much I need

 to cling to your wisdom

  every day of my life...

 

I need to cling to your wisdom 

 as I make decisions:

  big ones, small ones and everyday choices

  that make a difference in my own life

  and in the lives of those around me...

 

I need to cling to your wisdom

when foolishness seeks to seduce me

 from your will to mine,

 from your ways to my ways,

 from living by your word

 to living by mine…

 

I need to cling to your wisdom, Lord, 

 when I shape my ideas,

 form my opinions

 and pledge my allegiance

 to party, power and privilege...

 

I need to cling to your wisdom 

 when I'm lost, confused or discouraged,

 lest I take the wrong path,

 succumb to my doubts

 or abandon my hope in you...

 

I need to cling to your wisdom, Lord, 

 because you are my way

 you are my truth

 and you are my very life:

  without you I'm lost

  and truly have nothing...

 

I need to cling to your wisdom, Lord: 

 she’s the light in my shadows,

 the strength in my weakness

 my hope in hard times

 and joy in my sorrow...

 

I need to cling to your wisdom:

 to save me from playing the fool,

 to help me discern the truth

 and to lead me, wisely, day by day

  to your mercy, your grace and your peace…

 

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.

 

Christ Our Wisdom

   by  Sovereign Grace Music

 

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Christ our wisdom, we are humbled 

When You hide Your ways from us 

You have purposes unnumbered 

Each one good and glorious 

Help us trust when we grow weary 

Free us from our anxious thoughts 

Give us grace to see more clearly 

You are God and we are not 

 

Christ our wisdom, be our gladness 

When we fail to understand 

You ordain all joy and sadness 

To fulfill Your perfect plan 

Help us know You rule with power 

Over every raging flood 

In our most uncertain hour 

You are God and we are loved 

 

Christ our wisdom, we will follow 

Though the way ahead is veiled 

As we journey through the shadows 

Grant us faith where sight has failed 

Help us cling to Your commandments 

Strengthened by Your faithful Word 

We will never be abandoned 

You are God and we are Yours 

 

Christ our wisdom we adore You 

For the beauty of the cross 

Once in foolishness we scorned You 

But Your blood has ransomed us 

Help us sing the endless mercies 

Of Your humble heart to save 

Christ our wisdom, Christ our glory 

You are God forever praised 

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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 11/7

Image source

 

Lord, you will not fail today:

    to show me your face,
    speak to my heart,
    and touch my soul with your mercy...

You will not fail:
    to walk by my side
    and show me the way
    to where your peace awaits me...

You will not fail:
   to help me carry the burdens I bear,

   to pierce my deepest grief with joy

   and to be the light in my darkest hour...

You will not fail:
    to give me all that I truly need          
    to come at last to this day's end,
    my soul at peace with you...

 

Then help me, Lord, not fail today:
    to look for you
        in all I meet;
    to open my heart
        to your healing touch;

    and to find you ever at my side,
        guiding, helping and lifting me up
            each time I trip and I fall...

 

Help me, Lord, to seek your presence

    in life as it meets me today

    with all of its many ups and downs,

    its twists and turns, laughter and tears, 

       and all of my sorrows and joys...

 

Today's the day that you've made, Lord,

    and I trust in faith that you will not fail:  

        to guide each step that I take

    'til evening falls and finds me safe,

        asleep and at peace with you...    

Amen.

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Night Prayer: FRIDAY 11/6

As you know, this week I moved from Good Shepherd Parish in Wayland to Regina Cleri, the archdiocesan residence for senior priests in downtown Boston.  The differences are many, sometimes stark and startling, filled with grace - and welcome...

 

No rain where you're praying tonight? Here's something to put you in the mood:

 

 

This Friday night I'm learning, 

or more accurately -I'm remembering -

the difference between a rainy night in the city

and a rain night in the suburbs...

 

Back in Wayland, Lord,

the rain falls unassumingly, 

modestly, subtly 

- perhaps, even humbly

 

but here in the city 

the rain comes down straightforwardly,

rather matter-of-factly, intentionally

- even bluntly...

 

Even in a storm, 

suburban rain falls with a certain grace, 

veiling nature with a glistening sheen,

moistening her tender skin with grace...

 

While urban rains pour down 

drenching high-rises, sidewalks and pedestrians,

pelting everything in sight with mercy

come to cleanse a city's soul...

 

I've lived out in the country, Lord,

and now, back in the city

so I've known the different ways you rain

your mercy and your grace

on your people and the land...

 

Rain on me, O Lord!

Drench and all but drown me

in the waters of redemption

and bathe me in your kindness,

deep down in my soul... 

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. 

 

"Rain Down" is one of my favorites - and the images on this video make it a perfect companion for tonight's prayer! 

 

Rain Down by Jaime Cortez

 

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 11/6

Whether the day ahead is busy and full
    - or a day when I haven't very much to do,
I know that you, Lord, have your eye on me
    and plans for how I might best spend today...

If my day looks overbooked, Lord:

    point out the tasks that might be useless
and let me see what foolishness 

    I may have even scheduled,

- and all the precious time I waste 

    when I make no time for you...

If my calendar is free, wide open,

    then show me ways that I might fill it:
        reaching out to those in need,

        making peace as I am able,

        or spending time with someone

            who's alone and needs a friend...

 

And if today's an in-betweener,
    - busy now but later free -
then help me balance work and play

    and spend this day for what it is:
        24 hours, your gift to me,
        to grow in faith and hope and joy,
        to grow in love of you, Lord

        and in service of my neighbor...

Amen.

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Night Prayer: THURSDAY 11/5

Lord, there's something about the end of day,

   perhaps especially in the fall,

yes, something about the end of day 

    that opens my mind and heart in prayer

        and draws my prayerful attention:

 

    to those I dearly love 

       and those I struggle to love...

    to the needs of those I know

       and the needs of others I've never met...

    to memories in need of healing

       and hope in need of being refreshed...

    to regret for things I regret I've done

       and remorse for things I've failed to do...

    to those who long to have a friend

       and to those in need of solitude...

    to homeless folks in autumn's chill

       and those who shelter and care for them...

    to those deprived of a just, fare share

       and those who have more than they'll ever need...

 

    to a world whose soul is starved for peace

       and to those who seek to make it...

Lord, there's something about the end of day,

   perhaps especially in the fall,

yes, something about the end of day 

    that moves my mind and heart to pray

        for your mercy, healing and grace...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

    and watch over us as we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen. 

  

Watch, O Lord by Marty Haugen

 

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Watch, O Lord, with all those awake this night.
Watch, O Lord, with all those who weep.
Give your angels and saints
Charge over all who sleep

Tend your ailing ones In your love, Lord.
Rest your weary ones In your love, Lord.
Bless your dying ones In your love, Oh, Lord of all.

 
Chorus

 
Soothe your suffering ones In your love, Lord.
Heal afflicted ones In your love, Lord.
Shield Your joyous ones In your love, Oh, Lord of all.

 
Chorus

Hold your grieving ones In your love, Lord.
Help your fallen ones In your love, Lord.
Mend your broken ones In your love, Oh, Lord of all.

 
Chorus

Guard your little ones In your love, Lord.
Guide your searching ones In your love, Lord.
Grant us all your peace In your love, Oh, Lord of all.

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 11/5

 

Did I remember 

    to pack my faith when I moved?

I'm in a new place, Lord:

    I have a new address, 

    a new place I call home...

 

I live in a new neighborhood:

    no longer in the suburbs,

    I'm in the heart of the city...

 

I have new housemates - 5 dozen!

    And despite our common history

    we're as different as our finger prints...

 

So many different sights and sounds

    right outside my door

    - I'm not in Wayland anymore!

 

New opportunities, new choices:

    new paths to walk, new sights to see,

    - new ways for me to be with thee!

 

(Couldn't pass up the rhyme!) 

 

But the thing is, Lord:

    regardless of all that's new,

        I'm still the same old me

    and regardless of all that's changing

        you're ever and always 

            my Lord and God,

                ever and always the same... 

 

So, will my new environment 

    open my heart anew, afresh

        to your mercy, grace and peace?

 

Will my change of zip code

    draw my eye, my mind, my soul

        closer to you and your word?

 

Lord, this I know:

    you're always there

        wherever I may be;

here, there or anywhere

    you're by my side,

        folding me into your arms...

 

So in any way and in every way

    you draw me to your side,

give me the grace to follow you

    with new and deeper faith...

 

Amen. 

 

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Night Prayer: ALL SOULS DAY

 

As the sun sets on All Souls Day, Lord,

I lift up to you my family members,

loved ones and friends who have died...

(Take time to remember, even to write down,
the names of those for whom you pray tonight.

If you make a list you can refer to it through

November, the Month of All Souls

and add to it as other names come to mind.) 

You know each of them by name, Lord:
your love for them far exceeds my own,
even those I've loved the most...

I entrust them to your mercy
and pray that with all who've gone before them
you'll welcome them to heaven's joy...

Make safe their journey, Lord, 

from my arms into yours:

embrace them with the lasting peace 

that only you can give...

And grant me, Lord, the grace I need
to live my life believing
that one day I'll be one with you
and all of those for whom I pray this night...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me as I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

(Tonight's song is a beautiful blend of the human experience of loss and grief and the promise of faith in the risen Lord...

No More Goodbyes by Tom Dermody

 

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One day in the love of Christ
we'll meet once again
we'll laugh as we celebrate
a life with no end
where death has been overcome
by our risen Lord

And there are no more goodbyes
no more tears
no more loneliness
and no more fear
Our pain turns to joy
darkness to light
in God's heaven
there are no more goodbyes

No words tell the gratitude
we have for the gift
your life was to each of us
we'll never forget
May angels now lead you home
to our risen Lord

Where there are no more goodbyes
no more tears
no more loneliness
and no more fear
Our pain turns to joy
darkness to light
in God's heaven
there are no more goodbyes

Though now with our heavy hearts
we go our separate ways
we trust in the certain hope
there will come a day
we'll join you in paradise
with our risen Lord.

There will be no more goodbyes
no more tears
no more loneliness
and no more fear
Our pain turns to joy
darkness to light
in God's heaven
there are no more goodbyes
In God's heaven
there are no more goodbyes

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Moving Day!

Today, Monday, November 2 is  moving day and I'm very excited! 

I've scheduled an All Souls Night Prayer which will appear later today - and then I'll be taking a quick break.  Once I've unpacked and set up my rooms to reasonable degree of livability - I'll resume posting - and I hope that's no later than Thursday.  In the meanwhile - pray for me as I will for you! 

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