NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 10/31

I wonder what you think, Lord,
as millions this night conspire

    to turn back by sixty minutes

        our watches, clocks, devices and gadgets,

    pretending to steal an hour from evening

        and saving it for the morning...

An artifice, Lord, is time:

our meager, contrived and feeble attempt

    to measure what can't be clocked,

    to track what slips through our open hands 

    like the wind passing by on a breeze... 

Who can save a breeze for tomorrow?

Who can stall the phasing moon

    or hasten the sun in its rising?

Who can shorten the dark of night

    or lengthen the light of day?

You alone, everlasting, eternal God,

    you alone are the Lord of time:

you caused the sun to rule the day

    and the moon to rule the night... 

Only you in the dark of night rose up

    from the shadowy depths of the grave, 

for you are the day that has no end,

    yours alone the eternal dawn,

        the glory no night can eclipse...

We can change our clocks 

    - but not the time -

         for night and day belong to you;

so change our hearts 

    with the light of your truth

        as we wait for that Day that never ends...

 

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

God of Day and God of Darkness

    by Marty Haugen 

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God of day and God of darkness,
Now we stand before the night;
As the shadows stretch and deepen,
Come and make our darkness bright.
All creation still is groaning
For the dawning of your might,
When the Sun of peace and justice
Fills the earth with radiant light.

Still the nations curse the darkness,
Still the rich oppress the poor;
Still the earth is bruised and broken
By the ones who still want more.
Come and wake us from our sleeping,
So our hearts cannot ignore
All your people lost and broken,
All your children at our door.

Show us Christ in one another,
Make us servants strong and true.
Give us all your love of justice
So we do what you would do.
Let us call all people holy,
Let us pledge our lives anew,
Make us one with all the lowly,
Let us all be one in you.

You shall be the path that guides us,
You the light that in us burns;
Shining deep within all people,
Yours the love that we must learn,
For our hearts shall wander restless
'Til they safe to you return;
Finding you in one another,
We shall all your face discern.

Praise to you in day and darkness,
You our source and you our end;
Praise to you who love and nurture us
As a father, mother, friend.
Grant us all a peaceful resting,
Let each mind and body mend,
So we rise refreshed tomorrow,
Hearts renewed to Kingdom tend.

Gentle Father, Loving Mother,
Jesus, Brother, Savior, Friend;
Spirit of all grace and power,
May we praise you without end.
Grant us all a peaceful resting,
Let each mind and body mend,
So we rise refreshed tomorrow,
Hearts renewed to Kingdom tend.

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An extra hour's sleep!

 

Before you go to bed tonight - don't forget to turn back by one hour

the clocks that NEED to be turned back!

How great is this?

Millions of people conspire to pretend that it's an hour earlier than it is and they turn back their time devices as part of the game.

(Well, at least those devices 

    that don't turn adjust themselves automatically!)

And we get an extra hour's sleep in the bargain!
  

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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 10/31

 

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 10/30

Whether you're planning on a costume or not each of us might benefit from a prayer about the various masks and costumes we wear from time to time...

 

Lord,
help me not worry
about all the daily costumes
hanging in my closet

and what I'm going to wear... 

Clothes don't make a man
and clothes don't make a woman:
    it's how my heart is dressed, Lord,
    that makes me who I am...

Help me take off all the costumes

that hide my truest self: 

    pride and false humility, 

    authority and knowledge,  

    pretended self-assurance,   

    bravado and self-pity...

 

Help me take off all my masks, Lord,

the ones I wear to try to hide 

from others  and from you 

    - and even from myself...

Help me take off all my masks

    and reveal my fears and tears, 

    my worry and anxiety,

    my pain and disappointment, 

    my doubt and my confusion

and

    my hidden faith and strength,

    my human worth and value, 

    my belief and trust in you

    and my desire to be loved 

in other words

    reveal the truest face

    of my unmasked heart,

    my soul laid bare for healing,

    the person you created,

       in your image, Lord, divine...

Help me find the hidden beauty

    'neath the costumes and the masks,

    under all the varied folderol 

    that everyone puts on

      - beginning with myself...

And help me, Lord, most of all,

to find and love your holy face

revealed in all its beauty

in all I meet and know...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

Image source

Search Me, O God by Steve Green

 

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Search me, oh God
Reveal my heart
Expose my sin that it may be confessed
Search me, oh God
Unveil each thought
And leave no hidden motive unaddressed

Uncover every action born in pride
Show me the worldly ways I still embrace
May every anxious thought be brought to light
And each unspoken fear with faith replaced

Search me, oh God
Observe my life
Bring to my mind each idle word I speak
Search me, oh God
Test my resolve
And alert me where you find it weak

Reveal all weakened walls within my soul
Show me potential dangers unforeseen
Then clothe my conscience with your holiness
Help me to guard it well and keep it clean

Search me, oh God
That I may walk in peace
Filled with the joy of knowing all is well
My heart surrendered and my conscience clean
So great a joy my tongue can scarcely tell
Oh, what a joy to know that all is well

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 10/29

Details:
    oh, so many foolish details
    consuming all my time
    and diverting my attention
    from the things that truly matter,
    things deserving my observance,
    things that really make a difference
    and are clearly more important
    than those tiny foolish details...

But here's the truth, Lord:

I sometimes hide in the details
to escape my responsibility
for greater and larger duties and... 

Sometimes I stall in the details,
slow to move to do the work
that I know I should be doing...

Sometimes I focus on the details
avoiding the bigger picture,

and the place and role that are mine... 

Sometimes I fuss with all the details
to avoid the pressing and real concerns
that deserve my full attention... 

Or I lose myself in the details,
pretending, Lord, that you're not there,

close by my side, at my right hand...

Open my eyes and open my ears
and redirect my mind and my heart:
find and free and focus me, Lord,
when I'm lost in the details of details...

Amen.

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 10/28

 

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Night Prayer: TUESDAY 10/27

 

These days, Lord, a lot of folks are down,

    in a funk, they've got the blues,

        their spirits are low...

 

When these days come, Lord,

   when we find ourselves 

      in a season of such days,

    will you come, Lord?

       will you come and lift us up?

Will you reach your hand to ours
   and with your strong arm 

pull us up and out 

    of the forest of our fears,
      the traps of our self-doubt,
         the blues that haunt our hearts?

Come, lift us up with a word of faith
   to help us trust in your desire     

       to free us from our fears...

Lift us up with a word of love
   to help us see within
      the beauty of your image 

            dwelling in our souls...

Lift us with a word of hope
   to cut the darkness with your light
      and help us find the peace you offer...

Lift us with a healing word
   to soothe the ache within our souls,
      the hurt within our hearts, 

        the chill deep in our bones...

Lift us with a wisdom word
   to clear our minds of any doubt 

      that shadows all you promise...

Lift us up with a word of strength
   to help us act when we are weak

      and ready to give up...

Lift us up with a word of mercy

    to pardon all our sins,
       to heal our hearts and souls...

Lift us up with a word of wonder,
   opening our eyes again
      to all we hope and work for...

Lift us up with a word of joy     

    to kindle in our hearts 

the friendship, love and trust we need

    to do what must be done...

Lift us with a word of power
   to raise our souls from their lonely depths,
      to lighten our hearts 

        and fill us with your joy...

Lift us up, Lord!

Reach out your hand to us, Lord,
   and with your strong arm pull us up,
out of the forest of our fears,
    from the traps of our self-doubt,
      from the blues that haunt our hearts...

Lift us up, Lord,

    lift us up, we pray!

Protect us Lord, while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Lifting Me Up by Riley Clemmons

 

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At my lowest I am not alone 

You are with me  And You won’t let go 

I’m not down for the count though it looks like I am

I need only be still and watch Your mighty hand 

Fighting my battles I know where my help comes from 

 

You’re lifting me up  Raising my head 

Giving me strength  When I have none left 

My shield and defender With me forever 

I know I’m not done  ‘Cause I feel Your love 

Lifting me up

 

I will trust You Even when it’s hard 

I hold Your promise Here inside my heart 

That I’m not down for the count,  I’ll see victory again 

I need only be still and watch Your mighty hand 

Fighting my battles I know where my help comes from 

 

You’re lifting me up  Raising my head 

Giving me strength  When I have none left 

My shield and defender With me forever 

I know I’m not done  ‘Cause I feel Your love 

Lifting me up

Out of the darkness Into the light You’re lifting me up 

Holding me tight Out of my burdens 

Into Your hope You’re lifting me up 

Oh and You’ll never, no never let go

You’re lifting me up  Raising my head 

Giving me strength  When I have none left 

My shield and defender With me forever 

I know I’m not done  ‘Cause I feel Your love 

You're lifting me up  

You’re lifting me up  Raising my head 

Giving me strength  When I have none left 

My shield and defender With me forever 

I know I’m not done  ‘Cause I feel Your love 

You're lifting me up 

You're lifting me up

 

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Night Prayer: MONDAY 10/26

As I reflected on the first reading for mass this morning it occurred to me that Saint Paul's words are just what our nation needs as we approach next week's election. So, for this evening's post I've rendered Paul's counsel to the Ephesians in the form of a prayer...

O God,

help us be kind to one another 

and compassionate,
forgiving one another 

as you have forgiven us...

 

As your beloved children,

help us imitate you 

and live in love...

Let there be among us

no immorality, impurity or greed,
no obscene, foolish or suggestive talk...

 

Rather, let our mouths be filled

with praise and thanksgiving... 

 

Remind us always

that no immoral, impure or greedy person

has any inheritance in your reign...

 

Keep us from being deceived by empty arguments

that call forth your judgment

on the disobedient...

For we, too, were once in darkness,
but now we are in your light, O Lord:

let us walk as children of the light...

 

Protect us, Lord while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

Here's Tony Alonso's simple setting of those daunting words from Saint Paul: "Be imitators of God!"  

 

Be Imitators of God by Tony Alonso 

 

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Be imitators of God,

be imitators of God

and walk in love

 

As Christ has loved us

as Christ has loved us

and walk in love

 

Be imitators of God,

be imitators of God

and walk in love

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Monday Morning Offering: 10/26

Morning Coffee by George Mendoza

 

I've been working on this prayer for some 16 years now - I hope you find this latest version helpful...

 

For your divine imagination, Lord,
I thank you;

for your playful wisdom shaping earth
in seasons timed with beauty,

I offer you my praise...

 

Who first knew, O Lord, 

your plan for shorter days

and a chill to sap the chlorophyll 

from summer’s shady boughs? 

 

Or your gift of longer nights unfolding 

hidden hues on every branch;

your bare hand waving blessings 

on a cool October breeze...

I see revealed in summer's loss, 

in each tree's seasoned dying,

a beauty, gold and russet

amid rustling purple patches, 

crimson capped and glory crowned...

 

I see fall's sheer light filtering

through leaves aglow 

as autumn embers burn away 

the summer's last hurrah...

 

As my hope's summered green now fades,

Lord, paint my soul in autumn hues

illumined with the season's light 

whose only source is you...

 

I offer thanks for every leaf

that sighs and dies and falls to pad

the path I walk and wander

in the forests of your grace...

 

Make safe my way through autumn's mystery,

changes, twists and turns

and walk with me, close by my side,

as year's end now draws nigh...

 

Amen.

 

S

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Night Prayer: SUNDAY 10/25

On Sundays, Night Prayer takes its lead from some element from the day's liturgy. Tonight's prayer responds to the first scripture at mass, from the book of Exodus...

 You shall not molest or oppress an alien for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword; then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans.

If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him. If you take your neighbor's cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in. If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate.

Your words today are hard, Lord! 

Demanding, harsh, challenging and taxing!

 

And I can't dismiss these verses as some exaggerated, 

  ancient, fire and brimstone commandment:

    you clearly define your terms;

    there's no mistaking your urgent resolve,

    nor any doubt of your passionate care

    for those who cry out in their need...

 

I looked and looked and looked, Lord,

 - but there's no wriggle room here!

 

I'm bound to face up to this word that confronts

    my th0ughts and my faith,

    my mind, heart and soul,

    my blessings and bounty,

    my conscience and my politics,

    my bank account, wallet and purse...

 

So my prayer tonight, Lord, is two-fold:

 

    - help me to hear and take to heart,

       with a humble and generous spirit, 

      your hard, taxing and challenging word

       and all that it asks of the life I lead

 

    - and because I know how often I fail

        in giving as you command,

      be merciful, Lord, in judging me

       and widen and open my heart

        to those who are most in need... 

 

Let me not dismiss your word, O Lord,

    nor your call, nor your love for the poor 

lest I be dismissed by my selfishness

    from your open and generous arms...

 

You hear the cry of the poor, Lord,

    help me hear what you hear

        and reach out to those you love... 

     

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. 

 

Please read! Most of my readers will be familiar with this song and with the Saint Louis Jesuits recording of it.  I just found this performance by ValLimar Jensen - she truly brings out the power of this text and the potential of John Foley's melody.  And this arrangement is very faithful to the Exodus text we're praying with tonight. 

 

The Cry of the Poor by John Foley, SJ 

   sung by ValLimar Jensen 

 

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I will bless the Lord at all times

With praise ever in my mouth

Let my soul glory in the Lord

Who will hear the cry of the poor,

   hear the cry of the poor? 

 

Let the lowly hear and be glad

The Lord listens to their pleas

and to hearts broken, God is near

Who will hear the cry of the poor? 

 

The Lord hears the cry of the poor,

Blessed be the Lord

The Lord hears the cry of the poor,

Blessed be the Lord 

 

Every spirit crushed God will save,

will be ransom for their lives

will be safe shelter for their fears

and will hear the cry of the poor 

 

The Lord hears the cry of the poor,

Blessed be the Lord

The Lord hears the cry of the poor,

Blessed be the Lord 

 

We proclaim your greatness, O God, 

Your praise ever in our mouth,

Every face brightened in Your light

For You hear the cry of the poor

You hear the cry of the poor 

 

The Lord hears the cry of the poor,

Blessed be the Lord

The Lord hears the cry of the poor,

Blessed be the Lord 

 

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