Fifty-eight years ago today, Lord,
your servant, Pope Saint John XXIII,
convened the Second Vatican Council,
an opportunity for your Church to refresh herself
and to attune her ministry to the needs of the modern world...
When the Council opened, Lord, I was a high school freshman
but many who read these words had not yet been born:
so much has changed in the church in nearly sixty years
and so much has changed in the world...
On renewing the church, Good Pope John said,
We are not on earth to be museum keepers
but rather, to tend a blooming garden full of life...
Whatever my thoughts about the Church, Lord,
I know you call me to tend my own garden:
to make of my life a place that blossoms in grace,
a vineyard whose yield is ripe and sweet,
an orchard whose harvest is full and hearty,
a field whose produce feeds and sustains...
Make of me a good gardener, Lord, a faithful servant,
working my small corner of the world
as a place where others are fed
a garden where others find joy and peace...
Cultivate the garden that's mine, Lord,
and grow the Church that feeds my soul that,
one with you, in the Spirit of your love, together
we might serve your people 'round the world...
Protect us, Lord, as we lie awake
and watch over us as we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
All Good Gifts:
music by Stephen Schwartz, lyrics by Matthias Claudius
We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand.
He sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above.
Then thank the Lord, thank the Lord for all his love.
We thank thee then, O Father,
for all things bright and good:
The seed time and the harvest,
our life our health our food.
No gifts have we to offer for all thy love imparts
But that which thou desirest,
our humble thankful hearts.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above.
Then thank the Lord, thank the Lord for all his love.
I really wanna thank you Lord!
All good gifts around us
Are sent from Heaven above.
Then thank the Lord, oh thank the Lord for all his love.
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