NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 1/15

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Tonight our prayer begins with Saint Paul's call for us all to be holy!

Lord, you call me to be (gulp) holy!

 

Truth be told - that kinda scares me

because one thing I know is how unholy

my thoughts and words and deeds can be...

 

But holy is the goal you set for me, Lord,

    holy is the path you call me to walk

        and holy is the life for which I was created...

Daunting - to say the least!

 

So I'm relieved to know, Lord, 

you don't call me to the holiness of 

    Saint Paul or Joan of Arc,

    or Francis of Assisi or Katherine Drexel,

    or Oscar Romero  or Maria Goretti

    or Maximilian Kolbe or Teresa of Calcutta...

 

You called each of them

    in their own times, circumstances and struggles,

with their own 

    abilities, talents and personalities,

in spite of their own 

    faults, weaknesses and limitations,

and through

   the  seeds you planted in their hearts

    and the words you whispered in their prayer,

you opened them to your Spirit

    moving deep within their souls

    in ways unique, personal and individual...

    

You don't call me to be Paul or Joan, Oscar or Teresa:

but you do call me to be me 

    (insert you own name here!)

and you call me

    in my own times, circumstances and struggles,

    with my own abilities, talents and personality,

    in spite of all my faults, weaknesses and limitations...

 

You call me to be holy, Lord,

    through the seeds of faith you plant in my heart

    and the words you whisper in my prayer,

opening me to your Spirit

    moving deep in my soul...

 

In ways unique and personal to me as an individual

    you call me to be - holy...

 

May all the saints intercede for me, Lord

  and help me see 

     how you're calling me to holiness...

Help me respond to your call in thought, word and deed

    in my life, 

    through my story, 

    on my  journey,

as I make my way to holiness

    and  home to you, your love and peace...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake 

and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I may keep watch with you

and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

(The language in tonight's song is a bit dated         

     - but the message is not...)

 

Take Time To Be Holy by William Dunn Longstaff 

    performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir 

 

(If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!) 

 

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;  

Abide in him always, and feed on his Word.  

Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak, 

Forgetting in nothing his blessing to seek.  

 

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;  

Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone. 

 By looking to Jesus, like him thou shalt be;  

Thy friends in thy conduct his likeness shall see.  

 

Take time to be holy, let him be thy Guide;  

And run not before him, whatever betide. 

 In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,  

And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.  

 

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul, 

Each thought and each motive beneath his control.  

Thus led by his Spirit to fountains of love,  

Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

 

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!