NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 7/31

 

It's the feast of Saint Ignatius and this Night Prayer is drawn from his Suscipe prayer, "Take, Lord, receive..."

Lord, I come in prayer tonight
    with a heart that needs to be emptied,
        a heart that needs to be filled...

 
You showed us the way, Lord:
   you humbled yourself on the Cross,

      you emptied yourself out of love for us
    and now you invite us 

       to humble and empty ourselves
           in the same way...

I don't always find it easy, Lord, to empty myself 

    of things I cling to

          things I want to keep and hold on to...

 
Nor do I find it easy to let go:
   to let go the burdens I've befriended,

      that have become part of my identity,

         burdens I cling to for security...

 

But if I don't empty my heart, Lord,

    how will it open to receive the gifts

        of your mercy, healing, consolation and peace?

Teach my heart to know, Lord,
    what to keep and what to lose,
    what to hold on to and what to let go of,
    what to treasure and what to dismiss..

As I let go of what I don't need, Lord,
    fill my heart with a hunger and thirst

for what truly feeds and fills me,
    what deepens and strengthens my faith and hope...

Give me joy in the letting go, Lord,
    and peace in being filled with you,
       with your Word, your grace and your love...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I lie awake

    and watch over me, while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

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These Alone Are Enough by Dan Schutte

 

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Take my heart, O Lord, take my hopes and dreams.
Take my mind with all its plans and schemes.
Give me nothing more than your love and grace.
These alone, O God, are enough for me.

Take my thoughts, Oh Lord, and my memory.
Take my tears, my joys, my liberty.
Give me nothing more than your love and grace.
These alone, O God, are enough for me.

I surrender, Lord, all I have and hold.
I return to you your gifts untold.
Give me nothing more than your love and grace.
These alone, O God, are enough for me.

When the darkness falls on my final days,

take the very breath that sang your praise.

Give me nothing more than your love and grace.

These alone, O God, are enough for me.

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 7/31

July 31 is the Feast of Saint Ignatius, founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Ignatius' influence on Christian prayer and spirituality cannot be underestimated. In my own life, I've had a Jesuit priest as a spiritual director for over 30 years and for the same period of time I've always made my annual retreat at Jesuit retreat houses.  This morning's prayer begins with a selection from Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises (paraphrased by David L. Fleming, S.J.).  I encourage you to take your time with these words - just the very first line offers enough food for thought and prayer to last a week! 

 

The Goal of our life is to live with God forever.
God, who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response of love allows God's life
    to flow into us without limit.

All the things in this world are gifts from God,

presented to us so that we can know God more easily
and make a return of love more readily.

As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God

insofar as they help us to develop as loving persons.

But if any of these gifts become the center of our lives,

they displace God
and so hinder our growth toward our goal.

In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance

before all of these created gifts
insofar as we have a choice
and are not bound by some obligation.

We should not fix our desires on health or sickness,

wealth or poverty, success or failure,
a long life or a short one.

For everything has the potential of calling forth in us

a deeper response to our life in God.

Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better leads

to God's deepening his life in me.

Pause for Prayer

Lord, help me accept everything in my life

    as your gift to me...

 

And here, Lord, is the one thing

    I find most difficult to accept...

 

Give me the grace, Lord,

   to accept this as your gift to me,

      as part of my journey to you... 

    

Grant me the wisdom

    to hold all things in balance, in perspective...

 

And here, Lord, is the one thing

    that most easily upsets my balance... 

 

Give me the grace, Lord,

    to see how this is but part of my life

        and to treat it accordingly...

Let none of your gifts overshadow

    the gift of your grace in my life...

 

And here, Lord, is the one thing

    that most often distracts me from you...

 

Give me the grace, Lord,

    to see how nothing is greater

        my relationship with you... 

     

Help me see how everything in my life

    has potential for drawing me closer to you:

        everything, Lord!

Let this be my one desire:

    to choose, always, what leads me to you

        and deepens your life within me...

 

Give me the grace to desire Lord,

   that in all things

        you are my first desire...

   

Amen.

 

This song is based on a prayer written by Saint Ignatius called the Suscipe,

which is Latin for, receive. 

Take, Lord, Receive by John Foley, SJ 

 

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Take, Lord, receive all my liberty,
My memory, understanding, my entire will.

Give me only Your love and Your grace, 

   that’s enough for me.
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.

Take, Lord, receive all I have and possess.
You have given all to me, now I return it. 

Give me only Your love and Your grace, 

   that’s enough for me.
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.

Take, Lord, receive, all is Yours now.
Dispose of it, wholly according to Your will 

Give me only Your love and Your grace, 

   that’s enough for me.
Your love and Your grace, are enough for me.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 7/30

Lord, you are:
    the friend who never forgets me,
    the teacher whose word instructs me,
    the trainer who strengthens my will,
    the doctor who heals my soul,
    the coach who brings out the best in me,
    the mentor whose wisdom guides me,
    the chef who feeds my deepest hunger,
    the lover whose passion saves me,
    the mother who tenderly holds me,
    the companion who walks beside me,
    the brother who watches my back,
    the ruler whose law protects me,

    the pilot who prudently charts my course,
    the father who gives me his blessing,
    the nurse whose attention calms me,
    the counselor who understands me,
    the guide who faithfully leads me home,
    the prophet who speaks to my heart, 
    the judge whose mercy spares me, 
    the sister whose care is enduring, 
    the word whose truth enlightens me, 
    the harbor whose shelter secures me, 
    the fort whose walls defend me
    the path whose peace preserves me,
    the servant who humbly attends me, 

    the shepherd who calls me by name,
    the master who gently reproves me, 
    the light that’s never extinguished, 
    the Spirit who lives within me,
    the Savior who lays down his life for me 
    the God who loves me so faithfully 
        and who dwells in my heart and 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.

 

You Are My All in All 

    by Dennis Jernigan

 

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 7/29

 

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 7/29

 

July 29 used to be the Feast of Saint Martha but 4 years ago Pope Francis expanded the feast to include Martha's siblings: Mary and Lazarus. The gospels indicate that the members of this family trio were special friends of Jesus.  You'll remember Jesus stopping in for dinner in the gospel a few weeks back.  And when Lazarus died, his sisters sent for Jesus who came - and raised Lazarus from the dead!  

 

It's good for us to remember that Jesus who loved all, also had especially close friends, including: the twelve apostles, his closest collaborators; John, often referred to as "the disciple whom Jesus loved; and Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Our prayer tonight (which I've enjoyed updating) celebrates the gift of friendship...

How fine the gift of friendship, Lord!

    Good friends, old friends,

    new friends, work friends,

    wise friends, fun friends, 

    casual friends, life-long friends,

    childhood friends, college friends,

    soul friends, cousin friends, 

    family friends, loyal friends, 

    mentor friends, group friends, 

    friends next door and virtual friends,

    true friends, honest friends, 

    school friends, social friends,

    best friends, long-distance friends,

    friends in faith, FaceBook friends

    and the we-should-get-together

        -but-never-do-friends...

How fine the gift of friendship, Lord! 

 

I'm grateful, Lord, for all my friends:

    friends who have my back,

    friends who always remember me,

    friends who never let me down,

    friends who always have time for me,

    generous friends

        who never count the cost, 

    friends who tell me the truth,

    friends I rely on,

    friends I depend,

    friends I count on... 

 

And thank you, Lord, for friends:    

    who pardon and forgive me,

    who praise me and critique me,

    who pray for me and stay with me,

    who always save a place for me,

    who wait for me when I am late,    

    who comfort me in sad times,

    who share my every joy,

    who live within my heart of hearts,

    whose patience with me knows no end, 

    whose very hearts are home to me...

 

I thank you for my closest friends,

    friends as fine as purest gold,

whose love and prayer and sacrifice

    draw me to you, 

the very best of all my friends:

    my Savior and my Lord...

 

Take some time here

    to lift in prayer, by name

the friends for whom

    you pray tonight...

 

Lead me to befriend the friendless, Lord,

    and make me a friend to others 

        as you're a friend to me...

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.

 

Two songs for our prayer this evening... The first was released 14 years ago but it's lyrics fit our own times very well, reminding us of our friendship with Jesus.  The second is a well known piece from Carole King, reminding us of how precious and sacred is the gift of friendship.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners by Casting Crowns

   cover by Chinedu Gboof, 

        featuring Johnny Drille

 

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Jesus, friend of sinners, we've strayed so far away
We've cut down people in Your name
But the sword was never ours to swing
Oh, Jesus, friend of sinners
The truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You
But they are trippin' over me

 

Always lookin' around, but never lookin' up
I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands
And a heart divided

 

Oh, Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world
At the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh, Jesus, friend of sinners
Break our hearts for what breaks Yours

 

Yeah, (yeah), yeah

Jesus, friend of sinners
The one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away
And the stones fall from their hands

Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy
Bring Your people to their knees

 

Nobody knows what we're for
Only what we're against 

When we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs
Crossed over the lines and love like You did?

 

Chorus

 

You love every lost cause
You reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame
They're the reason that You came

Lord, I was that lost cause 
And I was the outcast
But You died for sinners just like me
A grateful leper at Your feet

 

'Cause You are good, oh, You are good
And Your love endures forever...

 

You've Got A Friend by Carole King

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Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 7/29

    Greg Boyle, SJ in Cherished Belonging    

     

I wrote the prayer below more than 24 years ago and have posted it quite often.  It came to mind again when a friend posted the quote above on Facebook.

 

You enfold me, entwine and embrace me.

You handle me, hold me and hide me.

You wrestle me, welcome and want me.

Your chin by my ear, your hand in my hair,

your arm 'round my back, my arms rounding you,

my face on your chest: 

   I'm held in your warmth.

Your eyes keep close watch, 

   mine close in deep peace.

Your fingers stroke softly 

   my head's numbered strands.

Your grip is a gift, 

   your grasp saving grace.

You whisper, 
    "You're mine, I call you by name:

        you're found and forgiven, 

            brought home and beloved."

I breathe, 
    "Yes, I am, shaped and healed by your hand.

         You call me by name: 

            I am yours, you are mine."

Amen. 

 

Hold On To Me by Lauren Daigle,

   cover by Savella and Rachael Schroeder

 

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When the best of me is barely breathin' 

When I'm not somebody I believe in 

Hold on to me 

 

When I miss the light the night has stolen 

When I'm slammin' all the 

Doors You've opened 

Hold on to me 

Hold on to me 

 

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see You 

When I am sure I have reached the end 

Hold on to me when I forget I need You 

When I let go, hold me again 

 

When I don't feel like I'm worth defendin' 

When I'm tired of my pretendin' 

Hold on to me 

 

When I start to break in desperation 

Underneath the weight of expectation 

Hold on to me 

Hold on to me 

 

Hold on to me when it's too dark to see You 

When I am sure I have reached the end 

Hold on to me when I forget I need You 

When I let go, hold me again 

 

I could rest here in Your arms forever 

'Cause I know nobody loves me better 

Hold on to me 

Hold on to me

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 7/28

 

I have several friends, Lord, dealing with 

    surprise developments

    unforeseen issues,     

    and the unexpected consequences 

    of unintended outcomes

    in their work and in their lives...

 

These are well-meaning people, Lord: 

    good people with good intentions,

    making every effort and doing their best

    to do what's right, what's faithful and just;

    to do what they truly  believe and discern

    is the work you've called them to do... 

 

But they've run into roadblocks

dead-ends and one-ways

and barriers choking the path that leads

    to progress, growth and improvement;

to change that clears and opens the road

    to the peace you offer 

        and call us to make...

 

For my friends, O Lord, I pray tonight: 

    *make straight in their work,

        in their lives and their hearts

    the highway that paves the way

        for your coming...

 

Make the rough patches smooth

    and the rugged spots level

that all flesh might work together, O Lord, 

    to prepare for your coming, 

        your presence and peace... 

 

In spite of the ruts and potholes, Lord,

    help my friends walk in faith 

        the path that you chart;

keep them faithful to you, 

    their guide and their guard,

their shepherd, companion,

    their God...

 

Send your Holy Spirit down

    to grant them wisdom, 

        and refine their discernment;

    to enlighten their minds 

        and strengthen their faith;        

    to renew their resolve to faithfully call 

        your people to walk the path of your truth

           'til your glory, O Lord, breaks through...     

 

Refresh and restore my friends, my God,

    and lift up their voices, crying out:

        Prepare the way of the Lord!

 

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.

 

*Beginning here, look for the imagery of Isaiah 40:3-5

 

A Voice Cries Out by Sanctorum Media

 

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"A voice cries out: 

'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, 

make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 

Every valley shall be lifted up, 

and every mountain and hill be made low; 

the uneven ground shall become level, 

and the rough places a plain. 

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, 

and all people shall see it together, 

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'" 

 

Prepare the way of the Lord, 

Make straight His paths today, 

Every mountain will bow down, 

Every valley raised. 

The glory of the Lord

Will shine for all to see, 

His promise never fails, 

His word speaks life to me. 

 

In the desert of our hearts, 

A highway for our King, 

Where the rough becomes the smooth, 

And hope begins to spring. 

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken, 

His word stands firm and true, 

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken, 

His glory breaks through. 

 

Chorus 

 

In the desert of our hearts, 

A highway for our King, 

Where the rough becomes the smooth, 

And hope begins to spring. 

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken, 

His word stands firm and true, 

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken, 

His glory breaks through. 

 

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