NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 9/16

Today's first reading at mass was Saint Paul's familiar hymn to love from 1 Corinthians: 

Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails... 

Perhaps we can use these words to reflect back on the day we just lived...

Am I a lover, Lord?

Help me look back on today, Lord,
    on the people I met and interacted with,
    the circumstances I found myself in,
    what I did,

    what I failed to do, 
    what I shared and what I hid,
    the choices I made

    and the words I spoke...

Was I a lover today, Lord?

When and how
    was I patient today?

When and how
    was I kind?

Was I jealous today?
    was I envious?

Were there times today, Lord,
    when I was haughty and rude?

Did I see to my own interests all day long
    or did I take time out 

        to serve the needs of others?

Was I quick-tempered? 

    grouchy? harsh? angry?

Did I spend time today
    brooding over old hurts, 

        disappointments and resentments?

Did I take any pleasure today
    in things I know to be wrong?

Did I seek out and rejoice 

    in what I know to be 

        true and good and just?

Did I bear my burdens gladly
    or sulk in complaint and self-pity?

Did I strive to be trusting
    and to grow in what I believe in?

Did I make an effort to be hopeful
    - especially when I felt defeated?

Did I face the day's problems
    and make an honest effort 

        to resolve them?

Was I a lover today, Lord?
Did I succeed in being a loving person?
And if I didn't, where did I fail?
    and what do I need to do 

        to grow in love tomorrow? 

Help me remember 

    how much you love me, Lord,
       and how much you love all your people; 

help me to love as you love:
   freely, fully and with forgiveness...

Help me to see 

    where my heart is true and self-giving 

and help me see 

    where I'm selfish 

        and less than loving...

Strengthen the love already in my heart
    and deepen my heart to grow in love that
         bears all things, believes all things,
           hopes all things and endures all things...

Fill my heart 

    with the love that doesn't fail, Lord, 

so that I not fail in loving you 

    and loving those whose paths cross mine each day...

 

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. 

The Greatest of These

    by Tina English

   

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If I speak with the tongues of men and angels,
but have not love, I am just noise. 
And if I have the gift of prophecy,
and know all knowledge, have all faith,
understand all mysteries, 
or remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing. 

If I give all I have to feed the poor, 
but have not love, 

nothing is gained. 

Love is patient, love is kind, 

Love is patient, love is kind,
love does not brag; and is not arrogant. 
Love is not proud, boastful or rude. 
Love does not seek its own. 

Love rejoices in the truth.

Love rejoices in the truth.
It keeps no record of wrongs.
Love bears all things, bears all things,
believes all things, believes all things,
Love hopes all things, Love hopes all things,
endures all things. 

These three remain; faith, hope, and love. 
But the greatest of these is love. 
The greatest of these is love.
The greatest of these is love.  

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