Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 1/10

I posted this prayer several years back but I've just now considerably expanded it and - given our current circumstances - I offer it again for our reflection...

 

What if, Lord?

 

What if you walked by my side today:

    right by my side... all day long...

 

With you so close at hand,

    might my tone be gentler?     

    my words more temperate? 

    my deeds more loving?

    my heart more open? 

    my anger tamed?

    my pardon more freely granted?  

    my self, less pitied?

    my efforts more earnest? 

    my promises more sincere? 

    my politics more honorable? 

    my intentions more noble? 

    my conscience clearer? 

    my deeds more just? 

    my views less judgmental?  

    my touch more tender?

    my spirit more forgiving? 

    my thinking less narrow?

    my transactions more honest? 

    my affections less prejudiced? 

    my conversations less contentious?

    my pride less consuming?

    my motives more innocent?

    my play more fair? 

    my behavior more mature? 

    my pledges more trustworthy?

    my faith bolder?

    my mercy more indulgent?    

    my viewpoints more rational? 

    my habits more disciplined? 

    my bitterness sweetened? 

    my disposition milder? 

    my speech more straight-forward?

    my convictions stronger?

    my humor more wholesome? 

    my opinions less strident?  

    my manner more peaceable? 

    my praise more fulsome?

    my critique more constructive?

    my outlook broader?  

    my demeanor more welcoming?

    my patience more enduring?

    my choices more studied?

    my dreams less selfish?

    my ego humbler? 

    my love more passionate?

    my giving more generous?    

    my thoughts kinder?

    my attitude more accepting? 

    my desires more transparent?

    my decisions wiser?  

    my soul more devout? 

    my hope deeper?

    my judgments more impartial?

    my time better spent?

    my prayer more frequent?

 

Of course, the thing is, Lord 

    it's not "What if?"

It's "You do!"

You do walk by my side, 

    close by my side,

this day, every day

    and all day long! 

 

So, help me spend today, Lord:

   speaking, acting, responding, giving,

   trying, working, discerning, thinking,

   choosing, waiting, wanting, praying

- being truly blessed and humbled - 

    walking by your side 

        this day and every day 

            and all day long...

Amen.

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Something truly rare these days.. a clear mind speaking a clear truth...

Speaking to diplomats accredited to the Holy See (1/9/226), Pope Leo said that language has become increasingly ambiguous and weaponized, undermining clear realities, authentic dialogue, and diplomacy’s role in preventing conflict.

 

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What's a "theophany?"

Tapestry by John Nava

The Christmas season on the church calendar is not yet complete: it will end with this weekend's celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. (We return to Ordinary Time on Monday, January 12.)  

You can find the readings for this weekend and background material on them here.   

Background  

With this Sunday's feast we come to the close of a season of Theophanies. Our word Theophany comes to us from the Greek Θεοφάνεια - Τheophaneia which means "appearance of God."  

In the early Church, Epiphany originally celebrated four different events: the Baptism of the Lord; Christ's first miracle, the changing of water into wine at the Wedding in Cana; the Nativity of Christ; and the Visit of the Magi. By the 4th century, these theophany feasts separated out into individual celebrations, principally: Christmas on December 25 and Epiphany on January 6.

This weekend the gospel (Matthew) tells the story of Jesus being baptized in the Jordan River by John - and the voice of God declaring Christ as the Beloved Son. (The same event is found in the day's second scripture taken from the Acts of the Apostles.)
 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 1/9

End of day's a good time, Lord, 

    to look back      

    on what I saw... 

    what I heard... 

    what I felt...
    on what I said and did... 

    and what I failed to say or do...

 

Eventide's the hour to sit and share with you 

    my worries, fears and cares,

    my blessings, joys and thanks

    and my prayer for those in trouble, 

    nearby and far away...

Nightfall's a time for me to muse 

    on all the ways, today, 

    you nudged me, 

    tapped me on the shoulder, 

    moved deep within my soul 

    and softly whispered in my heart...

Just before the dark of night, Lord, 

    hold a mirror to my day

    that I might see 

    how you were with me,  

    by my side, 

    every hour, 

    every moment, 

    every second, 

    all day long...

Help me look in that mirror so I'll more clearly see

    your presence and reflection 

        in my life, 

        in my neighbor 

        and in all the world around me...

 

End of day's a good time, Lord, 

    to sit with you 

    and look back

    and thank you 

    for all this day has been,

    for all your mercy, grace and peace... 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake,
     watch over me while I sleep
that awake I might keep watch with you
     and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

Tonight's song, Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in a Mirror), is from one of my favorite composers, Arvo Pärt.  This exquisitely simple instrumental meditation is performed by Herbert Schuch (piano) and Leonhard Roczek (cello). Let their music be the mirror reflecting the day just ending...

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 1/9

 

Who doesn't long and pray
    for restful nights and peaceful days?

Who doesn't wait an end
    to times of anxious, worried fears?

Who among us hasn't prayed
    for nights of deep and restful sleep?

Has anyone a heart not longing,

    aching to be loved?

 

Don't all souls seek what's beautiful,

    what's gracious, pure and good, 

        what's worth our keen devotion?

 

Who doesn't ask for good health?

    for shelter, food and comfort? 

        for liberty and freedom?

Indeed, do I know anyone

    whose needs and whose desires

        differ all that much from mine? 

We're all much more alike, Lord,

    than the ways that we are not: 

in our souls our similarities 

    outnumber our disparities.

From the same place deep within, then,
    we share a common thirst
and all who share our hunger
    seek that love that feeds the heart...

Help me then to see, Lord, 

    to care for and to nourish

        all the hearts of those around me

and open wide my heart to all

    who seek to feed and nourish me

        with all they have to offer... 

         

 Amen.

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 1/8

There's just no hurrying the winter, Lord! 

Even if it's a warmer-than-usual winter, even if there's very little snowfall, there's nothing will speed the earth's journey, on its path around the sun - and only the sun can warm the earth and coax another springtime to bud and bloom in beauty...

 

Staring out my window, I see the bare branches of maples, oaks and birches shivering through these nights and days, jealous of the evergreens who stand against the cold, well-dressed for this long wintry spell: give me their patience, Lord...

 

Give me patience with the universe, with how the sun and planets set the pace for springtime's sweet return - with longer days and colors bright and hope in every leaf and bloom - and in my heart and soul where the winter takes its toll while I wait for April's warmth... 

 

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. 

 

A Time for Every Blues by Holy Groove

 

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Tell everything. There's a season

and a time to every purpose under heaven's reason.

 

A time to be born, a time to die,

a time to plant, a time to cry,

a time to kill, a time to heal.

 

A time to pray, a time to seal,

a time to weep, a time to dance,

a time to lose, a time for chance.

 

He hath made all things beautiful in time,

but man can't grasp his full design.

He said, "Eternity in our soul,

yet we see only part not whole.

 

A time to cast away the stone.

A time to gather what was thrown.

A time to keep. A time to tear.

A time to speak, a time to care.

 

I know there's nothing better for man

than to rejoice and do what he can

to eat and drink and labor true.

 

This is the gift God gives to you.

He hath made all things beautiful in time,

but man can't grasp his full design.

He said, "Eternity in our soul,

yet we see only part not whole.

 

Whatsoever God do it shall be forever.

No adding, no taking none shall ever

fear before him standing on

for he is time eternal.

 

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 1/8

                     Georgetown Lake, Georgetown, CO
 

It's a week now, Lord,

    since New Year's Day
and of all the resolutions I made
    - or might have made,
        or should have made,
            or could have made -
the most important would be this: 

    I resolve to seek serenity:
        to live one day at a time;
        to accept the things I cannot change;
        to change the things I can;

    and to pray for the wisdom
        to know the difference... 

One day at a time, Lord,
   mindful of your presence...

One hour at a time, Lord,
   mindful of your grace...

One minute at a time, Lord,
   mindful of and grateful for

        your patient love for me...

Amen. 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 1/7

 

Lord,

we're so much in need of peace,

    the peace that's only yours to give...

 

We pray for peace, Lord,

    the peace that comes from you alone...

We plead for peace, Lord,

    the peace to heal our deepest wounds...

We hunger and thirst for peace, Lord,

    a peace we cannot give ourselves...

 

We pray for peace in our homes and in our streets,

in our villages, towns and cities,

in our nation and in the world,

    we pray for the peace of which we dream... 

 

And we pray for that peace deep within

ourselves, in our minds and hearts and souls,

    the peace that makes us one with you... 

We pray for that peace that begins - not with us - 

    but always and only with you, O Lord...

Protect us, Lord, in your peace,

    day and night, enfold us in your peace

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest - in your peace...

Amen.

 

Lord, Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace 

    by Sir John Rutter

 

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Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

where there is injury, pardon; 

where there is doubt, faith; 

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light; 

where there is sadness, joy; 

and all for thy mercy's sake. 

O divine Master:

grant that I may not so much seek 

to be consoled as to console; 

to be understood as to understand; 

to be loved as to love; 

for it is in giving that we receive; 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; 

and it is in dying that we are born 

to eternal life.

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Pause for Prayer: WEDNESDAY 1/7

 

 

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