NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 6/28

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Tonight we'll pick up the theme of welcoming hospitality found in today's first reading and gospel. 

You call me to welcome the stranger,

    to receive the stranger into my heart

because in welcoming the stranger, Lord,

    it's you whom I receive...

 

Then, help me practice, Lord,

    help me practice my welcoming skills,

        - first on those I already know!

For how can I welcome the stranger

    when I'm estranged from family,

        from coworkers and classmates,

            from neighbors just down the street...

Help me humbly learn to welcome, Lord: 

    the folks I know who tick me off,

    light my fuse,

    grind my gears

    and always push my buttons...

 

Help me graciously receive the people

    who trouble and annoy me,

    irritate and bother me,

    infuriate and irk me,

    embarrass and disturb me...

 

Help me see, Lord,

    how graciously you welcome me

when I'm estranged from you,

    the One I seek,

        by my failings, faults and sins...  

Let me see how warmly you receive me 

    though I fail to heed your word,

    to follow where you lead,

    to seek your truth and wisdom,

    to love you as I ought,

    to serve you as my God...

 

Even when I sin, Lord,

    your arms are wide open, waiting,

        with mercy and with pardon

    to welcome my return,

        and receive me into your heart...

 

Teach me, Lord, to truly, warmly welcome

    my family, friends and neighbors

for when I'm estranged from them,

    then I'm estranged from you...

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.

 

I am so grateful to have found this song!

We Are Called to Welcome Strangers 

     by Sheena Evans and Simon Hancock

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 6/28

Photo by M. Rutledge

 

This strawberry's not quite ripe for picking
but the season's here for this heart-shaped fruit
to journey from farm to table
to garnish my breakfast,
crown a shortcake 

or fill a picnic pie...

A natural work of art, Lord:
this simple, succulent, luscious fruit,
ripening red and juicy,
sweet proof that summer's here...

They say that on average 

a strawberry bears some 200 seeds
(which doesn't sound average at all to me)
but that's your wondrous design, Lord,
for generous, overabundant potential
for new life, growth and joy...

 

And all this makes me wonder, Lord:
how many seeds of burgeoning beauty
are hiding, embedded, deep in my soul?

 

What fruit ripens within me, Lord,
patiently biding its own sweet time,

waiting to garnish my day with joy,
to crown with praise a neighbor's work,
hoping to fill with generous bounty
another's emptiness, wants and needs?

 

Make me grateful for strawberries, Lord
and for all the ways that your love flows
from your heart into mine

and from my heart into others
with summer's sweetened promise 
of a season ripe with grace...

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 6/27

I just read, Lord, that:

    Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce 

        may marry soon;

    that the event might take place 

        in Madison Square Garden;

    that guests must sign an NDA 

        regards the ceremony's details;

    that this will be

        "the wedding of the century..."

 

Well, Lord,

    I'd like to nominate some other couples

        for the title of "wedding of the century..."

 

I'd like to nominate couples 

    getting married in Ukraine:

couples who promise

    for better or for worse,

    for richer, for poorer,

    in sickness and in health, 

to faithfully love and cherish each other

    in a union that only death may part... 

 

I nominate couples who marry in Ukraine

    and couples  everywhere who marry

         in the shadows of terror and war... 

  

I nominate all those couples 

    whose vows embody a living faith

        our world so desperately needs; 

    whose promises speak an enduring hope

        our world has squandered and lost;

    whose given word unveils a love

        revealing your presence among us... 

 

Such are the "weddings of the century," Lord, 

    disclosing for all to see

that in the end, faith hope and love

    are the gifts that all of us need

and not only then, but even now

    - and especially now - 

            the greatest of these is love...

 

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. 

 

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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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 6/27

This morning I'm posting a quote which has frequently appeared on social media and in several different versions. It's source is unknown.

I offer it here as a kind of examination of conscience - for everyone - for all of us.  In light of that, please refrain from commenting unless you care to share with all of us how you have been guilty of the transgressions outlined in this quote.

Having an opinion is human. 

Disagreeing is natural. 

We were never meant to all 

think, see, or believe the same,

in the same way, at the same time. 

That's what makes conversations powerful 

and growth possible. 

However, what's not okay 

is attacking someone's character 

just because their perspective challenges yours. 

What's also not okay 

is confusing disrespect with strength. 

You can stand firm in what you believe 

without tearing someone else down. 

You can speak your truth 

without silencing someone else's. 

Maturity isn't about winning arguments; 

it's about keeping your integrity 

when it would be easier to be cruel. 

Respect should never go out of style, 

yet somehow, it's one thing 

our society is running low on. 

Different views need not divide us 

- but disrespect always does. 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 6/26

As the sun sets, Lord,
   and evening breezes stir;
when clouds begin to disappear
   and darkness settles in
I'm wondering:
   how'd I spend my day?

What words of mine now echo
   in the hearts of friends and family?

What assistance did I offer
   to others in their need?

What time did I spend
   alone, with you, in prayer?

What comfort did I give
    in healing, grace and mercy?

What openness was mine
   to the gifts you sent my way?

What steps did I take
   to reconcile with others?

What silence did I seek
   to listen for your voice?

What effort did I make
   to accept my neighbor's help?

What risk did I take
  to be loyal to my faith?

What time did I spend
   just for others, not for me?

What peace might now be mine
   because I walked this day with you?

As the sun sets, Lord,
   and evening breezes stir;
when clouds begin to disappear
   and darkness settles in
I'm wondering:
   how'd I spend my day?

 

 Protect me, Lord, as I lie awake,

   and watch over me as I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

   and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

There Is No Greater Love 

    by J. Michael Joncas

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There is no greater love, says the Lord,
than to lay down your life for a friend;
There is no greater love, no greater love,
than to lay down your life for a friend.

1. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. 

    Live on in my love ...

2. All this I tell you that my joy may be yours 

    and your joy may be complete ...

3. You are my friends if you keep my commands; 

    no longer slaves but friends to me ...

4. It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you, 

    chose you to go forth and bear fruit ...

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 6/26

 

June is a month of special devotion to the Heart of Jesus - as are all Fridays.  Today is the last Friday in June. The inscription on this icon translates: Here is the heart which has loved us so much! 

 

Lord, give me a heart

    to love as you love...

 

give me a heart

    to see as you see...

 

give me a heart

    to forgive others freely...

 

give me a heart

    as deep as your own...

 

give me a heart

    at peace with your word...

 

give me a heart

    for serving the poor...

 

give me a heart

    both generous and kind...

 

give me a heart

    of strength and conviction...

give me a heart 

    of gentle compassion...

give me a heart

    as pure as fresh snow...

 

give me a heart

    courageous and bold...

 

give me a heart

    both simple and humble...

 

give me a heart

    healed by your mercy...

give me a heart

    filled with trust, filled with hope...

 

give me a heart

    to welcome the outcast...

give me a heart

    steeped in your wisdom...

 

give me a heart

    that hungers for truth...

 

give me a heart

    to welcome your Spirit...

 

give me a heart 

    where you are at home...

 

give me a heart

    at home with your own...

 

and give me a heart, Lord,

    to love as you love... 

 

Amen.

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 6/25

You know every single detail of my life, Lord!
You know things about me
   that totally escape my own attention,
and you hold everything you know of me
   in your mind, your heart, your love...

You take notice and you know, Lord,
   all my joys and sorrows,
   all my ups and downs,
   my hopes and dreams and plans,
   my regrets and disappointments...

As this day ends, Lord,
   you know everything I did
and all the things I meant to do
   but didn't get around to...

 

You know the good I did, Lord,

    and you know the times I failed;

you know when I was generous

    and you know when I held back;

you know when I was honest

    and you know the lies I told;

you know when I was kind

    and you know when I was mean;

you know when I worked hard

    and the times when I slacked off;

you know when I was faithful

    and you know the times I strayed...

 

You know when I was hurting, Lord,

    alone and feeling sad;

you know what weighed so heavy

    on my mind and in my heart;

you know when I felt helpless,

    confused, at my wits' end;

you know when I felt hopeless,

    and unsure of where to turn...

 

You know when I was happy, Lord,

    when good news came my way;

you known when my heart warmed

    to a small and simple gift;

you know when I felt healing

    in my secret, wounded place;

and you know when I found hope

    to move ahead with trust in you...

There never was a moment, Lord,

    throughout this livelong day

when your eye was not upon me,

    always watching me with care...

 

You never turn away from me,

    you always have my back;

in your sight, Lord, lies my value:

    I'm graced, beloved and blessed...

 

As your eye is on the sparrow, Lord,

  so hold me in your gaze

and turn my eyes to you

    to look upon your holy face...

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 only voice in tonight's music belongs to Chris Rupp.

 

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

   by Martin and Gabriel

     arranged by Ben Bram,  

      performed by Chris Rupp

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Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Oh, why should my heart be lonely
And long for heaven and home

When Jesus is my portion

My constant friend is he
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me

 

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches over me

His eye is on the sparrow
And I know he watches me…

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 6/24

Image source

 

When I come to pray, Lord, I often bring

    a basket full of troubles and tears, 

        needs and fears
            and shouts and cries for help...

 

But today I come with praise, just praise, and

    even if my heart's not yet quite there
I'm thankful still for all my blessings
    even if my feelings lag behind...

 

I praise you for this moment, Lord:
    another day to live, to change, to grow,
to make more of all I have     

    than I did yesterday, last week,
        last month, last year...

 

I praise you for all the gifts you've offered me:
    the ones I use, the ones I ignore,
    the ones I've wasted, the ones I've put away

        the ones I've yet to open...

 

I praise you for the best

    of all the blessings I have known 
and for lessons and the healings born 

    of loss and hurt and pain...

Make me mindful of the present, Lord,
    with hope for what's ahead:
I trust you'll guide and show me paths
    that lead me, safe, to peace...

I praise you for the people, Lord,
    who care for me and love me, 

who have my back and never fail 

    to stand by me through thick and thin
        when times are rough and tumble...

 

I praise you for the ones I love, 

    whose hearts I tend and hold,

who fill my days with blessings,
    many more than I can count...

 

Image source

 

I praise you for the joy I miss      

    when I'm angry, sad and lonely,
when I stubbornly refuse to see

    what's there, what's right before me;
when my fear keeps me from finding

    the peace that I'd been seeking,

        that I'd pleaded, pined and prayed for... 

 

I praise you for your mercy

    when you seek me out and pull be back,

pardon me and bring me home

    to rest in your strong arms...

Amen.

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