Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise. Today the Lord Jesus, the king of glory, the conqueror of sin and death, ascended to heaven while the angels sang his praises.
Christ, the mediator between God and humankind, judge of the world and Lord of all, has passed beyond our sight, not to abandon us but to be our hope. Christ is the beginning, the head of the Church; where he has gone, we hope to follow.
The joy of the resurrection and ascension renews the whole world, while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Ascension is so much more than just an exit line after the Resurrection! The Ascension of the Lord, home to his Father in heaven, fulfills Jesus' mission and brings it to completion.
A Prayer for Ascension Thursday
Just 40 days after Easter, Lord:
you brought your friends together,
to say goodbye, to bid them all farewell...
Taking leave was bittersweet:
the memory of what had been,
the promise of what was yet to be;
the pledge that on a day to come
we'd all be one again, with you...
Amen.
I'm back from my (really great) 8 day silent retreat at Eastern Point in Gloucester. I know many of your were praying for me while I was away - and I was praying for you, too! Thus, tonight's prayer...
Generous people who selflessly giveand give and give- and then give some more...Those who are kind,so genuinely kind:no pretense, self-interest or guile...Folks who forgive, Lord,quietly, quickly,whose pardon is healing,deep in my soul...And the ones who are holy
- and don’t even know it -whose holiness modelsyour grace and your peace...Folks who are gentlein word and in deed,never rough, never harsh,neither careless nor coarse...Those who are strongand are there for supportwhen I'm weak, when I'm sad,when I'm down, when I'm out...The ones who are trueto conviction and conscience,whose zeal never flags,whose faith never fades…Friends who are honestin all that they say,whose gift is the plainand unadorned truth...Folks of compassion,with patience unending,who listen with lovewhile drying my tears...People of prayerwho share their faith,
whose friendship is healing,is balm for my soul...Good people, Lord,
so many good peoplewhose paths have crossed mineand become part of my life...
People, O Lord,
more generous and kind,
more forgiving and holy,
more deeply convicted, faithful and true,
more thoughtful and caring,
stronger and gentler,
more prayerful and pure
than I in my sins...
Mothers will be celebrated by their families this weekend in special ways. There will be flowers and sweets; phone calls from children who live too far away for a visit; cards and gifts; breakfast in bed or brunch or dinner at a nice restaurant. Keep a place in your prayer this day for all the mothers who will rejoice with their families this Mothers Day weekend...
Some women will spend this Mothers' Day in anticipation of the birth of a child they're carrying - perhaps their first child - a child whose ultrasound image has already won the hearts of mom and dad. Other expectant mothers are making their way through the long process of adoption - or perhaps the arrival of their adopted love is just around the corner! Still others welcome children into their lives as their stepmother. Keep a place in your prayer this Mothers' Day for those who are expecting the arrival of a child - and pray that both mother and child will be healthy...
I lost my mother in August of 1991. I love her and miss her but I can't say that Mothers' Day is as difficult day for me as I know it is for many others. Tougher for me than the second Sunday in May are all the times through the year when wonderful things are happening in my life, in my ministry, and I think, "I wish mom could be here for this!" Open a place in your heart to pray for those who miss the wonderful mother God gave them...
Some mothers have and raise children with no spouse to help and support them. Some mothers have chosen this path but others have not. Let's keep a place in our prayer for those who know the burdens of single-parent mothering and, when able, open ourselves and our homes to offer what company and help we might give...
My heart goes out to women who want very much to be mothers but who, for any number of reasons, are unable to bear a child... I know this day can be difficult for them, even as they celebrate their own mothers with love and devotion. Let's keep a place in our prayer for women who long for a child with all their heart and soul...
I think of mothers around the world who live in abject poverty, who have no food for their children, no clothing, no health care, no decent shelter... I don't pretend to know or understand what must be the depths of their pain as they hold a malnourished child in their arms with no food to keep them from dying... Pray with me for change in our world to ensure that no mother, no child need face such desperation... And pray for those who even now work to bring food, clean water, clothing and shelter to those who have none...
Part of my ministry is to serve the bereaved... Just recently I celebrated the funeral of a wonderful woman, a fine mother, a woman with faith as great as it was simple, as beautiful as it was profound. Her family grieved and prayed for her and I know this Mothers' Day will be especially difficult for them. Let's keep a place in our prayer this weekend for those whose grief over losing their mother is fresh in their minds and hearts...
We live in world where children are born to families able and ready to care for them and we live in a world where millions of children will be hungry this Mother's Day. We live in a world where some nations limit the number of children a couple may legally have. And we live in a world where many champion the "right" to end the life of a child already conceived. For the mothers of all these children, and for their children, let us keep a place in our prayer this weekend...
Some children have
mothers who failed to care for them. Their sons and daughters understand deeply
the lyrics of that old song, "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child."
And some mothers will be burdened today with memories of how they missed the
signs of harm being done to their own by others. Let's keep a place of prayer in our hearts for those whose
hearts are heavy today...
Some mothers today will be forgotten by their children: no visit, no card, no call, no candy or flowers. Some mothers this day don't know where a son or daughter has gone or what has become of them. A mother's heart aches on this day for the child of her womb who has forgotten her or who has disappeared. Pray with me on this Mother's Day for women who wait for a call that will not come...
Many mothers will remember today a child they've lost to sickness, addiction, an accident, war or other violence, miscarriage or abortion. A parent's grief for a child can be unfathomable - and a mother's grief is deeper than any. We Christians pray and believe that one day we shall see those who have gone before us and enjoy their love again. Keep a place in your heart for mothers who need the consolation of such faith and pray they'll trust that the Lord will indeed keep his word...
There are many places in the world where mothers are shielding their children from the threat of drone strikes or armed militia in the streets. There are places where homeless mothers are caring for their children after war has destroyed their homes. Offer a prayer for peace and an end to the violence that war visits upon poor and innocent families...
Some mothers today will not know or recognize their children when they come to visit. Time has robbed them of their memory of even those they love the most. Keep a place in your prayer today for mothers who may know their children in their heart of hearts but are unable to remember or speak their names. And pray for those sons and daughters who tell their mothers of their love, hoping that a mother's heart will hear what her mind no longer holds...
This Mothers' Day, we turn our hearts to Mary, the Mother of God, the Mother of Jesus and Mother of us all: Christ's sisters and brothers. With a mother's care she raised her Son and lived the joys and the grief that only a mother's heart can know. Whatever our spirits on this Mothers' Day weekend, the Mother of Jesus embraces us all, so let us pray...
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women
And blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
And at the hour of death.
Amen.
Gentle woman, quiet light,
Morning star, so strong, so bright.
Gentle mother, peaceful dove,
Teach us wisdom, teach us love.
Especially when I'm on retreat, I often pray these words from Edwina Gately - but these are words you and I might pray every day - or even several times a day - whenever we want to spend some time with the Lord - who always wants to spend some time with us...
Let your God love you...
