tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808375493800890797.post5420729526389402634..comments2024-03-27T13:12:39.343-04:00Comments on A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering: 11/21Concord Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18322127779647130869noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808375493800890797.post-15733792321377570012016-11-21T14:33:37.642-05:002016-11-21T14:33:37.642-05:00A prayer after the Feast of Christ the King:
Jes...A prayer after the Feast of Christ the King: <br /><br />Jesus, my good Brother! <br /><br />Help me respect and love our mutual brothers and sisters, to love them as they express devotional habits that differ from ones I feel more appropriate to Your brotherhood with us.<br /><br />Help me not be put off by pious expressions that seem to put you at a distance and come across as over-the-top human metaphors used to praise you as a King, In the Gospels you are unambiguous. You clearly and often invited us (me) to call you brother, not King.<br /><br />Help me accept that invitation fully and happily, sometimes speaking out, sometimes keeping silent.<br /><br />Help me keep a balance in my dialog with You by remembering You celebrated the title "brother" (a sibling not a royal relationship) when you told Your disciples to address God as "Our Father." <br /><br />Faced with well-meaning and strongly pious but totally human analogy about Kingship, help me not think of a brother as King since it subtly creates a distance between brothers. <br /><br />Help me appreciate how a loving brother has more power than a King to strengthen me where I'm weak, to trust a brother to help me clean up messes I make, to manage and moderate my passionate tendencies, to balance my ups and downs...my inconsistencies and human unpredictability. <br /><br />Help me recognize you as the brother who encourages and models generosity when I hold back.<br /><br />Help me accept the meaning of your gospel lessons: a King might possess coercive and overwhelming external power, but a brother shares my DNA fiber and is infinitely more powerful in shaping (and ruling) my thoughts and actions.<br /><br />Because of your repeated gospel invitations to call you brother, I have a hunch that you smile as a brother would at the incongruity of being called King. <br /><br />Give me courage to smile along with you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com