Night Prayer: SUNDAY 10/11

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Let's turn to today's first reading from Isaiah 25 where the Lord promises to wipe away the tears from all faces. 

Take a few minutes in prayer to remember the people and the places, the cares and concerns, the stories and memories and the worries and fears, and the hurts and disappointments that burden your heart and bring you to tears... Remember that sometimes our tears run down our cheeks and sometimes remain in our hearts...  And yes, it's ok to cry...

Lord, just remembering

    these people and  places...    

        these cares and concerns...   

    these stories and memories...    

        these worries and fears... 

            these hurts and disappointments...

Just remembering, Lord,

    brings tears to my eyes,

        tears that flow from my soul...

 

Wipe away my tears, Lord,

    with your gentle hand and your healing touch,

with the tenderness and kindness

    of your mercy and your love...

 

Wipe away my tears

    so I can see and find my way

to the peace and joy that wait me

    at your side and in your arms... 

 

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. 

 

God Will Wipe Away All Tears

    by Bernard Sexton 

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God will wipe away all tears 

God will bring you home 

To the place he has prepared for you 

You shall never be alone 

Storms may gather, evening fall 

Daylight turn to shade 

And when you earthly work is done 

Do not fear, be not afraid. 

 

There’s a time for everything

A time to be born 

There’s a time to dance, to laugh 

A time to weep, a time to mourn 

Every plant that fades and dies 

Is part of the Lord’s plan 

When we die, we live anew 

In God we are reborn.              

Refrain

 

Lovely is your dwelling place 

O Lord God of hosts 

How my soul clings to you 

Close to the living God 

Like the sparrow finds a home 

The swallow finds a nest 

So I’ll find a place with God 

With him I shall be blessed. 

Refrain 

 

God will wipe away all tears 

And death shall be no more 

Alpha and Omega Beginning and the end 

Though we walk in death’s dark vale 

No evil shall we fear 

God is there, our Shepherd, Lord 

Our Comforter is here.

Refrain 

 

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.

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Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 10/11

 

Is there someone, maybe a number of someones, for whom you're praying these days?  And at the same time, might you be praying for yourself for some particular reason?  Is there a situation, a problem, a hope or disappointment drawing your prayerful attention? I have no doubt there is - in fact I wouldn't be surprised if everyone reading these words is praying in some way for everyone and everything I've mentioned here. So, let's make our prayer together...

 

How about we all pray together this morning?

How about we all lift our hands in prayer,

    all at the same time?

How about we all lift up to God

    the people and circumstances

        weighing heavy in our hearts today?

How about we all pray for one another

    and for all those for whom we may be praying?

How about we lift up together

    all the family, friends and neighbors,

    all the colleagues and classmates,

    all the sick, jobless and in all kinds of need?

How about we pray for the poor,

    the embattled, the marginalized

    and for those denied freedom and justice?

How about we pray for ourselves and each other,

    for those who are praying for everyone else?

 

Attend to the prayer we're lifting up, Lord,

    the prayer we're sharing, 

        whispering and shouting

    from our minds and hearts

        from our deepest selves,

    for your healing, forgiving  

        and merciful touch,

    for your help, your answer,

        your Spirit's balm...

 

Hear us  all together, Lord, 

    and answer us, we pray...

 

Amen. 

 

 Savior, Hear Us We Pray

    Brendon Sendenig, Composer

    W. W. Ellsworth, Lyrics 

    Performed by Cantate Domino Ensemble 

 

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Jesus, Lord, hear our prayer; 

May we rest in Thy care

 

Savior, hear us, we pray, 

Keep us safe through this day; 

Keep our lives free from sin, 

And our hearts pure within, 

 

Jesus, Lord, hear our prayer; 

May we rest in Thy care; 

Jesus, Lord, hear our prayer, 

May we rest in Thy care. 

 

Be our guardian and guide: 

May we walk by Thy side 

Till the evening shades fall 

Over us, over all 

 

Jesus, Lord, hear our prayer; 

May we rest in Thy care; 

Jesus, Lord, hear our prayer, 

May we rest in Thy care. 

 

May we rest in Thy care,

in Thy care, in Thy care 

 

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Numbers I can't wrap my head around

This chart helps me grasp the "millions, billions and trillions" that fill the news these days.  But I still find it hard to wrap my head around a million of anything! For instance: millions of barrels of diesel fuel... 

 

The U.S. consumes roughly 4 M barrels of diesel per day. In rough numbers, the recent deal with Russia will deliver 2.25 M barrels - which will cover approximately 14 hours of one day's US consumption. In November: 3.7 M barrels or nearly one day's US consumption. And in December 7.5 M barrels or close to two day's consumption. And a subsequent short term delivery of 22.5 M barrels - depending on Russian refinery conditions - for about a 6 day supply. All of which adds up to about 9 days of diesel fuel for the US. 

 

Just doin' the math here...

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 10/10

Regular readers of my page will recognize this poem by William Stafford and my prayer following it which I've offered a number of times.  I'm posting it again while I'm in the midst of sorting through all my belongings and packing for my move next month to Boston.  It's one of those times, then, when I'm especially grateful for the thread of grace that has always and continues to run through my life...

The Way It Is

 

There's a thread you follow. It goes among

things that change. But it doesn't change.

People wonder about what you are pursuing.

You have to explain about the thread.

But it is hard for others to see.

While you hold it you can't get lost.

Tragedies happen; people get hurt

or die; and you suffer and get old.

Nothing you do can stop time's unfolding.

You don't ever let go of the thread.

 

- William Stafford 

    Fiber art by Astrid Monique

Most of us lead lives of many threads. Some are stronger than others, some are of our own making, some are woven into the fabric of our being with or without our permission...   And it's with or without our permission that the Spirit weaves the thread of God's grace and design into the cloth of our being, our lives...  God's thread in our lives doesn't change: pliable yet strong, it hems and mends, it tucks and tailors, it stitches and sutures...

Be the thread, Lord, 

that runs through my whole life:

the thread of grace 

that sews my soul to yours...

Thread your grace through my relationships,

through all my joys and sorrows, 

through the good times and the bad times, 

through all my nights and days...

 

Be the the thread, Lord,

that holds tight, secure and strong

in the face of all that threatens 

to unravel all that holds me 

close to you...

Be the thread I can't explain

- don't really understand -

yet the thread for which I'm 

grateful

for all the ways it stitches up 

the wounds that rend my heart...

 

Be the thread I always cling to,

the thread I won't let go:

the thread of faith, 

my thread of hope,

your golden thread of mercy

that knits my heart to yours...

 

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.

 

Here's a song about threads and I hope it will have meaning for all of us, and especially for anyone these days, who may be "hanging on" by a thread...

Threads by David Leonard

 

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I'm tired of trying to keep it all together 

Tired of lies disguising who I really am 

 

There's pain that’s hiding underneath the surface 

I’m tired of trying to keep it on the inside 

 

But here before your love I’m not afraid 

 

I’m gonna let you pull the threads 

   ‘til my heart unravels

Open me up with every breath 

   ‘til the darkness scatters and runs away 

I’m ready to fall apart 

Fall into your loving arms 

I’m gonna let you pull the threads 

   ‘til my heart unravels into Yours 

 

You’re reaching out your hand 

To pull me close again 

You see me as I am still you want me 

 

Here before your love I'm not afraid

You stitch me back together with your grace 

Here before your love I'm not afraid

You stitch me back together with your grace 

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Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 10/10

October 10 is the 24th World Day Against the Death Penalty, sponsored by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.  Given the recent news about Christa Pike and Nidal Hasan, this world wide observance is especially timely.

Here are two prayers for us to offer today: the first from Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ and the second from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. You'll find a song for this day following the two prayers.

A Prayer for Justice

God of Compassion, you let your rain fall on the just and the unjust.
Expand and deepen our hearts so that we may love, as You love, even those among us who have caused the greatest pain by taking life. For there is in our land a great cry for vengeance as we fill up death row and kill the killers
in the name of justice, in the name of peace.
 

Jesus, our brother, you suffered execution at the hands of the state but you did not let hatred overcome you. Help us to reach out to victims of violence so that our enduring love may help them heal.
 

Holy Spirit of God, you strengthen us in the struggle for justice. Help us to work tirelessly for the abolition of state-sanctioned death and to renew our society in its very heart so that violence will be no more. Amen.

 

- Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ 

 

Prayer to End the Use of the Death Penalty

Merciful Father, we ask your blessing on all we do to build a culture of life. Hear our prayers for those impacted by the death penalty.

• We pray for all people, that their lives and dignity as children of a loving God may be respected and protected in all stages and circumstances.

• We pray for victims of violence and their families, that they may experience our love and support and find comfort in your compassion and in the promise of eternal life.

• We pray for those on death row, that their lives may be spared, that the innocent may be freed and that the guilty may come to acknowledge their faults and seek reconciliation with you.

• We pray for the families of those who are facing execution, that they may be comforted by your love and compassion.

• We pray for civic leaders, that they may commit themselves to respecting every human life and ending the use of the death penalty in our land.

Compassionate Father, give us wisdom and hearts filled with your love. Guide us as we work to end the use of the death penalty and to build a society that truly chooses life in all situations.

We ask this Father through your Son Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.  Amen.

 

- USCCB

 

I searched for a long time for some music appropriate for this day's observance and the prayers above - I finally happened upon this song which I believe is perfect...

 

Death Row by Thomas Rhett

 

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Yeah, just last week I went to prison
To see some boys down on death row
Brought some guitars and my buddies
To play some songs I thought they'd know, huh
Yeah, I could feel myself tremblin'
When I shook one of their hands
I thought that he would be a monster
It turns out he's a whole lot like I am

 

Yeah, we talked huntin', we talked fishin'
Like I do with boys back home
How Jesus is the ticket
And narrow is the road
About how all we need's forgiveness
'Fore we see them streets of gold
Yeah, I learned a lot about livin' 

   from them boys down on death row

 

One of 'em's name was Johnny
Ain't touched the grass in thirty years
Maybe, I ain't supposed to feel sorry, naw
But it 'bout brought me to tears
Then it hit me, we're all human
Ain't always proud of what we've done
Everybody's days are numbered
Only difference is they all know which one

 

Yeah, we talked huntin', we talked fishin'
Like I do with boys back home
How Jesus is the ticket
And narrow is the road
About how all we need's forgiveness
'Fore we see them streets of gold
Yeah, I learned a lot about livin' 

   from them boys down on death row

 

Whoa   Whoa  Whoa

 

One of 'em sang, 

   "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound"
With one hand raised 

   and one foot chained to the ground
Yeah, he sang it like he knew he'd just been found
Yeah, that next week, they laid him six feet down

 

Oh oh
I can't say that he's in Heaven, 

   who am I to judge his soul?
But Jesus don't play favorites, 

   ain't a name that He don't know
Yeah, I learned that and then some, 

   from the boys down on death row
I learned all that and then some, 

   from the boys down on death row

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 10/9

Once a year my ordination classmates gather for dinner together - as we did the night before last.  On May 19, 1973 I was ordained with 20 others and of that number, 8 of us were together on Tuesday evening; having known each other since we entered Cardinal O'Connell Seminary in Jamaica Plain in September 1965: 61 years ago! (A ninth man at the table, a Columban priest, had  joined us for theology studies in 1969.)

 

It was so good to be with men whose brotherhood I've shared for over 6 decades! And what years those have been in the world and in the Church we serve! So much change - more than any of us might have possibly dreamed or imagined...  And yet so much is the same: the gospel, the sacraments and the gift of God's merciful grace to sustain us along the way.

 

Driving home that night I found myself prayerfully grateful for people who have been part of my life for so long... 

 

I'm grateful, Lord - to be alive - and grateful for all who've been part of my life for these now nearly 80 years...

I'm especially thankful for my brother priests who've lived and known the life that's mine in ways not many may understand...  They've known, as have I, the peace that comes from serving you in your people: in good times and bad, in sorrow and joy, in sickness and health, in laughter and tears, in hope and disappointment, from birth to death...

 

And they've known, as have I, the worries and fears, the distractions and doubts, the cares and concerns, the work and burdens that fall on the shoulders and weigh on the hearts of those who pastor a parish of souls - a flock we belong to as one of your sheep, though we carry your shepherd's crook...

 

And I remember, Lord, those brothers of mine who've passed from this life to life with you...  I pray that one day, we'll all meet again - the class of 1973 - and rejoice and be glad when we gather again at the table and feast of the Lamb of God, whose merciful love we have preached...

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. 

 

I can't think of a better song for this evening for me and my classmates - indeed, for all of us... 

 

The Servant Song by Richard Gillard 

 

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Will you let me be your servant, 

let me be as Christ to you; 

pray that I may have the grace

 to let you be my servant, too. 

 

We are pilgrims on a journey, 

we are trav'lers on the road; 

we are here to help each other 

walk the mile and bear the load. 

 

I will hold the Christ-light for you 

in the night-time of your fear; 

I will hold my hand out to you, 

speak the peace you long to hear. 

 

I will weep when you are weeping; 

when you laugh I'll laugh with you. 

I will share your joy and sorrow '

til we've seen this journey through. 

 

When we sing to God in heaven 

we shall find such harmony, 

born of all we've known together 

of Christ's love and agony.

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