NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 9/11

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Today's gospel included three parables but there were options so you may not have heard all three at mass - I read and preached only on the story of the prodigal son.  The other two, much briefer parables, tell of a man who lost a sheep and a woman who lost a lost coin. 

At first glance, Lord, I wonder, what's the big deal?

    One missing sheep...  one lost coin?

 

I mean, the shepherd still had 99 sheep

    and the woman still had 90% of her savings...

 

Why all the excitement?

Hmm...  

Maybe it all depends on what one needs

    - and what one treasures...

 

Among my possessions,

    among the things I might misplace,

which might cause me to share my joy

    upon finding what had gone lost?

Well, what first comes to mind are my

    cell phone

    wallet

    lap top

    keys

    and my glasses... 

I guess I believe I really need these things,

that I can't get along without them

that when I lose them, I feel I've lost myself... 

Oh, Lord!  Would that I'd panic as quickly,

worry as greatly and search as diligently:

    - when I lose my connection with you

        because I'm way too busy to pray

    - when I lose my sense of well-being

        because I fail to care for myself

    - when I lose my sense of direction

         because I follow a foolish path

    - when I lose myself to sorrow

        because I cling to what has passed

    - when I lose my sense of purpose

        when I surrender to disappointment

    - when I lose my faith in you

        because I narrow my trust in your care

    - when I lose my hope for tomorrow

        because I surrender myself to the past

    - when I lose my joy in living

        because I latch the door of my heart 

 

Of all the things I think I need, of all that I truly treasure,

let these things, Lord, be the most important

and my finding them be my greatest joy:

    - my relationship with you 

    - awareness of my personal dignity

    - trust in where you're leading me

    - living mindfully, in the moment

    - accepting the whole of my life as gift

    - trust in the breadth and depth of your love

    - faith that you're always with me

    - courage to open my soul to all love

Phones and wallets, keys and glasses,

    all these will pass, Lord, or can be replaced  

so focus my heart on what really matters,

    help me treasure the greatest gifts,

and help me rejoice and share the good news

    when I've found what I thought I had lost...

 

And just one more thing, Lord:

    when I"m lost and feeling all alone,

        be like the man who lost his sheep,

        be like the woman who lost her coin,

    and search and search and search

    until you've found me

    and until I know, deep in my heart,

    that indeed, I have been found... 

 

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. 

 

You Will Be Found from Dear Evan Hansen,

    by Pasek and Paul

 

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Have you ever felt like nobody was there?
Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?
Have you ever felt like you could disappear?
Like you could fall, and no one would hear?

Well, let that lonely feeling wash away
Maybe there's a reason to believe you'll be okay
'Cause when you don't feel strong enough to stand
You can reach, reach out your hand

And oh, someone will come running
And I know, they'll take you home

Even when the dark comes crashing through
When you need a friend to carry you
And when you're broken on the ground
You will be found

So let the sun come streaming in
'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again
Lift your head and look around
You will be found

There's a place where we don't have to feel unknown

And every time that you call out
You're a little less alone

If you only say the word
From across the silence
Your voice is heard

And oh, someone will come running
Oh, they'll take you home

Even when the dark comes crashin' through
When you need a friend to carry you
When you're broken on the ground

You will be found!

So when the sun comes streaming in
'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again
If you only look around
You will be found

You will be found
You will be found

Out of the shadows
The morning is breaking
And all is new, all is new
It's filling up the empty
And suddenly I see that
All is new, all is new

You are not alone

Even when the dark comes crashin' through
When you need someone to carry you
When you're broken on the ground

You will be found!

So when the sun comes streaming in
'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again
If you only look around
You will be found

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