NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 10/25

UPDATE!  Some hours after posting this I realized I was ahead of myself - it's still Saturday - not Sunday!  But I'll leave this here as "preparation" for tomorrow's liturgy and post a different prayer tomorrow night!

 

On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Tonight our prayer derives from the first reading, psalm and gospel - all drawing out attention to the Lord's preferential love for the poor...   

 

When I survey the whole of the scriptures, Lord,

    when I see how often you favor the poor,

    when I see all the ways you made yourself poor,

    when I see how you call us to serve the poor, 

I can't help but wonder:

    might this the be the question, the very first question,

        you'll ask when I come to the end of my days

    and you survey the whole of my life

        to see how I've favored the poor,

        to see how I've made myself poor,

        to see how I've served the poor

    and shared from the bounty

        that you've given me to hear and respond

            to the cry of the poor... 

 

How will I answer your question Lord?

    Will you find many times,

        will you find any times,

    when I've favored the poor 

        before treating myself? 

 

How will I answer your question, Lord?

    When in my life have I made myself poor 

        to more selflessly serve needs of the poor?

 

How will I answer your question, Lord?

    What will you find when you look at my life

        and the bottom line of my bank account?

 

How will I answer your question, Lord?

    How in my efforts to serve the poor

        have I met the poor?  sat with the poor? 

            touched the poor?  befriended the poor?

 

In your words and your deeds, Lord,

    you've given fair warning:

        you call me to favor the poor all around me,

        you call me to make myself poor for your sake,

        you call me to put the needs of the poor

            before my own needs and desires;

        you call me to hear the cry of the poor

            and to answer the cry that I hear...

 

I can't help but wonder, Lord:

    will this the be the question, the very first question,

        you'll ask when I come to the end of my days?

 

Lord, have mercy!

Christ, have mercy!

Help me hear, Lord, and answer

    the cry of the poor! 

 

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.

 

This is a wrenching arrangement of a song most of us will be familiar with. Unlike other settings of the same piece, here it seems to rise up from the experience of the poor, giving voice to their cries... (This arrangement begins with an instrumental intro, a spoken verse and then the sung lyrics.)

 

The Cry of the Poor by John Foley, SJ

    arranged and sung by ValLimar Jansen 

 

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 I will bless the Lord at all times,
with praise ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the Lord,
who will hear the cry of the poor.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Blessed be the Lord.

Let the lowly hear and be glad:
the Lord listens to their pleas;
and to hearts broken God is near,
who will hear the cry of the poor.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Blessed be the Lord.

Every spirit crushed God will save;
will be ransom for their lives;
will be safe shelter for their fears,
and will hear the cry of the poor.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Blessed be the Lord.

We proclaim your greatness, O God,
your praise ever in our mouth;
every face brightened in your light,
for you hear the cry of the poor.

 

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