Let me thank you, Lord, for bringing me the strength to re-think my words before I said something foolish.
The works of God are all of them good.
Let me thank you, God, for sending me wisdom to avoid offending someone with my opinion.
The works of God are all of them good.
Let me thank you, Jesus, for encouraging me when I received terrible news the other day.
The works of God are all of them good.
Let me thank you, Holy Spirit, for pulling me up when I was at the end of my resources.
The works of God are all of them good.
Let me thank you, Mary, Mother of God, for your gentle, nurturing presence in my life.
The works of God are all of them good.
Let me thank you, Lord, for world in which I find myself, for the people in my life, and for the many times you have protected and lead me on my journey.
The works of God are all of them good.
Let me thank you for your gifts of salvation and redemption, for your Word of promise that I treasure and share.
Let me put down roots, let me open up my petals, let me praise you, let me bless you . . . let me thank you, Lord.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead . . . but they are in peace . . . They shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble . . . they shall judge nations and rule over peoples . . . and the Lord shall be their King forever . . . because grace and mercy and care are with God’s holy ones.
We near the end of our journey through Psalm 119, and today we pause to reflect and consider the insights and wisdom God reveals to us through the written word. We have come to understand that God is too great and too good to describe and therefore we dart about, looking for a time and place to ignite the smallest bit of kindling so that our small spark of life might not be extinguished. In the coming week, we move through the ending stanzas of this psalm and a certain simplicity and intelligence settles over us. As we find new understanding, we pray.
Knowing that we are always in God’s hands although we may not feel God’s presence we pray: Providential God, speak to us in a way that we might hear you.
Knowing that God’s Word lives in and around us although we may not comprehend it, we pray: Consoling God, reveal yourself to us in a way that we might see you.
Knowing that God’s fidelity saves us although we may not believe it, we pray: Faithful God, abide with us in a way that we might sense you.
Knowing that God’s love redeems us although we may not trust it, we pray: Redemptive God, hold and rescue us in a way that we might feel you.
Knowing that God’s grace and mercy are present to and in us although we may not believe it, we pray: Gracious God, continue to wrap us in your kindness and beauty although we may not thank you.
Knowing that we are fallen sparks, little life forces that dart to and fro, seeking origin and end, looking for wisdom and security, we pray: Loving God, although we may not believe that you sacrifice all in order to transform us, bring us insight and serenity so that we might rest eternally in you. Amen.
Tomorrow, we near the end of Psalm 119 . . . Qoph.
The arrogant have dug pits for me; defying your teaching . . . They have almost ended my life on earth, but I do not forsake your precepts.
Others speak of hearing God’s voice and we too, have a strong sense of this guiding Spirit within.
Others speak of hearing God’s voice and we realize that we have never felt this strong, protective companion.
Others speak of hearing God’s voice and remembering the time in our lives when we too, felt accompanied by this loving presence, we wait for this comforting experience to return.
No matter our circumstance, no matter the moment in our life’s journey, Christ is present toand ineach of us, even when we may not feel his presence. The psalmist tells us that when we do not experience a sense of God in our lives we are always welcome to ask God to touch us in a tangible way; and when we dofeel God’s presence, we must turn to help those who do not. And we must celebrate.
Good and far-seeing God, you have given each of us the power to actualize our own potential. Help us to see you in our lives and to bring you to others who need to see your hand in their own lives.
Good and loving God, you encourage us to read your word, to practice your law and to aspire to the potential for divinity we each possess. Help us to find you in scripture and to open scripture for others so that they also find you in your Law of Love.
Good and insightful God, you are a fountain of wisdom. Nourish us with your truth and bring us your understanding, counsel and guidance. Remind us of your promise to always be present to and in us.
Good and saving God, you come to us as a child, as a light in the overpowering night. Help us to act as the Messiah does, reading your word, growing in wisdom, listening for your voice, and sacrificing self to bring light to the unforgiving darkness.
Good and eternal God, you are beginning and end, Alpha and Omega, source and summit for all. Speak to each of us in such a way that we might clearly hear your message, that we might eagerly believe in your promise, and that we might joyfully reply to your call.
We ask this in Jesus’ name, in unity with your sacred Spirit. Amen.
Tomorrow, Ayin.
If you are looking for an open and easy way to begin a daily dedication to scripture, choose any psalm and read it in segments prayerfully, pausing for reflection. Or turn to The Acts of the Apostles and begin to read the story of the Spirit among us.
Our life is a gift from God. What we do with that life is our return gift to God. This is Our Portion.
God brings us connectionto others and to nature. Let us extend our own invitation to those who long for this same union. We rejoice in God’s desire to be connected with each of us. Amen.
We expect to find valorin obvious places. Let us prepare to discover bravery where we least expect it. We celebrate the courage God bestows on us. Amen.
God breaths in us a life force of inversion. Let us ask for deliverance from all that oppresses us knowing that with God all things are possible. We delight in the beauty God has in mind for all. Amen.
In countlessstories from Old Testament and New, we learn to look for the good concealed in astonishing places. Let us seek the wonder of God’s goodness in ourselves and in others. We celebrate the splendor God shows us in impossible circumstances. Amen.
God is nothing but infinite goodness. Let us rejoice with God in our portion,God’s gift of life. Let us rejoice in our portion of God’s infinite love. Amen.
For more on the connection, valor, inversion, concealed and infinite goodness that is our portion in God’s plan, explore the second five stanzas of Psalm 119in last week’s Noontimes.
Robin Anderson: Mary Holding Baby Jesus Looking Up Towards the Light
A Prayer to Fulfill God’s Promise in Us
It is truly a paradoxthat God creates humans to fulfill the great promise of love. Let us consider our response to this call to promise.
It is a signof God’s love that God chooses to come among us as a child. Let us consider how we make room for others in our lives.
It is a further giftand promisefrom God that we are granted the free and open will to choose how we will respond to this loving call. Let us carefully consider our reply.
It is an honorto put aside our own ego in response to God’s open invitation to love. Let us prayerfully consider how we become selfless in service to others.
It is our return promiseto God that we offer our thoughts, words, and deeds in the service of God’s good. Let us honestly consider how we best make this return promise of love.
Good and holy God, you are paradox, sign, gift, honor and promise. May we joyfully live in you. May we authentically live through you. And may we lovingly live with you . . . in thought, word and deed. Amen.
For more on the paradox, sign, gift, honor and promise of God’s love, explore the first three stanzas of Psalm 119in last week’s Noontimes.
Today, as we recall Jesus’ willingness to submerge himself in the goodness of the Spirit, we mark the end of the liturgical celebration of Christmas. As we begin to plan the life we will lead once we can safely emerge from our pandemic lockdown, let us consider how we will let the gift of God’s testimony wash over us. How will we allow this heavy cleansing to renew us? How will we once again greet estranged sisters and brothers? How will we continue to live as Christmas people who bring light to a darkened world?
We do well to consider the Lord’s own testimony to us about God’s love of all creation.
And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son does not have life.
There is really no mystery about what God thinks of us. We are gifted with God’s presence in the child Jesus who grows into a man to sacrifice all for us. Jesus lives according to the Mosaic Law and then institutes a new law, the Law of Love. Through his living out for us this new law and through his sacrificial dying, Jesus brings us God’s testimony: life eternal.
There is really no struggle in finding union with God for God loves us dearly and constantly and already dwells in us. All we need do is acknowledge this presence. All we need do is allow ourselves to be children of God. All we need do is live this new Law of Love.
And so, we pray . . . Good and gracious God, we hear your testimony and still we doubt. Remind us that you are as gentle as the small child and as strong as the man who dies for all. Remind us that you dwell in each of us although we forget this too often. Remind us that with the birth of the child Jesus you offer us your testimony of light and love. Remind us that with your act of submission to baptism in the Spirit, you offer each of us the humility of this Jordan experience. Remind us that as we move closer to you we free ourselves to take up the invitation to become your Christmas people. Amen.
Spend time with a study Bible and 1 John 5:5-13. Read the commentary and decide how God’s Testimony calls us to be Christmas people.
Today is Gaudete, or “Rejoice” Sunday and it is a pause in our watchfulness as we await the coming of Light to a world longing for hope. As we continue our journey into a season of darkness in the northern hemisphere, we reflect on the plundering of the Jerusalem Temple, and our transformation that grows form the ashes of despair. When we listen to the ancient carol Gaudete, we have a sense of the joy we might find amid the sadness of dark days. Click on the image above or visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUbcHfnx0pY
Simonlusts after control and so lies and connives to gain his end. He appears to succeed, yet we all know from our perspective in the second millennium that a new temple brings down the Jerusalem temple and rebuilds it in three days. This happens in the person of Christ.
The faithful who follow the good and compassionate priest Oniasimmediately take to the streets, the priests prostrate themselves in petition, and Yahweh answers their prayer in a surprising way.
Gérard de Lairesse: The Expulsion of Heliodorus from_the Temple
It should not surprise us that the men in this story who grasp for control of the treasury resort to any means to achieve their ends; nor should it surprise us that God answers the pleas of these holy and faithful people.
It should not surprise us that even those enveloped in the power, money and control can have their eyes opened.
And it should not surprise us that this conversion will often happen as the result of a cataclysmic event. We must constantly prepare ourselves for these experiences and these people. And so we pray . . .
Dearest God, Creator, Savior and Consoler,
Lead us away from the ways of Simon and keep our eyes open for the times we want to take control. Show us how easily we may be tempted to resort to any means to achieve our own ends. Remind us to make a new temple of ourselves as Christ has asked. Remind us that we are called to be holy disciples.
Lead us to you as your faithful. Keep our ears open for your word, your message and your rescuing messengers. Remind us to intervene and intercede for those who wish us harm. Remind us to act when we see injustice.
Lead us to the Christ who dwells within us. Keep our hearts open to our own conversion. Remind us to witness for you in the marketplace. Remind us to stand and to proclaim your goodness.
We ask this of you our Loving Protector. We petition you our Loving Redeemer. We entreat you our Loving In-dweller. Amen.
Tomorrow, we move forward with the nativity story . . .
Adapted from a reflection written on January 5, 2008.
When we pray the Liturgy of the Hours we participate in the rhythmic repetition of the morning and evening canticles that we find here in Luke. They – along with the presentation of petition, glorification and thanksgiving through the psalms – give our days and nights a deep sense of tranquility. These times of meditation and contemplation create the pathways through which God speaks. The heart, in this way, willingly readies the soul in hospitality for the reception of the Holy Spirit and the presence of Christ. Prayer cleanses the mind, prepares the spirit and animates the heart for the reception of God’s revelation to us. Nothing can be more important for it is our intentional and incidental prayers that bring us sanity and serenity. These canticles of praise help us to travel through our days, our years, our lives.
No one experiences life without feeling distress and anxiety, and it is when we turn to God – the source of all that is good – that we are healed, lifted up, salvaged and restored. When we allow harm to transform us through our grieving and our trust in God, we find the joy expressed in the canticles we read today. We also find reason to celebrate God’s salvific love.
Champaigne: Visitation The Canticle of Mary or the Magnificat
These canticles sung by Zechariah who finds his voice after the loss of speech, and by Mary, who anticipated greatest joy and greatest sorrow, are meant to carry us from sun up to sun down continually. The canticle of Simeon, which the Liturgy of the Hours designates as part of the Night Prayer, is an anthem of gratitude, and together these songs can bracket our goings and our comings, they can guide our days and nights, they can fill us with hope and trust in God.
When we sit with Jeremiah 20:10-13, Psalm 18, and John 10:31-42we can see how we too might sing canticles of praise for God’s providence as we move from dread to joy.
I hear the whisperings of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!” All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine . . . In my time of distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice . . . From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears . . . The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them . . . “If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father”. Then they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power.
The Prophets Simeon and Anna with the Christ Child
And so we pray . . .
God is in his temple and he hears my voice, it reaches his ears . . . we are the temple in which God resides, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
They tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power . . .we have nothing to fear when we walk in the way which is lighted by the light of Christ.
Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one . . .we have everything to gain when we live in God.
As we begin our Advent journey, let us sing these canticles at dawn, at the setting of the sun, and when we lie down to rest. And as we escape from the power of terror’s grip and watch it melt away, let us turn to God in all things, in all ways, at all times . . . and let us sing our canticle of joy. Amen.
Adapted from a reflection written on April 3, 2009.
To explore these songs of praise and what they can mean to us, click on the images above or go to The Liturgy of the Hourspage on this blog.
As we gather in the U.S. to give thanks for all that we are and all that we have, we remember that we are all . . .
Under the Centurion’s Roof
This story has long held our fascination – a Roman centurion approaches the very un-pagan Jesus on behalf of his servant. This story raises questions for us – who is the servant who merits so much devotion on the part of his master; and what has caused the paralysis? A fall? A disease? A battle wound? This story is repeated by many as part of the Communion Rite – Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, say but the word and my soul shall be healed. This story invites us to step into the household of this Roman centurionto discover why he has such faith, and it invites us to examine our own sense of thanksgiving for all that we have.
My servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully . . .how do we ask for God’s help when those who serve us suffer?
I will come and cure him . . .countless times each day we benefit from God’s blessing and intervention. How do we thank God?
Lord, I am not worthy . . . only say the word . . .how do we respond to the signs of God’s intervention we see all around us?
As you have believed, let it be done for you . . .how do we tell the world about the goodness of God’s love for us?
A Centurion was a person of power and influence who rose through military ranks using his skills as a soldier and leader. If he paid homage to any god or creed, it would have been in keeping with the pagan beliefs held by his contemporaries; yet he comes to Jesus.
Jesus is willing to enter under any roof to heal all suffering and to bind up all wounds. If we find our ourselves hesitating to invite the master into our hearts, let us take a lesson from the powerful and compassionate soldier. Let us go to God with our needs and hopes. Let us speak plainly to the Lord about our feelings and circumstances. And let us give thanks to God for God’s great goodness and love.
Phyllis Tickle offers us a prayer of Thanksgiving that we might share with others as we gather under the Centurion’s roof.
“O Lord my God, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; yet you have called me to stand in this house, and to serve at this work. To you and to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. Fill my memory with the record of your mighty works; enlighten my understanding with the light of your Holy Spirit; and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would have me do. Make me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to my care, and grant that by my life and teaching I may set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in carrying out the duties of my faith. In prayer, quicken my devotion; in praises, heighten my love and gratitude; in conversation, give me readiness of thought and expression; and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your Holy Word, all the world may be drawn into your blessed kingdom. All this I ask for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen”. (Tickle 255)
Tickle, Phyllis. THE DIVINE HOURS: PRAYERS FOR AUTUMN AND WINTERTIME. New York: Doubleday, 2000. Print.
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Let me thank you, Lord, for world in which I find myself, for the people in my life, and for the many times you have protected and lead me on my journey.
