Tag: prayer

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 9: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 18:1 to 20; Evening, Psalm 18:21 to 50;

Deuteronomy 3:18  to 28; Romans 9:19 to 33; Matthew 24:1 to 14

“When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”” (Matthew 24:3)

Our Lord Jesus gives his listeners cautions about all the people and situations that will try to lead them (and us) away from righteous and faithful living. Twice our Lord Jesus uses the words “led astray” and he warns about steadfast attention to right living and inclusive loving, and not being led astray.  And he ends with, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)

Enduring to the end and being saved means never giving up our personal faith habits.  We have many ways to keep our faith practices going. We have our Daily Office from our Book of Common Prayer, from which this meditational blog is based. We have the Forward Day by Day publication, and we have prayer beads and other personal prayer practices using the Bible and Christian writings to keep us steadfast in our commitment to prayer and adoration of God. Being saved means joining our Lord Jesus in eternal life.  We must never give up our personal prayer practices.

Today’s message is not about waiting for “when” to begin.  Today’s message is about NOW!  It is about staying the course no matter what.  It is about everyday prayerful living.  Yes, we might slip occasionally, being led astray, but when it happens, there is no time to lose in sulking about it.  We must get back to doing our personal worship habits. This means individual Christian study and prayer until the end of this age arrives. If this becomes our daily practice, “when” really makes no difference because when “when”  happens, we will be found praising God.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Most Holy and Glorious God Incarnate, You modeled for us the example of regular prayer and spiritual dialogue in the personhood of our Lord Jesus.. Keep us, we pray, steadfast in the daily habit of prayer and study in order that we might realize our presence in the eternal world even now. All this we ask in Your most Holy Name: Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 9: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 1, 2 and 3; Evening, Psalms 4 and 7; 

Numbers 32:1 to 6 and 16 to 27;  Romans 8:26 to 30; Matthew 23:1 to12:

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.  And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.^”  (Romans 8: 26 – 27)

I think Paul really gets it right here.  We do have a weakness when it comes to prayer.  We do not know how to pray as we ought. These are the times we just need to sit quietly and ponder about God.  The Spirit of God dwells within each believer. And that is really it, we don’t have to know what we are doing. All we have to do is believe, that is trust.  The Holy Spirit of God walks on the path of our faith, our believing, right into our hearts, and responds to God from whom it came in the first place.  We do not belong to ourselves.  We belong to God. We do however have the privilege of knowing one another, and if we obey our Lord Jesus, we will love one another also. 

Language is a wonderful thing.  But it is not the end-all.  There are feelings and emotions and expressions, as Paul says, “too deep for words.”  I am a member of a Spiritual Companion Group where silence is the norm of our time together.  I can’t say enough about how valuable the movement of the Spirit is as the Spirit moves and weaves through our group meetings when we say nothing.  

The Spirit of God mingles within our hearts and actually moves our personality needle to more and more love.  And, as Paul says, God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for us.  Truly folks, all we have to do is back off and let God be God. We are on a journey but we are not driving. We are passengers.  All we have to do is enjoy the ride and love one another.

Today we remember Priscilla and Aquila Co-Workers of the Apostle Paul and their information may be found at:Priscilla & Aquila.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O all-knowing and all loving God, whose Spirit moved about when there was nothing, and then moved over created waters, and then created all life, and then You walked among humankind. Your spiritual depth is more than we can understand. Help us to channel our spirits to your all-loving Spirit in our prayers beyond our understanding.  Knowing that we don’t have to understand to have faith. Search our minds and enliven our spirits to have love for You and for one another. Amen

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 7^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 107:33-43, 108; Eve of Pentecost Psalm 33;

Ezekiel 36:22 to 27; Ephesians 6:10 to 24; Matthew 9:18 to 26:

“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.”  (Ephesians 6: 18)

Paul says to “pray in the Spirit.”  How do I do that?  Do I sit quietly and meditate on what I want God to do?  Do I ask the Spirit to pray through me?  That has been said by Paul, that it is not we who pray but the Spirit who prays through us. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groaning too deep for words. And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spiritintercedes for the saints according to the will of God;” (Romans 8: 26 and 27).  I think both of these concepts are true.

It is somewhat an American tradition to incorporate prayer into social events. We have become accustomed to asking someone to pray at meals, or, for the opening or closing of meetings or ceremonies.  And we have framed prayer as religious words heard at key points of events.  I am normally chosen to perform these prayer duties when I am present, or asked to be present.  I think the writings that were read by our early Christian parents encouraged our parents to pray quietly. In fact, we may not have been able to tell when they were praying and when they were not.  Prayer is not restricted to Church.

Church depends on prayer prayed outside itself. Prayer, sitting with our Creator and being open to divine instruction, is the most important experience we can have on any day, but more especially on a Sabbath Day like today.  

Occasionally, however, people need to hear words of adoration to assist them in their spiritual focus.  When it’s needed, it should be provided. When audible prayer is needed it should be remembered that what is heard comes from the silent, loving heart of a faithful person.  Just as St. Francis said “go out and preach the Gospel and when necessary use words,” I say, pray always, and when necessary use words, words that others may need to hear.

Today we remember Nicholas Copernicus and Johannes Kepler, Astronomers, 1543 & 1630. And their information may be found at: Nicholas Copernicus & Johannes Kepler.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Oh Lord God, as we may be invited to pray on behalf of others, “May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be always acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer.” Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 106:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 106:19 to 48;

Leviticus 23:1 to 22;  2^nd Thessalonians 2:1 to 17; Matthew 7:1 to 12:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” (Matthew 7:7)

I believe the most significant lessons of our lives come as a result of the questions we ask. We live in a wonderful time. With our phones, we literally have world libraries in our pockets.  We can ask anything in the world. This does not come without a caution however. The old saying is true, “garbage in; garbage out.”  Readers beware.  And again, advice from a friend of mine, “ask a question and, if necessary, question the answer.”

When it comes to Godly concerns, we can read the Bible, but I don’t recommend it to be done in isolation. There are Bible Study classes that can be taken to help you. And with this I recommend such classes to open and close in prayer.  It is also necessary when asking such questions to go beyond the Bible, to the saints of old and the saints new.

Many of the saints who have gone before us have answers to our questions of today. But let’s place this passage where it belongs; our Lord Jesus is talking about judgment, specifically, not judging others. He uses examples of the speck in our neighbor’s eye, and the log in ours.  And then he goes into how we treat our children whom we love as God loves us.  The point here is that we want what is best for those we love remembering that God loves us all.  Sometimes we really don’t know what is best given that we bring our own baggage (or log in our eye) into the situation.  So, we must ask God for what is best, knowing that God’s response may be uncomfortable at times. But, “Ask, and it will be given to you.”

Today we remember Dame Julian of Norwich, Contemplative (May 8, 1417) and her information may be found at: Julian of Norwich

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom. 

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

From another of our saints who has gone before us we have a prayer in our Book of Common Prayer that I think addresses what we should ask for; A Prayer attributed to St. Francis as printed in our 1979 Book of Common Prayer: p. 833.

Let us pray:

“Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”

Eucharistic Readings for Thursday of Easter Week: All Years

Acts 3:11-26  Psalm 8 or Psalm 114 or Psalm 118:19-24   Luke 24:36b-48

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses, What is man that you should be mindful of him? the son of man that you should seek him out?”  (Psalm 8:4 – 5: BCP p.592)

I have read somewhere that we are byproducts of star dust.  If we are, I don’t think it is a random act.  I believe God created the stars and used the dust of those stars in causing us to be, and it was, and is, intentional on the part of God. We are so special that God came among us as one of us.

Sometimes I just like to look up at the stars and just be in awe at the marvels of space.  I love our Eucharistic Prayer C which reminds us that “At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.”  (BCP p. 370)

And then the words of the Prayer goes on, “From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation.” Of course we are also reminded that “we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another” (also BCP p. 370). A sad lot we sometimes are, but God loves us anyway. We are not a mistake by God.  However, we have our God-given free will that we too often misuse.

So, as the Psalmist says, God is so mindful of us that God became born among us to model for us what real love looks like, agape love.  God became the living covenant that holds us together, forever.  God in Christ Jesus overcame death that through our Lord Jesus we too might believe and trust and become born of a heavenly life for all eternity. Thank You Lord Jesus. So, are you thankful for God’s mindfulness? How are you using your God-given free will in expressing agape love?

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us Pray:

Most glorious Lord God, who formed all creation and all living creatures, strengthen us in a way that we will use our God-given free-will to willingly accept your loving leadership, and follow your ways now, and in the everlasting, where we may seek you out and witness your mighty hand at work unveiled before our new eyes. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalm 74;

Lamentation. 2:1-9; 2^nd Corinthians 1:23 to 2:11; Mark 12:1 to 11:

“Hear my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my petition.  Listen to me and answer me; I have no peace, because of my cares. (Psalm 55: 1 and 2)

The Psalmist sounds distressed about something and is begging God to be more present in what he cares about.

All of us have something, large or small, public or private, that we are concerned about and as we believe in God, we go to God for answers or at least divine intervention; as we should.

As we pray, it may seem sometimes that God has hidden from us and refuses to respond to our petition. To this I say, “Balderdash!”  God works in God’s time, not ours. However, based on what I have studied and pondered about God, God truly does work in mysterious ways. God answers prayers often in ways outside of our sphere of knowledge and understanding. We should continue to pray for God to act in our lives, and then, just watch and listen and be amazed at what God is doing.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us Pray:

Oh Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of life and beauty, without you there is no us.  Walk with us, we pray, that our lives may reflect your will, on this earth, and for this earth, and for all its inhabitants. You are the Grand Designer and lover of all life. Make yourself known in our lives in order that we might live, love, and work in ways pleasing to You, You who knows our needs before we ask, be with us and help us we pray: Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Saturday of the 4^th week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 107:33 to 43; Evening,  Psalm 108:1-6(7-13); 33;

Exodus 2:23 to 3:15; 1^st Corinthians 13:1 to 13; Mark 9:14 to 29:

“He said to them, ‘This kind can come out only through prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

I feel like not enough Christian effort is applied in prayer today, even as it was lacking back as Jesus witnessed when He walked among us. By this I mean the “sit-in-your-room-alone – prayer.” After the disciples of our Lord Jesus failed to cast out the evil spirit by whatever means they were using, Jesus himself interviewed the father of the boy about how long this has been happening. Then Jesus told the evil presence not only to come out of the boy, but also to never enter him again. Our Lord Jesus later explains about needing to pray more. He says that “This kind can come out only through prayer.”  This is still what we need today.

We have suffered as a planet from Covid and even some clergy, Christian clergy, have gone along with secular instruction to establish and maintain physical (social) distancing. And that has worked, but perhaps during our time (alone) and distancing, we should also be praying, pray without ceasing.  We’re pretty much out of it now but it has left its mark and some parishes are still trying to fully come to the place we were before Covid.

Perhaps this physical distancing was good advice for the physical self. How about our spiritual selves?  Sooner or later we will all stand before the One  for whom nothing is impossible.  What response will we give for not coming to our Lord for help?  Our former Presiding Bishop (the Most Reverend Micheal Curry) once said the most important prayer we can pray is one word, and that word is; “Help.”

Folks, we must have faith and believe. Our Lord Jesus took issue with the father who showed some doubt when he ask, “if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us” (Mark 9: 22).  To this Jesus responds, “‘If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes” (Mark 9: 23).  My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, we must never underestimate the power of our faith in God and the power of prayer. Prayer brings to an end whatever troubles us. God will either take the trouble away from us or bring us out of the trouble. God loves us so much that God can’t refuse whatever we ask, but we must trust and ask. And we ask for the benefit of one another everywhere. We don’t ask just for ourselves, our family, or our Church or our Country, but for humankind all over the planet.

Today we remember Thomas Ken, Bishop and Non-Juror (March 21, 1711),  and his information may be found at: Thomas Ken

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Most holy and all powerful creating and loving Spirit, please hear our prayers of praise, confession, thanksgiving, intersession, and personal needs. Remind us daily Dear Lord that prayer is our best connection to you, and that we should pray daily. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 119:49 to 72; Evening, Psalm 49;  

Genesis  37:25-36; 1st Corinthians 2:1 to 13; Mark 1:29 to 45:

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he [Jesus] got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.”  (Mark 1:35)

Whether you believe our Lord Jesus is God Incarnate, or the Son of God apart from God, you must take note of Jesus’ life of prayer.  The praying referred to in the passage above is tucked between healings.  On one side, before he prayed, “he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons” (Mark 1: 34).  On the other side, after he prayed, he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons (Mark 1: 39).  This work of healing and casting out demons was fortified by prayer. People, prayer works.

In these acts of prayer our Lord Jesus is teaching us the power of prayer as well as the importance of prayer. The Mystic, Evelyn Underhill, writes “We pray first because we believe something; perhaps at that stage a very crude or vague something.  And with the deepening of prayer, its patient cultivation, there comes – perhaps slowly, perhaps suddenly – the enrichment and enlargement of belief, as we enter into a first-hand communion with the Reality who is the object of our faith.” (Lent with Evelyn Underhill p.17; taken from The School of Charity)

You and I are products of God’s prayer.  God began creation by praying. “Let there be,” as witnessed in the opening of Genesis. With such words all creation was called into being.  The same “Word” that called all creation into being took on human form and dwelt among us. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being” (John 1:1 to 3). 

Everything about us comes from prayer, God’s prayer. We are prayer.  Therefore, we surely ought to be praying.  God still prays.  In fact, we never initiate prayer to God.  Given that God prays first, when we pray, we are always responding to God. This is true even when we think we are asking for something for the first time.  God is always ahead of us knowing our need before we ask.

As I truly believe this, I also believe God is the God of love and peace. I want us then to respond to God’s desire for human peace asking for an immediate end to all war in the world. This might require all believers to find a deserted place, even within our own homes, and there, pray for peace.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us Pray as our Lord and Savior taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Monday of the 3^rd Week of Epiphany: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 41 and 52; Evening, Psalm 44

Genesis 14:8 to 24; Hebrews 8:1 to13; John 4:43 to 54

“The official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my little boy dies.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.” (John 4:49 – 50)

Intercessory prayer is so important.  In fact, prayer on behalf of others may be the most important prayers.  But like the official above, when we pray for someone, we must believe and go, go believing our Lord Jesus has done, or is doing, what is best.

I’m not so sure I like the continuation of this passage because the official who is the father, is trying to prove to himself that it was in fact Jesus who did the healing.  “As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, ‘Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.’ The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he himself believed, along with his whole household.”  (John 4: 51 – 53)

Prayer is not all fact based.  It is however, all love and hope filled.  We must hope and pray for people we love and for anyone whom we realize is in dire straits, even if they are not on our favorites list.  Prayer to our Lord Jesus works.  When we sincerely ask for help, or healing, or comfort for others, our Lord Jesus will hear our plea and will respond.  Remember, “God’s ears hears tears.”  Never, never, never give up, and don’t try to make sense of, or seek proof of, the Lord’s work.  But rather, just be thankful for it. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Today we remember The Conversion of The apostle Paul, as transferred from Yesterday, January 25, due to it being a Sunday; and his information may be found at: The Conversion of St. Paul.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Almighty God, Creator and lover of all souls, help us we pray, to put aside all thoughts of selfish desires and to be more communal as You were when You walked among us, for the benefit of us. Enable our hearts to reach out to the real needs of others and to bring our loving concerns to You for Your universal loving care, for the welfare of all people. Amen