Good Evening Dear Family!
Happy Saturday! Today I'm asking that we take the Matthew 25 Pledge. It is really simple and here it is:
Pledge
I pledge to protect and defend vulnerable people in the name of Jesus.
For more information here is the link to the website: Taking the Matthew 25 Pledge. We are called to do this at such a time as this. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. All of our family members are vulnerable. All of them, not some of them. Today in our country and throughout the world the vulnerable are in the majority not the minority. We all need to come together and serve the least of these. By serving the least of these we are serving God and our family in the most compassionate, accepting, loving, and merciful way. Our Gospel Lesson for tomorrow is Matthew 25, and all that I ask of us tonight is to spend time in prayer meditating upon it. Before we do that let us pray the Beatitudes as our launching pad. We will have a vigil and many prayers interspersed tonight.
Matthew 5:1-12New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Beatitudes
5 When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely[b] on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Let us light our candles and be at prayer and make vigil for our vulnerable family members in our country and throughout the world.
God of love we make vigil and pray for all of our family members who are on the margins needing our love and care. We pray that we may all have empathy to be able to see outward appearances and see the face of God in each one of these precious souls whom you send in to our lives. We light candles for the least of these and remember them.
We light our first candle and pray for the homeless who find themselves out in unprotected places during cold and stormy weather. We pray for round the clock shelters during times of cold weather and the winter months.
Lord Hear our prayers for our homeless family members.
Let our cries for them come unto you!
We light our second candle and pray for the hungry who are food insecure and may not have sufficient nutrition for healthy bodies, minds, and spirits. We pray for the food banks and distribution centers that they may be able to have enough resources to fee the hungry and the food insecure.
Lord Hear our prayers for our hungry. family members.
Let our cries for them come unto you.
We light our third candle for those who lack warm clothing. We pray for generous people to share what they have with others and especially during the cold and damp weather.
Lord hear the prayers for our ill clad family members.
Let our cries for them come unto you.
We light our fourth candle for the mentally ill that they may find adequate inpatient and outpatient treatment. We pray that they may have supportive caregivers and family members who will not be afraid to advocate and minister to their needs.
Lord hear the prayers of the mentally ill.
Let our cries for them come come unto you.
We light our fifth candle for all LGBTQIA people who long to have equal rights and the courage to live authentically outside of the closets and that they may live with equal protection without fear.
Lord hear the prayers for all of our LGBTQIA family members.
Let our cries for them come unto you .
We light our sixth candle for all races that are on the margins of society and are hated just because of the color of their skin and accent. Help us to build bridges and learn from them.
Lord hear the prayers for all of our diverse family members of color.
Let our cries for them come unto you.
We light our seventh candle for all religions who misunderstood and being used as a means for terror. Help us to support and foster understanding with love and take time to stand up against extremism.
Lord hear the prayer for all religions that are being misunderstood and hated.
Let our cries for them come unto you.
Help us O God to love and serve our family members on the margins for we are all the least of these.
Lord hear the cries of the least of these and all who are marginalized.
Let our cries for them come unto you O Lord.
We light our first candle and pray for the homeless who find themselves out in unprotected places during cold and stormy weather. We pray for round the clock shelters during times of cold weather and the winter months.
Lord Hear our prayers for our homeless family members.
Let our cries for them come unto you!
We light our second candle and pray for the hungry who are food insecure and may not have sufficient nutrition for healthy bodies, minds, and spirits. We pray for the food banks and distribution centers that they may be able to have enough resources to fee the hungry and the food insecure.
Lord Hear our prayers for our hungry. family members.
Let our cries for them come unto you.
We light our third candle for those who lack warm clothing. We pray for generous people to share what they have with others and especially during the cold and damp weather.
Lord hear the prayers for our ill clad family members.
Let our cries for them come unto you.
We light our fourth candle for the mentally ill that they may find adequate inpatient and outpatient treatment. We pray that they may have supportive caregivers and family members who will not be afraid to advocate and minister to their needs.
Lord hear the prayers of the mentally ill.
Let our cries for them come come unto you.
We light our fifth candle for all LGBTQIA people who long to have equal rights and the courage to live authentically outside of the closets and that they may live with equal protection without fear.
Lord hear the prayers for all of our LGBTQIA family members.
Let our cries for them come unto you .
We light our sixth candle for all races that are on the margins of society and are hated just because of the color of their skin and accent. Help us to build bridges and learn from them.
Lord hear the prayers for all of our diverse family members of color.
Let our cries for them come unto you.
We light our seventh candle for all religions who misunderstood and being used as a means for terror. Help us to support and foster understanding with love and take time to stand up against extremism.
Lord hear the prayer for all religions that are being misunderstood and hated.
Let our cries for them come unto you.
Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Help us O God to love and serve our family members on the margins for we are all the least of these.
Lord hear the cries of the least of these and all who are marginalized.
Let our cries for them come unto you O Lord.
God of all goodness, come into our heart this night and stay with us when the night is dark and the day is ending.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, help us to Lovingly Respond to the needs all of us your Children who are the least of these.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, help us to Lovingly Respond to the needs all of us your Children who are the least of these.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, may give the gift or presence to all who are mourning any loss.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, we pray that we may lovingly care for your Cathedral of Life and each other.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, we pray that we may lovingly care for your Cathedral of Life and each other.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, we pray for all who are dying and have died today may they enter or have entered the Thin Places with joy and peace.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other while we are living and when are in the Thin Places and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, take away all fears, hate, and dis-ease that keeps us from being united as your family of love.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, give us courage to speak truth to power and the strength to fight injustice anywhere and be a voice for the voiceless.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, give us courage to speak truth to power and the strength to fight injustice anywhere and be a voice for the voiceless.
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness, we offer our additional prayers remembering especially_______________
Let us shine your vesper light to each other and reflect your loving image to one another.
God of all goodness we lift up our prayers in the name of your only son Jesus the Christ, our redeemer, brother, and friend. Amen.
IN LAK’ECH
Tú eres mi otro yo.
You are my other me.
Si te hago daño a ti,
If I do harm to you,
Me hago daño a mi mismo.
I do harm to myself.
Si te amo y respeto,
If I love and respect you,
Me amo y respeto yo.
I love and respect myself.
Luis Valdez
Nature is a good name for an effect whose cause is God.
Those are the same stars, and that is the same moon, that look down upon your brothers and sisters, and which they see as they look up to them, though they are ever so far away from us, and each other.
Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will.
What we give to the poor, we lend to the Lord.
Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24
11 For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.
20 Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.
23 I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.
The Song of Mary Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *
for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,
and holy is your name.
You have mercy on those who fear you *
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm *
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones *
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things *
and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *
for you have remembered your promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *
for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,
and holy is your name.
You have mercy on those who fear you *
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm *
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones *
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things *
and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *
for you have remembered your promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
95 Venite, exultemus
1 Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.
1 Come, let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
Ephesians 1:15-23
15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love* towards all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God* put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Prayer for the Poor
Who is Jesus to me? Jesus is the Word made Flesh. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins on the Cross. Jesus is the Sacrifice at Holy Mass for the sins of the world and mine. Jesus is the Word - to be spoken. Jesus is the Truth - to be told. Jesus is the Way - to be walked. Jesus is the Light - to be lit. Jesus is the Life - to be loved. Jesus is the Joy - to be shared. Jesus is the Sacrifice - to be given. Jesus is the Bread of Life - to be eaten. Jesus is the Hungry - to be fed. Jesus is the Thirsty - to be satiated. Jesus is the Naked - to be clothed. Jesus is the Homeless - to be taken in. Jesus is the Sick - to be healed. Jesus is the Lonely - to be loved. Jesus is the Unwanted - to be wanted. Jesus is the Leper - to wash his wounds. Jesus is the Beggar - to give him a smile. Jesus is the Drunkard - to listen to him. Jesus is the Little One - to embrace him. Jesus is the Dumb - to speak to him. Jesus is the Crippled - to walk with him. Jesus is the Drug Addict - to befriend him. Jesus is the Prostitute - to remove from danger and befriend her. Jesus is the Prisoner - to be visited. Jesus is the Old - to be served.
To me Jesus is my God, Jesus is my Spouse, Jesus is my Life, Jesus is my only Love, Jesus is my All in All, Jesus is my Everything.
Amen.
(By Mother Teresa of Calcutta.)
Matthew 25:31-46
31 ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” 37Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” 40And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.” 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” 44Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” 45Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’
“Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which to look out
Christ's compassion to the world
Yours are the feet with which he is to go about
doing good;
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.”
― Teresa of Ávila
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,
Yours are the eyes through which to look out
Christ's compassion to the world
Yours are the feet with which he is to go about
doing good;
Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.”
― Teresa of Ávila
Prayer For The Poor By Mother Theresa+
Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those people throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give them peace and Joy. Amen
Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those people throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give them peace and Joy. Amen
A Prayer attributed to St. Francis
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.
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.
Let us spend time in silence and prepare ourselves to be God's voice in a broken world.
God of justice we pray that we may have courage to speak truth to power.
God of compassion we pray that we may love others not just in our words but in our deeds.
God of kindness we pray that we may use our voices to heal, comfort, and lovingly support.
God of peace we pray that we may use our voices as your beloved children to make peace and not wage war in this world.
God of all people, we pray that we may be the voices who seek to protect and serve the most vulnerable of our family members.
God of justice we pray that we may we have the courage to Stand Up, Step up, and Speak Up for all of your children who need us to act and not be silent.
God of Love we pray that we may use the Love Energy that is within our Heart Homes to be your Light to the world. May we shine your light in dark places so that our family members may see and be guided away from the darkness that infects our world.
God of healing we pray that we may seek to use our voices to heal and not harm.
God of creation we pray that we may use our voices to speak for good conservation practices to heal and renew the face of the earth and respect all living things in your Cathedral of Live.
God of diversity, we pray that we may be voices of unity and that we may seek to come to know one another and respect the dignity of all beings.
God and creator of us all may we seek to follow the examples of Jesus and John the Baptist and speak, love, act, and pray and be mindful of the needs and concerns of others this day and always!
God we offer our own voices in prayer and thanksgiving remembering____________________.
We lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus the Good Shepherd whose voice we hear and who calls us all by our names. Amen.
God of justice we pray that we may have courage to speak truth to power.
God of compassion we pray that we may love others not just in our words but in our deeds.
God of kindness we pray that we may use our voices to heal, comfort, and lovingly support.
God of peace we pray that we may use our voices as your beloved children to make peace and not wage war in this world.
God of all people, we pray that we may be the voices who seek to protect and serve the most vulnerable of our family members.
God of justice we pray that we may we have the courage to Stand Up, Step up, and Speak Up for all of your children who need us to act and not be silent.
God of Love we pray that we may use the Love Energy that is within our Heart Homes to be your Light to the world. May we shine your light in dark places so that our family members may see and be guided away from the darkness that infects our world.
God of healing we pray that we may seek to use our voices to heal and not harm.
God of creation we pray that we may use our voices to speak for good conservation practices to heal and renew the face of the earth and respect all living things in your Cathedral of Live.
God of diversity, we pray that we may be voices of unity and that we may seek to come to know one another and respect the dignity of all beings.
God and creator of us all may we seek to follow the examples of Jesus and John the Baptist and speak, love, act, and pray and be mindful of the needs and concerns of others this day and always!
God we offer our own voices in prayer and thanksgiving remembering____________________.
We lift up these our prayers in the name of Jesus the Good Shepherd whose voice we hear and who calls us all by our names. Amen.
Here are the prayers for the week leading up to the First Sunday of Advent!
Lord it is New Year's Eve in the Church and the clock is ticking towards yet another lectionary cycle and year set to begin. Help us not to make unnecessary resolutions like we do in Lent but help us to begin yet again that wondrous journey when you became God Incarnate ,Man Divine.
We pray that the end of this Church year may bring reflection and a recommittment to the promises we made at baptism.
We pray for the strength and courage to do better in our lives and in the church.
We pray for all ministers and the people whom they shepherd.
We pray for peace. Help us to remember that peace in the world starts in our hearts with love for you and our family members.
We pray for all those who will travel this week to be with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate Thanksgiving.
We pray that everyone will dial down the hype and focus on you.
We pray for the lost, lonely, hungry, and the homeless.
We pray for all those who minster to those in cyberspace and online.
We pray for the courage and strength to practice good wellness habits.
Help us to be good stewards of our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Help us today to see the face of Christ in everyone we meet and hold the Christ light for them.
Help us to have an attitude of Gratitude by showing it in both words and deeds.
Help us to remember to pray for___________________________.
Help us to give thanks for________________________________.
Help us we pray for all those who we haven't seen for awhile, help us to reach out to them.
Help us we pray this day that we may to remember that you are the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords and that we walk with you on your journey everyday as you walk with us.
Loving God we lift up these petitions to you and give you thanks that you are already at work responding to them in your time. Help us to wait patiently on you and know that you are our Guardian, Guide, and stay this day and for evermore. Amen.
Lord it is New Year's Eve in the Church and the clock is ticking towards yet another lectionary cycle and year set to begin. Help us not to make unnecessary resolutions like we do in Lent but help us to begin yet again that wondrous journey when you became God Incarnate ,Man Divine.
We pray that the end of this Church year may bring reflection and a recommittment to the promises we made at baptism.
We pray for the strength and courage to do better in our lives and in the church.
We pray for all ministers and the people whom they shepherd.
We pray for peace. Help us to remember that peace in the world starts in our hearts with love for you and our family members.
We pray for all those who will travel this week to be with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate Thanksgiving.
We pray that everyone will dial down the hype and focus on you.
We pray for the lost, lonely, hungry, and the homeless.
We pray for all those who minster to those in cyberspace and online.
We pray for the courage and strength to practice good wellness habits.
Help us to be good stewards of our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Help us today to see the face of Christ in everyone we meet and hold the Christ light for them.
Help us to have an attitude of Gratitude by showing it in both words and deeds.
Help us to remember to pray for___________________________.
Help us to give thanks for________________________________.
Help us we pray for all those who we haven't seen for awhile, help us to reach out to them.
Help us we pray this day that we may to remember that you are the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords and that we walk with you on your journey everyday as you walk with us.
Loving God we lift up these petitions to you and give you thanks that you are already at work responding to them in your time. Help us to wait patiently on you and know that you are our Guardian, Guide, and stay this day and for evermore. Amen.
The Wisdom of God
the Love of God
and the Grace of God
strengthen you
to be Christ’s hands and heart in this world,
in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
(source: Celtic)
Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always
protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow
the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.
(source: from Saint Clare)
The Light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!"
I hold holy space for you during this time of prayer, vigil, and meditation.
++++++
Good Night Dear Ones. I love you! I give thanks to God for you this night and always. May we rest gentle in God's arms and pray for the least of these who need God's encircling protection and love this night.
Blessings and peace!
Sara
++++
Resources!
Lectionary Page
Bible Gateway
Quote Sites for Prayers and quotes
In Lak ' Ech - Luis Valdez
Matthew 25 Pledge
Enriching our Worship
Walk With Me On Our Journey
No comments:
Post a Comment