Litanies & Prayers

After trial in the desert, Jesus, being filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Nazareth, his home town, to speak the Word.

Weeping words, feasting words.

He stood in the synagogue, on the Sabbath day, to read from the Prophet Isaiah.

Reader 1: And what are our dreams for the future? Are they not reflections of the various dreams recorded in Scripture, spoken by the ancients which, even today, still echo in our hearts?

R2: For we remember God’s promise of repentance after the flood: “I will never again curse the ground of humankind; neither will I ever again destroy every living creature." (Genesis 9:12-15; 8:21-22)

R3: We recall the day when Hannah praised God in these terms: “The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The Lord raises up the poor from the dust; God lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with the rulers and inherit a seat of honor.” (1 Samuel 2: 1-8)

We travel today with Jesus as he was leaving Caesarea Philippi, in the far northern region of ancient Israel. Named for the Roman Caesar, located in what is now known as the Golan Heights, a site of contention to this day, Syrian land occupied by Israeli allure. Even after these years together, the disciples still imagine Jesus supplanting the great Caesar, scattering Rome’s legions, restoring the glory of Judea’s lost splendor, fulfilling its remembered boast as the capital of nations.

And now this! What is this gibberish about “the Son of Man must suffer,” rejected, kicked to the curb, tracked and targeted by the drones of imperial purpose and religious conceit.

“No!” screams Peter, mouth in gear before his brain engaged.

Blessed King of Glory, Queen of Heaven, Patron of the fields and Matron of seas:

We hoist Your banner, proclaiming Glory for the Heavens and goodness for the earth!

We cannot help but be heartened by the advent of new leaders, by the prospect of new direction, with hints that the banner of Justice may again be saluted in the forging of public policies.

We thank you, God, for water.
By it you give life to plants,
Animals, and all humankind.

We thank you that in the beginning
your Spirit of creation moved over
the face of the waters.

We thank you for your rainbow
covenant promise that emerged from
the drowning floodwaters.

Stand amazed, you betrothed of unimagined Grace.
     Your siege is ending.

The Regent of Heaven shall come
    to reclaim the earth,
          to restore its shared inheritance,
     to redeem its memory of mercy
                 and its generous harvest.

In those days the remnant of pardon will arrive
from every far-flung hill and hamlet.
     Among them will be the shamed and forsaken,
           the exposed and exploited; the blind and the lame
                 and the laboring women.

Leader: God of justice and mercy, we gather as people of conscience and as people of faith. In our rich diversity, we assemble tonight in one spirit and with one purpose.

People: We convene our hearts, our hopes and our voices.

Leader: God of justice and mercy, we accompany our brother, Troy Davis, who in these moments faces state sponsored execution.  May he know the fullness of your embrace, of your freedom, of your love.  May he know that his witness, his courage and his faith will not die.

Jesus told his disciples a parable about those who get too big for their britches.

Who could that be? Hope it’s not me.

Two men stopped by the hospice chapel to pray. One was spiritual-but-not-religious (SNR). Big on centering prayer, sweat lodges, Taizé music and Tibetan prayer flags. On top of that, he’s an activist, an act-of-conscience jailbird, recycles everything, vegetarian, drives a hybrid, ACLU member, makes his own granola.

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with divine recompense to save you."

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame one leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy.

The troubling breath of the
Blessed One broke into speech:
“Oh human one, hear my question and answer rightly.
Can these bones live? Can these bones live?”

Only You know. Only You know.

 “Then prophesy to these skeletal remains.”