A Thanksgiving Prayer

Morning: Psalm 118; Hosea 13:4-14; I Corinthians 2:6-16

Evening: Psalm 145; Matthew 14:1-12

We pray to God that this Thanksgiving, we not just give thanks, but that we choose thanks … In God’s sacred generosity, we see that we live in an infinite circle of gratitude. We all are guests at a hospitable table around which gifts are passed and received. We will strive not to let anything opposed to love take over this table … we will pass gratitude on to the world … With all those gathered here, we pledge to make thanks … around this table, around the table of our nation, around the table of the earth. Amen.  

(This is an adaptation of a prayer by Diana Butler Bass, in her book: Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks)

The Way to real life … Love your enemies

Morning: Psalms 107:33-43, 108; Hosea 11:1-9; Acts 22:17-29

Evening: Psalm 33; Luke 6:27-38

Everything Jesus stands for runs counter to the usual norms by which human beings govern their lives.  Those norms include … hatred for enemies, revenge on abusers, and judgement of those who offend you.  But Jesus overturns this whole tit-for-tat system of human vengeance … Instead, love your enemies; do unto others as you would have them do to you; forgive.  Does this sound unreal or unrealistic?  Consider this … that what is most unreal and unrealistic is to perpetuate the cycle of human violence. Instead, love those who treat you badly.  Break the cycle.  Overcome hatred with Love.

What people call ‘the real world’ isn’t … yet

Morning: Psalm 102; Hosea 10:1-15; Acts 21:37-22:16

Evening: Psalm 107:1-32; Luke 6:12-26

Jesus’ goal is a better and brighter Day for the earth and its creatures. In that new reality, things are turned on their heads because our present reality is actually un-real.  In Jesus’ new reality, all is as it should be.  The poor, the hungry, those who weep and those whom the world hates - because of Jesus – are Blessed.  In Jesus’ new reality, the rich, the over-full, those who are laughing now, and those of whom all speak well will weep, because everything that is untrue to the true nature of things will in time be swept away.

Sometimes the law is … well, misunderstood

Morning: Psalm 105:1-22; Hosea 5:8-6:6; Acts 21:27-36

Evening: Psalm 105:23-45; Luke 6:1-11

It’s fitting that on St. Francis’ Day, in the Gospel, Jesus is challenging legalists about their misunderstanding of law: law supports people in doing good, rather than condemning them.  Francis deliberately turned things on their head too.  Faithful to Jesus, his Master, Francis prayed … “make me a channel of Peace; where there is hatred, let me sow Love; where there is injury, Pardon; where there is doubt, Faith; where there is sadness, Joy … O Master, Grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand.”  Amen to that.

Jesus calls those who need him … everyone!

Morning: Psalm 101, 109:1-30; Hosea 4:11-19; Acts 21:15-26

Evening: Psalm 119:121-144; Luke 5:27-39 

Jesus invites to follow him only people who really need what he has to offer.  As only the sick need a physician, so only those whose relationships with one another and with God are broken need the healing that Jesus brings. He doesn’t call righteous people, but sinners.  A strong theme in the Bible is that “none are righteous … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  By implication, that means Jesus calls everyone, because we all fall short of and betray our true selves; we all need the healing grace that Jesus brings.

Physical, spiritual, social … one interconnected whole

Morning: Psalms 97, 99; Hosea 4:1-10; Acts 21:1-14

Evening: Psalm 94; Luke 5:12-26

When Jesus healed people, he sometimes said their sin were forgiven.  Forgiveness is the healing of relationships. When Jesus heals people, they are usually restored to community – because sickness is very isolating.  Healing also restores people’s relationships with others and with God.  The distinctions between Body, Mind and Spirit are convenient ways of speaking, but they are misleading – all aspects of our humanity are part of one whole.  When one part is broken, the whole is compromised.  When one part is made whole, the rest benefits.  We are discovering the Creation is like that too … one interconnected whole.

Fair trade … I help you; you help me

Morning: Psalm 89:1-18; Hosea 2:14-23; Acts 20:17-38

Evening: Psalm 89:19-52; Luke 5:1-11

When Jesus gives unsolicited advice to a group of seasoned Galilee fishermen, they probably think, “Who does this carpenter think he is!?” or worse.  Simon is more polite in the story … “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”  Then they catch a couple of boatloads of fish.  The message? … Jesus can help us with our everyday work, and when that’s done, he may say, “Come with me. Don’t be afraid. I have something you can help me with now … people.”  Fair trade.