Over the years I have developed my own morning and evening prayers.
I'm sure your have done so too. I try to read them slowly and let them sink in. I thought you might like them too. Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. Holy Spirit, make my heart open to the Word of God, Holy Spirit, make my heart open to goodness, Holy Spirit, make my heart open to the beauty of God. (RC Pope's prayer) God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in my eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at my end, and at my departing. (A Sixteenth-Century Prayer) O God, my belief is mixed with doubt, but help my unbelief. (Kenneth Dale) Once you turn your life totally over to God's guidance, "Love pours into your heart."
I am pasting this reflection, below, into my prayer journal today. It was in the June 16, 2019 "Forward Day by Day." It was written by Jay Howington, a neurosurgeon who also likes writing about Jesus. Blessings and love, Fr, Jack. John 16:15- All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. When I think about the Creator of the universe holding me in one hand and pouring love into me with the other hand, everything else seems trivial. I have had moments and go through difficult times, but I have God's love actually pouring into my heart. We each have God's love pouring into our hearts, and that provides all the love we need. This love fueled-hope gives us character founded in love and gives us the strength to endure suffering. In his seminal work, "The Problem of Pain," C.S.Lewis wrote, "We were made not primarily that we may love God (though were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest well pleased." Psalm 50:15 - Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you I cut this out and placed it in my 2002 Prayer Journal. But I forgot to note where it came from. Talk about getting old. I thought you would enjoy it like I did. Blessings and love, Jack BEATITUDES FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE AGED Blessed are they who understand My faltering step and shaky hand. Blessed are they who know my ears today Must strain to catch the things they say. My eyes are dim and my thoughts are slow. Blessed are they who looked away When coffee was spilled at the meal today. Blessed are they who, with a cheery smile, Stop and chat for a little while. Blessed are they who never say: "You've told that story twice today." Blessed are they who know the ways To bring back memories of yesterdays. Blessed are they who make it known I'm loved, respected, and not alone. Blessed are they who ease the days On my journey home...in loving ways. On my journey home...in loving ways. Luke 20: “In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be?
For the seven had married her." In my 38 years of being a pastor I have celebrated or assisted at a lot of Burial services. As I reached my 84th birthday, I began to think more seriously about this issue myself! Obituaries, which I like to read in the newspaper, seem more interesting to me. I know that eternal life with the Lord is coming one day. I thought the following reflection from Forward Day by Day, July 17, 2009, was helpful to me. It was written by a woman who describes herself as a "published poet, recovering alcoholic and sinner." She is a widow and volunteers at a state prison. Her response below is wonderful. Blessings, love, and hugs. Fr. Jack. "Christians profess to believe in 'the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.' Sadducees did not share this belief. Realistically, what would happen to a woman who had seven husbands ? Whose wife would she be? The Sadducees sought to discredit Jesus, but don't we believers ask ourselves the same question ? Will we indeed see our loved ones there? While we hope to, Jesus' reply suggests a reality so different from this world that we don't even know what questions to ask. As my husband lay dying, clinging fearfully to his slender claim on this life, I shared my prediction for the next - the most wonderful dream you ever you've ever had from which you never wake up. He died at peace." I really like this prayer, "For Today," below, written by Phillips Brooks, Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts, renowned preacher and pastor. He died on January 23, 1893. "He had a real gift for warming the hearts and stimulating the minds of his listeners...He spoke to his audience as a man might speak to his friend...he was theologically quite orthodox and conservative...and had a great concern for the intellectual and social issues of his day."
I got this information from a book by Richard Veal titled, "Saints Galore." His prayer speaks to my heart. Read it slowly and let it sink in. It has helped me a lot. Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. For Today O God: Give me strength to live another day; Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties; Let me not lose faith in other people; Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness; Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them. Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity; Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things; Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth; Inspire me the spirit of joy and gladness; and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls; in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Psalm 62: "For God alone my soul in silence waits."
I have always enjoyed silent retreats, long or short, and recommend them to you. At the retreats I attended we only spoke to our spiritual advisor once per day. No talking to each other even at meals. That at first was really difficult for me, not talking. What I learned was that I had to stop talking so much and listen to what God was saying to me. After a while, I also found out that silence has a sort of musical quality to it. Listening to God was so enjoyable. I simply loved him and he loved me. "God feels that way about us. God relishes the time we take with him in comfortable silence, letting our souls connect with him," an unknown Episcopal Journalist writes in the July 2009 issue of Forward Day by Day. "There is a comfortable silence that comes from knowing and loving a spouse, for example, so much that words don't have to be continuously spoken." That's what silence with our kind gentle, and always loving God is like for me. Give it a try. Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. In this reading from Luke 8:16-25, Jesus asks his disciples, " Where is your Faith?" That
has happened to all of us sometimes if we are honest with ourselves - including clergy. What puts me back on track is the love Jesus has for me and you. Kathy Hood Culmer of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, Houston, composed a beautiful poem about how love put her back together. Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. I used to fall apart. And love put me back together again and again and again. But then, something in my heart and in my head said: Time has come for this to end Your doubt grieves me and does offend. When will it begin to really trust and not just pretend? I AM the One on whom you can depend My boundless love to comprehend, the holy power to transcend! In the face of every foe I will defend you; Whatever circumstances in life May attend you I am within you always, child of mine. Let my Word do its work and amend you So I can send you! When I was in seminary, one of my professors suggested we keep prayer journals. He thought this would help us track our spiritual journey with Jesus. I have been doing this since 1976. Here's what I put in my journal: scripture quotations, prayer requests,
articles that impressed me, particularly from the lives of the Saints, and others like Episcopal Bishop Michael Curry, and from many other day to day saints like you. Kathy Hood Culmer's, (Diocese of Texas), reflection in the May 12, 2019 Forward Day by Day, supports keeping journals. "Journaling is a particularly powerful way of remembering. Without remembering, we forget. I wonder if practicing deep gratitude isn't another way of keeping record of the memorable people and occurrences in our lives and hearts. I wonder if it isn't worth our while to periodically take inventory of the ways God has shown us love, or made the Holy Spirit manifest in our lives...so in deep gratitude we do not forget." John 10:25, "Jesus answered, I have told you, and you do not believe. The words that I do in my Father's name testify to me." Jesus tells us to always remember what he told us to do. That's why I keep my Prayer Journal. Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. Here are some items I recorded in my Prayer Journal that I thought you might enjoy
and find helpful like I did. Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. Song lyrics: You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of dust, You make beautiful things out of us. (Michael Gungor, songwriter and singer) I want to continuously pray for those behind me, and those in front of me, so that my life and witness might cheer others on to the finish line. Hebrews 12: 1- 3 "God is constant. God is faithful." (Sister Teresa of Avila) "Thou has given so much...give me one thing more - a grateful heart." (George Herbert) "God reminds us that grace is sufficient to save us,
-and that we need not fear when we fall short - and that we become fertile ground for transformation. We are works in progress, not works of perfection." (Mary W. Cox) I find myself saying things like I should’ve done this or that better - being very critical about myself. Do you do that ? It's comforting for me to know that God is not keeping a book of faults on me. He is my, and your friend always. Blessings and love, Fr. Jack. "Thanks be to God for the amazing willingness to come looking for us when we are lost and in need of reassurance and calm." (Linda Buskirk ). "But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint." (Psalm 40: 31) |