May the following "words of wisdom" be a source of meditation . . .
CONFESSING CHRIST – DAILY LECTIONARY AND PRAYERS
Pentecost/Trinity Season (2) 2010
Frederick R. Trost and Colleen Darling, Editors
“Turn, O Lord, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.”
(Psalm 6:4 NRSV)
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Sunday, 8/01 Luke 12:13-21 Marion Ellis
10 Pentecost/9 Trinity Newmarket, NH
Monday, 8/02 Colossians 3:1-11 John Esbenshade
Lancaster, PA
Tuesday, 8/03 Psalm 25:14-15 Gabriel & Dorothy Fackre
West Hyannisport, MA
Wednesday, 8/04 Psalm 30:11-12 Ralph Faisst
+64, Martyrs of Nero’s Persecution West Bend, WI
Thursday, 8/05 Psalm 135:3 William Falla
Whitehall, PA
Friday, 8/06 1 John 5:20 J.W. & Patricia Fiegenbaum
(Hiroshima, Day of Remembrance) 1945, Atomic Bomb Amherst, MA
1965, Voting Rights Act
Saturday, 8/07 John 4:24 David Fisher
Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, 8/08 Luke 12:32-40 Richard & Martha Floyd
11 Pentecost/10 Trinity 1945, U.S. Ratification of the UN Charter Pittsfield, MA
Monday, 8/09 1 John 1:5 Jerry Folk
1945, Atomic Bomb, Nagasaki Madison, WI
Tuesday, 8/10 1 John 4:7-8 Ron K. Freyer-Nicholas
Wildwood, FL
Wednesday, 8/11 Mark 10:46-52 Hans-Wilhelm Fricke-Hein
Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany
Thursday, 8/12 Psalm 90:1-2 Theodore Fritsch
1949, Geneva Convention of North Chatham, MA
Protection of War Victims
Friday, 8/13 Revelation 1:8 Michael Frost
+1910, Florence Nightingale Kresgeville, PA
Saturday, 8/14 Isaiah 26:4 P.V. George
+1941, Maximilian Kolbe Syracuse, NY
1846, Henry David Thoreau jailed
(War tax resistance)
Sunday, 8/15 Psalm 82:1-5 Richard Glatfelter
12 Pentecost/11 Trinity *1917, Oscar Romero Monroe, OH
Monday, 8/16 Isaiah 41:10 Milton E. Gockley, Jr.
Lancaster, PA
Tuesday, 8/17 Psalm 23:4 Peter Goguts
Wernersville, PA
Wednesday, 8/18 Acts 17:27-28 Gerald Goldsworthy
+2008, George Knight Mt. Prospect, IL
Thursday, 8/19 Jeremiah 23:23-24 Charlotte P. Gosselink
+1622, Blaise Pascal Kennett Square, PA
Friday, 8/20 Psalm 119:89-90 Nancy Light Gottshall
+1153, Bernard of Clairvaux Collegeville, PA
Saturday, 8/21 Deuteronomy 32:1-4 Stephen Gould
Sheboygan, WI
Sunday, 8/22 Luke 13:10-17 Kathryn Greene-McCreight
13 Pentecost/12 Trinity New Haven, CT
Monday, 8/23 Psalm 139:1-6 Christa Grengel
1535, Calvin’s Institutes Berlin, Germany
*1948, World Council of Churches
Tuesday, 8/24 1 Samuel 16:7 Reinhard Groscurth
Bremen, Germany
Wednesday, 8/25 Matthew 6:8
Thursday, 8/26 Isaiah 55:8-9 Ruben Grosshuesch
1920, U.S. Voting Rights for Women Sheboygan, WI
Friday, 8/27 Psalm 104:24-25, 27 Linda Gruber
*1910, Mother Teresa Phoenixville, PA
Saturday, 8/28 Leviticus 19:2 Robert C. Hamilton
+430, Augustine Davenport, IA
1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. Address
“I Have A Dream”
Sunday, 8/29 Luke 14:1, 7-14 Joanne Hartunian
14 Pentecost/13 Trinity +1943, Simone Weil Belmont, MA
Monday, 8/30 Revelation 15:3-4 Esther Haskell
+1688, John Bunyan Claremont, MA
Tuesday, 8/31 1 Peter 1:15-16 Philip Haslanger
Madison, WI
Wednesday, 9/01 Psalm 33:8-9 Steven Hecky
1939, World War II begins Southgate, KY
Thursday, 9/02 Job 33:4 Kim & Fay Henning
1945, World War II ends (Tokyo) Two Rivers, WI
Friday, 9/03 Luke 1:37 Kristin Herzog
Durham, NC
Saturday, 9/04 Psalm 111:1-2, 7-8 Hans Holznagel
1948, First World Council of Cleveland, OH
Churches Peace Message
+1965, Albert Schweitzer
Sunday 9/05 Psalm 1 Ralph E. Houseman
15 Pentecost/14 Trinity Grafton, WI
Monday, 9/06 Psalm 145:17 Robert E. Howell
*1860, Jane Addams Walnut Creek, CA
Tuesday, 9/07 Psalm 103:6 Robert G. Hunsicker
Lancaster, PA
Wednesday, 9/08 Psalm 103:8-11 Joan Hunt
1675, Spener’s “Pia desideria” Weston, MA
Thursday, 9/09 Psalm 103:13 Dorothy Hutch
Branford, CT
Friday, 9/10 Psalm 103:17-18 Steven Jaberg
*1828, Leo Tolstoy West Bend, WI
Saturday, 9/11 1 Peter 1:3-4 Clifford J. Janssen
(Day of Remembrance and Prayer) St. Louis, MO
Sunday, 9/12 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Laverne R. Joseph
16 Pentecost/15 Trinity +1977, Stephen Biko Long Beach, CA
Monday, 9/13 Psalm 107:1-3 Harvey Kandler
Kaukauna, WI
Tuesday, 9/14, Psalm 36:5-6 Robert E. Kasper
Elgin, IL
Wednesday, 9/15 Psalm 145:8-9 Christoph Keienburg
*1907, Alfred Delp Paderborn, Germany
Thursday, 9/16 Ephesians 2:1-13 William Kesting
*1916, Alexander Schmorell Cleveland, WI
+1963, Martyred Children of Birmingham, Alabama
Friday, 9/17 John 14:15-16 Ray F. Kibler
+1179, Hildegard of Bingen Claremont, CA
Saturday, 9/18 Matthew 28:18-20 Russell Kimmerly
+1961, Dag Hammarskjöld Harrison, OH
Sunday, 9/19 1 Timothy 2:12-17 Stoddon G. N. King
17 Pentecost/16 Trinity Orange, CT
Monday, 9/20 Luke 16:1-13 Paul Kittlaus
*1848, Universal Peace Conference Claremont, CA
(Brussels)
Tuesday, 9/21 Psalm 33:6-7 Armin F. Klemme
Union, MO
Wednesday, 9/22 Hebrews 11:3 Russell Knoth
*1981, Hans Scholl Germantown, WI
*1961, U.S. Peace Corps
Thursday, 9/23 Psalm 150:1-2, 6 Robert Koenig
Wernersville, PA
Friday, 9/24 Isaiah 45:12 Paul Koepke
Goshen, IN
Saturday, 9/25 Psalm 33:4-5 Gerhard & Ruth Koslowsky
Bruehl, Germany
Sunday, 9/26 Psalm 146 David Kratz
18 Pentecost/17 Trinity *1924, Declaration of the Rights Seattle, WA
Of the Child
Monday, 9/27 Psalm 40:11 Howard & Martha Kriebel
1937, Finkewalde Seminary closed Collegeville, PA
Tuesday, 9/28 Genesis 1:27 Dale Kuck
Merrill, WI
Wednesday, 9/29 Isaiah 55:8-9 Karl Kuhn
1795, Kant’s “Perpetual Peace” Kiel, WI
Thursday, 9/30 Proverbs 3:6 Juergen Kunellis
Moers, Germany
Friday, 10/01 Isaiah 35:10 Fred Kurkowski
+1968, Romano Guardinia Clemmons, NC
Saturday, 10/02 Isaiah 40:28-31 Thomas B. Lane
*1869, Mohandas Gandhi Brandon, FL
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PRAYERS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR PENTECOST/TRINITY (2) 2010
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Prayers of the Church:
O God of peace, unite our hearts by Your bond of peace, that we may live with one another continually in gentleness and humility, in peace and unity. O God of patience, give us patience in the time of trial, and steadfastness to endure to the end. O Spirit of prayer, awaken our hearts, that we may lift up (our) hands to God, and cry to our Good Shepherd in all our distresses. O gentle Wind, cool and refresh our hearts in all heat and anguish. Be our Defense and Shade in the time of need, our Help in trial, our Consolation when all things are against us. Come, O eternal Light, Salvation, and Comfort, be our Light in darkness, our Salvation in life, our Comfort in death; and lead us in the… way to everlasting life, that we may praise You forever.
(Bernhard Albrecht, 1569-1636)
O Lord, long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth, fill us, I beseech You, with graces. Make us long-suffering and patient, cordial and sympathizing, kind and good; teach us to hold and speak the truth in love, and to show mercy that we also obtain mercy.
(Christina Rossetti, 1830-1894)
Lord God Almighty, true Peace and Love eternal; enlighten our souls with the brightness of Your peace, and purify our consciences with the sweetness of Your love, that we may with peaceful hearts wait for the Author of peace, and in the adversities of this world… ever have You for our Guardian and Protector; and so being fenced about by Your care, may heartily give ourselves to the love of Your peace.
(Mozarabic, before 700 A.D.)
O Lord, give us all grace, by constant obedience to offer up our wills and hearts an acceptable sacrifice to You.
(Christina Rossetti)
Gracious God, subdue in me whatever is contrary to Your holy will. Grant that I may ever study to know Your will, that I may know how to please You. Grant, O God, that I may never run into those temptations which in my prayers I desire to avoid… Never permit my trials to be above my strength. (Thomas Wilson, 1663-1753)
O Lord, our protection, who are also our redemption; direct our minds by Your gracious presence, and watch over our paths with guiding love, that, among the snares which lie hidden in this path wherein we walk, we may so pass onward with hearts fixed on You, that by… faith we may come to be where You would have us.
(Mozarabic, before 700 A.D.)
O Lord, who delights in mercy, preserve us… from the sin of harboring in our hearts hard thoughts of You. Conform us wholly to Your merciful will, that whether we live we may live to You, or whether we die we may die to You. While we live, give us grace to show mercy. When we die, of Your grace show us mercy.
(Christina Rossetti)
O God, You who are the unsearchable abyss of peace, the ineffable sea of love, the fountain of blessings and the bestower of affection; You who send peace to those that receive it; open to us this day the sea of Your love, and water us with plenteous streams from the riches of Your grace. Make us children of (grace) and heirs of peace. Kindle in us the fire of Your love; strengthen our weakness by Your power. Bind us closely to You and to one another in one firm and indissoluble bond of unity.
(Syrian Clementine Liturgy)
Holy and unspeakable One, mighty and wonderful God, whose power and wisdom have no end, before whom all powers tremble, at whose glance the heavens and the earth flee away: You are Love, You are my Father, and I will love and worship You for ever and ever! You have deigned to show pity on me, and a ray from Your light has shone upon my inward eye. Guide me on into the perfect light, that it may illumine me wholly, and that all darkness may flee away. Let the holy flame of Your love so burn in my heart that it be made pure and I may see You, O God; for it is the pure in heart who see You. You have set me free. You have drawn me to You. Therefore, forsake me not, but keep me always in Your grace. Guide me and rule me and perfect me for Your kingdom.
(St. Augustine, 354-430)
Almighty God, to You all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
(The Book of Common Prayer)
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Other Resources:
The Two Brothers:
One was a shepherd, one would till the ground;
one occupied the high land, one the low;
one practices circumcision, one abhorred it;
one was contemplative, the other bold.
The one was one, the other was the other.
One was dark and one was light;
one was brown and one was white
one was west and one was east
one was layman one was priest
one was soldier one was sailor
one a blacksmith one a tailor…
One was one and one the other
Each to each a bloody brother
one liked desert one liked rain…
one is Abel… one is Cain.
(B. D. Napier in “Come, Sweet Death”)
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Bethlehem, After the Second Intifada (September 2000):
We never anticipated the situation to be as bad as it is. The closure, the curfews, the wall surrounding your city, and the economic situation are much worse than we expected. When you hear about the conditions in the news, they don’t seem real. However, once we got here, we saw what a devastating impact they have on the spirits, souls, and bodies of your people. You have to see it to understand it. But we assure you that “what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands” (1 John 1:1) we will be sharing with our friends and other people back home.
But having said that, please allow us to add another thought. We came here aiming to give you hope and to strengthen you in your struggle, but we leave this place having received more than we brought with us. It is you who give us hope, and it is you, through your many ministries, who strengthen us.
(Letter in Mitri Raheb’s “Bethlehem Besieged: Stories of Hope in Times of Trouble,”
Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2004)
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Israelis, Palestinians and Hope:
Hope is of utmost importance to both Israelis and Palestinians. Hope gives all of us the ability to rethink our own story and history and at the same time to challenge that of the “enemy.” It is the art of seeing things from a different angle, from a different perspective and not just from one’s own narrow perspective. Unless we can put ourselves in the shoes of the other, we will never understand how the chain reaction is set off. Israelis and Palestinians have proved that they can make their own lives and that of their enemies very bitter. They have made the point that they can destroy each other.
What Israelis and Palestinians need is a vision of how to live together. The vision for Israel and Palestine is to realize the paradox that it does not benefit a country if it wins the support of the whole world and loses its neighbor. What is the benefit if Israel wins the moral and financial support of the American Jewish community and the Christian right yet loses its Palestinian neighbors? What is the benefit if the Palestinians win the sympathy and support of most of the Arab and Islamic countries and lose their Israeli neighbors? Those supporters pay dollars but make us pay with blood… My hope for all of us is very simple. I’m not asking for the moon or the stars. I’m asking that we be involved together—Palestinians, Israelis, Americans, and Europeans—to stop being spectators and to become actors. Together we can make a difference…
As Christians we should no longer be spectators in this world. We are actors on Christ’s behalf. Sometimes we feel that the world in which we live has become a hell, depressing, with no progress, but our faith is in Christ, who is life. Hell is already overcome. Our call is not to transform this hell into a paradise but to transfer this hell into a world in which life is possible again… (Mitri Raheb, ibid)
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The Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1)
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. (Article 2) Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. (Article 3) No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. (Article 5) No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. (Article 9) Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him. (Article 10) Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. (Article 14)
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The Issue:
The issue is simply whether or not (we) stand under a claim, that is, whether or not (we) must obey a reality that is not of (our) own making, a reality greater than (ourselves) that does not sanction (our) every whim… What is at stake is a reality greater than (ourselves,) a Valuer who judges (our) values or lack of values…
(Frederick Herzog in Joerg Rieger, ed.,
“Theology in the Belly of the Whale: A Frederick Herzog Reader,”
Harrisburg, Pa., Trinity Press International, 1999)
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"The Subversiveness of Scripture"
I'm quite aware that very soon the Bible and the gospel won't be allowed to cross our borders. We'll get only the bindings, because all the pages are subversive. And I think that if Jesus himself came across the border at Chalatenango, they wouldn't let him in. They would accuse (him)... of being a rabble-rouser, a foreign Jew, one who confused the people with exotic and foreign ideas, ideas against democracy--that is, against the wealthy minority, the clan of Cains! Brothers (and Sisters,) without any doubt, they would crucify him again. And God forbid that I be one of the crucifiers!
(Rutilio Grande, Martyr of El Salvador, 1928-1977, in a
sermon preached February 13, 1977. Less than one
month later, on March 12, 1977, while driving on the
road to El Paisnal, Fr. Grande attacked and sprayed
with gunfire and he was killed, along with an old
campasino and a young boy who were riding in the
van with him.) [See William J. O'Malley, S.J., "The
Voice of Blood: Five Christian Martyrs of Our Time,"
Maryknoll, NY, Orbis, 1980]
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S.A.M.U.E.L (Scripture and Memory UCC Electronic Library)
