Saturday, August 21, 2004
Yours was the hand that broke the bread
that fed the five thousand,
yours was the hand
that handed the sop to the betrayer
knowing what it meant,
Yours was the hand that wrote in the dust
listening as the stones fell,
yours was the hand that reached out
a lover's touch,
waiting for the nail to fall.
Yours was the hand
that opened the blind eye,
Yours was the hand
offered to Thomas,
in joyful proof of the mercy of God.
O Lord,
Yours is the hand of mercy
your touch is life.
Amen
Susan E. Stone, 2004
that fed the five thousand,
yours was the hand
that handed the sop to the betrayer
knowing what it meant,
Yours was the hand that wrote in the dust
listening as the stones fell,
yours was the hand that reached out
a lover's touch,
waiting for the nail to fall.
Yours was the hand
that opened the blind eye,
Yours was the hand
offered to Thomas,
in joyful proof of the mercy of God.
O Lord,
Yours is the hand of mercy
your touch is life.
Amen
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Thursday, August 19, 2004
In Dark or Light
In the sorrows of the moment,
when the taste of regret
or missed opportunity,
or words unsaid,
or grief for things changed,
or the last traces of anger
leave a bitterness behind,
O Lord,
teach me to turn to you,
my healer,
my strength.
In the warmth of the moment,
when touched by contentment,
when touched by love,
those moments where joy reaches out
and fills the heart,
O Lord,
Let me remember to thank you,
giver of good things,
giver of peace.
In dark or in light,
let me always see you there,
and know
that I am loved,
and be thankful
this day and always,
Susan E. Stone, 20004
Amen.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
For those who have a heart to feel,
this moment then
is palpable,
tense,
heavy,
weighted down with the moonlight
that peaks through the olive branches,
upon his sweatdrenched head,
highlighting shadows
that cannot reveal
the truth of what he feels,
the weight he bears,
the revulsion,
the grief.
Heaven and earth,
dark and light
hold their breath
watching,
as the scapegoat
in human form
struggles with what is laid on him
what lays before him,
what he is buying.
In blood and sweat,
the load shifts upon his shoulders,
and he aquiesces,
"Yes, not my will, but yours,"
and the sacrifice begins.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
this moment then
is palpable,
tense,
heavy,
weighted down with the moonlight
that peaks through the olive branches,
upon his sweatdrenched head,
highlighting shadows
that cannot reveal
the truth of what he feels,
the weight he bears,
the revulsion,
the grief.
Heaven and earth,
dark and light
hold their breath
watching,
as the scapegoat
in human form
struggles with what is laid on him
what lays before him,
what he is buying.
In blood and sweat,
the load shifts upon his shoulders,
and he aquiesces,
"Yes, not my will, but yours,"
and the sacrifice begins.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
O Lord,
This day give us the patience
to be your witnesses
to an indifferent world,
to a world that would rather
cling to meaninglessness
and darkness
and anger
than feel the cooling touch of your light.
Lord, this day
give us the patience and the good will
to show by how we live,
by what we do,
by how we react,
by our choices,
by our words
why it is worthwhile to be with you,
so that our whole life becomes a sermon,
and those around us
discover the worth
that we have too often kept hidden under the bushel.
Be this day
our way,
our truth,
our life,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2oo4
This day give us the patience
to be your witnesses
to an indifferent world,
to a world that would rather
cling to meaninglessness
and darkness
and anger
than feel the cooling touch of your light.
Lord, this day
give us the patience and the good will
to show by how we live,
by what we do,
by how we react,
by our choices,
by our words
why it is worthwhile to be with you,
so that our whole life becomes a sermon,
and those around us
discover the worth
that we have too often kept hidden under the bushel.
Be this day
our way,
our truth,
our life,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2oo4
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
John 6:67-69
You,
O Holy One of God,
O Emanuel,
God With us,
Son of God,
Son of Man,
Teacher,
Healer,
Savior,
call out to those who will listen
with the soothing, transforming balm of your words,
"Come to me, and I will give you rest."
Like a drop of purest light
falling to earth,
raining down upon our hearts,
yours are the words
that can drive out the darkness
even when the darkness is so deep
it palpitates
in its seeming triumph.
Yours is the word
that lifts an undeserving soul
to the highest heavens,
brings rest to the weary,
transforms the petty,
heals the sinsick
and guides those who will listen
on the paths of righteousness
all for love.
O Lord,
let me always be a vessel
for your words,
your light,
your truth,
until transformed into that person you ask me to be,
I will stand in your presence and shout,
"Thank you, Lord."
Amen.
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
John 6:67-69
You,
O Holy One of God,
O Emanuel,
God With us,
Son of God,
Son of Man,
Teacher,
Healer,
Savior,
call out to those who will listen
with the soothing, transforming balm of your words,
"Come to me, and I will give you rest."
Like a drop of purest light
falling to earth,
raining down upon our hearts,
yours are the words
that can drive out the darkness
even when the darkness is so deep
it palpitates
in its seeming triumph.
Yours is the word
that lifts an undeserving soul
to the highest heavens,
brings rest to the weary,
transforms the petty,
heals the sinsick
and guides those who will listen
on the paths of righteousness
all for love.
O Lord,
let me always be a vessel
for your words,
your light,
your truth,
until transformed into that person you ask me to be,
I will stand in your presence and shout,
"Thank you, Lord."
Amen.
This day, O Lord,
I pray for those who hurt
hurt from the frailty of their bodies,
hurt from the injury caused by another,
hurt from those who are caught up in the misfortunes
life brings -
the effect of storm, flood, war, fire,
hurt from the effects of their sins.
Lord, have mercy on them
ease the hurt of their bodies,
their hearts,
their spirits,
send them help and comfort,
and may the person
who is to be the tool of your aid to them
not tell you no.
Today, O Lord,
I pray for the angry,
those who burn for wrongs once done,
or percieved threat,
or who ache because of injustice,
or all the thousand reasons we find
to nurse the flame
of hurt and anger and hate
until it explodes into rage.
O Lord,
help their heart find ease
and comfort,
and release from the fire that consumes them,
and may the messenger of your peace,
by action, word, deed,
be open to your call.
O Lord, today,
If I hear your call,
harden not my heart,
but aid me in answering you.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
I pray for those who hurt
hurt from the frailty of their bodies,
hurt from the injury caused by another,
hurt from those who are caught up in the misfortunes
life brings -
the effect of storm, flood, war, fire,
hurt from the effects of their sins.
Lord, have mercy on them
ease the hurt of their bodies,
their hearts,
their spirits,
send them help and comfort,
and may the person
who is to be the tool of your aid to them
not tell you no.
Today, O Lord,
I pray for the angry,
those who burn for wrongs once done,
or percieved threat,
or who ache because of injustice,
or all the thousand reasons we find
to nurse the flame
of hurt and anger and hate
until it explodes into rage.
O Lord,
help their heart find ease
and comfort,
and release from the fire that consumes them,
and may the messenger of your peace,
by action, word, deed,
be open to your call.
O Lord, today,
If I hear your call,
harden not my heart,
but aid me in answering you.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Monday, August 16, 2004
O Lord,
this day I thank you
for those friends you send our way,
the people we share with,
the people who help us,
the people we help,
the people who listen to us
and who we hear.
O Lord,
this day I thank you
for all those unfriends you send our way,
people who won't share good with us,
but can make us examine why we want to share,
who will not help us,
but who make us realize why helping is so important,
who will not hear us,
but teach us the value of listening,
to examine the truth of what you teach,
the value of your way.
O Lord,
help us to be open to your teaching,
to learn the ways of your truth,
to bear the burdens you give us,
to hear the voice you whisper to us,
and each and every day,
may we grow closer to the person
you are shaping us into,
may we grow deeper in love for you,
and better at sharing your light
to the world around us.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
this day I thank you
for those friends you send our way,
the people we share with,
the people who help us,
the people we help,
the people who listen to us
and who we hear.
O Lord,
this day I thank you
for all those unfriends you send our way,
people who won't share good with us,
but can make us examine why we want to share,
who will not help us,
but who make us realize why helping is so important,
who will not hear us,
but teach us the value of listening,
to examine the truth of what you teach,
the value of your way.
O Lord,
help us to be open to your teaching,
to learn the ways of your truth,
to bear the burdens you give us,
to hear the voice you whisper to us,
and each and every day,
may we grow closer to the person
you are shaping us into,
may we grow deeper in love for you,
and better at sharing your light
to the world around us.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Sancta Maria,
Sancta Virgo virginum,
Ora pro nobis.
O Blessed Mother
on this day when we celebrate
your joyful Assumption,
your joyful entry into Heaven,
remember this day
all those left behind
without joy,
thinking there is no hope,
who see only the darkness.
Sancta Maria,
Mater boni Consilii,
Consolatrix afflictorum,
Ora pro nobis.
O Blessed Mother,
be this day
with those attacked for no reason
but that they belong to the wrong group,
the unborn,
the poor,
the persecuted for their color,
their background,
their stance for right,
those caught in the crossfire
of other people's hate,
those who had no idea they were combattants
in another group's war.
Sancta Maria,
Mater Dei,
Speculum iustitiae,
Refugium peccatorum,
Ora pro nobis.
O Blessed Mother
You who comfort us in our sorrows,
Remind us of the truth of your son,
Aid us in our repentence,
Tell us the ways of Jesus' truth,
O keep us always under your mantle
safe in the loving hands
of such a mother!
Sancta Maria
Regina Angelorum,
Regina Martyrum,
Regina pacis,
Regina in caelum assumpta,
Ora pro nobis.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Sancta Virgo virginum,
Ora pro nobis.
O Blessed Mother
on this day when we celebrate
your joyful Assumption,
your joyful entry into Heaven,
remember this day
all those left behind
without joy,
thinking there is no hope,
who see only the darkness.
Sancta Maria,
Mater boni Consilii,
Consolatrix afflictorum,
Ora pro nobis.
O Blessed Mother,
be this day
with those attacked for no reason
but that they belong to the wrong group,
the unborn,
the poor,
the persecuted for their color,
their background,
their stance for right,
those caught in the crossfire
of other people's hate,
those who had no idea they were combattants
in another group's war.
Sancta Maria,
Mater Dei,
Speculum iustitiae,
Refugium peccatorum,
Ora pro nobis.
O Blessed Mother
You who comfort us in our sorrows,
Remind us of the truth of your son,
Aid us in our repentence,
Tell us the ways of Jesus' truth,
O keep us always under your mantle
safe in the loving hands
of such a mother!
Sancta Maria
Regina Angelorum,
Regina Martyrum,
Regina pacis,
Regina in caelum assumpta,
Ora pro nobis.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
