Monday, September 21st

Monday September 21st

From “Common Prayer: A Liturgy For Ordinary Radicals” (Sept. 21st p. 449-450)

Henri Nouwen was a Dutch Catholic priest who became an esteemed professor at both Yale and Harvard, but then followed the path of “downward mobility” in his pursuit of Jesus.  He left the public eye to work among those struggling to survive in Latin America and then joined the work of L’Arche Daybreak Community in Canada.  He was a “wounded healer” whose restless seeking for God has left a legacy to the world through prolific writings on the spirituality of brokenness and vulnerability.  He died suddenly on this day in 1996.

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you

as the day rises to meet the sun.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Come let us sing to the Lord: let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Sing to the Lord, sing praises: make known his deeds among the nations.

Psalm 105:12-15

When they were few in number: of little account, and sojourners in the land,

wandering from nation to nation:  and from one kingdom to another,

he let no one oppress them: and rebuked kings for their sake.

saying, “Do not touch my anointed: and do my prophets no harm.”

Sing to the Lord, sing praises: make known his deeds among the nations.

Micah 1:1-9 Matthew 9:27-34

Sing to the Lord, sing praises: make known his deeds among the nations.

Henri Nouwen wrote, “Praying is no easy matter.  It demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter into the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave in darkness, and to touch there what you would rather leave untouched.”

Prayers for Others

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Lord, we bring to you our vulnerability, our wounds, our pain, and our growth.  By the power of your forgiving love, help us also to become wounded healers.  Amen.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,

wherever he may send you.

May he guide you through the wilderness,

protect you through the storm.

May he bring you home rejoicing,

at the wonders he has shown you.

May he bring you home rejoicing,

once again into our doors.  Amen