Morning Prayer
+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
Pilgrimage
Psalm 132:2-9
He made a solemn promise to the lord . He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel, “I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber until I find a place to build a house for the lord , a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel.” We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah; then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.
Let us go to the sanctuary of the lord ; let us worship at the footstool of his throne. Arise, O lord , and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, the symbol of your power. May your priests be clothed in godliness; may your loyal servants sing for joy.
Zechariah 8:1-3
Then another message came to me from the lord of Heaven’s Armies:
“This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!
“And now the lord says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the lord of Heaven’s Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.”
John 12:20-25
Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.”
Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.”
Reflection
Thou art the Way, none other dare I follow.
(Arch R. Wiggins)
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My failure to understand msde me sad, and by the way of comforting myself I read my Bible. In this way I followed the main road for five days.
(The Way of a Pilgrim)
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Each year thousands of pilgrims makr their way to Taizé in France, most of them young people, and a large proportion not Christians in any recognized sense. Their time there is carefully prescribed, but non-directive. Their conversations, the communal prayer, and the ecumenical life of the brothers all have a profound impact.
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Some people come to Taizé in a last attempt to find something in the Church. Are my words giing to drive yhem away for good, and without hope?…
And to find some kind of reply, I search deep within myself for some word, some image. And maybe it is I who is most surprised by the words I utter…
It is the thirst that I sense in the young people on the hill. For them, as for every generation, it is strong to the point of anguish…
(Brother Roger of Taizé)
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I went with the crowd. The bells started. The footsteps hastened. Outside the church various young people stood about with large signs, saying ‘Silence’ in a variety of languages, swinging from their necks. People gathered up worn sheets of music from a small table. In many languages on panels outside the church there was this notice:
Be reconciled all who enter here; parents and children, husbands and wives, believers and those who cannot believe, Christians and their fellow Christians.
(Jennifer Lash, On Pilgrimage)
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Canticle:
Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
Blessing
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.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Peanut Gallery: The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) Our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Aidan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer) during the month of July. On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
The Peanut Gallery 