Morning Prayer: 2 June – Psalm 6; Exodus 21:12-24; Matthew 5:38-48 ~ on vengeance

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.

Morning readings in June

DESERT FATHERS – The sayings of The Desert Fathers speak for themselves. (For further reading: The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton.)

Psalm 6 ESV

A panel from an ancient Egyptian monastery showing a monk with Christ. It was excavated in the early 20th century and is located in the Bawit room at the Louvre. — A panel from an ancient Egyptian monastery showing a monk with Christ.
It was excavated in the early 20th century and is located in the Bawit room at the Louvre.

O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord — how long? Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Exodus 21:12-24 ESV

“Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

“Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

“Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.

“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

“When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.

“When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.

“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot…”

Matthew 5:38-48 ESV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect….”

Reflections

Abba Isaiah said:

When someone wishes to render evil for evil, he is able to hurt his brother’s conscience even by a single nod.
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A brother who was insulted by another brother came to Abba Sisois and said to him: ‘I was hurt by my brother, and I want to avenge myself.’

The old man tried to console him and said: “Do not do that, my child. Rather leave vengeance to God.”

But he said: “I will not quit until I avenge myself.”

Then the old man said: “Let us pray, brother.” And standing up he said: “O God, we no longer need you to take care of us since we now avenge ourselves.”

Hearing these words, the brother fell at the feet of the old man and said: “I am not going to fight with my brother any more. Forgive me, Abba.”

Aidan Readings – Aidan of Lindisfarne
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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

_____________________________________

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.) Having completed reading through the Gospel of John, our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Aidan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer). We will continue with the Aidan readings until Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. On Sundays, I’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.

Morning Prayer: 31 May – Psalm 119:31-32; Isaiah 40:28-31; Hebrews 10:38 ~ on finishing well

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.

Morning readings May -To a Young Disciple

This month’s readings are a development of Colambanus‘ Letter to a Young Disciple.

Despite the competition, sailor and soldier refused to leave a fellow female soldier behind, crossing the finish line together at the 2010 Warrior Games. (Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/theUSO)

Psalm 119:31-32 ESV

I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they 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 faint.

Hebrews 10:38 ESV

“[M]y righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

Reflections

ADVANCE WITH DETERMINATION, BUT ALWAYS FEAR FOR THE END

When Brigid was out with her sheep she saw Nindad the scholar running past. “What are you running like that for? and what are you seeking?” she said. “I am going to heaven,” he replied. Brigid begged him to pause and pray with her that her passage there might be easy. “I can’t stop now,” he said. “You see, the gates of heaven are open now and who knows how long it may be before they shut.” But he stayed and together they prayed an “Our Father” for him and Brigid – and for the many thousands she would drag through the gates behind her.

(From the Life of Brigid)

As Christians we need to be reliable in both word and deed and not to compromise on that which we promise the Father and others we will do. Being out on the road far from familiar surroundings, we find ourselves continually tempted by the enemy’s weapons of mediocrity and compromise. Some days would be extremely hot, making walking a test of endurance, other days would be cool or windy, and people who accompanied me or met with me would often express surprise at my being out in those extreme conditions. My reply would simply be: The weather might have changed, but God hasn’t changed His mind. He didn’t tell me to walk if the sun was shining or if it wasn’t raining, or if it was a beautiful calm day without any wind; He simply said, “Go.”

(Dave Cape, On the Road with Jesus)

The Finan Series of Daily Readings – Finan of Lindisfarne (C. 660)
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__________

Canticle:

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

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.) Having completed reading through the Gospel of John, our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Finan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer). We will continue with the Finan readings until Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. On Sundays, I’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.

Morning Prayer: 30 May – Psalm 56:8; Ezra 3:11-13; Philippians 4:4-6 ~ on mixed emotions

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.

Morning readings May -To a Young Disciple

This month’s readings are a development of Colambanus‘ Letter to a Young Disciple.

Israeli soldier with rifle praying at the Wailing Wall © Paul Chesley / National Geographic — Israeli soldier with rifle praying at the Wailing Wall
© Paul Chesley / National Geographic

Psalm 56:8 ESV

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?

Ezra 3:11-13 ESV

And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,

“For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”

And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

Philippians 4:4-6 ESV

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Reflections

WEEP AND REJOICE AT THE SAME TIME – OUT OF ZEAL AND HOPE

At Hackness a nun called Begu was resting when she heard the chapel bell tolling, summoning the sisters to pray for a departing soul. She saw the roof gone and all flooded with light and the soul of abbess Hild being escorted to Heaven by many angels. She opened her eyes to realize she was sat amongst the other sisters, and it was a dream. Running to her own abbess, Frigyth, she announced that Hild had been taken from them. The sisters hurried to chapel where they sang psalms until a messenger arrived to bring news of the death of Abbess Hild which to the messenger’s surprise was no surprise to them at all. The reality of the joy of her passing mingled with all their sadness at her loss. – Bede

The Finan Series of Daily Readings – Finan of Lindisfarne (C. 660)
__________

__________

Canticle:

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

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.) Having completed reading through the Gospel of John, our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Finan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer). We will continue with the Finan readings until Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. On Sundays, I’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.

Morning Prayer: 29 May – Psalm 53:1-4; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; I Thessalonians 3:12-13 ~ on endurance

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.

Morning readings May -To a Young Disciple

This month’s readings are a development of Colambanus‘ Letter to a Young Disciple.

Psalm 53:1-4 ESV

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?

Team-mate Bebeto consoles Ronaldo after a disappointing end to the 1998 World Cup final

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

I Thessalonians 3:12-13 ESV

[M]ay the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Reflections

THOUGH WEARY, DO NOT GIVE UP

I continue to press on, limping, my feet aching, slipping, sliding, desperately wanting to sit down, chilled to the marrow. Even in this sopping wet state I could feel the hot tears welling in my eyes. Eventually I cried out to God and said, “God, what is this all about? Why am I out here? What am I doing here? Am I crazy?” Then came the still, small voice of the Spirit as I sensed the Lord saying, “No, David, I am just teaching you to endure; I am just checking you out.”

Finally after some six hours Carol arrived to collect me and I could hardly bend down to get in the car. I looked at her and said, “If I were a quitter, today would be the day I quit,” but as Carol turned the car, I knew once again the Lord was saying, “No one, after putting his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.’

– Dave Cape, On the Road with Jesus
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All good soldiers keep on fighting. Don’t grow weary in well-doing. Just keep looking unto Jesus, ’cause when this age comes to and end, I’ve read the book, and we win!

– Reba Rambo and Donny McGuire

The Finan Series of Daily Readings – Finan of Lindisfarne (C. 660)
__________

__________

Canticle:

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

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.) Having completed reading through the Gospel of John, our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Finan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer). We will continue with the Finan readings until Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. On Sundays, I’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.

Morning Prayer: 28 May – Psalm 19:13; Proverbs 25:6; Hebrews 12:12 ~ on companionship

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.

Morning readings May -To a Young Disciple

This month’s readings are a development of Colambanus‘ Letter to a Young Disciple.

Psalm 19:13 ESV

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

"Companionship" by Kathleen A. Johnson Five trees at sunset, sun showing December 13, 2011 — “Companionship”
by Kathleen A. Johnson
Five trees at sunset, sun showing
December 13, 2011

Proverbs 25:6 ESV

Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great….

Hebrews 12:12 ESV

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees….

Reflections

DO NOT ENVY YOUR BETTERS, OR GRIEVE AT THOSE WHO SURPASS YOU, OR CENSURE THOSE WHO FALL BEHIND, BUT AGREE WITH THOSE WHO URGE YOU ON

Herebert the anchorite of Derwentwater was long a spiritual friend of Cuthbert and would visit him once a year ‘with a desire to be ever more enflamed, by the help of his teaching, with longing for the things of heaven’.

On one such occasion Cuthbert said to Herebert, ‘Whatever need you have, ask me now, for I am certain that the time is at hand for me to leave aside this earthly tabernacle.’ Herebert begged him that they pray God that in His mercy as they had served Him together on earth, they might pass together to heaven and behold His grace.

They never saw each other again on earth, but both died the following March 20, companions again.

The Finan Series of Daily Readings – Finan of Lindisfarne (C. 660)
__________

__________

Canticle:

Blessing

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

_____________________________________

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.) Having completed reading through the Gospel of John, our Scripture readings and reflections will be taken from the Finan Daily Readings (Celtic Daily Prayer). We will continue with the Finan readings until Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. On Sundays, I’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.

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