tears, sunday

Sunday, February 15

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

          

Opening Prayer: O God. We give ourselves over to your care, trusting only in your infinite mercy and love.  We will continue to give thanks to you, O Lord, for all that we have and all that we are.  We will rest assured in the knowledge that when we cry to you in sadness or in joy you will hear our cry and make reply.  Amen. (A Guide to Prayer for All Who Walk with God by Rueben P. Job, Norman Shawchuck, and John Mogabgab)

Scripture Reading for the Day: Psalm 42:1-11

Reading for Reflection:

 

     After prayer, the church needs to teach people what I call “the weeping mode.”  Weeping is different from beating up on ourselves.  Weeping is a gentle release of water that washes, baptizes, and renews.  Weeping leads to owning our complicity in the problem.  Weeping is the opposite of blaming and also the opposite of denying.  It leads to deep healing when inspired by the Spirit.  The saints talked about weeping frequently, far more than I was ready for when I first started reading the mystics.  They often referred to “the gift of tears.” (Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself    

                  

Closing Prayer: May the God of love and peace, who gives us both tears of joy and sorrow, comfort us when we mourn, soothe us in our distress. Rejoice with us when we are glad, and be with us always.  Amen. (A Guide to Prayer for All Who Walk with God by Rueben P. Job, Norman Shawchuck, and John Mogabgab)