Epiphany Prayer

Like the magi, we want to bring Jesus gifts.  But what gifts should we bring?  We should bring him what he wants the most.

Lord Jesus, I lay before you the gold of my sins and weaknesses, the incense of my painful memories and relationships, and the myrrh of my fears and anxieties.  These do not seem like gifts fit for a King, but I offer them to you from the treasure-chest of my heart, knowing that you wish to transform and redeem them.  I come to you open, empty and vulnerable; be a quiet, loving, saving presence in me.  Amen.

Anne Koken, color linocut.  Courtesy Sacred Art Pilgrim.

We Are His, Give Thanks

A psalm for your dinner table or a quiet moment today.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come into his presence with singing.

Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he that made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him, bless his name.

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

John Kohan, Dream of Byzantium, mixed media collage on cardboard.  Courtesy of Sacred Art Pilgrim.

Homily Gem #2

I heard this on Sunday and thought it was a beautiful idea:

“When praying for someone who is sick, you can use the words of Lazarus’ sisters, who said to Jesus: ‘Lord, the one you love is ill.’”

— Fr. Declan Creighton

Fr. Declan was referring to the story of the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44). 

How did Jesus respond to Mary and Martha, when they sent word that their brother was ill?  He said, “This illness is not to end in death.”  Of course, several verses later, we find out that Lazarus has indeed died.  And yet with Mary and Martha, we believe the words of Jesus, “Your brother will rise.”

Do you have a loved one or a friend who is facing a serious illness?  This story from John’s Gospel is fertile ground for prayer and reflection:  the delay of Jesus in coming to Lazarus’ side, the faith of the sisters, the tears of Jesus, the power of his voice that raised Lazarus from the tomb, the unbinding of death’s trappings, the foreshadowing of Jesus’ own death and triumph.

Lord, the one you love is ill.  I trust you.  You know what is best.  In your time, raise him, untie him and let him go free.

"This is not to end in death."  The death and raising of Lazarus foreshadows the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Botticelli, Pieta (detail).

"Praised by Happy Voices"

Maybe it’s the Texas girl in me, but I’m finding peace in these long summer evenings.  It’s just the right time of year to share with you one of my favorite evening prayers, a lingering companion from my Episcopal days.  I remember so clearly the little chapel at Holy Nativity where we used to say this prayer together in the evenings. 

The Phos Hilaron is an ancient Christian hymn – one of the oldest we have outside of the New Testament (several New Testament writers incorporate hymns or hymn fragments into their work, such as the familiar hymn of the self-emptying of Jesus included by Paul in his letter to the Philippians; see Phil. 2:6-11).

We don’t know who wrote this lovely prayer, but we do know it has been around since at least the 3rd century.  St. Basil, writing in the 4th century, referred to the Phos Hilaron as an already cherished prayer of the Church.

The hymn, which refers to the “vesper” (or “evening”) light, was sung at the lighting of lamps in the evening, a joyful testimony to the light of the world.

Phos Hilaron

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!

Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

* * * * * * * * * *

A pdf of the prayer can be found here if you wish to print it:  Phos Hilaron (pdf).

            Illustration by Ade Bethune (1914-2002)

A Prayer for Mothers

This year, Mother’s Day and Pentecost Sunday are just a week apart.  Here’s a prayer to the Holy Spirit that you can say for your mom.  You could even say it for nine days and give her the gift of a novena!  (If you don’t remember what a novena is, ask your mom!)  If your mom has entered eternal life, you can still pray it – she may not need the prayers, but the love you offer by saying it is not without value! 

I based this prayer on St. Paul’s description of the fruit of the Spirit:  “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).

Come, Holy Spirit, pour into the heart of my mother the fullness of your life.  Breathe into her your Spirit of love, enliven her with your joy, comfort her with your peace, impart to her your patience, and wrap her in your kindness.  May she grow in your generosity, abide in your faithfulness and be renewed every day by your gentleness.  Fill every emptiness in her heart and in her life with the power of your presence and the quiet of your healing love.  As a mother bonds with her child, may my mother be bound to you in the depths of God’s own heart, O Spirit of wisdom, Spirit of love, Spirit of Jesus, Spirit of joy.  Amen.

Mary Cassatt, The Banjo Lesson, 1893