Grace

All that we do and are is rooted and sustained

by God’s lavish, unearned love, favour and forgiveness towards us.

This profound grace delivers us from unhealthy striving, competition and condemnation of ourselves

or judgment of others.

 

INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Trust in God at all times, people. Pour out your hearts to the Holy One.
For God alone my soul waits in silence.
Silence

 

Lord, we cannot find you in time past or time future;
Only in this present moment.
The now is all that we have.
It is a sacrament, a sign of inward grace.
It is only in this moment that we can come close to you.[1]

 

I wait for the Lord, 

My soul waits and in his word I hope,

My soul waits for the Lord,

More than those who watch for the morning,

More than those who watch for the morning.

 

O people wait and watch for God.

With God’s arrival comes love.

With God’s arrival comes generous redemption.

 

Sing: Amazing grace

 

LAMENT and THANKSGIVING

How long O Lord? Long enough, God – you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I’ve carried a ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain.
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy

How long O Lord? Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me. Take a good look at me God, my God; I want to look life in the eye.
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy

I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms – I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy

You serve a six course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy

In looking upon you, O Christ,
may I see myself more truly in my need
and you more fully in your grace.[2]     Amen

 

THE LIVING WORD

Ps. 103             or         Hos.11:1-11                  or                     John 8:2-11

Matt. 18:21-35               Mark 2:13-17                                         James 4:1-12

Silence for reflecting on the readings

 

RESPONSE

: meditation ~ either lectio divina or gospel contemplation
: contemplation of painting e.g. Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal
: watch the film “Babette’s Feast”

 

FOR EACH OTHER

Let’s hold in the light and freedom of God leaders of countries and corporations worldwide, and especially today ….

Silence or open prayer

 

THIS WAY THIS DAY

Jesus our healer and brother,
Your clear eyes pierced all deceit and hypocrisy
But never hardened in condemnation.
You shocked the proud and self-righteous
With your reckless forgiveness of sins.
Your grace is a quiet revolution within and among us,
Curse-lifting, history changing.

Live in our hearts and our eyes, Jesus.
Show us this cracked and fragile world
In the generous light of your gaze.
Give us patience with all that resists or frustrates us,
And words of kindness and encouragement
For all whose lives touch ours today.

Among the judging and the judged,
To the unforgiven and the unforgiving,
On earth as in heaven
Your Kingdom come!  

Amen

[1] Sacred Space – a prayer site run by the Irish Jesuits

[2] Charles Ringma, Wash the feet of the world with Mother Teresa