Proper 23 (C, E)
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VI, Cycle B
COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Job 23:1-9, 16-17 (C)
Verse 3 holds the key to this sermon. ñOh, that I knew where I might find him.'' Many people groan at that statement. Job was facing severe torment, not only his physical pain and his grief, which were bad enough. But this good man, this man who has never knowingly, intentionally hurt a soul, this splendid citizen, this faithful follower of God as understood by his religion, now finds that in the darkest moment of his life he cannot find God. What a travesty his religion must have seemed to him. Job was cast out into his personal midnight of the soul. And every one of us who has faced tragedy in our lives must surely be able to understand this poor man. ñIf only I could vanish in darkness....'' he cries. What profundity. What a relentless plunge into the darkest depths of human suffering. How this lost cry must be repeated by the millions of AIDS sufferers in Africa and elsewhere. How the people of Bosnia and Northern Ireland and Cabrini-Green in Chicago must echo this cry. Where, indeed, is God? And wonder of wonders, Jesus would one day explain that the greatest pain of all is that pain being suffered by God himself. God, who created this world with a purpose beyond our understanding, must now allow its laws to work. God must watch one of his beloved children agonize in the throes of terrible pain. But where was God as Job cried out? There beside him. Closer than his own skin. There beside him, knowing that there would come a time when the suffering would end, when everything that had happened would be revealed by a light yet to be shed as blessings. What Job could not know in the depths of his own pain was that he was slowly being transformed from an ordinary man of casual religious sentiment into a devout believer who would ever after know the intimate presence of the God he sought. So Job, like Jesus, was being perfected in suffering.
Lesson 1: Wisdom 7:7-11 (RC)
Lesson 1: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 (E)
Lesson 2: Hebrews 4:12-16 (C); Hebrews 4:12-13 (RC)
This writer has used exceptionally vivid language to depict the word of God. ñSharper than a double-edged sword.'' ñCuts all the way to where soul and spirit meet.'' But the passage which immediately gets my attention is verse 13: ñThere is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes.'' This is sobering news. It means that God not only knows what I do and say, he knows what IÍm thinking, knows all about my little fantasies, my private likes and dislikes. He knows when I look with hidden disapproval, with jealousy, sometimes even disdain, upon another person. Little wonder that Martin Luther used to beat himself with a whip because of his sin when, in fact, by any outward standard he was living a blameless life. Luther was sure that those stifled impulses, those exotic longings about which he would never dare speak were laid bare before the Lord. How gratefully he one day found that word of PaulÍs that we cannot hope to be saved by being perfect. It can only be possible by GodÍs totally undeserved grace.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 3:1-6 (E)
Gospel: Mark 10:17-31 (C); Mark 10:17-30 (RC); Mark 10:17-27 (28-31) (E)
This is one of my favorite Bible stories. Let me tell you why. First, though, letÍs recast what happened in contemporary form. Here is a young man „ apparently wealthy, high born „ who is obviously miserable. His possessions notwithstanding, he has not found happiness. Having heard of an itinerant preacher who seems to have answers to the most perplexing questions, this young fellow goes to him with the most important question of all: ñHow can I find eternal life?'' I have an idea he wasnÍt referring to life after death as we use the words today. He was actually asking: ñSir, how can I find meaning in my life? How can I find any real sense of joy to replace my unhappiness? Money doesnÍt do it. Status doesnÍt do it. Power doesnÍt do it.''
Jesus replies that the young man must be careful to obey the commandments. But this is a basically decent young man who can legitimately claim that he has been a good and faithful Pharisee. Then Jesus says something which many people today misunderstand. ñGo and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.'' But the young man ñwent away sad, because he was very rich.''
HereÍs why I think this is a great story. Jesus let the man walk away. He didnÍt badger him like some of us preachers might have done. He only turned to his friends after the fellow was gone and quietly observed that finding true inner fulfillment has little to do with material wealth. And note this phrase from verse 21:''Jesus looked straight at him with love....''
LetÍs dispose of the sell-all-your-possessions issue. Obviously, if we all did that there would be no one to buy our stuff, and the economy would be ruined. We would no longer have doctors, or new medicines, or advances in medical treatment. We would no longer have cars to drive or new homes. There would be no money in circulation, goods would have no value on the market. Jesus could not have meant this to be understood literally. What he meant was this: ñQuit focusing on your money. Quit thinking that because you have so much you are better or smarter than other people. Quit fantasizing about all the things you can buy. You know perfectly well that ten days after you buy a new toy youÍre bored with it anyway. Instead, start doing things for other people. Instead of thinking of yourself all the time, discover the joy of helping someone who needs your help. Then, let God be part of your daily thoughts and values.'' Surely, we get the idea. But Jesus, having told the young man the one and only way to find the happiness he sought, allowed him to leave because for him, the time was not right. Jesus probably trusted that the day would come when the advice he had received would make sense. In any event, we cannot force people to believe something they choose not to believe, nor can we force anyone to love other people. It must all come from within.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñThe Silence Of God''
Text: Job 23:3
Theme: I borrowed this title from J. W. Hamilton. There are times when we do not feel any sense of divine presence. Sometimes that may have to do with our own state of mind. But maybe God chooses to remain hidden from us at times. If so, it would be for reasons which will be beneficial to us in the long run. We see that Job eventually learned what true faith is „ he trusted God without evidence. Certainly there are times when we go to church and barely manage to keep our minds on the service. There is absolutely no sense of any divine presence at all. This is often true of our prayers. We feel at times like a child throwing rocks at the moon. I recall reading of one woman who told Robert McAfee Brown that she had an awful time keeping her mind on prayer because she kept seeing clumsy-looking camels running across the desert.
1. Sometimes, maybe even nearly always, we will not sense GodÍs presence. When that happens, it doesnÍt mean God is not near and hearing our prayer. It may mean we are not open at the moment. It may mean God wishes us to handle things in another way. It may even have to do with our personalities.
2. God is always immediately present and we must not use our own sensitivity as a measure of that. We are to pray trustingly without regard to our feelings.
3. God works best in our lives when we cultivate the discipline to pray regularly as Jesus taught. DonÍt worry about feelings. Actually, only rarely will we feel a presence. It doesnÍt matter. God is working in your life and mine. My own experience has been that only much later, sometimes even years later, do I discover that God was at work in my life. Jesus assured us that always, when we pray, God attends.
Title: ñThe Christ Within Me''
Text: Hebrews 4:13
Theme: The good news is that God also knows our sadnesses and our disappointments, and, most important, God is able to peer deeply into our psychic being where we ourselves are unable to see. Yes, God knows all my private sins. But God created me, and knows why I am the way I am. He understands my childhood, my genetic identity, my inherent weaknesses and strengths. I donÍt believe God will ever be disappointed in me „ or any of us „ so long as I am earnestly making an effort to be better than I am. When I became a Christian, I saw the model toward which I am to strive. Maybe IÍll not get close in this life. Paul said when we die we will be like him. Perhaps not exactly, but closer than now. I need not be embarrassed at the fact that God sees me in my total humanity. I need only be embarrassed if I choose not to try to emulate Jesus Christ. However, I must never forget that God sees me as I am. But through prayer, and the guidance of the Spirit, I can become what I am here to become. As one old lady is quoted as having said: ñI ainÍt what I oughta be. I ainÍt what IÍm gonna be. But thanks to the good Lord, I ainÍt what I used to be.''
1. God sees us as we are.
2. God sees us as we can one day become.
3. God and I are to be partners along lifeÍs path.
Title: ñFinding The Way''
Text: Mark 10:17-31
Theme: Each of us must find his or her own way in our religious journeys. No two of us are identical, and it follows, therefore, that no two of us will experience the Christian faith in precisely the same way. Some of us are very emotional, while others are very cerebral. Some of us have very critical ways of thinking, while others easily accept what others say. We have Greek blood, or Scottish blood, or Italian blood, or ... in other words, we are unique individuals. And if God made us this way, he expects us to be faithful to our own inner directives.
Frankly, I donÍt think God gives a hoot where you go to church or whether you are a conservative or a liberal theologically. I donÍt think it matters at all to God whether you think Jesus walked on water, or whether Mary was really a virgin, or whether Jesus really said things precisely as recorded. What I do think matters to God is whether I, learning about Jesus, seeing what kind of man he was or is, decide I want to be like him. If my answer to that is ñYes!'' and if I thereafter begin to try to be like him, the rest will follow.
In our story this morning, we see the utter patience of Jesus. He quietly allowed that young fellow to walk away, and yet Mark records that Jesus loved him. He loved him enough to allow him the freedom to develop in his own way. The very fact that the man had come to Jesus indicates he was engaged in an inward search. We can be fairly sure the man would return in time.
1. God understands your barriers to faith. He is eternally patient with you.
2. God will gently guide you in your search.
3. God will forgive you as you stumble, or explore wrong roads.
4. God will rejoice when you finally see Jesus in your own mind and heart, and set yourself to follow him. That way leads home.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
ItÍs told that Martin Luther was working at home one day. He had been deeply depressed for days. His wife entered the room wearing black, a sign of mourning. She began closing the house, drawing the blinds, tiptoeing about until her husband asked, ñIs someone dead?'' She replied, ñYes! DonÍt you know? God is dead!'' Martin Luther understood. If he was the man of God he presented himself to be, there was no reason for his despondency. It is said he immediately became cheerful.
____________
The following article appeared in the newspapers during the Christmas season in 1997:
WASHINGTON „ This Christmas season, the largest percentage of Americans in a decade profess a belief in God and the existence of miracles. A poll commissioned by the Pew Research Center, released Sunday, reported 71 percent of respondents say that they never doubt the existence of God. In 1987, the figure was 60 percent. The poll also found that 61 percent of Americans believe miracles come from the power of God, an increase of 14 percentage points from a decade ago. And 53 percent said prayer is important to daily life. In 1987, it was 41 percent. The poll results appear to dovetail with popular culture. Touched by an Angel ranks among televisionÍs highest-rated shows. Books about angels, miracles and spirituality line bookstore shelves. But at the same time, radio talk show host Laura Schlessinger asserted Sunday on NBCÍs Meet the Press that the United States is in the midst of a morality crisis: Americans lack ña moral framework,'' she said.
____________
Paul McCartney talked to God ñmore often'' during his wife LindaÍs struggle with cancer, he said in a BBC interview. The ex-Beatle also was asked if he believed in life after death. ñWhen we were kids we always used to say, ïOkay, whoever dies first, get a message through.Í ... When John (Lennon) died, I thought, ïWell, maybe weÍll get a message,Í because I know he knew the deal. I havenÍt had a message from John.'' McCartney added: ñMaybe you live but thereÍs no postal service.''
____________
Keith Miller told of the time a man came to him for counseling, troubled by a problem having to do with jealousy. The man was terribly upset, convinced he was a bad Christian. Keith told of the fact that he had, himself, been guilty of the very same fault that very day. As he listened to the man pour out his sad tale, Keith said he was tempted to merely listen. Otherwise, he feared that to admit to the man his own guilt would ruin the manÍs trust. However, not to admit his own flaw would be dishonest. Finally, Miller told the man the truth, that he himself had also been guilty of hidden jealousy. He wrote that he expected the man to walk out of his office. Instead, the man began to cry. He said he was so grateful to learn that someone else was also troubled by the problem, that heretofore, he had felt completely alone. (Re: the fact that we all have secret feelings which we would rather not admit.)
____________
Bruce Larson quoted Dostoyevsky in Notes From The Underground: ñEvery man has reminiscences which he would not tell to everyone but only to his friends. He has other matters in his mind which he would not reveal even to his friends, but only to himself, and every man has a number of such things stored away in his mind. The more decent he is, the greater the number of such things in his mind.''
Larson then went on to observe: ñWe need to be constantly aware of the fact that there are people all around us who will never demonstrate or admit to their pain because it is too deep and too threatening to face. Their pain comes from the hidden thoughts and feelings Dostoevsky describes.'' (In The Passionate People)
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 22:1-15 (C) „ ñIn your strength the king rejoices.''
Psalm 89 (RC) „ ñI will sing of your steadfast love....''
Psalm 90 (E) „ ñLord, you have been our dwelling place....''
Prayer Of The Day
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, O Lord, as we struggle to find purity where there is now fault and selfishness. Forgive our excesses, we ask, and enable us to grow, however slowly, in the faith through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Lesson 1: Job 23:1-9, 16-17 (C)
Verse 3 holds the key to this sermon. ñOh, that I knew where I might find him.'' Many people groan at that statement. Job was facing severe torment, not only his physical pain and his grief, which were bad enough. But this good man, this man who has never knowingly, intentionally hurt a soul, this splendid citizen, this faithful follower of God as understood by his religion, now finds that in the darkest moment of his life he cannot find God. What a travesty his religion must have seemed to him. Job was cast out into his personal midnight of the soul. And every one of us who has faced tragedy in our lives must surely be able to understand this poor man. ñIf only I could vanish in darkness....'' he cries. What profundity. What a relentless plunge into the darkest depths of human suffering. How this lost cry must be repeated by the millions of AIDS sufferers in Africa and elsewhere. How the people of Bosnia and Northern Ireland and Cabrini-Green in Chicago must echo this cry. Where, indeed, is God? And wonder of wonders, Jesus would one day explain that the greatest pain of all is that pain being suffered by God himself. God, who created this world with a purpose beyond our understanding, must now allow its laws to work. God must watch one of his beloved children agonize in the throes of terrible pain. But where was God as Job cried out? There beside him. Closer than his own skin. There beside him, knowing that there would come a time when the suffering would end, when everything that had happened would be revealed by a light yet to be shed as blessings. What Job could not know in the depths of his own pain was that he was slowly being transformed from an ordinary man of casual religious sentiment into a devout believer who would ever after know the intimate presence of the God he sought. So Job, like Jesus, was being perfected in suffering.
Lesson 1: Wisdom 7:7-11 (RC)
Lesson 1: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 (E)
Lesson 2: Hebrews 4:12-16 (C); Hebrews 4:12-13 (RC)
This writer has used exceptionally vivid language to depict the word of God. ñSharper than a double-edged sword.'' ñCuts all the way to where soul and spirit meet.'' But the passage which immediately gets my attention is verse 13: ñThere is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes.'' This is sobering news. It means that God not only knows what I do and say, he knows what IÍm thinking, knows all about my little fantasies, my private likes and dislikes. He knows when I look with hidden disapproval, with jealousy, sometimes even disdain, upon another person. Little wonder that Martin Luther used to beat himself with a whip because of his sin when, in fact, by any outward standard he was living a blameless life. Luther was sure that those stifled impulses, those exotic longings about which he would never dare speak were laid bare before the Lord. How gratefully he one day found that word of PaulÍs that we cannot hope to be saved by being perfect. It can only be possible by GodÍs totally undeserved grace.
Lesson 2: Hebrews 3:1-6 (E)
Gospel: Mark 10:17-31 (C); Mark 10:17-30 (RC); Mark 10:17-27 (28-31) (E)
This is one of my favorite Bible stories. Let me tell you why. First, though, letÍs recast what happened in contemporary form. Here is a young man „ apparently wealthy, high born „ who is obviously miserable. His possessions notwithstanding, he has not found happiness. Having heard of an itinerant preacher who seems to have answers to the most perplexing questions, this young fellow goes to him with the most important question of all: ñHow can I find eternal life?'' I have an idea he wasnÍt referring to life after death as we use the words today. He was actually asking: ñSir, how can I find meaning in my life? How can I find any real sense of joy to replace my unhappiness? Money doesnÍt do it. Status doesnÍt do it. Power doesnÍt do it.''
Jesus replies that the young man must be careful to obey the commandments. But this is a basically decent young man who can legitimately claim that he has been a good and faithful Pharisee. Then Jesus says something which many people today misunderstand. ñGo and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.'' But the young man ñwent away sad, because he was very rich.''
HereÍs why I think this is a great story. Jesus let the man walk away. He didnÍt badger him like some of us preachers might have done. He only turned to his friends after the fellow was gone and quietly observed that finding true inner fulfillment has little to do with material wealth. And note this phrase from verse 21:''Jesus looked straight at him with love....''
LetÍs dispose of the sell-all-your-possessions issue. Obviously, if we all did that there would be no one to buy our stuff, and the economy would be ruined. We would no longer have doctors, or new medicines, or advances in medical treatment. We would no longer have cars to drive or new homes. There would be no money in circulation, goods would have no value on the market. Jesus could not have meant this to be understood literally. What he meant was this: ñQuit focusing on your money. Quit thinking that because you have so much you are better or smarter than other people. Quit fantasizing about all the things you can buy. You know perfectly well that ten days after you buy a new toy youÍre bored with it anyway. Instead, start doing things for other people. Instead of thinking of yourself all the time, discover the joy of helping someone who needs your help. Then, let God be part of your daily thoughts and values.'' Surely, we get the idea. But Jesus, having told the young man the one and only way to find the happiness he sought, allowed him to leave because for him, the time was not right. Jesus probably trusted that the day would come when the advice he had received would make sense. In any event, we cannot force people to believe something they choose not to believe, nor can we force anyone to love other people. It must all come from within.
SERMON SUGGESTIONS
Title: ñThe Silence Of God''
Text: Job 23:3
Theme: I borrowed this title from J. W. Hamilton. There are times when we do not feel any sense of divine presence. Sometimes that may have to do with our own state of mind. But maybe God chooses to remain hidden from us at times. If so, it would be for reasons which will be beneficial to us in the long run. We see that Job eventually learned what true faith is „ he trusted God without evidence. Certainly there are times when we go to church and barely manage to keep our minds on the service. There is absolutely no sense of any divine presence at all. This is often true of our prayers. We feel at times like a child throwing rocks at the moon. I recall reading of one woman who told Robert McAfee Brown that she had an awful time keeping her mind on prayer because she kept seeing clumsy-looking camels running across the desert.
1. Sometimes, maybe even nearly always, we will not sense GodÍs presence. When that happens, it doesnÍt mean God is not near and hearing our prayer. It may mean we are not open at the moment. It may mean God wishes us to handle things in another way. It may even have to do with our personalities.
2. God is always immediately present and we must not use our own sensitivity as a measure of that. We are to pray trustingly without regard to our feelings.
3. God works best in our lives when we cultivate the discipline to pray regularly as Jesus taught. DonÍt worry about feelings. Actually, only rarely will we feel a presence. It doesnÍt matter. God is working in your life and mine. My own experience has been that only much later, sometimes even years later, do I discover that God was at work in my life. Jesus assured us that always, when we pray, God attends.
Title: ñThe Christ Within Me''
Text: Hebrews 4:13
Theme: The good news is that God also knows our sadnesses and our disappointments, and, most important, God is able to peer deeply into our psychic being where we ourselves are unable to see. Yes, God knows all my private sins. But God created me, and knows why I am the way I am. He understands my childhood, my genetic identity, my inherent weaknesses and strengths. I donÍt believe God will ever be disappointed in me „ or any of us „ so long as I am earnestly making an effort to be better than I am. When I became a Christian, I saw the model toward which I am to strive. Maybe IÍll not get close in this life. Paul said when we die we will be like him. Perhaps not exactly, but closer than now. I need not be embarrassed at the fact that God sees me in my total humanity. I need only be embarrassed if I choose not to try to emulate Jesus Christ. However, I must never forget that God sees me as I am. But through prayer, and the guidance of the Spirit, I can become what I am here to become. As one old lady is quoted as having said: ñI ainÍt what I oughta be. I ainÍt what IÍm gonna be. But thanks to the good Lord, I ainÍt what I used to be.''
1. God sees us as we are.
2. God sees us as we can one day become.
3. God and I are to be partners along lifeÍs path.
Title: ñFinding The Way''
Text: Mark 10:17-31
Theme: Each of us must find his or her own way in our religious journeys. No two of us are identical, and it follows, therefore, that no two of us will experience the Christian faith in precisely the same way. Some of us are very emotional, while others are very cerebral. Some of us have very critical ways of thinking, while others easily accept what others say. We have Greek blood, or Scottish blood, or Italian blood, or ... in other words, we are unique individuals. And if God made us this way, he expects us to be faithful to our own inner directives.
Frankly, I donÍt think God gives a hoot where you go to church or whether you are a conservative or a liberal theologically. I donÍt think it matters at all to God whether you think Jesus walked on water, or whether Mary was really a virgin, or whether Jesus really said things precisely as recorded. What I do think matters to God is whether I, learning about Jesus, seeing what kind of man he was or is, decide I want to be like him. If my answer to that is ñYes!'' and if I thereafter begin to try to be like him, the rest will follow.
In our story this morning, we see the utter patience of Jesus. He quietly allowed that young fellow to walk away, and yet Mark records that Jesus loved him. He loved him enough to allow him the freedom to develop in his own way. The very fact that the man had come to Jesus indicates he was engaged in an inward search. We can be fairly sure the man would return in time.
1. God understands your barriers to faith. He is eternally patient with you.
2. God will gently guide you in your search.
3. God will forgive you as you stumble, or explore wrong roads.
4. God will rejoice when you finally see Jesus in your own mind and heart, and set yourself to follow him. That way leads home.
ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
ItÍs told that Martin Luther was working at home one day. He had been deeply depressed for days. His wife entered the room wearing black, a sign of mourning. She began closing the house, drawing the blinds, tiptoeing about until her husband asked, ñIs someone dead?'' She replied, ñYes! DonÍt you know? God is dead!'' Martin Luther understood. If he was the man of God he presented himself to be, there was no reason for his despondency. It is said he immediately became cheerful.
____________
The following article appeared in the newspapers during the Christmas season in 1997:
WASHINGTON „ This Christmas season, the largest percentage of Americans in a decade profess a belief in God and the existence of miracles. A poll commissioned by the Pew Research Center, released Sunday, reported 71 percent of respondents say that they never doubt the existence of God. In 1987, the figure was 60 percent. The poll also found that 61 percent of Americans believe miracles come from the power of God, an increase of 14 percentage points from a decade ago. And 53 percent said prayer is important to daily life. In 1987, it was 41 percent. The poll results appear to dovetail with popular culture. Touched by an Angel ranks among televisionÍs highest-rated shows. Books about angels, miracles and spirituality line bookstore shelves. But at the same time, radio talk show host Laura Schlessinger asserted Sunday on NBCÍs Meet the Press that the United States is in the midst of a morality crisis: Americans lack ña moral framework,'' she said.
____________
Paul McCartney talked to God ñmore often'' during his wife LindaÍs struggle with cancer, he said in a BBC interview. The ex-Beatle also was asked if he believed in life after death. ñWhen we were kids we always used to say, ïOkay, whoever dies first, get a message through.Í ... When John (Lennon) died, I thought, ïWell, maybe weÍll get a message,Í because I know he knew the deal. I havenÍt had a message from John.'' McCartney added: ñMaybe you live but thereÍs no postal service.''
____________
Keith Miller told of the time a man came to him for counseling, troubled by a problem having to do with jealousy. The man was terribly upset, convinced he was a bad Christian. Keith told of the fact that he had, himself, been guilty of the very same fault that very day. As he listened to the man pour out his sad tale, Keith said he was tempted to merely listen. Otherwise, he feared that to admit to the man his own guilt would ruin the manÍs trust. However, not to admit his own flaw would be dishonest. Finally, Miller told the man the truth, that he himself had also been guilty of hidden jealousy. He wrote that he expected the man to walk out of his office. Instead, the man began to cry. He said he was so grateful to learn that someone else was also troubled by the problem, that heretofore, he had felt completely alone. (Re: the fact that we all have secret feelings which we would rather not admit.)
____________
Bruce Larson quoted Dostoyevsky in Notes From The Underground: ñEvery man has reminiscences which he would not tell to everyone but only to his friends. He has other matters in his mind which he would not reveal even to his friends, but only to himself, and every man has a number of such things stored away in his mind. The more decent he is, the greater the number of such things in his mind.''
Larson then went on to observe: ñWe need to be constantly aware of the fact that there are people all around us who will never demonstrate or admit to their pain because it is too deep and too threatening to face. Their pain comes from the hidden thoughts and feelings Dostoevsky describes.'' (In The Passionate People)
____________
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 22:1-15 (C) „ ñIn your strength the king rejoices.''
Psalm 89 (RC) „ ñI will sing of your steadfast love....''
Psalm 90 (E) „ ñLord, you have been our dwelling place....''
Prayer Of The Day
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, O Lord, as we struggle to find purity where there is now fault and selfishness. Forgive our excesses, we ask, and enable us to grow, however slowly, in the faith through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.
