Friday, August 06, 2004
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
Psalm 139:12-13,15-16
The moment then is thus,
male, female, God:
a sacred moment -
fusion,
division,
ensoulment,
and another life
begins its journey
towards eternity.
Lord,
teach us to see
with your eyes,
the spark of that child of God
which exists in each one of us,
making us each worthwhile to you,
no matter how we seem to others.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
Psalm 139:12-13,15-16
The moment then is thus,
male, female, God:
a sacred moment -
fusion,
division,
ensoulment,
and another life
begins its journey
towards eternity.
Lord,
teach us to see
with your eyes,
the spark of that child of God
which exists in each one of us,
making us each worthwhile to you,
no matter how we seem to others.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
You knew how he looked
when the crowds pressed in too much
and the afternoon wore on
and he was tired.
You knew how he liked
to eat his bread,
and how he would share a story in the evening,
and how he loved his mother.
Your teacher,
yet still your friend.
And now,
did you wake up from a sleep
because of the light,
nudging John and James?
The light...
not from sun nor mirror nor fire
but from Jesus,
the man who shared your bread with,
the man who called you Rock.
Did you quake
knowing that you rubbed shoulders
with someone beyond all your knowing?
Did you yet
begin to understand?
Susan E. Stone, 2004
when the crowds pressed in too much
and the afternoon wore on
and he was tired.
You knew how he liked
to eat his bread,
and how he would share a story in the evening,
and how he loved his mother.
Your teacher,
yet still your friend.
And now,
did you wake up from a sleep
because of the light,
nudging John and James?
The light...
not from sun nor mirror nor fire
but from Jesus,
the man who shared your bread with,
the man who called you Rock.
Did you quake
knowing that you rubbed shoulders
with someone beyond all your knowing?
Did you yet
begin to understand?
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Bread and Water
You saw them gather around you,
hungry for more than bread,
thirsty for the living water,
like beggars in rags,
needing to be clothed
in the truth
that comes from above.
Sitting down,
you began to speak
the words that live,
words of life.
Today, O Lord,
we still hunger,
still thirst
still need.
Help those of us
who have been given the words
pass them on,
help us who have drank of your living waters
to share that cup,
clothe those who need
in your living truth.
O You are He who has the words of eternal life -
teach us to share them
whereever we are,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
You saw them gather around you,
hungry for more than bread,
thirsty for the living water,
like beggars in rags,
needing to be clothed
in the truth
that comes from above.
Sitting down,
you began to speak
the words that live,
words of life.
Today, O Lord,
we still hunger,
still thirst
still need.
Help those of us
who have been given the words
pass them on,
help us who have drank of your living waters
to share that cup,
clothe those who need
in your living truth.
O You are He who has the words of eternal life -
teach us to share them
whereever we are,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
To Mary, Mother of Consolation
O Mother acquainted with sorrow,
O Mother of our consolation,
let me lay my head across your lap
and pour out all my griefs and fears and sorrows,
me, just another poor daughter of Eve
with a cup that seems to big to drink,
like so many women across the world
who know that you,
you listen,
you care,
you are our Mother.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.
O Mother, acquainted with sorrow,
on the darkest day of your life,
when the world you knew came crashing down,
your Son gave you to the world you did not yet know
to be our mother,
O be my mother now,
hold me,
keep me safe,
cover me with your mantle.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Susan E. Stone
2004
O Mother acquainted with sorrow,
O Mother of our consolation,
let me lay my head across your lap
and pour out all my griefs and fears and sorrows,
me, just another poor daughter of Eve
with a cup that seems to big to drink,
like so many women across the world
who know that you,
you listen,
you care,
you are our Mother.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.
O Mother, acquainted with sorrow,
on the darkest day of your life,
when the world you knew came crashing down,
your Son gave you to the world you did not yet know
to be our mother,
O be my mother now,
hold me,
keep me safe,
cover me with your mantle.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Susan E. Stone
2004
O Lord,
This day I come before you
heavy of heart, sick of body,
in pain and in sorrow,
yet knowing
that at the foot of your cross
is the refuge,
the hope,
the best home
for all my griefs.
Today, O Lord,
help me bear the crosses you have sent my way
in the ways you would have me carry them.
I ask not for healing,
but for the grace to bear
what you give me,
so that those whose lives I touch
will know your touch.
I ask not for relief from pain,
but for the gift of offering it up
for the good of your people,
the forgotten,
the poor,
those in pain of sin and sorrow,
and for the grace to bear it
as your mother bore her sorrow.
Help me to bear the weight
of those who are relying on me
as you bore your cross,
freely giving what needs to be given,
freely undertaken for the glory of God.
Most of all, Lord,
be thou my strength
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
This day I come before you
heavy of heart, sick of body,
in pain and in sorrow,
yet knowing
that at the foot of your cross
is the refuge,
the hope,
the best home
for all my griefs.
Today, O Lord,
help me bear the crosses you have sent my way
in the ways you would have me carry them.
I ask not for healing,
but for the grace to bear
what you give me,
so that those whose lives I touch
will know your touch.
I ask not for relief from pain,
but for the gift of offering it up
for the good of your people,
the forgotten,
the poor,
those in pain of sin and sorrow,
and for the grace to bear it
as your mother bore her sorrow.
Help me to bear the weight
of those who are relying on me
as you bore your cross,
freely giving what needs to be given,
freely undertaken for the glory of God.
Most of all, Lord,
be thou my strength
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Rising, Lifted Up
If you lie empty upon the ground,
do not be frightened when
a strong hand cups your hand around
and you are raised aloft.
Look up and stand and see
where earth and heaven join
the very hand of he
who gives life lifts you up
As he is lifted high
On a cross that looks too frail
to bear up to the sky
the whole world's cares
And yet the cross holds strong
against the tumbling night,
where beaten, naked, bleeding long
the giver gives his life.
Beacon in the midnight
candle in the storm
hope for those without sight,
anchor, peace, home.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
If you lie empty upon the ground,
do not be frightened when
a strong hand cups your hand around
and you are raised aloft.
Look up and stand and see
where earth and heaven join
the very hand of he
who gives life lifts you up
As he is lifted high
On a cross that looks too frail
to bear up to the sky
the whole world's cares
And yet the cross holds strong
against the tumbling night,
where beaten, naked, bleeding long
the giver gives his life.
Beacon in the midnight
candle in the storm
hope for those without sight,
anchor, peace, home.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
St. Jean Vianney, Cure of Ars
He wanted so much to be a priest,
this little man,
not learned,
a bad student,
a farm worker who knew his prayers
and never learned his latin well,
but how he loved you, Lord,
like a shining torch in the night.
They put hin in an insignificant place,
at a time
when religion
was nearly forgot,
and the custom of prayer
nearly evaporated.
Who could have known
what seed was planted
in little Ars?
How many hearts did he touch,
this little seed
blooming into a glorious flower,
on flame for God,
sitting in the confessional hour after hour,
caring for the lost,
the sick,
the poor
teaching your truth,
yet always feeling
never quite good enough,
never worthy
never holy enough
for the work you gave him,
the souls he molded,
the generation he touched.
St. Jean Marie Vianney,
now you know the worth of your work.
Thank you for answering God's call.
Pray for me, O Cure of Ars,
pray for all those hearing the call of God,
pray for all priests
and may they always be inspired by your example.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
He wanted so much to be a priest,
this little man,
not learned,
a bad student,
a farm worker who knew his prayers
and never learned his latin well,
but how he loved you, Lord,
like a shining torch in the night.
They put hin in an insignificant place,
at a time
when religion
was nearly forgot,
and the custom of prayer
nearly evaporated.
Who could have known
what seed was planted
in little Ars?
How many hearts did he touch,
this little seed
blooming into a glorious flower,
on flame for God,
sitting in the confessional hour after hour,
caring for the lost,
the sick,
the poor
teaching your truth,
yet always feeling
never quite good enough,
never worthy
never holy enough
for the work you gave him,
the souls he molded,
the generation he touched.
St. Jean Marie Vianney,
now you know the worth of your work.
Thank you for answering God's call.
Pray for me, O Cure of Ars,
pray for all those hearing the call of God,
pray for all priests
and may they always be inspired by your example.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
In the Arms of a Loving God
O God,
it is so good
to rest in your loving arms,
even though the storm
is around me,
within me,
through me,
touching us all.
Yet here,
with you,
there is shelter
where no shelter should be,
comfort
where comfort should be a memory,
grace
a gift from you alone.
O Lord,
I do not deserve this kindness,
but how eternally grateful I am
that you love
that you care
that you watch my every step.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
O God,
it is so good
to rest in your loving arms,
even though the storm
is around me,
within me,
through me,
touching us all.
Yet here,
with you,
there is shelter
where no shelter should be,
comfort
where comfort should be a memory,
grace
a gift from you alone.
O Lord,
I do not deserve this kindness,
but how eternally grateful I am
that you love
that you care
that you watch my every step.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Monday, August 02, 2004
Lord,
you have gifted me
with another morning,
another chance to say thank you,
another chance to look through your eyes,
another chance to break the chains
of hurt and anger and sin,
another chance to love.
Help me, Lord,
to live this day
in your way, not mine,
to give freely
of the gifts you give me,
to choose the loving way,
to be a channel of your peace.
You are my strength, O God,
and beneath the cross is my only refuge
Remind me, if I stray to far,
to come back to this center,
this day,
and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
you have gifted me
with another morning,
another chance to say thank you,
another chance to look through your eyes,
another chance to break the chains
of hurt and anger and sin,
another chance to love.
Help me, Lord,
to live this day
in your way, not mine,
to give freely
of the gifts you give me,
to choose the loving way,
to be a channel of your peace.
You are my strength, O God,
and beneath the cross is my only refuge
Remind me, if I stray to far,
to come back to this center,
this day,
and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Sunday, August 01, 2004
Agnus Dei
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Lamb of God,
you who chose the path,
step by painful step
from Gethsemani's dark shadows
up to Golgotha's stark hilltop,
the passover offering,
you who gave your blood
to mark the lintels of our lives,
and save us from the darkness,
have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Lamb of God,
you who bore upon your shoulders
the blood guilt of all of our sins,
the guilt, blacker than night,
each wrong word,
each blow,
each deceit,
from the fall to the end,
You, pure in your innocence,
freely bearing the darkness,
redeeming us
blood drop by blood drop
stripe by stripe,
nail by nail,
gasping breath by breath,
until carrying your burden
to the halls of death,
you gave birth to hope.
Thank you for having mercy on us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God,
You who gave up all,
friends, mother,
dignity, honor,
anger,
hate,
and left us life, hope,
truth, love,
and salvation in return,
May we,
who cling to your cross,
grow to have a heart like yours,
a love like yours,
filled always with your truth,
light,
and peace,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Lamb of God,
you who chose the path,
step by painful step
from Gethsemani's dark shadows
up to Golgotha's stark hilltop,
the passover offering,
you who gave your blood
to mark the lintels of our lives,
and save us from the darkness,
have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.
Lamb of God,
you who bore upon your shoulders
the blood guilt of all of our sins,
the guilt, blacker than night,
each wrong word,
each blow,
each deceit,
from the fall to the end,
You, pure in your innocence,
freely bearing the darkness,
redeeming us
blood drop by blood drop
stripe by stripe,
nail by nail,
gasping breath by breath,
until carrying your burden
to the halls of death,
you gave birth to hope.
Thank you for having mercy on us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God,
You who gave up all,
friends, mother,
dignity, honor,
anger,
hate,
and left us life, hope,
truth, love,
and salvation in return,
May we,
who cling to your cross,
grow to have a heart like yours,
a love like yours,
filled always with your truth,
light,
and peace,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Labels: Jesus' Love, Passion of Christ
