Saturday, December 03, 2005
The Shepherd
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9: 36
O Lord,
you who know how much we need a shepherd,
who know how we stumble in the wilderness
without your guiding hand,
Be thou my shepherd.
In your care, under your peace,
only there are my needs truly met,
my deepest wants answered
in the pastures that your loving care provides,
through the waters of life that flow from your heart
to quench my aching soul,
restored by your loving touch.
On your paths of righteousness, O Lord,
is there hope, and salvation,
sure footing lit by you who are the Light,
even when the darkness closes in,
and death and its sorrow of parting,
pain and grief surround me,
your cross, the bright beacon that leads us onward,
the staff that proves our Shepherd's love,
is there to remind us
how you love, and how you care,
and how we need not fear,
for you hold us in the palm of your hands.
Surely, in your ways I will find mercy, and hope, and peace and joy,
Bid me dwell in your house,
O Shepherd of my heart,
O Lord of my life,
This day, and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
O Lord,
you who know how much we need a shepherd,
who know how we stumble in the wilderness
without your guiding hand,
Be thou my shepherd.
In your care, under your peace,
only there are my needs truly met,
my deepest wants answered
in the pastures that your loving care provides,
through the waters of life that flow from your heart
to quench my aching soul,
restored by your loving touch.
On your paths of righteousness, O Lord,
is there hope, and salvation,
sure footing lit by you who are the Light,
even when the darkness closes in,
and death and its sorrow of parting,
pain and grief surround me,
your cross, the bright beacon that leads us onward,
the staff that proves our Shepherd's love,
is there to remind us
how you love, and how you care,
and how we need not fear,
for you hold us in the palm of your hands.
Surely, in your ways I will find mercy, and hope, and peace and joy,
Bid me dwell in your house,
O Shepherd of my heart,
O Lord of my life,
This day, and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Labels: Good Shepherd, Need for God, scripture
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Domine, non sum dignus
Domine, non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo et sanabitur anima mea.
Lord, I am not worthy,
how could I be worthy with all my darknesses and wounds,
worthy to greet you, Lord of the universe,
worthy to look upon you,
worthy to be here.
Only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
And now you call me Lord,
call me to step out in faith,
here,
at this minute,
as bravely as the Centurion,
to step out in trust,
to step out in love,
in awe.
And now, my faith is on the line, Lord.
Let me say, Jesus I trust in you,
and mean it from the bottom of my heart.
Let me say, yes, Lord,
that even after 2000 years,
after all the travail and anger,
doubt and hurt
revolving around your name,
your followers,
your way,
I believe you are here,
here at this moment,
Emmanuel, God with us,
with us in the Eucharist.
Yes Lord, I know you are Lord,
O You who has pity for our soul-sickness,
our emptiness,
our hunger,
that Jesus sized hole in our hearts, aching,
waiting for you to say the word.
Only say the word, Lord,
only say the word,
that healing touch,
and I believe that you will come into my heart.
O Lamb of God,
O Bread of life,
You whose flesh is.real food,
You whose blood is real drink.
You who have called me, lost and underserving,
to your banquet,
You who sat me down,
dressed me in the white linen of a redeemed soul,
and now,
not because I could ever deserve it,
not because I could ever earn it,
not because of me,
but because of you,
But because of Love
but because you love,
you feed me with that, yourself,
which is the only thing that can heal me,
reconcile me,
make me whole.
I behold you, Lamb of God,
broken in the priest's hand.
I behold you at Calvary,
where you hang on the cross broken for love of me.
I behold you in the cenacle,
where you break the bread and say the words, "This is my body."
O Jesus!
My hope,
My King,
My God,
I am here, kneeling in adoration.
Be thou my life, my hope, my Lord.
Adore te devote, latens deitas!
Lord I am not worthy,
I can never be worthy,
but because you say the word,
but because you call me to you,
my soul will be healed.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Lord, I am not worthy,
how could I be worthy with all my darknesses and wounds,
worthy to greet you, Lord of the universe,
worthy to look upon you,
worthy to be here.
Only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
And now you call me Lord,
call me to step out in faith,
here,
at this minute,
as bravely as the Centurion,
to step out in trust,
to step out in love,
in awe.
And now, my faith is on the line, Lord.
Let me say, Jesus I trust in you,
and mean it from the bottom of my heart.
Let me say, yes, Lord,
that even after 2000 years,
after all the travail and anger,
doubt and hurt
revolving around your name,
your followers,
your way,
I believe you are here,
here at this moment,
Emmanuel, God with us,
with us in the Eucharist.
Yes Lord, I know you are Lord,
O You who has pity for our soul-sickness,
our emptiness,
our hunger,
that Jesus sized hole in our hearts, aching,
waiting for you to say the word.
Only say the word, Lord,
only say the word,
that healing touch,
and I believe that you will come into my heart.
O Lamb of God,
O Bread of life,
You whose flesh is.real food,
You whose blood is real drink.
You who have called me, lost and underserving,
to your banquet,
You who sat me down,
dressed me in the white linen of a redeemed soul,
and now,
not because I could ever deserve it,
not because I could ever earn it,
not because of me,
but because of you,
But because of Love
but because you love,
you feed me with that, yourself,
which is the only thing that can heal me,
reconcile me,
make me whole.
I behold you, Lamb of God,
broken in the priest's hand.
I behold you at Calvary,
where you hang on the cross broken for love of me.
I behold you in the cenacle,
where you break the bread and say the words, "This is my body."
O Jesus!
My hope,
My King,
My God,
I am here, kneeling in adoration.
Be thou my life, my hope, my Lord.
Adore te devote, latens deitas!
Lord I am not worthy,
I can never be worthy,
but because you say the word,
but because you call me to you,
my soul will be healed.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Labels: Eucharist, Jesus' Love, Loving God
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Advent Prayer
O Lord God, our Father Almighty,
You who were pleased that your only begotton Son
should take flesh from a virgin
and be made man for our salvation,
You who sent your angel Gabriel to the holy Virgin Mary
with the good tidings of his conception,
You were the one who had decided that before all ages
that she should be the instrument of such a great mystery.
By her prayers,
and those of all your saints,
announce to our souls the good news,
the glad tidings of the forgiveness of sins
through your grace and mercy and and love.
Speak peace to your people,
Help us walk the path that will make us well pleasing in your sight
through your kindness and mercy,
and may our feet never stray
from the road to your heavenly kingdom
opened up to us through the mercy and love of Jesus your Son
for a sad and suffering mankind.
O Lord, during this advent season,
soften our hearts,
open our eyes,
and may we ponder the truth of a God who truly loves us,
this day, and always.
Amen.
You who were pleased that your only begotton Son
should take flesh from a virgin
and be made man for our salvation,
You who sent your angel Gabriel to the holy Virgin Mary
with the good tidings of his conception,
You were the one who had decided that before all ages
that she should be the instrument of such a great mystery.
By her prayers,
and those of all your saints,
announce to our souls the good news,
the glad tidings of the forgiveness of sins
through your grace and mercy and and love.
Speak peace to your people,
Help us walk the path that will make us well pleasing in your sight
through your kindness and mercy,
and may our feet never stray
from the road to your heavenly kingdom
opened up to us through the mercy and love of Jesus your Son
for a sad and suffering mankind.
O Lord, during this advent season,
soften our hearts,
open our eyes,
and may we ponder the truth of a God who truly loves us,
this day, and always.
Amen.
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Drown me, O Lord,
In that light
cascading from the love within your heart,
that longs to heal and soothe
an aching world
that clings to the darkness.
O Lord,
whose heart is big enough
to enclose this sorrowing world,
whose embrace is large enough
to hold us all
in the safety of your arms,
whose care is enough
to give to the last drop of blood,
in grief and sorrow,
O Lord,
make me a lantern,
carrying a drop
of the fire of your love
to touch the lives of those I meet.
O Lord,
when others would curse the darkness,
use me as your hands,
your touch,
your voice,
your eyes,
teaching me to love as you love,
to care as you care,
and to always be ready
to be a channel of your blessing.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
In that light
cascading from the love within your heart,
that longs to heal and soothe
an aching world
that clings to the darkness.
O Lord,
whose heart is big enough
to enclose this sorrowing world,
whose embrace is large enough
to hold us all
in the safety of your arms,
whose care is enough
to give to the last drop of blood,
in grief and sorrow,
O Lord,
make me a lantern,
carrying a drop
of the fire of your love
to touch the lives of those I meet.
O Lord,
when others would curse the darkness,
use me as your hands,
your touch,
your voice,
your eyes,
teaching me to love as you love,
to care as you care,
and to always be ready
to be a channel of your blessing.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Meditation on Isaiah 11:10
On that day
the Root of Jesse
shall stand as a sign, a banner, a signal
to the nations,
and the Gentiles shall seek him, inquiring,
for his place of rest shall be glorious.
What sign did he give us?
A babe so poor
that he sleeps in a stable,
laid to rest in a feeding trough
for lack of a bed,
A babe so special
that the heavens could not contain their joy,
for Love had wrought what only Love can do,
Giving all in the name of Love,
no matter what the cost.
What sign did he give us?
A beacon on a hill,
Arms outstretched
in bloody sacrifice,
he the lintel,
he the blood offered
He the lamb consumed
in this new Passover,
for Love had wrought what only Love can do,
Giving all in the name of Love,
no matter what the cost.
What sign did he give us?
An empty tomb
A discarded shroud,
A promise fulfilled,
Hope in the darkness,
Joy in his touch,
Peace,
for Love had wrought what only Love can do,
Giving all in the name of Love,
no matter what the cost.
O Jesus!
Where you are is the glory of God,
Be with me
O Love incarnate,
O Light,
O Peace,
O Hope,
This day, and always.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
Labels: Advent Nativity Epiphany, Jesus' Love, scripture
Monday, November 28, 2005
In days to come,
The mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
O Light,
O Word,
O Hope of Mankind,
O Joy long desired,
O Bread of Life
O Living Water
Emmanuel,
God with us,
You whose very name declares
the reason you walked this earth,
the reality you proclaimed,
God Saves,
Yeshua,
Iesus
Jesus.
You who are the beacon
set on a hill
where heaven and earth meet
in the shape of a cross
to draw all to you,
Touch me with your peace,
Teach me your truth,
Transform me in your loving fire
That I might walk always in your ways,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
The mountain of the LORD’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain
and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it;
many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
That he may instruct us in his ways,
and we may walk in his paths.”
O Light,
O Word,
O Hope of Mankind,
O Joy long desired,
O Bread of Life
O Living Water
Emmanuel,
God with us,
You whose very name declares
the reason you walked this earth,
the reality you proclaimed,
God Saves,
Yeshua,
Iesus
Jesus.
You who are the beacon
set on a hill
where heaven and earth meet
in the shape of a cross
to draw all to you,
Touch me with your peace,
Teach me your truth,
Transform me in your loving fire
That I might walk always in your ways,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2005
