First Pauca Verba post was in 2013...

 

Now nearly 2000 posts later, 

taking a vacation from blogging for a time

Oremus pro invicem!

Intercessions ~ Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

It is World Series time/ where the purpose of every baseball game is to "get home."/ Spiritually, there is our heavenly home to hope for,/ but there is also that immediate home/ which is to live in the heart of Christ/ becoming fully Christ's sister;/ Christ's brother./ May we desire this above all else./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for our parish family at Mass today./ May there be a spirit of openness among us,/ where we share and lift up each other's prayer as we pray our own./ For the gift of persistence in prayer./ We pray to the Lord.

For those who lead nations,/ states,/ counties,/ communities and neighborhoods./ Grant that they may not despair of doing good,/ living in justice and fairness for all./ We pray to the Lord.

There seems to be a great emergence of violence all around./ We pray for Ukraine/ where war has killed more than 1000 children./ For those who live by and in/ gang,/ gun,/ or domestic violence./ For those who are discriminated against because of race,/ ethnicity,/ gender,/ sexual orientation,/ religion/ or any of the ways we sort and divide people./ May we come to see each person as God's child./ We pray to the Lord.

For the many whose lives are ruined by natural disasters and climate change,/ those who are struggling through floods,/ fires,/ hurricanes,/ drought and famine./ For the strengthening and perseverance of the good people who work to help./ We pray to the Lord.

For those who are sick,/ physically,/ emotionally or spiritually./ We remember those in chronic pain or weakness./ For doctors,/ nurses,/ technicians/ and those who staff hospitals,/ clinics,/ nursing homes and hospices./ We pray to the Lord.

November is the month of prayer for the dead./ We pray for our departed loved ones,/ friends and family,/ especially those who I now bring to mind _______./ May they delight in God's mercy,/ light and peace./ We pray to the Lord.

In movies we often hear the name of Jesus used as a curse or expletive./ Many Christians offend in this regard as well./ May be revere the name of Jesus/ which the angel gave to Mary in the Annunciation,/ and be more brave in calling offenders to attention./ We pray to the Lord.

Blessed be God forever!

weightless wren's enormous song

At every Mass we hear the priest, "Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, through your goodness we have this bread, this wine to offer..." And we respond, "Blessed be God forever!"  A lovely brief moment of grateful praise. But it is also a phrase we can take with us through the day, acknowledging the gifts along the way. I've tried it out and left lines at the bottom for you add your own praises.

All that awakens...

noisy flock of sparrows in a bamboo grove,

the English Gothic church made of schist-rock sparkling,

White Pine needles pouring down like rain,

geranium's blood-red flowering — brought in before first frost.

Blessed be God forever!

All that astonishes...

fritillaria bulbs are planted on their sides,

feathered ferns turned bronzy-red,

the compost pile crumbly, warm and black,

the green chasuble's orphrey, blue and gold,

weightless wren's enormous song.

Blessed be God forever!

All that dazzles...

autumn's sunrise pink and yellow,

Witch Hazel's buds—holding orange petals,

the potted cypress leaves lemon scent on my hand,

Monarchs are Mexico bound,

two feet of snow in the drought stricken states.

Blessed be God forever!

All that is marvelous...

Van Gogh's pounding waves — white paint squeezed right out of the tube,

crisped sycamore leaves make clacking sounds in high winds,

morning tea from Kenya and "Ceylon,"

Blue Heron's appearing — its vertical flight,

waking seconds before the black cast iron clock strikes a long mid-night.

Blessed be God forever!

All that is praise-stirring...

this morning's conscious breath,

first thought of God — creative gift-giver,

first thought of Christ's kindness; his Mother's joy,

hearing weather — wind and rain on my window,

tonight's waning crescent — deep yellow-green.

Blessed be God forever!

All that is wonderment...

God's patience with our stupidity and death-stained sin,

a lawn-full of gray acorn-ing squirrels,

the seven year old, styling a yellow yarmulke, zooming around on his Shabbat scooter,

Robin's request—"Are the holly berries ripe?"

September through October—God's resplendent smile.

Blessed be God forever!

All that is delightful...

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