A Prayer To Pacify Hateful Feelings

While the lotus leaves and flowers appear on the surface of the water, its roots settle into the mud below. It is a marvelous image of our capacity for transformation: that even the "mud" of our lives, our hateful thoughts, can grow into peace, courtesy, respect, acceptance and love. Here is a prayer found in an Eastern priest's ritual book. I've adjusted the language a little to make it more accessible for people today.

A Prayer To Pacify Hateful Feelings

I thank You, O Master and Lord of humankind, King of the ages and Giver of every good thing, Who destroys the wall of hatred and Who grants peace to the world. Instill in me a love for You and fear of anything that would take me from You, and confirm me in love for other people. Extinguish every dispute and banish every temptation to bitterness and contention. For You are our Peace, and to You I send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Intercessions ~ Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Plantain Lily ~ Assumption Flower

Monday is the Feast of Mary's Easter,/ her Assumption./ Give new joy to the Church/ as we are brothers and sisters gathered in the Lord/ and with Mary, our Mother./ We pray to the Lord.

We ask for new hearts/ which like pregnant Mary/ bring Jesus to a world of disorder and despair./ We pray to the Lord.

While our own nation is absorbed in election year politics/ let us not forget the rest of the world,/ offering prayer for people who are struggling and suffering pain,/ hardship and sorrow./ We pray to the Lord.

Grant healing to the people of our country/ where we forget courtesy,/ tolerance and patience./ Convert violent hearts./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the safety and health of our friends/ those who help us to feel more alive./ We pray as well for anyone who is a source of irritation,/ trouble/ or the loss of our peace./ We pray to the Lord.

As these summer days are still filled with light,/ we pray for people who live in the darkness of hate./ We pray too for the sick,/ the wounded,/ the mentally troubled/ for mourners./ We pray to the Lord.

For those who have died this week/ in wars,/ disasters,/ in the service of others,/ or by injustice./ For the salvation of all./ We pray to the Lord.

Real Decorating

God clothes the field

There's an online company of sorts that automatically sends pictures they think might be useful to this blog. The other day there was the photograph of a book titled: Decorating the Catholic Home. I thought at once, how odd, a whole book on decorating rooms the Catholic way; what a distraction from the inner spiritual work to be undertaken if I would know Jesus. The only decoration I need be concerned with is the "decorating" of myself. We might have a think on these verses:

For now that you have faith in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God. All of you who were baptized into Christ have put on the family likeness of Christ. Gone is the distinction between Jew and Greek, slave and free man, male and female - you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:23-28

What you learned was to fling off the dirty clothes of the old way of living, which were rotted through and through with lust's illusion, and, with yourselves mentally and spiritually re-made, to put on the clean fresh clothes of the new life which was made by God's design for righteousness and the holiness which is no illusion. Ephesians 4:22-24

But now you must put away all these things: evil temper, furious rage, malice, insults and shouted abuse! Don't deceive each other with lies anymore, for you have discarded the old nature and all that it did, and you have put on the new nature which, by constant renewal in the likeness of its Creator, leads to a fuller knowledge of God. Colossians 3:8-10

As, therefore, God's picked representatives, purified and beloved, put on that nature which is merciful in action, kindly in heart, and humble in mind. Accept life, and be most patient and tolerant with one another, always ready to forgive if you have a difference with anyone. Forgive as freely as the Lord has forgiven you. And, above everything else, put on love, for love binds all the virtues together in perfection. Colossians 3:12-14

This gives a whole new understanding to the idea of decorating, doesn't it? Christianity is an inner way, so let's not worry about how "Catholic" the house looks. I would add to Saint Paul's thoughts that there is the decorating of our personal evolution: the realization of the idea God had in mind the moment of our being called into existence. 

But someone might say: "If the outer environment is this way and that way, then it will lead us to our interior place." I'd disagree, but only because so often we land in the outer re-arranging of our lives which is so much more comfortable, while the inner work of real spiritual living receives scant attention. Keep the rule and the rule will keep you, the young novices were taught for too long.

What miserable frauds you are, you scribes and Pharisees! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, while the inside is full of greed and self-indulgence. Can't you see, Pharisee? First wash the inside of the cup and then the outside will be clean. Matthew 23:25

Alas for you, you hypocritical scribes and Pharisees! You are like white-washed tombs, which look fine on the outside but inside are full of dead men's bones and all kinds of rottenness. Matthew 23:27

O Jesus, that I would never give you cause for so harsh an assessment of me!

And one last glad thought: ultimately the interior work to be undertaken is effected by God, who decorates the world. Jesus teaches us:

If God so clothes the grass, which flowers in the field today and is burnt in the stove tomorrow, is he not much more likely to clothe you of little faith..." Luke 12:28