Your Blessing Hand, O Christ Our God

Here we have zoomed in on the blessing hand of Jesus in a 19th century Russian icon. Beginning with his little finger and moving around to the thumb, Jesus' fingers spell out IC XC, the Greek initials for his name: Jesus Christ. Below the picture is a nighttime prayer, asking for Christ's blessing hand to extend over the whole world. Of course, we may make adjustments and use the prayer at any time.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over my family,
my friends,
my neighbors,
the little ones born this night
and those who will die.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over the world's children,
over the troubled,
the plotters of evil deeds,
the terrorized,
the war torn and those in flight,

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over the world's leaders,
the homes where there is violence,
the rooms where lies originate,
where blood-money is given and received,
over the prisoners and
those who are hiding.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over the Pope of Rome,
the bishops,
the priests and deacons,
the monks and nuns,
the young families,
the families in trouble and
those who are away from their dear ones.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over all the land,
the air and the water,
the plants and animals,
the polluted places and
the exploited environment.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over the sleepless,
those in hospitals and by sickbeds,
those who work through the night,
those in pain, panic, sorrow,
or who are ground up by addictions,
those who have no place to rest.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over those who are angry, raging, agitated,
carrying old grudges and unhealed inner wounds,
who are spiritually unsettled,
feeling unbalanced,
loaded down with disappointment.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over those who have no joy, no gratitude,
whose patience is gone,
who have lost hope,
who long for some comfort,
who live in inner darkness.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over the peacemakers and the problem solvers,
those who do the works of mercy,
the rescuers, the helpers and the healers.

Your blessing hand, O Christ our God,
over me, who hopes to have served you today,
and who with a repentant heart
now asks for the gift of sleep,
that I might rise up tomorrow in peace,
in gratitude and joy. Amen

Father Stephen P. Morris

Having No Other Help

This early 14th century image of the Virgin Mary by Duccio di Buoninsegna is titled: Madonna and Child with Six Angels. It is lovely, isn't it? The Mother of God looks out at us, while the Divine Child looks to his mother. He holds onto her veil tightly with his right hand while reaching for his Mother's hand with the other. Six admiring angels look down on the scene while leaning over the edge of heaven.

In a series of comments off of other posts this week, some of us have talked about prayer and the world's problems. I acknowledge that we are powerless before most of it: terrorism in Europe, the great divide we find ourselves in here, the threats to the global climate, corruption in leadership, the militarization of  our planet, the refugee crisis...

Saint Francis said, "I can't do everything, but I can do something." I have a friend whose husband is in a nursing home which she visits daily. Much of the day she spends stopping in on the other residents along the corridor and doing what she can to lighten the load for the over-burdened staff. The family dog comes along, delighting everyone. "I can't do everything, but I can do something."

As for the rest? My prayer-holding heart can bring before heaven the whole human family which inhabits this weary planet. Here is a prayer to the Mother of God titled: Having No Other Help. The prayer acknowledges our ultimate powerlessness and limitation. I like prayers that "feel" something. Buoninsegna's interfacing Mary seems to invite this prayer. Does the prayer effect any change? That's not really for me to know. For me, it is enough to offer the prayer and to leave the rest to God.

We have no other help.

We have no other hope than thee, O Lady!

Help us, for in you we have placed our hope,

  and you we praise, 

We are your servants,

 let us not be put to shame.

Intercessions ~ Trinity Sunday

On Trinity Sunday,/ we celebrate the inner life of God which is relational and familial./ We ask to be healed of partisan,/ nationalist,/ isolationist,/ selfish thinking./ Restore our belief in the common good./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those whose work benefits us in any way./ For those who help to keep us safe and well./ We pray to the Lord.

For the world where it is mired in conflict./ That we would respect the deep dignity of each human person./ That our way of life might be marked by creative non-violence./ We pray to the Lord.

Give us insight and the resolve to heal our savage world./ We ask for world leaders to be honest,/ well-intentioned,/ measured and just./ We pray to the Lord.

For the children who live in danger,/ where there is war,/ domestic violence or poverty./ For the strengthening of those who are parents./ For orphans and the children who have special needs./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for those who are corrupted:/ murderers,/ exploiters,/ drug and sex traffickers,/ politicians who have stopped serving the people,/ hustlers,/ abusers and liars./ Bless our efforts to make the world a kinder place./ We pray to the Lord.

Tuesday was the 73rd anniversary of D-Day,/ remembering the amphibious landing of allied forces on the Beaches of Normandy./ We pray for the many thousands who died that day./ For the mourners,/ the wounded and those who were lost and never found./ We pray to the Lord.