Intercessions ~ Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Late Summer Rain

We ask for Pope Francis to be kept safe and protected from his enemies./ Grant renewal and a fresh inspiration of the Holy Spirit to our battered,/ shamed and wounded Church./ We pray to the Lord.

At the start of September,/ we pray for those who celebrate birthdays,/ anniversaries and other days of remembrance,/ asking for good health,/ strength,/ perseverance and safety./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for the more than 25 million refugees in the world as we listen to the words of Jesus:/ "I was hungry and you gave me food,/ I was thirsty and you gave me drink,/ I was a stranger and you welcomed me,/ naked and you clothed me,/ sick and you took care of me."/ We pray to the Lord.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the start of the Second World War in 1939./ We pray for the people and places which still bear the wounds and pain of that terrible fighting./ We ask boldly for world leaders who are skilled in peace-keeping./ We pray to the Lord.

This is Labor Day weekend./ And while our nation is at full employment,/ we pray for those whose work is dangerous,/ under-paid,/ un-appreciated/ or in any way unfair./ We pray to the Lord.

We pray for prisoners,/ especially those living in de-humanizing environments of deterioration,/ abuse and harm./ We pray as well for the sick and the dying,/ persons who are living in situations of dark fear,/ frustration,/ despair and sorrowing-pain./ We pray to the Lord. 

Theotokos of the Passion ~ Who Listens and Invites

This is the icon, Mother of God of the Passion, which inspired a Western version we've come to know as Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We are familiar with the details. The Mother of God holds her Son securely as he sees the Archangels over his shoulder, each carrying the instruments of suffering and death: the cross, the nails, the spear, the sponge on the reed.  The Child flies to her speedily, that his left sandal falls off. His hands are placed around her thumb, either holding on tight OR in the moment of his letting go - his surrender.

The Mother of God doesn't look at Jesus nor at the sky, but at us. Her eyes are large and wide awake to our heart-conversation. Her maphorian-covered head appears large as well, containing her heaven-borne thoughts - room enough to hold all our concerns. That maphorian is the color of the ground we stand and walk upon - she is one of us in our suffering, struggle and sorrow. She appears to be standing at heaven's window - not clucking or tysk-ing over us - but with a mother's heart, eager to hear from us. She invites:

Tell me the names of those you commend to my care,
especially the little ones,
the weak ones,
the old folks,
the ones you know who are living with mistakes,
who are addicted,
who are struggling with some terrible problem or burden.

What is causing you to be distracted,
worried,
afraid,
tired,
sad.
Tell me.

Pray-the-news before my icon,
don't let it exhaust you
or make you cynical or
despairing.
Pray-the-news you hear
about the Church,
the nation,
the sad situations
so many experience.
Pray-the-news you hear 
that's close to home.

Tell me about your health concerns,
about the troubles you have in relationships,
fears about your personal future,
hopes,
dreads,
dreams,
imaginings for a better time.
Is something grieving you?
Are you mourning over some deep loss?

Is there some inner gift you need -
greater patience,
endurance,
courage,
to be freed of resentments -
even tiresome hatred?

Is there something inside you'd call toxic?
An old wound unhealed?
A bitter regret? Guilt?
Do you long to have peace and security restored?
Do you feel yourself to be inwardly empty?
Damaged?
Do you know yourself well enough to ask rightly?

I want you to be whole and well,
at peace and happy!

Saints Felix and Adauctus ~ And Me

This is an ancient fresco from the Roman Catacomb of Commodilla. The Mother of God is seated, with the early 4th century martyrs, Sts. Felix and Adauctus to left and right. There is a woman friend there as well on the left, in front of Felix. Some say she is Turtura, the lady who gave the gift of the painting. I like images like this - it's as if, before cameras existed, someone called everyone together for a group shot. It feels very friendly or familial.

The feast day of these two martyrs is still August 30, (this Thursday) though the liturgical commemoration was dropped in the calendar reforms of 1969. Too bad, there was something to learn.

Priest-Martyr Felix died in the early days of the Diocletian persecution (early 300's). Along the way to his death, an unknown Christian witnessed the saint's courage and called out, "I confess the same faith and the same Jesus Christ as this man. I too will sacrifice my life in the cause of Christ." The stranger was arrested at once and beheaded alongside Felix.

Apparently no one asked who this fellow was, and so they simply called him, Adauctus, which means the added one or today we'd say, Anonymous. What does it mean? "Anonymous" doesn't mean unseen or unknown to God. Anonymous matters. Additionally, it may mean that we can step into Adauctus' place, perhaps not in the literal sense, though in a world of evil deeds there are Christians being beheaded, but in the self-gift each day invites.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a venerable Buddhist monk who was a  voice for peace during the Vietnam War. He lives at Plum Village in France still creating Wake Up communities, farms and retreats. The first world is in zombie mode - seemingly awake only to eating and shopping. Adauctus and Thich Nhat Hanh invite awake-ness and self-gift. Here's how the Buddhist monk frames it:

Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in a way that these twenty-four hours will bring peace, joy  and happiness to ourselves and others.

Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We don't have to travel far away to enjoy the blue sky. We don't have to leave our city or even our neighborhood to enjoy the eyes of a beautiful child. Even the air we breathe can be a source of joy.

We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive in the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive. Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.