Daily Prayers Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Good morning, Cornerstone Friends.
Today our theme is God’s all encompassing love. Let us start with part of a meditation by Julian of Norwich, an English mystic and theologian. She was born in the fourteenth century and lived in Norwich at the time of the Black Death and the Peasants’ Revolt. Her writings about divine love include the following passage.
I saw that God was everything that is good and encouraging.
God is our clothing
that wraps, clasps and encloses us
so as never to leave us.
God showed me in my palm
a little thing round as a ball
about the size of a hazelnut.
I looked at it with the eye of my understanding and asked myself:
‘What is this thing?’
And I was answered:’It is everything that is created’.
I wondered how it could survive since it seemed so little it could suddenly disintegrate into nothing.
The answer came: ‘It endures and ever will endure, because God loves it’.
And so everything has being because of God’s love.
Heavenly Father, we have being because of your love. We pray that today we will feel surrounded and uplifted by your love. Please help us live our lives as you would have us do: to love our neighbours, near or far, to welcome the stranger, to put others before ourselves, so that we may play our part in showing that, above all else, you are love.
Amen
Our reading for today is Psalm 19.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God
and the firmament declares your handiwork.
Day speaks to day of your story;
night unto night makes it known.
No speech, no word,
no voice is heard.
Yet their message fills the world,
their news reaches the ends of the earth.
High above you pitched your tent
for the sun to rest and rise.
Like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like an athlete eager to race:
it springs from the edge of the earth
and runs its course across the sky
till it reaches the far horizon;
nothing escapes it’s heat.
Your law, O God, is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
Your rule is sure,
making wise the simple.
Your precepts, O God, are right,
gladdening the heart.
Your command is clear, giving light to the eyes.
Fear of you, O God, is holy,
enduring for ever.
Your decrees are faithful,
and all of them just.
They are more to be desired than gold,
than the purest gold,
and sweeter than honey
dripping from the comb.
In them is your servant taught;
observing them brings great reward.
But who can discern all their failings?
From hidden faults forgive me.
Restrain me, too, from wilful sins,
lest they take me over.
May the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O God, my rock, my redeemer.
Amen. (Iona)
Now two prayers based on this psalm.
Heavenly Father, when I look into the heavens and see the splendour of your handiwork and the glories of your creative power, I am moved as David was to proclaim your glory and to declare the wonderful works of your mighty hand. But when I look to the cross of Calvary and see Christ, died, buried and resurrected, I pray that by faith in him and his great love I might be reconciled back to God, forgiven of my sins and become your child and heir.
Amen.
Loving Father, the heart that meditates on the Lord is the one that exhibits an inner grace and beauty, for such a one is willingly being transformed into the likeness of Christ. I know that out of the mouth come thoughts that are conceived in the heart and so I pray that in humility of heart, I will sanctify the words of my mouth, the meditation of my heart and the thoughts of my mind so that I am pleasing and acceptable in the sight of my ever loving Lord and Saviour. In his name I pray.
Amen
To finish a hymn of love.
Love is his word, love is his way,
feasting with men, fasting alone,
living and dying, rising again,
love only love is his way.
Chorus
Richer than gold is the love of my Lord:
better than splendour and wealth.
Love is his way, love is his mark,
sharing his last Passover feast,
Christ at his table, host to the Twelve,
love, only love, is his mark.
Love is his mark, love is his sign,
bread for our strength, wine for our joy,
‘This is my body, this is my blood’,
love, only love, is his sign.
Love is his sign, love is his news,
‘Do this’, he said, ‘lest you forget
all my deep sorrow, all my dear blood’,
love, only love is his news.
Love is his news, love is his name,
we are his own, chosen and called,
family, brethren, cousins and kin.
Love, only love, is his name.
Love is his name, love is his law.
Hear his command, all who are his:
‘Love one another, I have loved you’.
Love, only love, is his law.
Love is his law, love is his word:
love of the Lord, Father and Word,
love of the Spirit, God ever one,
love only love, is his word.
© McCrimmon Publishing
Have a blessed day, Cornerstone Friends.
Rosemary Goldie
