Saturday, December 31, 2011

A Prayer for Saturday, December 31, 2011

“Blood Money”

We would never betray you, so we tell ourselves, O Lord—and we certainly would not betray you for money.

And yet—

You once said that insofar as we tended to or neglected the needs of those who are hungry, sick, naked, or in prison we tended to or neglected you; it is not a stretch, therefore, to say that insofar as we are faithful to them we are faithful to you and insofar as we betray them we betray you

and you also said that

where our treasure is, there our heart would be, too.

And so—

Give us the willingness to face up to how we are betraying you by betraying others—in particular others who are desperately hurting—through the ways we use our money or the ways we save our money or the ways we invest our money; give us the insight, the compassion, and the courage to investigate how people--even and maybe especially people on the other side of the world and definitely at the other end of the economic ladder--are negatively impacted by the ways that we more affluent Christians spend, save, and invest our money.

Do we hold blood money in our pockets or in our products?

Forgive us, O Lord, for our betrayals of you.

Help us, O Lord, to spend the rest of our lives working at making it right.

Amen.

“When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ But they said, ‘What is that to us? See to it yourself.’ Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, ‘It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.’ After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.’” (Matthew 27:3-10)

Friday, December 30, 2011

A Prayer for Friday, December 30, 2011

“They…Handed Him Over”

This morning—or this afternoon—or this evening—here you are again and here we are again and here it all is again and so we decide yet again what to do with you, O Lord.

We cannot hand you over or pass you along or wash our hands of you—we must deal with you.

Cause us to see your presence as the miracle of grace that it is; cause us to see you as the gift of love that you are.

Yes, your presence can cause us pain—the kind of pain that comes from seeing ourselves in your bright and revealing light.

But it is worth it, O Lord—it is worth it.

Still, we would hand you over to others so that they can know you and your simultaneously affirming and challenging love, but as we hand you over we keep one hand on you.

Amen.

“When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.”(Matthew 27:1-2)

Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Prayer for Thursday, December 29, 2011

“Wept Bitterly

How long, O Lord, will we do what we do not want to do? How long, O Lord, will we not do what we want to do? How long, O Lord, will we weep bitterly over our failures that are motivated by our misguided drive for self-preservation? How long, O Lord, will we fail to align ourselves with you in a lifestyle of grace-filled obedience and self-emptying sacrifice?

Sometimes our hearts break over the kind of heart that our actions show we still have; sometimes we are shocked at how far we still have to go.

Help us, O Lord, to face up to where we are and to trust your grace to lead us to where we need to be.

Amen.

“Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:69-75)

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

A Prayer for Wednesday, December 28, 2011

“He Deserves Death”

We praise you, O Lord, that you accepted the suffering and death that you did not deserve because you are the Messiah, the Son of God, and the Son of Man and because you are the One who came to be God With Us, to be the Kingdom of God among us, and to be the Suffering Servant.

We thank you that you showed us that the way to glory is the way of service, sacrifice, and love.

We ask for the grace to live as your followers in ways that bear witness to the Messiah that you are and not to the one that we might want you to be.

Amen.

“Then the high priest said to him, ‘I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have said so. But I tell you,
From now on you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power
and coming on the clouds of heaven.’
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?’ They answered, ‘He deserves death.’ Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?’”
(Matthew 26:63b-68)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

A Prayer for Tuesday, December 27, 2011

“Looking for False Testimony”

Work on our hearts, O Lord, that we will look for the truth about you so that we can believe rather than to look for the false about you so that we can not believe.

Protect us from listening to those who hear and repeat your words only in terms of wooden literalism and free us instead to listen to those who have ears to hear, spirits to receive, and mouths to speak the truth of your words.

Help us, O Lord—for you have spoken and we must choose whether and how we will hear.

Amen.

“Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, ‘This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.” ’ The high priest stood up and said, ‘Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?’ But Jesus was silent.” (Matthew 26:59-63a)

Monday, December 26, 2011

A Prayer for Monday, December 26, 2011

“To See How This Would End”

Sometimes, O Lord, we follow you and follow you and follow you…only to decide at some crucial point to sit down and watch to see how it will all turn out.

Give us the desire and the courage to follow and to endure until the end…and beyond.

Amen.

“Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.” (Matthew 26:57-58)

Sunday, December 25, 2011

A Prayer for Sunday, December 25, 2011

“Put Your Sword Back”

We thank you, O God, that you sent your Son Jesus into this war-torn and conflict-riddled world to be the Prince of Peace.

We thank you that the angel who announced his birth to the shepherds spoke of “peace, good will toward men” (KJV).

We thank you that he, until the very end, responded to fear with faith, to anger with grace, to hate with love, and to conflict with peace.

We thank you that he, although he had a more powerful sword available to him than we could even begin to imagine, kept it sheathed.

Help us, O God, as followers of the Prince of Peace, to keep our pitiful swords put away, too, and instead to use his arsenal of faith, grace, love, and peace.

Amen.

“Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?’ At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” (Matthew 26:51-56)

Saturday, December 24, 2011

A Prayer for Saturday, December 24, 2011

“The One I Will Kiss”

We thank you, O God, that we have the opportunity to have an intimately personal relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord; on this Christmas Eve we praise you for the Word made flesh and for the Holy Spirit that make that relationship possible.

Help us to develop that relationship in appropriate ways; help us to be obedient, to be faithful, and to be open.

Protect us from trying to use that relationship in inappropriate ways; guard us against attempted manipulation, against sought advantage, and against selfish motives.

Remind us, O God, that a kiss is not just a kiss but that a kiss can reveal any number of motivations and desires. May our expressions of affection to you be legitimate, honest, and appropriate.

Amen.

“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.’ At once he came up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him. Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, do what you are here to do.’ Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.” (Matthew 26:47-50)

Friday, December 23, 2011

A Prayer for Friday, December 23, 2011

“Let Us Be Going”

Let us be going, O Lord.

Let us be going, O Lord, to face what we must face as your followers.

Let us be going, O Lord, to drink the cup that we must drink as your followers.

Let us be going, O Lord, to face the opposition we must face as your followers.

Let us be going, O Lord, to live in your difficult and wonderful will as your followers.

Let us be going, O Lord, to grow into the kind of following that we should practice as your followers.

Let us be going, O Lord.

Amen.

“Again he went away for the second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’ Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’” (Matthew 26:42-46)

Thursday, December 22, 2011

A Prayer for Thursday, December 22, 2011

“The Spirit Indeed is Willing”

We acknowledge, O Lord, that in this life our spirits cannot be separated from our bodies; we cannot experience things spiritual unless we experience them in and through our bodies.

We also acknowledge, though, that sometimes what your Spirit leads us to do we don’t do even if we want to do it and sometimes what your Spirit leads us not to do we do even if we don’t want to do it.

We must acknowledge also, however, that sometimes even our spirit is not willing.

Give us through your Spirit, O Lord, the mind of Christ so that in the totality of our being we want to do your will and in fact try to do your will.

Amen.

“Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” (Matthew 26:40-41)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A Prayer for Wednesday, December 21, 2011

“What You Want”

We praise you, O God, for the full humanity of Jesus your Son that we see both in his plea to be allowed to avoid his suffering if he might and in his commitment to embrace his suffering if he must.

Cause his life to be so present in ours that we exhibit the same kind of full humanity; may we be honest about our fears concerning the sacrificial life to which you call us even while we are firm in our dedication to live it out no matter what the cost.

“Not what we want but what you want”—this is our prayer, God help us.

Amen.

“And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’” (Matthew 26:39)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Prayer for Tuesday, December 20, 2011

“Stay Awake with Me”

Give us insight and courage, O Lord, to understand and to live in light of the fact that we of the Church are the Body of Christ in this world.

Give us insight and courage, O Lord, to understand and to live in light of the fact that the Incarnation, the presence of Christ in this world, continues through us.

Give us insight and courage, O Lord, to understand and to live in light of the fact that we are to be deeply grieved, even to death, over the plight of the people around us.

Give us insight and courage, O Lord, to understand and to live in light of the fact that we are to give ourselves up in obedience to God and for the sake of the people around us.

Give us insight and courage, O Lord, to understand and to live in light of the fact that to stay awake with you in these days is to be your sacrificial presence in these days.

Amen.

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.’” (Matthew 26:36-38)

Monday, December 19, 2011

A Prayer for Monday, December 19, 2011

“I Will Go Ahead of You”

We praise you, O Lord, that even though you know we will fail, you nonetheless plan to meet us on the other side of our failure.

We praise you, O Lord, that even when we do in fact fail, you nonetheless in fact meet us on the other side of our failure.

Still—help us to grow in our commitment and willingness to give up our lives so that we will in our lives and by our lives become less and less likely to fail you and more and more likely to bear bold and honest witness to our relationship with you through our risk-taking and self-denying actions.

Amen.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.’ Peter said to him, ‘Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.’ Peter said to him, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And so said all the disciples.” (Matthew 26:31-35)

Sunday, December 18, 2011

A Prayer for Sunday, December 18, 2011

“When I Drink It New”

Thank you, Lord, that when we eat the bread and drink the cup of the Eucharist we are both remembering what you have done and anticipating what you will do.

Thank you, Lord, that in eating the bread and drinking the cup of the Eucharist we both participate in the fellowship we have with you and our other brothers and sisters here and now and anticipate the fellowship we will have with you and our other brothers and sisters there and then.

Amen.

“While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:26-30)

Saturday, December 17, 2011

A Prayer for Saturday, December 17, 2011

“Surely Not I…”

Lord Jesus,

It’s an admittedly fine but nonetheless important distinction: when you said that one of the Twelve would betray you, Judas asked, “Surely not I, Teacher?” while the rest asked “Surely not I, Lord?”

Judas betrayed you.

Of course, the rest denied you by words or by actions or by both.

So even if we acknowledge and serve you as Lord, we will still fail and fall.

Grant though, O Lord, that we will have the kind of submitted and obedient relationship with you that will lead us always to try to stay close to you and always to try to be true to you.

You are a great Teacher and we learn from you.

Be our Lord that we might live in you.

Amen.

“When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.” (Matthew 26:20-25)

Friday, December 16, 2011

A Prayer for Friday, December 16, 2011

“Did As Jesus Had Directed Them”

Make us faithful in the small things, O Lord, that we might learn how to be faithful in the big things.

Remind us that we never know to what big things the small things might lead.

Amen.

“On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.” (Matthew 26:17-19)

Thursday, December 15, 2011

A Prayer for Thursday, December 15, 2011

“An Opportunity to Betray Him”

It is unlikely that we will look for an opportunity to betray you, Lord.

It is much more likely that our betrayals will be of the careless and thoughtless variety.

Train us in tending to our relationship with you so that we will by our thoughts, motives, words, and actions display faithfulness to you.

Amen.

“Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.” (Matthew 26:14-16)

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

A Prayer for Wednesday, November 14, 2011

“In Remembrance of Her”

If we are going to be remembered at all, O Lord, let us be remembered for the ways that we gave ourselves away out of love for you and in service to you.

Given that you taught us to see you in other people, especially those who have the greatest need, if we are going to be remembered at all, let us be remembered for the ways that we gave ourselves away for the sake of and in service to other people.

Amen.

“Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.’ But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’” (Matthew 26:6-13)

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

A Prayer for Tuesday, December 13, 2011

“They Conspired”

Are we conspiratorial by nature? Or by training? Or by both? Regardless, we acknowledge and confess that we do like to plot and plan.

Lead us, O God, so that our plotting and planning will be toward a positive end and not a negative one, toward a constructive end and not a destructive one.

Lead us so that our plotting and planning will lead us to a greater acceptance of and following of Jesus and not to the neglect or rejection of Jesus’ claims on our lives.

Grant, O God, that our conspiracies will be conspiracies of love, grace, forgiveness, and kindness rather than conspiracies of hate, revenge, cruelty, and apathy.

Amen.

“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.’” (Matthew 26:1-5)

Monday, December 12, 2011

A Prayer for Monday, December 12, 2011

“When Was It?”

Lord, give us eyes to see the hurting people who are all around us and give us hearts that care enough to try to help heal their hurts.

Guard us from the kind of calculating self-interest that connects our concern and help with our possible reward.

Help us to see you in those who are oppressed, poor, sick, incarcerated, hungry, thirsty, lonely, and outcast, but not at the cost of failing to see them for who they are.

Grant that our care, concern, and help will come to be as natural to us as our lack of care, concern, and help tends to be.

Amen.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:37-46)

Sunday, December 11, 2011

A Prayer for Sunday, December 11, 2011

“Inherit the Kingdom”

We praise you, O God, that the kingdom is prepared for those who feed the hungry, who give drink to the thirsty, who welcome the strangers, who clothe the naked, who take care of the sick, and who visit the prisoners.

We praise you for it even as we ponder what we spent our time, energy, and other resources doing today and what we spend our time, energy, and other resources doing every day.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, give us the right priorities.

Amen.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’” (Matthew 25:31-36)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

A Prayer for Saturday, December 10, 2011

“Here You Have What Is Yours”

Cause us, O God, to be willing to take risks and to be daring in our use of the gifts that you have given us rather than to hoard them and to play it safe.

Remind us, O God, that you do not want those gifts back unused and unrisked but rather want us to use them to spread the love and grace of your kingdom.

Amen.

“Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:24-30)

Friday, December 9, 2011

A Prayer for Friday, December 9, 2011

“Well Done”

O God, help us to use well those gifts, abilities, and resources with which you bless us; help us to use them to share your grace, love, and mercy with those we encounter.

Help us also to accept with gratitude the always increasing responsibility that becomes ours as we grow in you and in your grace.

Teach us that “Well done” implies “Now do more” rather than “Now take it easy.”

Amen.

“Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:20-23)

Thursday, December 8, 2011

A Prayer for Thursday, December 8, 2011

“Settled Accounts with Them”

Remind us, O Lord, that we have the privilege and the responsibility to use and develop the gifts, abilities, and potentialities with which you have blessed us.

Remind us that we will not do so perfectly, thereby sparing us unnecessary frustration.

Remind us also, though, that we will be able to welcome you with joy if we have, with your help, done our best.

Amen.

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.” (Matthew 25:14-19)

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

A Prayer for Wednesday, December 7, 2011

“Those Who Were Ready”

When you come, Lord, we want to be ready; we want to be in a position to receive you and to go with you.

Help us, then, to receive you in every moment, in every thought, in every word, in every action, and in every person; help us, then, to go with you in love, in grace, in mercy, in forgiveness, and in service.

Help us, in other words, to receive you and to go with you all the time so that when you come at the end we’ll be ready to go with you one more time.

Amen.

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A Prayer for Tuesday, December 6, 2011

“The Faithful and Wise Slave”

During these days between your first and second Advents, O Lord, help us to be faithful and wise servants who take our responsibilities seriously, who enjoy our lives fully, who treat others ethically, and who watch for you expectantly.
Amen.

“Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know. He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:45-51)

Monday, December 5, 2011

A Prayer for Monday, December 5, 2011

“Keep Awake”

We affirm the twin truths, O Lord, that (1) you are coming and (2) we don’t know when or how you are coming.

Motivate us, therefore, to keep awake.

Help us to pay close attention to our lives rather than being lulled to sleep by their routineness. Help us to take advantage of the wait for your coming by doing your will and sharing your love rather than being lulled to sleep by the passage of time.

Whenever you come to us and however you come to us, O Lord, help us to be found ready and awake; help us to be found actively pursuing a life of love, grace, mercy, and service.

Amen.

“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” (Matthew 24:36-44)

Sunday, December 4, 2011

A Prayer for Sunday, December 4, 2011

“He Is Near”

Help us to live, O Lord, in light of the fact that you are near to us—in fact, that you are present with us—all the time.

Help us to live, O Lord, in light of the fact that you are near to us—in fact, that you are right on the verge of coming back—at any time.

Amen.

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:32-35)

Saturday, December 3, 2011

A Prayer for Saturday, December 3, 2011

“They Will Gather His Elect”

Inspire us, O God, to look forward to that time when we will be gathered home.

Remind us, O God, that here and now you make your home with us and so in a very real sense we are already gathered home.

Help us, O God, as your people to move toward being one people in these days even as we will be one people when the Great Day comes.

Amen.

“Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31)

Friday, December 2, 2011

A Prayer for Friday, December 2, 2011

“Do Not Believe It”

When times get tough, O God, do not let us out of desperation grasp at straws, no matter how compelling or attractive those straws happen to look or sound.

Cause us instead to maintain a quiet, steady, vibrant trust in you, in your purposes, and in your timing.

Amen.

“So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ —do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:15-28)

Thursday, December 1, 2011

A Prayer for Thursday, December 1, 2011

“Love…Will Grow Cold”

First, Lord, strengthen and help those followers of yours who live in places where persecution is real and danger is all around. Help them to endure and cause us to intercede for them.

Second, Lord, inspire those of us who live in places where persecution is absent and danger is for the most part imagined to be open to your love and to be disciplined in the ways that we stay open to it and practice it. Make your love for us and our love for each other so warm that nothing that comes can make it grow cold.

Amen.

“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But anyone who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:9-14)