Lord, help us to be one in You.

Father,  help us to seek the values
that will bring us eternal joy in this changing world.

In our desire for what you promise
make us one in mind and heart.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

– Amen.

~Closing Prayer at Lauds, Monday of BE05, 180430

   

May my faith lead me to justification in God's eyes.

The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach). 

For if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 

Faith in the heart leads to justification, confession on the lips to salvation.
  

~Romans 10:8b-10

  

O God, be gracious and bless us

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its fruit 
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing 
till the ends of the earth revere him.

~Psalm 67

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Psalm Prayer:  
Be gracious and bless us, Lord,
and let your face shed its light on us,
so that we can make you known with reverence
and bring forth a harvest of justice.

From Lauds on Tuesday of Easter Week 2

Show us your mercy, Lord.

Show us your mercy, Lord;
our misery is known to us.

May no evil desires prevail over us,
for your glory and love dwell in our hearts.

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Psalm prayer from Lauds on Tuesday, Easter Week 2.

Save us, Lord, from ourselves.

O Lord, you once favored your land
and revived the fortunes of Jacob,
you forgave the guilt of your people
and covered all their sins.

You averted all your rage,
you calmed the heat of your anger.

Revive us now, God, our helper!
Put an end to your grievance against us.
Will you be angry with us for ever,
will your anger never cease?
Will you not restore again our life
that your people may rejoice in you?

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends

and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who fear him  

and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.
The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps.

Psalm 85

 

Be with them, Lord, who go where your Spirit leads them.

But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem.  (Acts 20:22)

Before Paul left Ephesus, he gave a touching farewell speech, acknowledging that he would most probably never see them again. Those who gathered were deeply moved because Paul's presence and preaching had changed their lives.

"They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him" (v. 37).

Like Paul, some people today sense that same Spirit urging them to make decisions that impinge on the lives of those who love them. Men and women leave cherished ones to live as missionaries in foreign lands; some enter cloistered monasteries with limited visitation; medical personnel join service organizations in dangerous situations; social workers go to help in refugee camps; military personnel depart for long sojourns as peacekeepers.

Let us pray for strength and safety for all who follow where the Spirit leads them and for those who weep at their departure. 

~Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M