Pax et Bonum

The Online worship resource for St. James Parish

April 22, 2009

Earth, with her thousand voices, praises God.
---Samuel Taylor Coleridge---
Almighty and everlasting God,
You made the universe with all its marvelous order,
Its atoms, worlds, and galaxies,
And the infinite complexity of living creatures:
Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation,
We may come to know you more truly,
And more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose;
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Earth Day

The earth is the Lords, and the fullness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein.
---Psalm 24:1---

There are times when I prefer the translation of the King James Bible to other more modern translations. I love the economy of words, and the elegance of phrase.

The psalm quoted above is from the King James Version, and states without any extra verbiage the simple fact that this earth and everything on it belongs to God.

Today is International Earth Day. One of the reasons this day was chosen was because the first environmentalist, St. Francis of Assisi, was born on April 22nd. Today has become a celebration of the earth and its many gifts, as well as a day to remind ourselves of the many things that humans do to harm the earth.

In the Episcopal Church, long before Earth Day was created in the 1970’s, we celebrated Rogation Days in May, days that were set aside to ask for God’s mercy and to pray for good crops in the coming harvest. Rogation Days began as days of fasting and penitence, as the people "beat the bounds" of the parish, being reminded of their sins and the need for God’s mercy. The emphasis of the Rogation period is that, as Psalm 24 states, all we have and all we are belong to God. It is God’s kindness and mercy that allow us to live an abundant life in this beautiful world.

We are stewards of God’s creation; let us remember our responsibility to care for this beautiful Earth that is our home.

O merciful Creator,
your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature:
Make us always thankful for your loving providence;
And grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give,
May be faithful stewards of your good gifts,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one god, for ever and ever
Amen.
---Book of Common Prayer---

Choose Life

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit."
John 20:21-22

These two verses, in the midst of a more complicated resurrection appearance, illustrate the very point of both who Jesus is and what Jesus is offering.

John reminds us in the beginning of the Gospel that the Word was with God from the beginning. This Word, incarnate in Christ, is both the spoken truth and the breath itself, which begins the creation story.

Once again the Divine breath seeks to bring order out of chaos.
Once again does God breathe life into that which has fallen asleep.

The disciples who were huddling in that Upper Room had forgotten who they were. They believed what they saw and heard from the world, rather than holding fast to the faithful witness of Christ. They were alive to fear, and dead to hope.

They needed to be revived.
They needed to be brought back to life.

Like the breath that covered dry bones with flesh in Ezekiel, the disciples were being offered a new life—a true life—a life that was powered by the Holy Spirit.

I think we understand the disciples in this story. We listen to the witness of the world and we are afraid.

We don’t know which way to turn so we retreat to protect ourselves and find that we have imprisoned ourselves instead.

And for us Christ is also breathing the Holy Spirit and inviting us to live.

Choose life, says the prophet.

Easter is about so much more than one resurrection. It is about the offer of resurrection for the whole world,
Not in some distant time, but now.

Now is the time to awake from sleep.
Now is the time to say yes to life!

Now!

Blessings,
Debra

Daily Morning Prayer

Daily Morning Prayer

This Week at St. James

Prayers Etc.

For those on our prayer list:

For Matt Rogers our Postulant

In Closing:

Saint Francis’ Canticle of All Creatures
 
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
 
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
 
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
 
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
 
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
 
Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
 
Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.
 
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
 
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.
 
Heavenly Father,
You gave Your servant Francis
great love for each of Your creatures.
Teach us to see Your design in all of creation.
We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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