Friday of Week 27 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Our Lady of the Rosary
Acts 1:12-14 | Luke 1:46-55 | Luke 1:26-38
I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me. (Luke 1:38)
This prayer is inspired by my journey to Lindisfarne as part of my 2016 UK Catholic tour. I’ve added my own photos to help…keep things interesting.
The map is not the territory.
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Almighty God, we thank You for Your gift of faith, which helps us prepare ourselves daily for the journey through life. You call us always to walk Your holy Way with others, ‘for where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’ (Matthew 18:20)
All set to brave the cold winds of daily life together.
Yet we know that the road may not be smooth, and we may be swamped by the floods of our own iniquity.
Uh oh.
At other times, we may give in to our pride and reject the companionship of those who love us…
Alone again, unnaturally.
…preferring to wallow in our own desolation.
Oh, thou cold and lonely heart.
But You promised us that if we trust in You…
Coming to St. Aidan’s Church on Lindisfarne…
…and lay our lives before You…
…to be in His presence.
…then You will help us overcome all obstacles, especially when love is lost…
“What did I do?!?!” “Come back when you’ve figured it out.”
…for You are Love itself.
Always and forever.
When our hearts are hardened, remake us in Your light.
From hot house to God’s house.
When we are tired, refresh us with Your living water.
Will You ask us to walk on it though?
When we are discouraged, open our eyes to the beauty of the world around us.
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the word
Use us to create more of that beauty in this world, for we are your servants.
Aren’t I pretty?
Give us each day our daily bread…
With a hearty soup and delicious butter to fortify us
…and when it is time for us to approach the gates of Your heavenly kingdom…
There be hallowed ground.
…we ask You to look kindly on us, and grant us admittance.
Price of admission to God’s kingdom: A pure heart.
There we will sing your praises with all the angels and saints, for ever and ever.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God!
Amen.
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Oh, and since the women in my life would not have it any other way…
Though I will neither confirm nor deny the validity of this assertion.