Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost: Humility, Mercy and Serving Others

Today's Scripture Readings

Sirach 35:12-17 (NRSV)

Give to the Most High as he has given to you,

and as generously as you can afford.

For the Lord is the one who repays,

and he will repay you sevenfold.

Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it

and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;

for the Lord is the judge,

and with him there is no partiality.

He will not show partiality to the poor;

but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.

He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,

or the widow when she pours out her complaint.

Psalm 84 (BCP., p.707)


2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 (NRSV)

I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

 
Blog Reflection

Luke 18:14 is referenced in The Rule of St. Benedict in Chapter 7 about humility.  The words: 'be merciful to me, a sinner!'  are part of the Jesus Prayer.  "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner."  How could it be by accident that this Gospel consists of these two texts from the early Church?  Humility and mercy, combined with serving others are our lessons to us from the Holy Scriptures, are part of the tradition of the Church and an important element reason.   How then, does it become part of how we live the Gospel in our every day lives?

I believe that the parable offers us some important insights for us to ponder.

The traditions by which we celebrate God's work in our lives are very important.  It is nudging us to keep in mind that all the good that we have, is part of God's amazing love shared with us.  However, this parable tells us to take it all to a deeper level.  That deeper level, that space where God lives in each of us, is the place where God knows us best, and desires to be transparent from us towards others.  The greater challenge for all of us, I believe, is to let ourselves become open to the transforming and transparent love and mercy of God in our lives, our communities and well beyond ourselves.   To be projected into our society that is full of greed, bias, violence and darkness beyond the inability to see things clearly.

Each of us finds the self-righteous individual in this parable acting in us, whenever we prize our piety more than the relationship that is suppose to grow because of those things we do in prayer, Scripture reading and worship.  We all like to give ourselves that pat on the back, and think that God must also be there, and excusing us for ignoring the radical poverty around us, in those who are marginalized in in both the Church and society.   That is the arrogance that comes from enjoying God for ourselves, and failing to recognizing that all of that is worthless, unless we also accept and live in the light of God's mercy given to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

The tax collector in this parable knows that he has done wrong in his life.  And he isn't taking God's grace for granted and assuming he does not have to take any responsibility for himself before God.  He prays, knowing that it is only because of God's mercy, that those things that he has done are forgiven him, so that he can be healed and serve others with some kind of a realistic image of who God is in his life.   He does not wear rosy colored glasses about his need for God's salvation.  He opens himself completely, with all vulnerability to trust in God's mercy with all humility, so that he may serve others in true personal freedom.

As we continue to struggle through the economic challenges we see all around us, along with the visible attitudes and behaviors of discrimination and cruelty, it is important that we see how we ourselves contribute to the social injustices around us.   We each have a prejudice in our hearts about someone who is different from us.  We talk about how horrible violence is in our cities and towns.  But, we do not pay attention to how we violently talk about people of different religions, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions, etc.   When we get a big bunch of excuses from our elected officials concerning why we do not have adequate health care for all people, tougher gun control laws, and rapid racism and sexism, we just pretend that it must be disappearing by itself.  Jesus through this parable, invites us all to confess our sins, receive God's mercy, amend our lives and be transforming disciples in the world around us.   It begins with that first step of humility in the Rule of St. Benedict to keep before us the consciousness of God at all times.   To have reverence for God in our actions, our conversations, our prayers and our response to God in obedience through service to others.

Let us keep each other in our prayers, so that we may live in humility by being receptive to God's mercy.  May we also be open to serving others so that God's transforming grace can be transparent in our world.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of
faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you
promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 25, Book of Common Prayer, p.235).


Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church. Fill it
with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt,
purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is
amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in
want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).


Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen. (General Thanksgiving, Book of Common Prayer, p.125).

Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost: Faith's Reward for Persistence.

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 32:22-31

The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 

Psalm 121 (BCP., p.779)


2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

As for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, `Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, `Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Blog Reflection

The traditional use of today's Gospel makes me a bit uneasy.  It has often been used to promote Almighty God as the omnipotent vending machine.  If you just keep shaking it enough, out will come what you want.  There are several problems with that.  Among them is that what about those who persist in prayer enough to ask and ask and plead and still do not get what they want?  How do we suggest such for a guy who's partner has died of cancer, after hoping and praying that he would be cured?   How do we suggest that "just be faithful and God will give you your heart's desire" to those who had no assistance with food during the government shutdown, and still can't get the help they need?

The mystery of God in Jesus Christ was that God is with us.  Whether we laugh or cry.  During our moments of distress.  In the moment when we think we have reached the end and can go no further, in Jesus, God remains faithful to us, even if we have not been faithful to God.  Our relationship with God is not based on an endless litmus test to see if we succeed or fail.  It is not even dependent upon us knowing every theological formula and/or historical event.  A relationship with God is God's initiative.  Our task is to respond to God's invitation to live with trust in God's Providence, and know that no matter what we have, know, or do, God is as close to us as the smallest cell of our bodies.   There is nothing we can do that will make God love us, and want all that is good and holy for us, any less.

So, what does our Gospel say to us at the end of a long 16 day government shutdown?   What might be a good faith response as we are confronted with the realities of the prejudices that still exist in the Church and society? 

I would suggest that what we are hearing about in this parable of the woman and the judge, is that faith is a matter of trust and complete surrender, even when things don't appear to be going our way.  As long as we are willing to grow in our relationship to God through prayer and supplication, God "will supply by the help of God's grace what is not possible for us by nature" (Prologue, Rule of St. Benedict, vs 4).   We will have the courage to continue to call our Church and governmental leadership to respond to the need for justice, the end of oppression, the importance of equality and community.  We will not receive all of these things just because we have heard and/or read this Gospel and responded with every form of piety.  God gives to all of us the initiative of God's faith in us, so that we may trust in God and do our part as Disciples of Jesus Christ.  In such is the response of faith that we profess in our Baptismal Covenant. Such is the hope that many are waiting and looking for.

As we give thanks for the end to the shutdown, and the freedom to marry for LGBT people in New Jersey this week, we are seeing the fruit of what it means to keep on pursuing what is just even in the face of the worst injustices.   Not too long ago, the thought that we would now have fourteen States in America that recognize the freedom to marry for all citizens was too impossible to imagine.  It has been the persistence of those of us who believe in God's unconditional and all-inclusive love for all people, and the faith to keep on going in the most difficult of circumstances, that we are seeing these changes in the Church and society.   It is right to celebrate these victories.  However, we must not become complacent and empathetic to the many injustices that still have a strong hold on the Church and society.   That is why responding to God's initiative by faith is so imperative. 

Perhaps Henry Williams Baker said it best in the first verse of hymn number 645 in the Hymnal 1982.

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed
your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your
mercy, that your Church throughout the world may
persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen. (Proper 24.  Book of Common Prayer. p.235).

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit
that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for
the honor of your Name. Amen. (Prayer for Mission.  Book of Common Prayer, p.101). 

Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost: Show Thanks for Mercy

Today's Scripture Readings

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c (NRSV)

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me."

But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean." But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, "I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" He turned and went away in a rage. But his servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, `Wash, and be clean'?" So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.

Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel."

Psalm 111 (BCP., p.754)


2 Timothy 2:8-15 (NRSV)

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-- that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. The saying is sure:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

if we are faithless, he remains faithful--

for he cannot deny himself.

Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Blog Reflection
 
There are very few experiences that can make a person isolated from one's community like a debilitating illness can.  To find oneself sick with something that disgusts other people.   The way they look at the color of your skin when pale.  The private conversations at a restaurant dinner table across the room.  The feeling that every where you go, there is talk about you and your health condition.  The feeling of the loss of dignity.  Where is there relief?

The readings this weekend from the Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospel tell us the story of people with leprosy.  Not only was such a person sick, they were cut off from their community.   It was thought that if they got the disease, they did something to bring it on themselves.   Not only were they considered not "fit" to participate in society, they were also to be excluded from worship, because they were viewed as unclean.

The Scriptures this weekend show us how God looks past our health condition, our social status, skin color etc, to see the person and her/his dignity.   Regardless of whatever our state in life is, we all are in need of God's mercy.  Unlike many of the laws and thoughts of how God applies God's law, the Holy One does not see things as we see them.  In Canticle 10 in The Book of Common Prayer, we pray the words from Isaiah 55:6-11 that include the words: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways says the Lord.   For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."   God is not about punishment and destruction.   The heart of God is mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love for every human person.

Jesus showed God's love when He healed the men with leprosy. Yet, after each experienced the healing power of God through Jesus, only one returned to give thanks.  The one who returned to give thanks was the foreigner.  The one who was thought to be the outcast among the outcasts, is the one who returns to give thanks and praise to God for the healing he experienced threw Jesus.  Jesus affirms his faith and sends him away a whole person.

How do we show thanks to God for the mercy we are experiencing because of Jesus Christ?

Do we welcome all of God's people in hospitality to bring about reconciliation?

Whom are we keeping outside of our communities because of some preconceived notion?

As our Congress continues to hold the poor, disabled and others hostage to the demands of the wealthy and powerful, we need to stop and think about what it is we are doing to each other in this debate.  What affect all of this is having on those who live with oppression, sickness, injustice and prejudice, and what are we doing to alleviate their suffering, or make it worse.   The worst part of this crisis is not felt by those who have nothing to lose.  It is experienced by those who have already lost everything, and have the last of everything left to lose, including but not limited to their dignity.   How can we as Christians turn a blind eye to what is happening, and not call on our government and it's leaders to get their act together?

We have the opportunity to show thanks to God for God's mercy by working for peace, justice and equality for all people.  Through our prayers, actions and coming together as the community of faith, we can fulfill our Baptismal Vows, by doing our part to bring hope to where there is despair.

May we give thanks God, by being merciful as God is merciful to us.

Amen.


Prayers

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and
follow us, that we may continually be given to good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 23, Book of Common Prayer, p.234).

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Poor and Neglected, Book of Common Prayer, p.826). 

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen. (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, Book of Common Prayer, p.831).

 

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Faith to Make A Difference

Today's Scripture Readings

Lamentations 1:1-6 (NRSV)

How lonely sits the city

that once was full of people!

How like a widow she has become,

she that was great among the nations!

She that was a princess among the provinces

has become a vassal.

She weeps bitterly in the night,

with tears on her cheeks;

among all her lovers

she has no one to comfort her;

all her friends have dealt treacherously with her,

they have become her enemies.

Judah has gone into exile with suffering

and hard servitude;

she lives now among the nations,

and finds no resting place;

her pursuers have all overtaken her

in the midst of her distress.

The roads to Zion mourn,

for no one comes to the festivals;

all her gates are desolate,

her priests groan;

her young girls grieve,

and her lot is bitter.

Her foes have become the masters,

her enemies prosper,

because the LORD has made her suffer

for the multitude of her transgressions;

her children have gone away,

captives before the foe.

From daughter Zion has departed

all her majesty.

Her princes have become like stags

that find no pasture;

they fled without strength

before the pursuer.

Psalm 137 (BCP, p. 792)



2 Timothy 1:1-14 (NRSV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God-- whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did-- when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

Luke 17:5-10 (NRSV)

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, `Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

"Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, `Come here at once and take your place at the table'? Would you not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, `We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

Blog Reflection

The readings this weekend seem so appropriate for this horrible week in the United States.   The government is closed.   People who rely on the government as their employment are furloughed.  WIC programs are closed.  The Center for Disease Control cannot function.  It is a terrible time.   The opportunities for Americans to help others by way of our government is greatly limited.   The words from Lamentations seem so appropriate.   They speak to the situation we are in.

The Gospel for this weekend is full of images that seem supernatural to us.  Jesus is talking in hyperbole.  What might He really be saying?

Jesus is challenging His disciples to use their faith not to compete, but to do things that make a difference.  Our faith is not for the purpose of making ourselves look like miracle workers.   It is to give evidence of what we believe, by living the Gospel we listen to.   In verse five of the 17th Chapter of Luke we read this weekend, the Disciples tell Jesus "increase our faith."   Jesus tells them to do things that show forth their faith, in such a way that everyone would sit up and take notice.  You have to admit that if anyone actually made a mulberry tree be uprooted and planted in the sea, every news media outlet would make a breaking news story out of it.   Jesus tells us to believe enough that what we believe becomes what we live.

We may be living in a time of Lamentation with our government shutdown.   There are plenty of people living through the injustice of oppression, violence, discrimination and faithlessness.  We Christians have the greatest opportunity to make our faith and our God visible as we speak out on behalf of the marginalized in society and the Church and encourage us to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ that changes what we believe into something we can see.    To do this, we must all look past each person's race, gender, gender identity/expression, religion, sexual orientation, health status, economic status, language, immigration status, and see Jesus present and calling us.   Our Baptismal Covenant asks us to live out the Gospel, by seeing in each person God's whole and living Self, calling out to us to welcome Jesus and to bring reconciliation and healing to His Body, the Church.   This is the faith we profess.   This is our faith profession living, breathing and performing miracles where none seem possible.

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Proper 22, Book of Common Prayer, p.234).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so
move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the
people of this land], that barriers which divide us may
crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our
divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p.823).

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us,
in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront
one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work
together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Times of Conflict, Book of Common Prayer, p.824).