Daily Prayers for April 8

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you

as the day rises to meet the sun.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Song “I Will Trust in the Lord”

I do not think that I shall fear you : when I see you face to face.

Psalm 38:1 – 2, 14 – 15, 21 – 22

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger : do not punish me in your wrath.

For your arrows have already pierced me : and your hand presses hard upon me.

I have become like one who does not hear : and from whose mouth comes no defense.

For in you, O Lord, have I fixed my hope : you will answer me, O Lord my God.

O Lord, do not forsake me : be not far from me, O my God.

Make haste to help me : O Lord of my salvation.

I do not think that I shall fear you : when I see you face to face.

Exodus 18:1 – 12 1 John 4:7 – 21

I do not think that I shall fear you : when I see you face to face.

Jack Bernard, a co-founder of the Church of the Sojourners in San Francisco, wrote, “The key element in beginning to learn to embody the love of God is not heroic faith and determination. It has to do with whether or not we can take hold of the love of God as a power that includes us within it. The difference is between seeing life from the inside of God versus seeing it from within my own sensibilities and capacities. From inside the love of God, suffering becomes not only bearable, but a privilege of participating with Christ in his love for the world. This cannot be rationally explained or justified, but it is the fruit of a life trustingly lived in and for God who is all love.”

Prayers for Others

Our Father

Holy Spirit, you dwell within us and you teach us perfect love, which drives out all fear. Give us a spirit of courage, and make us bold enough to love one another without fear. Enable us to see that perfect love calls us to persevere in suffering and to trust beyond what is visible. Amen.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.