Daily Prayers for August 3

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 sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Song “Servant Song”

Help us to serve in our weakness, Lord : and to see your power come down.

Psalm 18:6 – 11

I called upon the Lord in my distress : and cried out to my God for help.

He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling : my cry of anguish came to his ears.

The earth reeled and rocked : the roots of the mountains shook; they reeled because of his anger.

Smoke rose from his nostrils and a consuming fire out of his mouth : hot burning coals blazed forth from him.

He parted the heavens and came down : with a storm cloud under his feet.

He mounted on cherubim and flew : he swooped on the wings of the wind.

Help us to serve in our weakness, Lord : and to see your power come down.

1 Sam-uel 13:5 – 18 Matthew 25:31 – 46

Help us to serve in our weakness, Lord : and to see your power come down.

In his book From Brokenness to Community, Jean Vanier writes, “Those with whom -Jesus identifies himself are regarded by society as misfits. And yet -Jesus is that person who is hungry; -Jesus is that woman who is confused and naked. Wouldn’t it be extraordinary if we all discovered that? The face of the world would be changed. We would then no longer want to compete in going up the ladder to meet God in the light, in the sun and in beauty, to be honored because of our theological knowledge. Or if we did want knowledge, it would be because we believe that our knowledge and theology are important only so long as they are used to serve and honor the poor.”

Prayers for Others

Our Father

O God of the poor and meek, form us into -people who do not conform to the patterns of this world but rather conform to the norms of your upside-down kingdom. Give us eyes to see you in those who suffer. Move us to the margins of this world, and help us to find you there, in your most distressing disguises. 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.