Labor Day Litany

 

-- from Interfaith Worker Justice

Leader: O Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, on this Labor Day we thank You for Your care and loving concern for workers throughout the world. We remember all workers: men and women; young and old; all races, ethnic and language groups in Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, North Africa, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America and the Middle East. Help all working personal realize a deeper understanding of Your presence, and call them to do justice and build human community where they are employed.

Leader: For workers who face dangerous conditions or hazards in their work without sufficient warning or protection,
All: Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, hear our prayer.

Leader: For all who face the conflicts of working and caring for children without adequate support,
All: Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, hear our prayer.

Leader: For all workers who cannot find work and for whom unemployment assistance is not available,
All: Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, hear our prayer.

Leader: For workers who are displaced by technical change or global pressures to relocate jobs,
All: Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, hear our prayer.

Leader: For children whose childhood has been cut short because they are forced to work,
All: Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, hear our prayer.

Leader: For all who face difficulties or are discriminated against in getting work or at the workplace because of race, gender, ethnicity, physical disabilities, political or religious beliefs or sexual orientation,
All: Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, hear our prayer.

Leader: For all workers who have been affected by labor disputes or who have been discriminate against as a result of their union activity or because they sought justice in their place of employment,
All: Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, hear our prayer.

Leader: For all workers whose work is taken for granted, is unappreciated or lacks meaning,
All: Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, hear our prayer. Amen.

Sunday Reflections . . .

 

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)   Dianne Bergant, CSA Readings: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11 Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a Luke 14:1, 7-14     “Anything you can do, I can do better!” These are the first words of a clever lyric from the Broadway musical ‘Annie Get Your Gun.’ While the ‘battle of the sexes’ is the original setting for the song, the sentiments expressed fit many more situations. They are explicitly promoted in the arena of competitive sports; they are often the motivation that drives the fashion industry; and they are probably most obvious in the field of advertising. In venues such as these, it does not seem to be enough to be good; one has to be better, or ideally, one should be the best. If you want to make it in the world today, you have to advertise. If you have a product to sell or a service to offer, you must make it known, and you must brag about it. In order to showcase their product, many advertisers claim: ‘We have what no one else has!’ ‘Our product is bigger and better and lasts longer!’ ‘We can do what no one else can do!’ ‘We are more reliable than the rest!’  Face it – A humble attitude will probably not make you ‘Number One’ in any field. Does this mean that we believers should not strive to be better, to produce better products, or advertise? Must we refrain from extolling the benefits of what we might have to offer? Not at all. It simply suggests that it is very difficult to be humble in such circumstances. The reading from Sirach is a short discourse on humility. In it, the author admonishes the student (“my child”) to learn to live within the realm of possibility. In other words, accept yourself as you are; don’t seek what is too sublime for you or search for things beyond your strength. There is a very thin line here between being content with the abilities that we have and simply sliding through life with as little effort as possible. This advice is certainly not suggesting that we should not try to excel. However, there is a difference between working as hard as we can in order to be the best that we can be and presuming that we are more than we really are. Nor do we always discover that thin line or recognize that difference. Actually, humility is more a disposition of the soul than it is a course of action. The parable that Jesus tells condemns arrogance, not trying our best. It demonstrates how people with inflated egos often assume places of honor. In doing so, they risk having to relinquish those places in favor of someone who is more distinguished than they are. Instead of proudly glorying in their own importance, they are then made to feel shamed. There is no place for an ‘I am better than you’ attitude among the followers of the one who in his humanity emptied himself of the privileges of divinity. We may indeed have an abundance of material possessions or a fine education or exceptional talent. Still, these do not mean that we are superior to others. Those who are so fortunate would do well to heed the admonition of Sirach: “Humble yourself the more, the greater you are.” Such humility is really honesty, for everything we have is a gift from God. No one did anything to earn special blessings. In many other ways we try to impress others with our importance. We might act in a way that generates praise and acceptance, or we might choose to associate only with important people. We want to be known as having read the key books, as frequenting the popular places, as being invited to the important parties. And equally significant is the fact that influential people come to our parties, or at least recognize us. We deceive ourselves when we think that any of this makes us important. Though Jesus does not say anything about reading books or visiting places, what he says about parties clearly addresses this matter: “When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Invite those whose presence cannot enhance your own prestige; invite those who cannot repay you in kind. So much of our time and energy is wasted in trying to convince others of our importance. Besides, most of us will not be featured in the society pages regardless of what we do. Jesus points to what is really of value, and that is caring for those in need of our help. Is not this what so many of us do anyway? We care for family members and friends and neighbors; we offer our time and whatever resources we can to soup kitchens and clothing drives; we join walks and runs in support of worthy causes. We are just ordinary people attentive to others in ordinary ways that are really extraordinary. In such situations, we do not claim places of honor; we do not insist on special recognition. Though we may not be conscious of it, in such situations we really conduct our affairs in genuine humility and not so that we are seen to be doing the right things.  In such situations we are not concern with who is better or best, but who is in need.  That way of living is, in fact, the better way.   Dianne Bergant, CSA Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Old Testament Studies Catholic Theological Union https://learn.ctu.edu/category/sunday-scripture-reflection/

Prayer: Let the shooting end!

 God, our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless deaths caused by gun violence. Families mourn, children live in fear, and some in our nation respond by arming themselves with more guns with greater capacity to end life. Our disconnection and alienation has caused some to turn to guns for protection and safety. We ask that you touch our hearts with your love, heal our brokenness, and turn us away from violence toward peace. Help us to transform our own hearts and to seek peaceful ways of resolving our differences. Let our hands reach out and connect with those who feel alone, those who live in fear, and those suffering from mental illness. Let our voices be raised asking our legislators to enact gun laws to protect all in our society, especially those most vulnerable. Let our pens write messages demanding change while also scripting words of hope and transformation. We ask this in the name of the God who desires that we live together in peace.  Amen  (Sisters of Mercy)

Alert to God's NOW!

In the aeons of time
there came a moment
when God said: "NOW!"
Light sprang from darkness,
order from chaos,
and where there was no life before
life teemed.
God saw that it was - GOOD!

So every once in a while
God does it again
God's "NOW" breaks planets open,
bursts stars apart,
shifts the continental plates,
moves mountains and valleys,
melts the ice-caps,
sends forth a Sun.

It is incredibly disturbing -
adjusting, adapting,
stroking the fires of passion
for God's endless possibilities,
But a Word keeps calling:
"LIFE!" Be in it with me,
any moment, every moment,
alert for God's "NOW!"

Raphael Consedine PBVM

God of the Universe . . .

 

O infinite God of the Universe;

Quiet our minds, so that we may hear your wisdom,

Open our hearts, so that we may give love to all,

Open our spiritual vision, so that we may know you,

Guide our thoughts, words, and actions,

so that we may serve humanity.

And grace all of us

with your compassionate love.

Amen.

Author Unknown

A Blessing of Diversity . . .

 May the God of Diversity be with you. From east, west, north, and south may you know God in every color and stripe. May this God instill in you a profound respect for differences in persons and their potential for revealing the true depth and richness of God's creation. May your inclusiveness gather true community around you. May the God of Diversity, the God of inclusion, bless you. --Maxine Shonk, OP

God Gazing upon us . . .

 

“ Eye of God This is a picture taken by NASA with the Hubble telescope. They are referring to it as the "Eye of God".

God of the Great Gaze,

We humans prefer satisfying un-truth

to the Truth that is usually unsatisfying.

Truth is always too big for us,

And we are so small and afraid.

So you send us prophets and truth speakers

to open our eyes and ears to your Big Picture.

Show us how to hear them, how to support them,

and how to interpret their wisdom.

Help us to trust that your prophetic voice

may also be communicated through our words and

actions.                                                                              

May we practice a spirit of discernment

and a stance of humility,

so that your Truth be spoken, not our own.

We ask this in the name of Jesus the Prophet,

for we desire to share in your Great Gaze, Amen. (author unknown)