Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34

This is another sermon done by request. “I worry first and pray later. I expect I am suppose to pray first, but doubt it will ever happen. I think of this Matthew passage.”

Sermon: “The ‘Therefore’ Is Important”

for download:180722_0902

The Anthem was “Here I am, Lord”  by: Fr. Daniel L. Schutte, S.J. It informed the prayer.

Prayer

Here we are Lord. We will go. If you lead. Lead us! Lead us to where the hungry are and lead us to love them. Lead us, not with commandments or guilt, but with the awareness of your love that has no end. Let us feel their stomach hunger for food and their soul hunger for love. It will be easy to forget the hungry can feel unlovable. Lead us with your love and we will follow.

Here we are Lord. If you lead us we will go. Where our feet cannot take us, our hearts and prayers will follow your lead. To Palestine and Jerusalem to proclaim that peace is better than hate, that the splinter in someone else’s eye is not as important as what is in one owns eye. We will go to the borders where nations like our own require guards to carry guns and ignore the golden rule. To those who hoard wealth like others hoard stacks of paper and National Geographic. We will go to the addicts of substance (legal or illegal) or with power (proper or improper) with your grace and forgiveness.

And we know that it is always us who will have to follow you to our inner couch potato who would rather watch a life of faith than walk the walk – walk the way of Jesus, our Master, Lord, Savior.

Lead, we will follow. Lead us to a new thrilling awareness of You, to the wonders of your love, to the peace that is in your Spirit, the peace that passes all understanding.

Here we are Lord.

Amen