Let us pray (in silence) [that we may persevere in our growth into God’s life]
pause
God of inspiration,
you caused all holy scriptures to be written for our instruction,
grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of your holy Word,
we may embrace and ever hold fast to the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.
One of the best-known English phrases must, surely, be “…read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest…” It was heard every year in church in the lead-up to Christmas in the collect for Advent 2. When the history of the NZ Prayer Book is finally out, I look forward to reading why this collect, when nearly all of Cranmer’s collects are retained, was excised from the book.
So, although the above prayer is not an ancient one shared by Roman Catholics, I see it as significant enough to add to my Book of Prayers in Common. You will find my commentary and reflection here: Ordinary 33.
Some other celebrations this coming week:
Tuesday 15 November: Albert the Great
Wednesday 16 November: Margaret; Gertrude
Thursday 17 November: Hilda
Friday 18 November: Hugh
Saturday 19 November: Elizabeth of Hungary; Mechtild
You can add your ideas and resources below.
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Image: Naive drawing in the style of of an ancient map of Jerusalem, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55326 [retrieved November 5, 2016]. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46811478@N03/6300357781/.
Do you have lections to suggest for reading on 1 DEC, World AIDS Day?
Maybe others have ideas, David. Are there readings around prejudices, including learning to include those we’ve excluded? Blessings.