Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Meditation
Luke 9:57-62

No matter what our condition, there is one healing that every one of us needs. It concerns who will be lord of our lives. Many of us love God deeply, believe in Christ staunchly, and want to be filled with more of the Holy Spirit. But we still find it hard to yield our will, priorities, and desires. It’s not that we need more determination to follow Jesus. We just need to be healed—freed to let go of our ways and to trust in the Lord.

Some of us have a vision for our lives, along with definite assumptions about what what following Jesus will look like. But Jesus makes it clear that following him might differ radically from what we imagine. That’s why he gave such a curt response to the man who offered to follow him (Luke 9:57-58). Some of our priorities are good and important, so we assume they’re also Jesus’ priorities. But the truth is, his priorities might be completely different, as when he told another man to let the dead bury the dead (9:59-60). And some of us respond to Jesus when we want, like the man who asked to say good-bye first (9:61-62). But God’s timing doesn’t always accommodate our convenience—or our procrastination.

Does that mean, then, that we are not fit to follow Jesus? Not at all! We just need to be healed. We just need to be convinced by the Spirit that our heavenly Father knows what is best, both for us and for those around us. We need to sit with him in prayer long enough for him to show us that he knows our needs and wants—and that he really does care about them. Only by spending time with the Lord—in private prayer, in eucharistic adoration, at Mass, or just staring into a starry night sky—will we find ourselves ready to surrender ourselves to him more fully. God promises that as we follow his plan, he will summon out of us attributes that we never knew we had: gifts, abilities, passions, and fulfillment. Jesus is not looking to disqualify anyone from following him. Rather, he wants to free us to follow him wherever he leads.

“Jesus, I want to follow you. Heal whatever is in me that would hinder your plans and desires. Fill me with your love today, so that I can trust and yield to you.”

Nehemiah 2:1-8; Psalm 137:1-6

Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

Psalm 30 (31)
Trustful prayer in time of adversity
O God, protect me; be my refuge.
In you, Lord, I put my trust: may I never be put to shame. In your justice, set me free, Turn your ear to me, make haste to rescue me. Be my rampart, my fortification; keep me safe. For you are my strength and my refuge: you will lead me out to the pastures, for your own name’s sake. You will lead me out of the trap that they laid for me – for you are my strength. Into your hands I commend my spirit: you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
O God, protect me; be my refuge.

Psalm 129 (130)
Out of the depths
Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord.
Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears listen out for the voice of my pleading. If you took notice of our transgressions, Lord – Lord, who would be left? But with you is forgiveness, and for this we revere you. I rely on you, Lord, my spirit relies on your promise; my soul hopes in the Lord, more than the watchman for daybreak. More than the watchman for daybreak, let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is kindness and abundant redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all its transgressions. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Out of the depths I have cried to you, Lord.

Reading	Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry if you must, but do not sin: do not let your anger outlast the sunset: do not give the Devil his chance.

Short Responsory	?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. - Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle	Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Prayer
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you lay a gentle yoke upon those who follow you. Meek and humble, you give them a light burden to carry. Receive the work and the prayers we have offered to you today; and give us rest, to make us more eager to serve you, who live and reign for ever and ever, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.