Prayer Thread - Meditation on Jesus as God With US

How dark,
how quiet,
save for the beating of her heart,
quickened
with the angel's greeting,
and her determined yes,
and the touch of the Spirit,
then suddenly,
in a moment unwatched
by any mortal eye,
there was fusion
between heaven and earth,
and a moment later,
division,
such a tiny speck,
Lord of the universe
emptied out,
master of time and space
contained
in a zygote.

Incarnation,
limitless spirit
taking on mortal flesh,
encased in the warm darkness,
quietly pulsing
with the beating of her heart.

Thank you Lord,
for sanctifying
our little human life
from conception until death
by your choice of being
Emmanuel,
Our God with Us.

He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

O Lord,
so much is there,
this day,
and every day,
such hatred, anger, pain, suffering,
all caused by the hand of man,
that makes me wonder
why you chose the path you took,
the pain of atoning sacrifice,
the bloody stripes
by which we might be healed,
the foolishness that was a slave's death
by which you chose to set your people free.

O Lord,
what do you see in us,
a petty, angry, hateful people,
who ruin the world you gave us
through greed, and hate, lust and pain,
a people who will use any reason,
even the love of you
to strike out at our fellows,
who trample the poor,
who steal from the weak,
who rise up and kill our neighbors?

And yet, Lord,
you chose that path of old,
to bring us salvation
by your words of truth
and by the blood of your own body,
spilled in pain
and sorrow,
and grief
and love.

We are the works of your hand, O Lord,
and even though we reject you too often,
and even though we do evil, even in your name,
and even though no matter how much we try by our own
strength and power,
we fall short,
You treat us with love,
and hold out your hands
in love and forgiveness and acceptance.

Heal us Lord,
and teach us,
that we may learn to walk in your footsteps,
and bring your light and message everywhere we go,
for your glory,
as willing tools of your love,
today, tomorrow, and always,
Amen.

Rising, Lifted Up

If you lie empty upon the ground,
do not be frightened when
a strong hand cups your hand around
and you are raised aloft.

Look up and stand and see
where earth and heaven join
the very hand of he
who gives life lifts you up

As he is lifted high
On a cross that looks too frail
to bear up to the sky
the whole world's cares

And yet the cross holds strong
against the tumbling night,
where beaten, naked, bleeding long
the giver gives his life.

Beacon in the midnight
candle in the storm
hope for those without sight,
anchor, peace, home.

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