Proper 17 (22)
August 31, 2025
Jeremiah 2:4-13 or Sirach 10:12-18
Psalm 81:1, 10-16 or Psalm 112
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Eternal God, we thank you for the opportunity of quiet reflection upon our lives and the patterns which have gained dominance in them. We thank you for the opportunity to reflect upon the focus of our lives and to hear the corrective wisdom from our faith. Give us courage to have ears to hear because our confessions are a litany of the struggles we live with daily.
We are so much like the people of long ago, wanting to have prestige and power.
We are so much like the people of long ago, elbowing our way to the top and the highest places of honour.
We are so much like the people of long ago, wanting to be recognized as a cut above others.
We are so much like the people of long ago, wanting to engage in the game of competition and beat out others.
We are so much like the people of long ago, wanting to toot our own horns and call attention to our importance.
FORGIVE US OUR PRIDEFUL AND SINFUL WAYS.
Give us a new perspective on what is important in life. Help us to see our neighbours as people to be loved and affirmed and not as people with whom we are in competition and who must be beaten. Teach us ways of humility and give us self-perspective. Help us to build self worth which is based on positive achievements rather than on power. Help us not to divide up people into those who are worthy to associate with and those who are not. May we not discriminate against any of your children.
Help us, O God, to be among those who know how to humble themselves rather than to be among those who constantly seek to call attention to themselves. Be with us in this inner struggle and help us at least to take baby steps toward humility. Amen
August 31, 2025
Jeremiah 2:4-13 or Sirach 10:12-18
Psalm 81:1, 10-16 or Psalm 112
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Eternal God, we thank you for the opportunity of quiet reflection upon our lives and the patterns which have gained dominance in them. We thank you for the opportunity to reflect upon the focus of our lives and to hear the corrective wisdom from our faith. Give us courage to have ears to hear because our confessions are a litany of the struggles we live with daily.
We are so much like the people of long ago, wanting to have prestige and power.
We are so much like the people of long ago, elbowing our way to the top and the highest places of honour.
We are so much like the people of long ago, wanting to be recognized as a cut above others.
We are so much like the people of long ago, wanting to engage in the game of competition and beat out others.
We are so much like the people of long ago, wanting to toot our own horns and call attention to our importance.
FORGIVE US OUR PRIDEFUL AND SINFUL WAYS.
Give us a new perspective on what is important in life. Help us to see our neighbours as people to be loved and affirmed and not as people with whom we are in competition and who must be beaten. Teach us ways of humility and give us self-perspective. Help us to build self worth which is based on positive achievements rather than on power. Help us not to divide up people into those who are worthy to associate with and those who are not. May we not discriminate against any of your children.
Help us, O God, to be among those who know how to humble themselves rather than to be among those who constantly seek to call attention to themselves. Be with us in this inner struggle and help us at least to take baby steps toward humility. Amen