Invade our bodies with your hope, dear Lord,
that we might manifest the enthusiasm of your kingdom.
Give us the energy of children,
whose lives seem fired by the wonder of it all.
Thank God, you have given us good work, hopeful work.
Our lives are not just one pointless thing after another.
We have purpose. But also give us patience.
School our hope with humility,
recognizing that finally it is a matter of your will being done.
Too often our hope turns to optimism,
optimism to despair,
despair to cynicism.
Save our hope by Israel-like patience
so that we can learn to wait hopefully in joy.
Surely that is why you give us children –
signs of hope requiring infinite patience.
Give us hope so we can learn to wait.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Amen.
Stanley Hauerwas, 1940-, American ethicist and theologian
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you,
who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
prayer & verse 
