We seem to give back the dead to you . . .

March 25, 2022March 24, 2022 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

We seem to give back the dead to you, Lord,

who gave them to us.

But as you did not lose them in giving,

so do we not lose them by their return.

Not as the world gives do you give, O lover of souls.

What you give you do not take away,

for what is yours is ours if we are yours.

And life is eternal and love is immortal,

and death is only a horizon, and a horizon is nothing,

save the limit of our sight.

Lift us up, strong Son of God,

that we may see further;

cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly;

draw us closer to yourself, that we may know ourselves

to be nearer to our loved ones who are with you.

And while you prepare a place for us,

prepare us also for that happy place,

that where you are we may be also,

for ever, and ever. Amen.

Rossiter W. Raymond, 1840-1918, American mining engineer, scholar and writer

2000 Years of Prayer

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John 14:1-3

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

You believe in God; believe also in me.

My Father’s house has many rooms;

if that were not so,

would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come back and take you to be with me

that you also may be where I am.

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But I confess that you are God

April 8, 2021April 7, 2021 / Eric Mathews / 3 Comments

_{image / Lawrence OP / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0}

With all my heart I worship you, O hidden God.

You who hide yourself behind the things of your creation.

My heart submits to you, and so does my mind.

Compared with contemplating you, all else is nothing.

I cannot touch you, taste you, see you.

All senses are cheated of you – except the ear.

Your Son has spoken, and I believe.

Nothing has truth beyond the word I hear.

On the cross your divinity was hidden,

And now on earth you humanity is hidden,

But I acknowledge you and cry to you.

I do not gaze, like Thomas, on your wounds,

But I confess that you are God.

Give me a stronger faith, a surer hope,

And a deeper love for you, my Lord.

You gave us a memorial of your dying

In the living Bread that gives life to men.

As I eat your bread, may you live in me.

And may I always turn to you for strength.

O Christ, who gave your heart for all men,

Cleanse my sin in your blood which was spilt.

A single drop of it would save the world,

Cleansing every man from his foul guilt.

A veil is over your face, I cannot see you.

I cry to you to show me yourself,

To let me see you face to face.

With that vision my soul will be at peace.

Thomas Aquinas, 1225 – 1274, Roman Catholic philosopher and theologian

The HarperCollins Book of Prayers

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John 20:29-31

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

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remove anything that separates us

March 10, 2021March 10, 2021 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

I beg of you, my Lord,
to remove anything which separates
me from you, and you from me.
Remove anything that makes me unworthy
of your sight, your control, your discipline;
of your speech and conversation,
of your benevolence and love.
Cast from me every evil
that stands in the way of my seeing you,
hearing, tasting, savoring, and touching you;
fearing and being mindful of you;
knowing, trusting, loving, and possessing you;
being conscious of your presence
and, as far as may be, enjoying you.
This is what I ask for myself
and earnestly desire from you. Amen.

Peter Faber, 1506-1546, Jesuit Priest and co-founder of the Society of Jesus
Hearts in Fire Praying with Jesuits

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Hebrews 9:14

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

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