Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
O comforting fire of Spirit, Life, within the very Life of all Creation. Holy you are in giving life to All.
Holy you are in anointing those who are not whole; Holy you are in cleansing a festering wound.
O sacred breath, O fire of love, O sweetest taste in my breast which fills my heart with a fine aroma of virtues.
O most pure fountain through whom it is known that God has united strangers and inquired after the lost.
O breastplate of life and hope of uniting all members as One, O sword-belt of honor, enfold those who offer blessing.
Care for those who are imprisoned by the enemy and dissolve the bonds of those whom Divinity wishes to save.
O mightiest path which penetrates All, from the height to every Earthly abyss, you compose All, you unite All.
Through you clouds stream, ether flies, stones gain moisture, waters become streams, and the earth exudes Life.
You always draw out knowledge, bringing joy through Wisdom’s inspiration.
Therefore, praise be to you who are the sound of praise and the greatest prize of Life, who are hope and richest honor bequeathing the reward of Light.
St. Hildegard of Bingen, 1098 – 1179, German, composer, Benedictine abbess
O Christ, as we walk through the land that you loved, in the country where you lived and taught, grant us the grace and wisdom to see clearly and understand deeply that all you suffered was for the sake of redeeming humanity. Through your life, death, and resurrection, you have made it possible for us to have life, and have it more abundantly.
O Christ, as we follow you down the Road to Calvary, Guide us to become active participants, not curious bystanders. O Christ, as we stand with the mourners at the Cross, Give us the love that can forgive those who trespass against us. O Christ, as we witness the new life given to us through your Resurrection, Empower us with faith to act and spread the Good News.
O God, our Father, forgive us that we so often give our best to the wrong things.
Sometimes we put far more enthusiasm and thought and effort into our pleasures and our games and our amusement than we do into our work.
Sometimes we keep our best behavior for strangers and our worst behavior for our own homes; and we treat our nearest and dearest with a discourtesy and disregard we would never show to strangers.
Sometimes we get irritated and annoyed and angry about things which in our calmer moments we know do not matter.
Sometimes we lose our temper in an argument about trifles.
Sometimes we allow very little things to cause a quarrel with a friend.
Help us to see what is important and what is unimportant, so that we may never forget the things that matter, and so that we may never allow the things which do not matter to matter too much.
William Barclay, 1907-1978, minister in the Church of Scotland
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
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