A PRAYER FOR THE 26th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

A PRAYER FOR THE 26th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 

Luke 21:5-19

NRSV

7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’[a] and, ‘The time is near!’[b] Do not go after them.

9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words[c] and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

Not with a bang but a whimper.

(T S Eliot)

It feels like the end of the world, Lord

 

So many people are running around

Crying that the sky is falling

Everything is falling apart

Doomsday is here

Prepare to meet your make

Everyday we look

There is chaos and crisis

Nobody can manage

All is up for grabs

Where can we hide

Where are we safe

What can we go

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

(W. B. Yeats)

It feels like the end of the world, Lord

There is nothing to hold onto

Nothing secure

Nothing sure

Nothing sacred

Our cries go unheard

Our panic undiminished

Our prayers unanswered

What can we do 

What can we say

What can we pray

14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.

Praise you Lord Jesus

Praise you for the words

you give us

Words of love instead of hate

Words of assurance instead of fright

Words of peace instead of war

Words of friendship instead of mistrust

Praise you, Lord Jesus

Praise you for the wisdom

you give

Wisdom to know truth to hold onto 

Wisdom to know the path to take

Wisdom to know when to be silent

Wisdom to know when to speak

19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Praise you, Lord Jesus

Praise you for the endurance

you give us

Endurance to face our enemies

Endurance to walk through the flames

Endurance to withstand every storm

Endurance to stand at the last

Praise you, Lord Jesus

Praise you for standing

ever beside us

In our moments of loss

You are there

When we are lost

You are there

In the beginning

and at the end

You are there

Praise you, Lord Jesus

Forever and ever

Amen